The big one before winter hits

IN THIS ISSUE

➡️ City council finally going paperless

➡️ Exploring a new municipality in Southern Kings

➡️ Community: Island Fringe Festival looking for new board members

QUICK HITS

🛍️ Royalty Crossing Expanding: Work is underway at Royalty Crossing to expand Winners and to relocate the complex’s main entrance to the north parking lot, near Cineplex Charlottetown. This project involves adding a total of 8,000 square feet to the centre. Since being purchased by Killam and Pan American Properties in mid-2021, the mall has undergone several developments, including an expansion to the southwest corner to accommodate new office space above Dollarama and the construction of a standalone BMO branch within the parking lot. A representative told me this latest deal with Winners is a testament to the centre’s success and should help attract the attention of major retailers.

👍 Council Going Paperless: The transition to paperless council and committee meetings in Charlottetown has been a point of contention for some members, but a tie-breaking vote by Mayor Philip Brown last week settled the issue. Council approved over $30,000 last November to buy 11 high-end tablets , the idea being that they’d help facilitate the move away from paper. A few councillors made the switch on their own, but a couple have been dead set against it. So Coun. Norman Beck, who chairs the strategic priorities committee, introduced a motion to require that all council and committee meeting agenda packages be circulated electronically. The motion reached council last week, sparking a debate ranging from personal choice to technical abilities. The motion was met with a 5-5 tie, a rare instance where the mayor actually has a vote. Mayor Brown broke the tie in favour of the motion to go paperless.

🏊 Dive In! Free Swims: The Charlottetown Y Service Club dove into offering free monthly swims at the Bell Aliant Centre last weekend. This initiative, backed by a $4,000 sponsorship, adds to the Club's 30-year legacy of supporting aquatic programs through a total contribution of approximately $750,000 to various facilities and initiatives. By offering these swims, the Club aims to counter the rising 'user-pay' model that is replacing taxpayer-funded programming, a trend that restricts lower-income families from accessing the mental and physical benefits of sport and recreational activities. The monthly swims, continuing until June, are scheduled for 12 p.m. to 1:30 p.m. on the third Sunday of each month.

AMALGAMATION

Exploring a new municipality in Southern Kings

The rural municipalities of Murray Harbour and Murray River have agreed to explore the idea of amalgamating into a new municipality serving 3,000 residents. The area being considered would be bordered by Three Rivers to the north and Belfast to the west, which would take in all unincorporated areas served by the two fire districts.

The next step is to seek provincial funding to hire a consultant to study the costs and benefits of moving forward. A report on the study's findings is anticipated to be received by early 2025.

As for public input, an effort will be made to engage with residents within the proposed boundaries. Regardless of how the communities wish to proceed, the final decision would eventually be made by the province.

#PEIslandEdition

Autumn's Pathway 🍂

Janice MacPherson captured the essence of fall in a single photo: plenty of warm colours and a serene atmosphere. Thanks for sharing, Janice!

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

COMMUNITY CORNER

🎭 Get on Board : Are you interested in boundary-pushing theatre and live performances? The Island Fringe Festival is welcoming self-nominations for volunteer positions on its Board of Directors. Four seats are available, offering a unique opportunity to contribute to the leadership and direction of an annual festival. Applications are open until November 30.

🎄 Shine Bright: Lean into the festive spirit during Charlottetown’s official Christmas Tree Lighting at Confederation Centre this Friday, which lines up well with the opening of the three-day Victorian Christmas Market along Queen Street. Discover local artisans, enjoy horse and wagon rides, live music, and warm up with hot cocoa by the fire pits at Atlantic Canada's largest open-air holiday market. The tree lighting takes place at 6:30 p.m.

🤝 Sustainable Swap: The Sierra Club PEI Wild Child Program invites you to a community swap at the Charlottetown Library Learning Centre this Saturday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Bring and exchange gently used clothing, books, craft supplies, and toys. Enjoy this free event, with or without items to swap, and help contribute to a sustainable community. For more details, visit the event’s FB event listing.

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 3°C 🌡️ L -1°C
💨 SE 20 km/h, gusting 40

Thursday

🌧️ H 8°C 🌡️ L 8°C
💨 E 36 km/h, gusting 53

This Weekend

👀 Chilly this weekend, with a high of -5 on Saturday and -1 on Sunday. Periods of sun, though. 

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