CHEERS: To everyone who stopped in, called or sent condolences to The Guardian after the death of our colleague Nigel Armstrong. He died Friday morning after a 10-year battle with cancer. Nigel worked at The Guardian for more than 30 years and his loss will be felt by not only his family, but also his colleagues who worked alongside him for so long. The outpouring of support shows how truly kind people can be during a difficult time.
CHEERS: To the Abegweit First Nation for receiving a $70,000 grant from the Jays Care Foundation’s field of dreams program to revitalize the community’s ballfield. Community members filled the Abegweit First Nation Mi’Kmaq Wellness Centre this week to watch the announcement during the pre-game show of the Jays-Tampa Bay Rays game. Sports are important for physical fitness. But more than that, they are an important way to form lifelong friendships and memories of our youth as well as bring communities together. Some of the work needed to bring the field back to playing shape includes drainage and leveling.
CHEERS: To the voice of harness racing on the Island – Vance Cameron – for winning Canada’s best race call by Standardbred Canada. The award was presented at the recent Prince County Horsemen’s Club awards dinner in Summerside. Cameron, of Summerside, won the award for his 2008 Gold Cup and Saucer race call in Charlottetown won by Pownal Bay Matt and driver Earl Smith. Cameron called his first race in Summerside in 1977. At the awards ceremony, Summerside Mayor Basil Stewart told Cameron – “you are the best.” We agree. Congratulations Vance.
CHEERS: To Three Oaks Senior High School for cracking down on students vaping in the bathrooms and elsewhere inside the school. Electronic smoking devices, including vape sticks, can be a way to help wean smokers off of cigarettes and nicotine. But some students are vaping at high concentrations and instead getting hooked on nicotine. Students caught vaping (except in a chained-off designated smoking area at the edge of TOSH’s parking lot) receive an automatic suspension and any vaping equipment is confiscated for parents to pick-up. This is a step in the right direction, and at some point, let’s hope kids start making better choices about their health.
CHEERS: To photographer Mitsuki Mori, who spent the last six months working at The Guardian as part of an international internship that ended last week. Misty, as she is known to her colleagues in Charlottetown, is from Japan and got a crash course in working in a busy newsroom when she joined it in October. Cheers also go out to Holland College students Mike Robar and Yakosu Umana, who wrapped up their four-week internships on Friday. All three made valuable contributions during their time in the newsroom.
