New Year's levees set for Friday

Islanders planning to engage in the time-honoured tradition of starting the new year by shaking hands and toasting the good health of their friends and neighbours at New Year's Day levees will have plenty of opportunity to do so Friday.
Thousands of Islanders are expected to attend the levees, upholding a tradition that dates back literally hundreds of years.
In P.E.I., levees are hosted by virtually all levels of government, as well as by military personnel, service clubs and organizations, churches, academic bodies and a variety of other groups.
Lt.-Gov. Barbara Hagerman and husband Nelson Hagerman will host the first major levee of the day at their official residence, Fanningbank, from 10-11:30 a.m.
Premier Robert Ghiz will host one of the last official levees at Confederation Centre in Charlottetown from 3-5 p.m.
Charlottetown Mayor Clifford Lee and members of city council hold their levee at City Hall from 10:30 a.m. to noon.
Stratford Mayor Kevin Jenkins and members of town council will host their levee at Stratford Town Centre from noon to 1:30 p.m.
Kensington Mayor Gordon Coffin and members of town council will hold a levee at Kensington Town Hall from noon to 2 p.m.
Wade MacLauchlan, president of UPEI, and UPEI Alumni Association president Betty Johnston will host UPEI's levee at McDougall Hall on campus from 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
Cornwall Mayor Patrick MacFadyen and members of Cornwall town council host their levee at the Cornwall Town Hall from 1:30 to 3 p.m.
Summerside Mayor Basil Stewart and members of city council host their levee at City Hall from 1:30 to 3 p.m.
Most Reverend Richard Grecco, bishop of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Charlottetown, will host his levee at SDU Place, formerly St. Dunstan's Parish Rectory, from 1:30 to 2:30 p.m.
Montague Mayor Richard Collins and members of council will hold their levee at the Montague Fire Hall from 1:30 to 3 p.m.
The Haviland Club in Charlottetown will host its levee from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
The Garrison Officers Mess and the Sergeants and Warrant Officers Mess will host a levee at the Queen Charlotte Armories from 12:30-1:30 p.m.
Charlottetown Branch No. 1 of the Royal Canadian Legion will hold a levee from 2-3 p.m.
The Benevolent Irish Society will host a levee at the BIS Hall from 3-4 p.m.
St. John's Lodge #2 and Victoria Lodge #2 will hold a levee at the Masonic Temple at 204 Hillsborough St. from 1:30 to 3 p.m.
The Seniors Active Living Centre at the CARI Complex at UPEI will host a levee from 12:30 to 2 p.m. The president and board will be receiving.
The Charlottetown Curling Club will hold a levee from 4-6 p.m.
The Sports Page Club will hold a levee from 4-6 p.m.
This year's Charlottetown levees will start at Timothy's World Coffee on University Avenue at 9 a.m.