Weekend events & updates from across PEI

IN THIS ISSUE

➡️ More road projects added to the map

➡️ Big changes for Confed Centre

➡️ Tax clinics start this weekend

QUICK HITS

🏠 Summerside Men’s Shelter Opening soon: After multiple delays, the new six-bed men's shelter in Summerside will open on April 1. The shelter, located at 287 Winter St., will provide a safe space for individuals experiencing homelessness. The Department of Social Development and Housing has estimated the cost of upgrades to be around $125,000. The only remaining work to be completed is the installation of security cameras and a fence.

🤘 No Cavendish Rock Concert: Whitecap Entertainment's application to hold the Sommo Festival, a two-day rock and culinary festival in Cavendish this July, has been denied by the resort municipality in a 3-2 vote. The rejection was based on concerns about noise, traffic congestion, and potential economic impact. Organizers have a contingency plan, and will reveal a new location soon. The company had hoped to hold the Sommo Festival following its popular Cavendish Beach Music Festival event.

ROAD PROJECTS

I've updated Island Edition's PEI Road Construction Map to include five new packages of road resurfacing projects. Items posted last week are displayed in red, new items are yellow.

The tender packages posted this week are for work on 12 roads, totalling 11.2 km.

DOWNTOWN

Confed Centre's $100M Dream

More than $100M worth of renovations are envisioned for the Confederation Centre of the Arts. The plan is split into two phases; phase one focuses on work to the southern end of the complex along Victoria Row, while work along Grafton Street, which includes extending the complex to the sidewalk, would come later. 

Construction of a rehearsal hall over what is now an outdoor plaza is a major component of the project, as well as rebuilding entrances and reconfiguring space inside the centre. Rooftop solar would be installed, an effort that would reduce the centre’s emissions by nearly 50 per cent.

Phase one is expected to cost $71.5M. According to a plan presented to Charlottetown council Monday night, staff hope the federal government will chip in $30M toward the project, $20M from the province, and $5M from the city. The centre would fundraise the remaining $16.5M. Current estimates for phase two land around $30M, but funding efforts for that portion of the project haven't begun.

If funding is secured, construction of phase one would would wrap up in 2026.

🎥 WATCH: Confed Centre CEO Steve Bellamy pitched the plan to city council.

If you want to see more renderings of this project, head over to Island Edition's rarely used Instagram page: @PEIslandEdition.

#PEIslandEdition

Interesting Visitor 📸

Have you heard of Mac, Team New Brunswick's unofficial mascot? Well, while on the Island cheering for his team, Mac stopped by the waterfront to see the CCGS Jean Goodwill. Mac has been following Team New Brunswick around since the 2013 Canada Summer Games in Sherbrooke, Que. It's just a little creepy.

Tag @PEIslandEdition or use #PEIslandEdition to get your post featured in Island Edition!

COMMUNITY CORNER

👥 Join the Island Stroke Support Network for their in-person Stroke Club Meeting at the Charlottetown Learning Library Centre in the Blue Jay Boardroom on Tuesday, March 7th from 6-7pm. Connect with other stroke survivors and caregivers, share stories, resources, and advice. Visit afterstroke.ca for more information.

💸 Tax clinics start this weekend for Islanders who earn a modest income and who need a hand filing a basic return. There will be 18 clinics located throughout the province at libraries and community centres. You can find a list of locations on this page.

Send a quick message if your organization would like to publish a quick PSA. There's no charge for these. Max three per-issue.

WEATHER

Wednesday

☁️ H -3°C 🌡️ L -8°C 
💨 ESE 11 km/h, gusting 20

Thursday

🌨️ H 0°C 🌡️ L -7°C
💨 SSE 9 km/h, gusting 22

Island Edition Storm Watch

👀 The Island is under a specieal weather statement: snowfall totalling 15 cm is forecast, beginning Thursday evening. Conditions will improve by Friday morning.

THANKS FOR READING!

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