Michael Thomas Race Day set for July 7

The annual Michael Thomas Race Day takes place on Saturday, July 7.

Distances include a 10-mile run, a five-kilometre run/walk, and a one-kilometre Kids Dash.

Thomas was a Mi’kmaq long distance runner. Born on Lennox Island in 1885, he began running competitively in his 20s. He went on to win the Charlottetown Patriot 10-mile race in 1909, 1910 and 1911 in addition to numerous other races around the Maritimes. In 1911, Thomas was the first Islander to ever run the Boston Marathon.

Lynn Anne Hogan, manager of the Aboriginal Sport Circle, said the event is much more than a race.

At 8 a.m., there will be a cultural opening ceremony featuring Indigenous dancers, singers and drummers.

The 10-mile and five-kilometre races start at 8:30 a.m. and the one-kilometre Kids Dash starts at 10 a.m.

All three distances will start and finish at the Stratford Town Hall and although participants are encouraged to register in advance through the Running Room website, onsite registration will also be available at 7:30 a.m. Funds raised will support programs delivered by the Aboriginal Sport Circle to encourage and provide opportunities for Indigenous youth to participate in sport and recreation opportunities in P.E.I.

For more information, contact Hogan by email at lahogan@ mcpei.ca, call 902-786-4348 or visit “Michael Thomas Race Day” on Facebook.

The Green Party of P.E.I. has announced its first candidates in anticipation of the province’s next general election.

Recently, party members met at the Wilmot Community Centre to announce the candidates Matthew MacFarlane, Lynne Lund, Steve Howard and Trish Altass, who have been nominated for Districts 19, Borden-Kinkora, 21, Summerside-Wilmot, 22, Summerside-South Drive and 23, Tyne Valley-Sherbrooke.

Running in District 19 BordenKinkora is MacFarlane, an Augustine Cove resident who practices law in multiple offices across the province. He has been serving as the party’s justice critic in the shadow cabinet.

Lund, a veteran member of the Island’s Green Party and its deputy leader, has been nominated to run in District 21 SummersideWilmot.

Lund is re-offering in District 21 following the October 2016 byelection.

She has acted as the shadow cabinet critic for economic development and tourism.

Howard, founder of Renewable Lifestyles, gained the nomination for District 22 Summerside-South Drive at the party meeting.

Howard is also the founder of the Solar Island Community Economic Development Business and has acted as the Green Party’s shadow critic for energy, transportation and infrastructure.

The fourth nominee announced was Altass for District 23, Tyne Valley-Sherbrooke.

Altass, a sociologist and community-based researcher, is currently a senior research associate at the Young Lives Research Laboratory housed at UPEI. She is the party’s shadow critic for workforce and advanced learning.

Party leader Peter Bevan-Baker said he is proud to stand with the four candidates.

“People have been telling me that with the right candidates, there is no district that Greens cannot win in the next election…They will give the voters in their districts a real alternative to the same old politics they’re used to.”