Let the selections begin
When Jonathan Viau crosses the Confederation Bridge, he usually turns around right away and heads back to P.E.I.
The quick trip isn’t any less expensive for him than it is for motorists who leave Prince Edward Island via the bridge for the entire day or much longer. He believes he should get a break, and one appears to becoming.
Viau just learned that Confederation Bridge is working on implementing a self-serve shuttle service.
Straight Crossing Bridge Limited is finalizing details with Transport Canada and expects to make an announcement in the next month.
“Wow, that’s great news,’’ says Viau, 31, Charlottetown.
“I’m glad that they are doing it.’’ Viau estimates he has spent about $2,400 in bridge tolls over the past two years travelling back and forth between New Brunswick and P.E.I. to pick up his son.
Viau shares custody of Ezra, his three-and-a-half-year-old boy.
“It’s quite a bit of money,’’ he says. “I don’t make much.’’ Viau, who used to be a carpenter, is on disability pay due to a back injury. He has started a petition calling for a reduced cost to cross the Confederation Bridge for those who are just dropping off or picking up family members.
He did not expect the petition, which had close to 300 supporters as of early Friday afternoon, to take off like it has.
“I’m definitely far from alone,’’ he says.
“There’s lots of people in the same boat.’’ Viau says he will continue with the petition until a selfserve shuttle service is introduced.
He would like to see that ser- vice cost $4.25 per person for a trip across the bridge — the same as the regular shuttle service. Viau has tried to use the shuttle service provided by the bridge but said his son usually has more than the limit of two pieces of luggage, so they’ve been rejected by the service. Michel LeChasseur says a rate has yet to be determined. He does note, however, the plan to put in a self-serve system has been in the works for some time.
He says the service will answer a demand for the many Island students returning home from university studies on the mainland and for people like Viau.
The existing shuttle service will remain in place, he adds.
“So it’s sort of an additional service,’’ says LeChasseur Come out to Westisle between 11:30 a.m. and 1 p.m. every Tuesday and Thursday to take part in our 10-Week Walking Challenge. Westisle is partnering with GoPEI, GoWest Prince and the Department of Health and Wellness to promote physical activity by providing a walking track around our school until April 21. Drop in to the main office to get your visitor pass and track information and start walking.
Course selection is currently taking place for Grade 9s and will be available for Grade 10s and 11s by the end of April. We will be using MyBlueprint for course selection this year, which will be done during the school day.
We will have instructions for parents who would like to sync their email with their child’s email so they can see what they choose for courses. Parents will still be asked to sign off on their child’s course selection sheet before submission.
Take this time to have a conversation with your child about what their interests are or what they want to pursue upon graduating from Westisle.
Our teachers, guidance counsellors and administrators are here to help if you have any questions. Don’t hesitate to contact us. Parent-teacher interviews take place on Thursday, April 14, from 4 to 7 p.m. and on Friday, April 15, from 10 a.m. to 12 noon. The theme for prom is “All Around the World” and help is greatly needed for various other activities such as end-of-year events and SafeGrad.
Mrs. Rennie is in search of pictures to be placed in the yearbook from any of this year’s dances, theme weeks/days, etc. Send them to Hayley Wood at hayleywood777@gmail.com. Badminton practice is Thursday and zones will be beginning next week. If you are unsure where and when you are playing, contact Mr. Corcoran. Grade 12 students planning to work at South Shore Seafood or Royal Star in Tignish this spring/summer and attending post-secondary this fall are eligible for a $500 bursary. All you have to do is let the manager at your workplace know you are interested in this bursary opportunity. Grade 12s: As you start to receive scholarships/bursaries, make a copy and give it to Marsha. If you receive outside bursaries, hand those in as well. Also let Marsha know if you have been accepted into your program.
Applications for The Friends of the Confederation Centre Awards are now online at www. confederationcentre.com/ friends for P.E.I. graduating students who have a passion for music, theatre, performing and visual arts and who will be pursuing full-time post-secondary studies in applicable arts program. Deadline is May 2.