Heatwaves and high tides 🌊

IN THIS ISSUE

• Summerside will fly Pride flag each year

• Large vehicles dominate Island roads

• Perhaps the perfect PEI picture

QUICK HITS

🏳️‍🌈 Pride in Summerside: Summerside council passed a resolution Monday that will see the city fly the Pride flag during Pride Week celebrations each year. The resolution gives city administration permission to display the vibrant colors of the flag at key locations throughout the city, including city hall and other public buildings. In addition to flying the flag during Pride Week, the motion also allows for the city to display pride symbols and decorations throughout the city in public spaces such as streets and parks.

🚔 Armed robbery in public: Charlottetown Police are searching for three suspects connected to an armed robbery that occurred in public on Grafton Street early Tuesday morning. At around 1:45, police say a male and female were approached from behind by three males, at least one of them had a knife. A brief scuffle ensued resulting in the male victim sustaining a cut to his finger from a knife. The suspects took the victim’s phone, which he dropped during the altercation, and then walked away from the scene. Police are asking the public for assistance.

🟩 Green Municipalities: The Federation of Canadian Municipalities will provide a funding boost through the Green Municipal Fund to a pair of projects valued at $1.8M. Charlottetown takes the lion’s share, which includes a $242,000 grant and a $1.6 million loan to enhance energy efficiency in multiple municipal buildings, including city hall. The planned upgrades will incorporate smart technology for remote management of mechanical systems, resulting in an expected annual cost savings of nearly $90,000 and a 30% reduction in energy usage. Meanwhile, Stratford has received a $30,000 grant to develop a greenhouse gas reduction plan for the town.

🎭 ISLAND FRINGE

Experience The Island Fringe Festival 2023, a beloved summer tradition in downtown Charlottetown from August 2 to 6. Prepare for an electrifying showcase of contemporary and experimental performances by local and visiting artists. Immerse yourself in a world of theatre, dance, comedy, music, and solo shows—all chosen by random draw.

Festival Highlights: 

🌹 Jinny and Jack VS The Thoughts in their Heads: An enchanting tale of affection and self-discovery.

🤗 Likehard: A Standup Comedy Show: Join Tanya Nicolle for a rollercoaster ride of laughs and heartfelt stories.

😂 Six Songs about Six Men I've Dated: A hilarious exploration of dating mishaps and the search for love.

🌵 The Prick: A darkly comedic love story that will leave you captivated.

👯 Rhythm Fusion: Island Dancers from the Rhythm Collective: Witness the fusion of tap dancing and percussion in a dynamic performance.

🏳️‍⚧️ Transpectrum: Join Riley Jayne Carson on a journey of rediscovering identity, infused with humor and personal insights.

🎞️ Whiskey Flicks, LIVE!: An unscripted, booze-infused deep dive into film, where surprise movie clips meet improvised film criticism, social commentary, and personal narratives.

Tickets for each performance are $10 (plus $2 surcharge) or an All Access Pass can be purchased for $70 (plus $2). People who have an All Access Pass get to vote on Patrons’ Pick of the Fringe which is awarded at our closing night event on August 6.

For a complete schedule, venue locations, and to purchase tickets in advance, visit www.islandfringe.com.

This is a sponsored post by The Island Fringe Festival.

BY THE NUMBERS

📊 0.25% - The Island's inflation rate was the lowest in Canada in June, as reported by Statistics Canada. In June, our inflation rate stood at 0.25%, well below the national average of 2.81%. While Islanders enjoyed a substantial 25% year-over-year drop in the price of gasoline, the 8% increase in grocery costs dampened any potential celebrations. Homeowners are grappling with the impact of higher mortgage interest rates, resulting in a 5.35% increase in the cost of owning a home. Likewise, rental costs have seen a 2.6% increase since June of last year.

🛻 21% - New vehicle sales have shown signs of recovery following a sluggish beginning to the year. This past May, sales increased 21% compared to May 2022, with 707 units sold compared to 583. From January to May, a total of 2,778 vehicles were sold, a slight rise of 3.6% compared to the same period last year, which saw 2,681 vehicles sold. Larger vehicles continue to dominate the market; among the vehicles sold in May, passenger cars accounted for only 14% of the total.

📢 SHOUT-OUTS 

The Rotary Club of Charlottetown held its awards presentation Monday, so here’s a series of shoutouts to offer these folks another round of congratulations and gratitude for their commitment to the community.

🏆 To Chelsey Rogerson on being named Rotarian of the Year. Chelsey served as president of the club from 2021-2022.

🥇 To Farida Chishti for receiving the Friend of Rotary award, and to Charlottetown Mutual Aid for receiving the Service Above Self Award.

🙏 And to Carl Lafford, Marilyn Lowther, Ginny McGowan and Bob Moffatt, who all received certificates of appreciation.

#PEIslandEdition

French River Postcard 🎣

This is maybe the perfect PEI picture, there so much PEI is packed into one frame. Thanks to John Morris (@jmweb7 on Instagram) for capturing this beauty and allowing me to share it with you.

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

COMMUNITY CORNER

😷 Summerside Medical Centre (475 Granville Street) is now offering an access clinic to the general public who need a short appointment. You can book your appointment up to one week in advance. Bookings can be made Wednesday through Friday each week by calling 902-432-8181. Prescriptions for opioids are not available.

🏆 Nominations are open to find PEI’s senior of the year. If you know an Islander (65+) who makes a contribution to their community, then you should consider putting their name forward for a PEI Senior of the Year Award. More information, including the nomination form, is available on the province’s website. The deadline to submit a nomination is August 15th.

🎶 You may just find PEI’s senior of the year at Victoria Park this Thursday during Senior’s Day in the Park. Enjoy food, refreshments, live music and more at the ball field clubhouse from 10AM to 2PM. Admission is $2.00. The clubhouse is accessible off of Brighton Road, limited parking is available. Here’s a link to a map showing the location of the clubhouse (it’s about 300 feet from the parking lot).

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

WEATHER

Wednesday

🌧️ H 26°C 🌡️ L 18°C 🥵 32°C

💨 S 24 km/h, gusting 36

Thursday

⛈️ H 26°C 🌡️ L 18°C 🥵 33°C
💨 W 12 km/h, gusting 18

Looking Ahead

👀 The muggy weather is expected to hang around into next week. Some love it, some hate it – we’re all talking about it. Depending on which forecast you follow, there’s a risk of a thunderstorm today, tomorrow, Friday and Saturday.

THANKS FOR READING!