Weekly letters · 2022–November 2023

Island stories delivered with heart

Island Edition connected 7,500 subscribers with civic updates, neighbourhood wins, and the everyday magic of Prince Edward Island—every Wednesday morning.

Browse the archive What you'll find
  • 7,500 Subscribers
  • 85% Average open rate
  • 79 Issues preserved
Island Edition Archive

Inside Island Edition

Curated by Andrew Chisholm, Island Edition blended reporting, commentary, and personal notes to document life across Prince Edward Island.

Each issue stitched together civic decisions from Charlottetown, neighbourhood celebrations from Summerside, new businesses on the North Shore, and cultural moments that made island life unforgettable.

  • Community spotlights: profiles of teachers, organizers, farmers, and creators shaping the province.
  • Civic explainers: plain-language breakdowns of council debates, budgets, and provincial policy shifts.
  • Weekend inspiration: events listings, outdoor ideas, and photo essays to help subscribers plan their week.

Archive by the numbers

79 Issues preserved
18 Months of weekly coverage
4 min Average reading time

How the newsletter unfolded

  • 2022 Launches with a simple promise: capture the cadence of island life for curious locals and expats.
  • 80 weekly issues A Wednesday ritual packed with reporting, reader Q&As, and curated links that celebrated community wins.
  • November 2023 The weekly publication concluded in late 2023 to explore new storytelling formats while keeping the archive available for readers.

How to browse the archive

Jump straight to the issues using the index below, or filter by year to quickly revisit a season. Each page reproduces the original email, images, and links so researchers, storytellers, and long-time readers can reference the source material exactly as it appeared in inboxes.

Newsletter archive

2023

The big one before winter hits

Jeers to SaltWire for putting obituaries behind their website’s paywall. I could go into a long rant about this, but I think we all feel the same way about it.

A changing downtown, a closing café ☕️

While movie reviews aren't my forte, I can't help but express how incredibly impressive 'Who's Yer Father?' is. The film boasts stunning cinematography, a hilarious plot, and a talented cast that b…

Housing pressures and small wins 🏘️

With the ghosts and goblins vanishing with their trick-or-treat treasures, I’ll now be counting down the days to spring: 140 days, 20 weeks, or a mere ten precious paydays away. Not bad at all! Wel…

Storm prep and seafood festivals 🌊

Have you ever put all your eggs in one basket? I do it all the time. In fact, you’re reading my half-filled basket right now. Several pieces of content planned for today were not quite ready, so I …

A busy Island weekend ahead!

One fun thing about publishing a newsletter on PEI is that now I get a few emails each week from Islanders seeking information and advice. I’m always happy to help where I can.

Thanksgiving weekend on PEI 🍂

Remember a few weeks back when I conceded that summer was over and fall was setting in? Boy, was I wrong. I hope you all had a chance to get out over the weekend to enjoy that fantastic sunshine an…

Fall colours, local makers, and markets 🍁

Have you ever dreamed of opening your own business? What about taking on an art project? If you answered yes to either, or both, then you’ll be happy to learn that applications are now being accept…

Island events heating up again 🔥

Maybe I’ve been hiding under a rock, but have you heard about Moonlight Bazaar? I just learned about it this morning; it’s a free street festival that’s taking place on Victoria Row this Saturday t…

School’s back, but the fun’s not over 🎒

Did you miss Island Edition last week? A few of you reached out to see if I was okay, I appreciate that on many levels. We had an unplanned trip to the vet with one of our dogs late Tuesday afterno…

Farmers, festivals, and fried clams 🦪

I almost sent this issue out with a 500-word rant. Rather than force my take on all of you, I decided to post it to the Island Edition website: Islanders should tighten budgets when battening down …

Mid-August island happenings 🌅

I have another short issue for you this morning. As summer soon grinds to a halt, I’ll get back to focusing more of my time on digging up the information you’ve all come to enjoy. I appreciate that…

Summer festivals + local spotlights 🌞

If you caught my soapbox last week about Summerside council not following the recommendation of city staff, then I wish to offer an apology for the confusion. My rant was sparked by council denying…

A musical weekend ahead 🎶

Summerside Coun. Barbara Gallant choked back tears (YouTube) Tuesday evening as she addressed her colleagues with a prepared speech about the importance of housing. The councillor was absolutely co…

Canada Day on the Island 🇨🇦

No matter where you live on the Island, there’s something fun to do this Canada Day. I scoured around to gather up what I could find, see the event roundup below. It was a bit of a scavenger hunt. …

Festival season is here! 🎉

I sent the first issue of Island Edition to six people a year ago tomorrow. Today’s issue will hit just under 2,100 inboxes. 🥳

Your weekend guide to PEI 🍓

Did you catch my struggle last week? Eyesore, eye sore, eye store. Not my best work, but I had a chance to redeem myself on this file...there’s an update on the building at 282 University Avenue in…

Markets, music, and more 🌿

Now that we’re getting back into our busy season, I will be reintroducing the What’s Up section. For those of you who are just joining, this section highlights some upcoming activities.

Victoria Day weekend on PEI 🇨🇦

Two weeks ago I told you about a proposed 464-unit residential development on Mount Edward Road. Last week I issued a correction that 542 units are planned. Today I am correcting last week’s correc…

A sunny start to May ☀️

Check out today’s Community Corner section if you live in Stratford, there’s an interesting workshop taking place tomorrow that’s part of a growth management exercise the town is undertaking. Regar…

Spring events heating up 🌷

I was doing some maintenance to the mailing list over the weekend. I don’t know what I did exactly, but I broke the referral system. Everything is backed up, it just hasn’t been put back together. …

Island Edition returns for spring!

Every few weeks I get an email from a reader asking why this newsletter is called Island Edition and not Charlottetown Edition, or something to that effect. I don’t take the feedback as negative cr…

Weekend roundup: markets, music & maple 🍁

With just a few more days to go until we have another election in the bag, it seems most who care already have a good sense of the outcome. Maybe so, but I’ve learned over the years that Islanders …

St. Patrick’s Day on the Island ☘️

What do you think, has March been a lion or a lamb? Truth be told, I dislike the proverb, but I’m team lamb. My back might disagree with me in the morning. ❄️

Storm cleanups and signs of spring 🌦️

Today is International Women's Day. PEI is down one influential woman this year, with the recent passing of Kerri Wynne MacLeod. A celebration of life will be livestreamed tomorrow (Thursday). A li…

Stormy weekend ahead 🌨️

I guess two or three of you are on the edge of your seats to learn more about my home heating woes, and the ensuing saga of burst pipes and sink baths. I’m happy to report that $70 later, I’ve rigg…

Valentine’s weekend on PEI ❤️

Friday evening we had the house cooking so hot that when I fell asleep on the couch around 10PM, I actually kicked the blanket off. Two hours later I couldn’t grab that blanket fast enough. Long st…

Cold snap & cozy spots ❄️

After we had a successful first week with our new heat pump back in 2019, I was ready to rip the hot water radiators out of the house and started to plan how we’d use the reclaimed 20 sq ft of spac…

Winter updates & weekend fun

See what happened? Last week I told you that I hadn’t had a chance to use our new snowblower due to this unseasonably warm winter. That wasn’t a complaint, just so we’re clear; but if you’re wonder…

Island Edition returns for 2023 🎉

How about this weather, eh? Jay Scotland could give you some fancy explanation with a bunch of moving charts, but I’m here to tell you what’s really at the root of this warm winter: Jackie and I bo…

Welcome to 2023!

Welcome to 2023! I hope everyone had an opportunity to relax a little. 😴

2022

Final issue of 2022 🎁

Congratulations to Mike MacRae! One of his 14 ballots snagged the Christmas Giveaway. Mike has won a Holiday Heaven Gift Basket from ANNE of Green Gables Chocolates and two tickets to Holiday Dream…

Holiday events across PEI 🎅

Six months ago I hit the send button on the first issue of Island Edition, titled Charlottetown Gets a Little Bigger. It went out to eight people. Today’s issue will be received by just under 1,400…

Winter markets and cozy spots ❄️

Yesterday was Giving Tuesday, so everyone may be tapped out, but I have launched a donation page for anyone who might want to throw a few dollars toward Island Edition. The page includes a breakdow…

First snowfall and festive lights ✨

I’m ready to lean into the Christmas season and I’m dragging you with me. I’ll be including a weekly roundup of Christmas events that I find while I scour the web. Feel free to send me a quick note…

Storm recovery updates and weekend plans 🌧️

Government runs on one resource: tax dollars. Maybe I am making a mountain out of a molehill over Charlottetown council’s decision to buy Microsoft Surface Pro tablets for councillors and the mayor…

Remembrance Day and weekend lineup 🌺

One thing I want to do with Island Edition is do more investigative reporting. It’s time consuming work, so it’s difficult for a team of one. I’ve been filing requests for information on topics I t…

PEI weekend roundup & fall updates 🍂

I'll be announcing a contest this weekend for two tickets to Holiday Dreams: A Spectacular Holiday Cirque tucked inside a Christmas basket from ANNE of Green Gables Chocolates filled with delicious…

Halloween on the Island 🎃

Like all Islanders, my partner and I found ourselves in the dark following Fiona. We relied on our cell phones to keep us connected – barely. This morning, our Eastlink bill arrived showing that we…

Fall colours & small business spotlights 🍁

Island Edition is a little late this morning...I held off sending it out until after Statistics Canada released the consumer price index numbers for September--check out By The Numbers if you're in…

After Fiona: local resilience 🌲

The Island’s largest communities will elect new councils next month. From well-maintained parks to safe drinking water, municipal-level decisions impact our daily lives more than most people realize.

Thanksgiving weekend edition 🦃

I wish you all had your power restored, but I know many of you haven’t. Islanders, rightfully so, have a lot of questions about how prepared we actually were for a powerful storm like Fiona. For ye…

Storm recovery and community help 🤝

Fiona delivered a devastating blow to our Island. Our landscape is forever changed with many dunes washed away and picturesque scenes such as teacup rock demolished. Our agriculture, aquaculture an…

Back to school and fall events 🍂

I love our Island. We all know this is a special place. We miss it when we’re gone, and we all experience that indescribable feeling when we get back (you know the feeling). That’s something that n…

PEI farmers markets & late summer highlights 🌽

We’re half way through the last full week of August. Saturday marks the last day this year that the sun will set after 8PM in Charlottetown. Lucky are our friends up west…Tignish will have post-8PM…

Local housing updates and weekend plans 🏠

Happy Wednesday. 😀 A quick contest announcement: I have two tickets to Tell Tale Harbour (Friday, Sept. 23) and $100 worth of Downtown Charlottetown Dollars that I’d like to give away to one of y…

Island Summer Events & Festivals 🎪

👋 Happy Wednesday, friends. The first issue of Island Edition Insider went out on Friday. The Insider issue will be a semi-regular update on Island Edition; some stats, my content pipeline, etc. A…

Expanding Hillsborough Park 🏘

I don't know about you, but I'm having a difficult time accepting that we're into August already. But before I complain too much about it, let's get through Old Home Week first, which kicks off nex…

Good morning, PEI.

Good morning, PEI. The cool breeze overnight was a great reprieve from the recent heat wave we experienced. Out of curiosity, I looked at some historical data to find the hottest temperature ever r…

True Crime podcast examines Byron Carr cold case

Happy Wednesday! Consistency is key when starting something new, be it a new fitness program or an email newsletter. With that in mind, I am going to scrap the Friday issue (for now) to focus more …

Happy Wednesday!

Happy Wednesday! I hope everyone had a chance to enjoy the long weekend. Ten of you are now Island Edition Insiders, which means I need to hurry up and develop the exclusive content section that I…

New police and firefighters

It's the last Friday of June...how'd that happen? I made a few design changes to help increase the visibility of headings and links on mobile devices with dark mode enabled. Let me know what you t…

Long-promised relief payments out next month 💰

Welcome to the first full day of summer! Reading over the rate increase application Maritime Electric filed with IRAC ate into the majority of time I reserved for writing this issue. There's a lot …

PEI and NS have highest rates of melanoma 🔍

Phone scams continue to be a problem in this country. Police are again warning of a scam targetting Islanders. If you have a senior citizen in your life, take this opportunity to educate them on th…

Vehicle sales strong, Islander's favourite owl returns

Welcome to the first Friday issue of Island Edition. Friday’s issue will mainly focus on things to do over the weekend, with newsworthy news peppered in. Although we’re still a little more than a w…

Shortage of LTC beds impacting hospital capacity 🏥

Here goes nothing! Welcome to the first issue of Island Edition, delivered 14 hours behind schedule. Content-wise this issue is probably skinnier than your highschool jeans👖, but I have to start s…