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

IN THIS ISSUE

➡️ Park Street meeting tonight

➡️ Tips for Seniors

➡️ All eyes on Lee

PARK STREET

Wanted: more support from the province

Charlottetown is expecting more support and commitment from the province if it wants to move forward with adding an overdose prevention site to the temporary emergency housing shelter on Park Street.

The province has applied for two major variances to Charlottetown’s zoning bylaw. The first request is for a one-year extension to a variance approved last fall to allow for 50 temporary emergency housing units. The second request is for a one-year variance to open a temporary overdose prevention site in a modular building on the property. The land is not zoned for either of these uses, but a section of the zoning bylaw does allow for temporary uses that would otherwise be prohibited.

The decision will ultimately be up to council. But first, a special planning board meeting will be held today to review the applications and to consider staff recommendations. City staff has prepared a report for each request, both reports recommend that the requests be approved, but with the following conditions: 

👮 The province will be asked to fund six new police officer positions for one-year, four of those officers would be stationed within a 20-minute walking distance of the site. 

🗑️ The province will fund and operate daily garbage and needle cleanup along public right of ways within a 20-minute walking distance of the site.

🧯 The province will need to install fire sprinklers in the modular buildings.

⛔️ The main entrance to the facility will be relocated to an area of the city’s choosing.

🚧 The province will need to design, fund, and construct a new sidewalk, with lighting, to connect the site to the downtown area. The province will also need to construct a fence to restrict access to Beach Street and the residential portion of Park Street.

📃 Any future planning and development applications for the property will need to comply with relevant sections of the city’s official plan. Essentially, no more extensions. 

The special meeting is scheduled to begin at 5:00. Here’s a link to the city’s YouTube page if you want to tune in. You can view a copy of the meeting package here, which includes staff reports and comments received from the public.

TIPS FOR SENIORS

💸 Seniors Independence Initiative: Did you know financial assistance is available to give seniors a helping hand around the house? If you’re 65 or older, or have a family member who is, the Seniors Independence Initiative is worth exploring. The money can be used to hire a cleaner, shovel snow and cut grass, subscribe to a medical alert system, and more. Up to $1,700 per year is available depending on the person’s income.

📱 Mobility for Good: Telus offers a mobile phone plan tailored for seniors who receive the Guaranteed Income Supplement (at least $6,500 per year). Priced at $25 a month, the Mobility for Good plan offers unlimited Canada-wide talk and text, and unlimited data (data speeds are reduced each month after 3 GB). There’s some rigamarole to get accepted, but the effort is worth it. I helped sign a family member up two years ago, and despite my initial skepticism, there have been no surprises. It's important to note that this is not a paid advertisement, just handy information to share.

🧭 Seniors Navigator: Melanie Melanson is PEI’s Seniors Navigator. Her role is quite broad; in a nutshell, Melanie can help seniors access information on services offered by all levels of government, complete applications, and offer advice on where to direct concerns. A series of outreach sessions are taking place this fall for anyone interested in learning more about the role. In fact, there’s a session today in Charlottetown at the public library until 4:00.

📢 SHOUT-OUTS 

🥫 To Elisha Whitlock and her volunteers from the Homeless Helper Program in Summerside for their endless efforts and compassion toward those in need. She is making a difference. Give the group a follow on Facebook.

🧑‍🦽 To Spinal Cord Injury PEI for continuing to offer its seated fitness program for free to those with disabilities. Classes are starting soon in Charlottetown, Montague and Tyne Valley. Interested? Phone 902-370-9523.

👍 To Charlottetown councillor Norman Beck for acknowledging the significance of September 11 during the protective and emergency services portion of Monday’s city council meeting.

#PEIslandEdition

Rough seas ahead 🛟

Matthew Burgio posted this picture to his Instagram page a few weeks ago. It caught my attention then because of its interesting perspective, but with Hurricane Lee approaching, it takes on a whole new meaning.

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

COMMUNITY CORNER

🏥 The QEH Auxiliary is in need of volunteers during weekday mornings to help out at Auxiliary Coffee in the hospital’s main lobby. You’d be serving up beverages and snacks to healthcare workers and visitors. If this sounds like something you’d be interested in, give Wilma a call: 902-894-2197.

🎉 Celebrate the Seniors Active Living Centre's 30th Anniversary with a week of free activities. An indoor yard sale this Saturday at 9AM will set the celebration in motion. Then on Monday at 10AM, Dr. Olive Bryanton will present a history of the centre, followed on Wednesday by France Young’s discussion on Wellness 101 at 10AM. Don't miss the big party next Friday, Sept 22 at 10AM. For details, contact SALC at 902-628-8388 or check their Facebook page. All events take place at Bell Aliant Centre on the UPEI campus.

🎬 Filmmaker Jeremy Larter will premier his latest work, Who’s Yer Father?, this Saturday at the Atlantic International Film Festival in Halifax. While tickets are sold out, the film will be available for streaming beginning this Sunday at 8:30PM until Sept. 24th. The feature-length film is about a bumbling private eye who is hired to investigate the black market sale of PEI lobster, but gets in over his head when he finds love, blackmail and murder along the trail. Other than the murder, the plot sounds like the perfect Island summer, eh? You can pre-order your stream now for $11.50.

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 23°C 🌡️ L 18°C 
💨 SSE 13 km/h, gusting 30

Thursday

🌧️ H 23°C 🌡️ L 16°C
💨 SSE 20 km/h, gusting 41

Hurricane Lee

🌀 I'm sure you've heard that our region is under a tropical cyclone information statement. Keep an eye on that page for updated statements and watch for weather alerts from Environment Canada. With a chance of heavy rainfall this week preceding any potential impact from Lee over the weekend, today might offer the best opportunity to complete any outdoor preparations. Be safe.

🆘 The province has compiled a list of useful resources, which includes a downloadable guide, on how to prepare for emergencies.

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