GEORGETOWN, P.E.I. — Over coffee at the back of Daryl’s General Store, Everett Gormley sees premier-designate Dennis King’s decision to be sworn in in his hometown as a good sign.
“I think it’s excellent!” Gormley said.
“Same here,” said Judy Arsenault, seated at the table across from Gormley.
The day before the Island’s new government was due to be officially sworn in, The Guardian spoke to several residents of Georgetown. All expressed enthusiasm for the planned event in Georgetown.
Both Gormley and Arsenault see the Island’s soon-to-be premier in hopeful light. The two told The Guardian that King does not act like a typical politician.
"He's down to earth. If he can speak to you at all, he will. You'd never think he was premier," Gormley said.
“He’s for the people as far as I can tell,” Arsenault said.
"I think it's great to see somebody from the other side of the bridge. Anybody who was in charge, they lived in (Charlottetown). They've never done nothing out here."
-Bernie MacDonald
King has clearly bucked tradition by deciding to hold Thursday’s swearing-in ceremony, at which he will also announce his cabinet, at the Kings Playhouse. The ceremony has almost always been held on the grounds of Fanningbank in Charlottetown.
Haley Zavo, executive director of the Kings Playhouse, said King has a personal connection to the venue. King has performed several times at the Playhouse as a member of the storytelling troupe The Four Tellers.
"Georgetown is near and dear to Dennis' heart. There's no doubt about it,” Zavo said.
"He grew up in this venue. He performed on the stage for the last four summer seasons. There's a lot of his heart in it."
But the decision to hold the ceremony in Georgetown has more than sentimental significance for the incoming premier. King’s party, the Progressive Conservatives, swept all districts in Kings county in last month’s election.
Residents in eastern P.E.I. have high expectations for the new government. Many believe the region has often been left behind.
In the midst of stopping for a fill-up of diesel for his fishing boat, lobster fisherman Bernie MacDonald had few complements for previous governments.
"I think it's great to see somebody from the other side of the bridge. Anybody who was in charge, they lived in (Charlottetown). They've never done nothing out here," MacDonald said.
He listed a number of regional grievances – the state of the highway into Georgetown, the hastily reversed plan to close the Georgetown Elementary School in 2017 and the condition of the Kings County Memorial Hospital.
“Hope he doesn't forget us down here, where he originally came from," MacDonald said.
“It will either go down as an extraordinary success story or the biggest failure that’s ever been."
-Peter Llewellyn
Peter Llewellyn, owner of Shoreline Design P.E.I., also finds it encouraging to see the swearing-in ceremony brought to Georgetown. He believes government ministers have often brought pre-conceived – and sometimes incorrect – notions about the community with them into government. He also said residents have been frustrated with cuts to education and health services in Kings County.
"What we've suffered from, in a lot of cases, is a lack of understanding. And this crazy language where we're going to attract people but we're going to take away services," Llewellyn said.
Llewellyn said many believe Georgetown to be a struggling rural community, a belief that is not totally accurate.
"How many communities can say there's more jobs than men, women and children?" Llewellyn said.
Cindy MacLean, a councillor with the Three Rivers municipality, who also helps manage Shoreline Design, said people in the region have felt that public works projects, such as road improvements, have favoured districts represented by members of the governing party. She believes the new government, as a minority, will not function this way.
"I don't know if you're going to see that as much with Dennis. I don't think so. I think the eastern end of the Island will get their fair share now," MacLean said.
However, Llewellyn said King’s minority government will face many challenges. He believes much will depend on how effectively King is able to govern over his new cabinet.
“It will either go down as an extraordinary success story or the biggest failure that’s ever been,” Llewellyn said.
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