Cheers & Jeers

CHEERS to the anonymous donors who have given large gifts to a couple of organizations lately, without seeking the spotlight for themselves. One of these selfless people called the Prince County Hospital Foundation's annual fundraiser, Grassroots and Cowboy Boots' organizer Warren Ellis during the evening to confirm a donation of $1 million. Another donor recently gave $1.1 million to the P.E.I. Humane Society. Such substantial donations will make an incredible difference to these organizations and to the Islanders who benefit from them.

CHEERS to the Wo He Lo group, a local organization that recently raised $72,000 for equipment needed in the QEH’s neonatal intensive care unit, despite cancelling its major annual fundraisers. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the group’s spring and fall clothing sales were cancelled. Undaunted, the group called on a wide range of support, both on- and off-Island, to help fund a piece of equipment known as Giraffe Omnibed.

CHEERS to the staff at the COVID-19 drivethru testing sites. From the commissionaires standing outside in driving rain and wind to the health-care staff inside drafty tents and hangar to the efficient laboratory staff producing test results. All reports indicate the staff members are prepared, professional and thorough in the help they gave.

CHEERS to Charlottetown’s parks and recreation committee for floating the idea of keeping the paved active transportation lane in Victoria Park open a little bit longer. The committee has suggested shutting the lane to vehicular traffic permanently but the decision was made to try it as a pilot project first, with it remaining a walking/cycling lane until at least April 1, 2021 before re-examining the situation. People who aren’t able to walk can still drive through the park from Brighton Road to Government House while the inside lane gives cyclists more room without interfering with the boardwalk, which can be overcrowded at times.

CHEERS to the makers of the movie Splinters, which features an all-Atlantic-Canadian cast, including Deborah Allen who has strong P.E.I. ties, for releasing the movie on the big screen last week. In 2018, the movie, which was shot in Nova Scotia’s Annapolis Valley, cleaned up on ACTRA awards, was named the top Nova Scotia film and debuted to acclaim at the Toronto International Film Festival. Movie theatres are starved for original content these days since most of the big blockbusters have been pushed back to 2021. This will give Splinters a bigger spotlight to shine. It’s playing at City Cinema in Charlottetown, Oct. 15-17 at 7 p.m.