The stands were packed at the O’Leary Community Sports Centre when the Stanley Cup arrived early Wednesday afternoon, part of Scotiabank Hockey Day in Canada celebrations held across PEI. Hundreds of children, escorted by RCMP officers in ceremonial red serge, posed for pictures at centre ice. Upstairs at the rink visitors got a chance to cast their ballots for the best of eight Stanley Cup replicas, crafted by students at O’Leary Elementary School as part of a “Copy the Cup” contest.  The Cup’s next stop after O’Leary was Abram Village.   Captions: ...

  The Stanley Cup made a stop at  the Alberton Elementary School, where spectators filled the gymnasium just hoping to catch a glimpse.  All of the classrooms in the school will get three or four minutes with the Cup while it is on display before the general public had their chance. The three are former Regals players, Roy Fraser, a long-time manager of Jacques Cartier Arena, Mike Kinch, team sponsor, and Westisle teacher Darcy Harris, former player of the Montreal Canadiens.    ...

Hundreds of people lined the boards along the rink at the Tignish Credit Union Arena early Wednesday morning, all straining for a glimpse of the iconic Stanley Cup, professonal sports most recognized trophy. Precisely on the stroke of 10:30 am the Cup and its entourage, including Phil Pritchard, vice-president and curator of the Hockey Hall of Fame, and the trophy’s constant companion, arrived. He wore his trademark white gloves when the Cup was removed from its case and taken onto the ice to loud cheers, and then placed in the centre of two lengths of green carpet for young fans and ...

It seemed like a great notion when 14-year-old Drew Murphy pitched the idea for a youth centre to Alberton Town Council last spring. Drew, accompanied by several supporters, was encouraged by the reception he received from councillors. It seemed the proposal would take root, especially with letters of support from the Alberton Lions Club and the Alberton and Area Development Corporation. But little has happened since. ...

 By Cindy Chant cindy@peicanada.com   For Hamilton, Ontario born Katherine Burleigh spending summers with her grandmother, Sylvia Smith, in Bideford was one of the highlights of her childhood. It was also one of the things that brought her back to West Prince. ...

 West Prince RCMP have received a number of complaints about illegal snowmobiling activities over the past week, including complaints about possible intoxicated operators. The complaints starting coming when the snow deepened, said Cpl Dominique Cloutier. “We’re starting to see them now that the snow is starting to stay,” he said. The majority of the snowmobile-related calls appear to have come from Tignish, said Cpl Cloutier. ...

 Heart and Stroke Foundation (HSF) celebrated the deployment of an automated external defibrillator (AED) in Tignish, Jan 9. With the support of national sponsors Boston Pizza Foundations, The Cowan Foundaton and Tignish Volunteer Fire Department an AED will be placed at the Tignish Health Centre.  “Having an AED installed at the Centre provides a safer environment for our staff and for individuals who use our facility,” said Stephen Gallant, president, board of directors, Tignish Co-Op Health Centre. ...

 The Alberton synchronized skating teams have had a successful, busy few weeks.  The 2012 Friendship Synchronized Skating Competition was held at the Charlottetown Civic Centre, Charlottetown on Jan 15. This event was a Skate Canada PEI sanctioned event.  Teams competed in three categories skills, freeskate and a cheer event. The Ice Pixies, who just began skating together this year, won gold overall in their category, Beginner II. Ice Intensity, who have been skating together since 2006, won silver overall in their category, Juvenile.   ...

 

(Cindy Chant's editorial)

 

There’s no escaping a day that is particularly hard on single people - Valentine’s Day. Store shelves are stocked with a sea of red and pink products, including a variety of fancily wrapped boxes of chocolates just waiting to make someone’s day.

 By Cindy Chant cindy@peicanada.com   Staff at the O’Leary branch of Access PEI have been busy organizing events in preparation for Family Violence Prevention Week which runs Feb 12-18. Valerie Smallman, director for the West Prince Family Violence Prevention Services, said the week helps raise awareness within the community about the terrible toll taken by family violence. ...