CHEERS: To Access P.E.I. staff in Charlottetown (who may have read our Jeers two weeks ago?) for setting up tents outside the location on Riverside Drive. Wait times at the location have been long in the hot sun, and staff have now provided shade and water. The province is also working on a system that will alert clients when their number is called so they will not have to stand in line in harsh weather.
CHEERS: To Kevin MacIssac, Adam Clark and Derrick Underhill, who decided to run the 29-kilometre Points East Lighthouse route on June 27. The event was cancelled this year due to the coronavirus (COVID-19 strain) pandemic, but that didn’t stop these buddies from getting up early and enjoying the run from East Point to Souris. On June 13, the fifth anniversary of the popular race, the organizing committee walked, ran or cycled the course. While it is not a normal year, it was nice to see the tradition of the Points East Lighthouse run continue. The run has raised $8,000 for Cystic Fibrosis Canada – P.E.I. Chapter since its inception. We look forward to 2021 – June 12, to be exact – when the race will surely attract many familiar faces back to the eastern end of the province to renew friendship and stay active.
JEERS: To all those who work in downtown Charlottetown who seemed to take up all of the parking spots, forcing the city to act and announce that, as of Monday, July 6, the parking commissionaires would be back on normal duty enforcing metered times. The whole purpose of having the spots free for the past few months was to try and entice people into the downtown core and give area businesses a bit of a boost in these challenging times. Hard to do when people can’t find a spot to park.
CHEERS: To the people working at the Confederation Bridge at midnight as the Atlantic travel bubble formed and cars streamed into the province. It looked hectic and there must have been a lot of requirements and a lot of unknowns, but they rose to the occasion.
JEERS: To the provincial education department. After promising to release a full plan to parents about how schools in the public education system will open next fall by the end of June, the province only half delivered. On Thursday, Education Minister Brad Trivers tabled a six-page document in the legislature that included some details but not a full operational plan. It is understandable if officials need more time to iron out everything, it is a big, unexpected challenge. But do not leave it until the last minute to release the final details. Back to school is a stressful time for students and parents, and the last thing they need is more stress.
