CHEERS: To Trent Hayes, master brewer at The Gahan House in Charlottetown and somewhat dubious golfing talent at Stanhope golf club. Hayes has been brewing beer for the Murphy Hospitality Group for over 20 years, and finally has his name on a special ale. To celebrate Trent’s accomplishments, the P.E.I. Brewing Company has brewed a limited-edition 473mL IPA as a tribute to Hayes’ dedication over the past 30 years. Unlike his usual golf drive, this beer packs a punch -- and was brewed with pilsner, wheat, and oats. It’s a pale, juicy, and aromatic 5.1 per cent brew to commemorate his favourite beer style, a hoppy ale.
CHEERS: To Canadian Press parliamentary reporter Teresa Wright who was part of the CP team involved with year-end interviews with Prime Minister Justin Trudeau on Friday. A year ago, Ms. Wright was the political reporter with The Guardian, and was handling the newspaper’s year-end interview with Premier Wade MacLauchlan. What’s on her agenda for next December? Well done, Teresa.
JEERS: To some P.E.I. coffee shops which seem to squander the opportunity to reduce waste. A woman said she took her environmentally friendly cup to a well-known outlet and asked for some tea. “They first filled up a to-go cup, poured it in my travel mug, then crushed the paper cup, and threw it in the garbage. This behavior needs to be shamed out of them,” said the customer.
CHEERS: To the citizen who assisted police in arresting a man accused of stealing a car in Mount Stewart, just before midnight last Sunday. A RCMP officer on patrol located the stolen vehicle in Charlottetown shortly after, while the driver stopped the car and fled on foot. He was stopped by a citizen and the RCMP officer was able to arrest an 18-year-old. The RCMP thanked the citizen for the assistance although police caution that no one should put themselves in harm’s way. Police say the incident is a reminder that the holiday season is a time when thieves flourish and urge everyone to ensure vehicle and household doors are locked to deter crime and keep Christmas presents safe.
CHEERS: To the legacy of Mel Gass, elected three times in the 1980s as MP for Malpeque and who later served as leader of the Progressive Conservative Party of P.E.I. Gass died last week, leaving a valued legacy in business and public life. Mr. Gass successfully operated several businesses and was a pioneer in the growth of the Island tourism industry over the last half century, also serving as a past president of the Tourism Industry Association of Prince Edward Island. “Mr. Gass was known for his good nature, his decency and his passion for Prince Edward Island. He was a true ambassador for our province and he will be greatly missed,” said Opposition Leader James Aylward.
CHEERS: To Charlottetown City Council which has gone on the record in support of Halifax’s bid to secure a Canadian Football League franchise and stadium. Maritime Football Limited Partnership, along with the CFL commissioner, launched a season ticket drive and name the team contest earlier this year to gauge interest for a CFL franchise in Atlantic Canada. “If the Atlantic Schooners are successful in securing a CFL franchise, Atlantic Canada will finally have an opportunity to be part of this national tradition,” said Charlottetown Mayor Philip Brown. Council will invite the Atlantic Schooners and the CFL commissioner to Charlottetown to talk about the season ticket drive and the effort to bring the CFL to Atlantic Canada. The team could be operating as early as 2020.
CHEERS: To Time magazine for recognizing journalists – the Guardians -- as the 2018 Person of the Year, for telling the world the truth about brutality toward those who would speak out against tyranny. Jamal Khashoggi’s brutal death at the hands of Saudi agents thrust the issue into the spotlight, but it is only one of many in 2018. The murder of five people in an Annapolis, Md. newspaper office in June is another example of the cost of bearing witness and trusting the public to think for itself, that marks the distinction between tyranny and democracy. Worldwide, a record number of journalists — 262 — were imprisoned in 2017. To protect democracy, an informed citizenry is essential to good government. The modern despot, finding censorship more difficult, foments mistrust of credible fact and thrives on the confusion loosed by social media.
