PEI in full bloom 🌸

IN THIS ISSUE

• Addressing e-scooter concerns

• Fringe festival lineup (link works this week) 🤦

• Mirror image of Bay Fortune

QUICK HITS

🚑 Tragic Accident on Mount Edward Road: A 57-year-old woman lost her life after being struck by a utility trailer while out for a walk yesterday morning. The trailer detached from a northbound pickup truck and struck the victim, who was walking along the sidewalk in the same direction. The driver of the pickup truck was uninjured. Charlottetown Police Services, Charlottetown Fire Department and Island EMS were called to the scene around 7:45 a.m. A section of Mount Edward Road was closed throughout the day as police investigated the accident. Notably, the police report did not mention whether the trailer was secured with two safety chains as required by the Highway Traffic Act.

💡 Hurricane-Damaged Lights: Hurricane Fiona wreaked havoc on Charlottetown's Central Field, causing damage to nearly half of the lights. To get the lights back on, council approved a $412,000 bid from Hansen Electric Ltd. for new poles and LED lights, along with a $9,125 bid from Richardson Associates Ltd. to provide engineering and project management services. The total cost, after tax, is estimated to be around $484,000. To bridge a budget shortfall, funds will be reallocated to top up $400,000 already approved for the project in the parks and recreation budget. While the city has filed an insurance claim to recoup some expenses, the final amount will depend on what insurance adjusters value the 30-year-old lights at.

🚕 Taxi Fare Increase Approved: Catching a cab in Charlottetown will cost a little more after council approved and adopted an amendment to the city's taxi bylaw during a special meeting on Monday. The amendment, which was first read on July 10, has now been given the green light. As a result, commuters can expect a $1 increase in taxi fares across all six zones (PDF) within the city. Depending on the destination, the new base fare for a taxi ride will range from $8.50 to $18. This fare hike follows a previous increase in 2022 when rates were also raised by $1.

🎭 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.

E-SCOOTER SAFETY

E-scooter biz working to address growing concerns: police

Late-night thrill rides around Charlottetown on rented e-scooters are about to be curtailed. In response to mounting community concerns, Epic Electric Scooters, the company behind the popular service, has notified Charlottetown Police that the service will now shut down at midnight from Sunday to Thursday, and at 11 p.m. on Friday and Saturday.

Since the service launched last fall, concerns have been growing among residents about the lax enforcement of helmet rules. Even more troubling, reports of individuals joyriding on e-scooters while under the influence have surfaced, raising serious safety issues. Police addressed both of these concerns during an emergency services committee meeting on Tuesday, saying a combination of education and enforcement will be used.

To address the helmet issue, police will reinstate "Operation Headway," an initiative that would be familiar to most people who grew up in Charlottetown over the last 20 years. Under the initiative, those riding e-scooters or bicycles without a helmet will be offered an ultimatum: attend an information session on helmet safety or face a $150 fine.

To combat impaired scooting, police plan to collaborate with the province to educate the public, especially young people, about the dangers of using e-scooters while impaired, as well as the legal consequences. Under the Criminal Code of Canada, e-scooters are classified as a motor vehicle, which means penalties for impaired driving apply.

Police say the owner of Epic Electric Scooter has been working to promote safety. A helmet lock/unlock feature is being implemented into the service’s smartphone app, and  the company is developing a plan to hire staff to monitor and report users who break the law; those users will also face a ban from using the service.

The province published this information page last fall after electric scooter regulations were developed under the Highway Traffic Act.

📢 SHOUT-OUTS 

🙏 To all first responders in Nova Scotia, most who are volunteers, who were once again called on to assist and rescue during an unprecedented disaster. Your service and commitment to the community makes all the difference.

🚀 To the summer 2023 Ignition Fund recipients, five Island startups in total. Local entrepreneurs are invited twice a year to pitch their idea to Innovation PEI for a chance to receive $25,000 in seed capital to help launch their new venture.

🏘️ To the self-proclaimed Islander by accident, Matt Pelletier, on crunching some numbers and offering valuable insight into the housing shortage. Matt’s most recent blog article shows that this issue is only getting worse.

#PEIslandEdition

Mirror Image 🪞

This sunrise shot, captured by Rob Hyndman, presents a breathtaking perspective of the wharf at Bay Fortune. If you’re a fan of drone photography, Rob has more great shots from this area posted to his @rhymdman Instagram account.

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

COMMUNITY CORNER

🏳️‍🌈 The PEI Pride Parade takes place this Saturday at noon. Feel free to cheer on and show your support from along the parade route or join in on the fun as a participant. Pride PEI has a page dedicated to the parade, which includes a route map and information on how to participate.

🧑‍🎨 Artists interested in creating temporary installations inspired by Charlottetown trees are encouraged to submit a proposal for Rooted in Art. Celebrate the urban forest's importance and beauty by engaging the community with nature in new and creative ways. The deadline to apply is August 13. Here’s a link to all the details.

🤹 Step up to perform at the Good Ol' Variety Show! Sing, dance, juggle, or even smash a can on your forehead – Island Fringe After Dark could be your chance to show off your unique talent! This 19+ event takes place August 3 from 10:00 pm to midnight at HopYard. There’s a quick form to fill out if you want a 5-minute slot to perform. Cash prizes are available.

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 27°C 🌡️ L 19°C 🥵 35°C

💨 SW 17 km/h, gusting 40

Thursday

🌤️ H 28°C 🌡️ L 19°C 🥵 34°C
💨 SW 26 km/h, gusting 40

Looking Ahead

👀 Humidex values are forecast to cool down as we head toward the weekend, with more seasonable temperatures next week. There's a risk of a thunderstorm late this afternoon into this evening.

THANKS FOR READING!