Eastern Graphic

Elliotvale teen proud to mind the net Canada's Youth Olympics team

Wed, 02/01/2012 - 05:20

Fifteen-year-old Sam Walsh of Elliotvale recently returned home with a bronze medal after playing as the back-up goaltender for Team Canada in the Youth Olympics in Austria. “It was an amazing experience, to go overseas and play with Canada. It was a once in a lifetime opportunity,” Mr Walsh said. ularly enjoyed earning a shutout in a 9-0 rout of Austria. While he only faced 16 shots, he still had to maintain his focus. “It was my first game playing. Beating the home team in a shut out was really cool.” At the start of the tournament the team was determined to win gold, ...

Taxpayers foot $71,000 bill to keep old high school open

Wed, 02/01/2012 - 05:20

It has cost taxpayers $71,000 to keep a portion of the old Montague High School open for Industrial Arts and an alternative education program in 2010-11. Expenses include fuel, electricity, snow removal, water, maintenance and repairs to the Industrial Arts section used by 450 students from Montague Intermediate and several consolidated schools in the area as well as another portion being used by 20 alternative education students from the Montague Family of Schools. That cost is worth it, Julie Gaudet, acting director of Student Services for the Eastern School District, said. The Montague Family of Schools Alternative Education Program, which is set up ...

Drug search on Byrnes Road and three break-ins keep RCMP busy

Wed, 02/01/2012 - 05:20

Kings District RCMP seized more than 500 pills and $1,000 cash from a Byrnes Road home following a drug search Saturday. “That is a fairly significant drug seizure as far as pills go,” Sergeant Bob Fogarty said. The pills included oxycontin, delaudid, percocet and morphine. Three residents from the home will face charges of possession for the purposes of trafficking March 29 in Georgetown. Police have also confirmed two additional break-ins along with an early Wednesday morning incident in Cardigan. The same morning, a home in Mount Buchanan was broken into. Items were stolen, but police won’t say exactly what at this point. The homeowners took ...

Wed, 02/01/2012 - 05:20

Mikayla Bevan, main photo, and Alyssa Chapman, second photo, were practising their moves at the Cavendish Wellness Centre in Montague Monday. Both skaters have upcoming competitions. Alyssa is headed to St Albert, Alberta in March to compete in the 2012 Special Olympic Canada Games while Mikayla will participate in the 2012 PEI Star competition coming up in O’Leary. Charlotte MacAulay photo ...

Province plays nice with Opacmare - for now

Wed, 02/01/2012 - 05:20

The province is keeping the gloves on with Italian yacht maker Opacmare, which recently closed its Pooles Corner facility. When it did that, Opacmare technically went into a state of default which allows some flexibility in paying back $2.7 million in loans and grants from the province. The province could demand prompter payment of the money and look at seizing assets but there are no plans to do so yet, Innovation Minster Allen Roach said. “As long as we’re still in conversation with them, about settling up their loans on the equipment, and they’re in conversation with Active Communities about the property, they’re ...

Eastern PEI processors look to Souris to hire struggling locals

Wed, 02/01/2012 - 05:20

With the Ocean Choice plant in Souris closed, other processors may not have to hire as many foreign workers as in past years. Pam Perrot, general manager of Beach Point Processing said that plant has been hiring foreign workers for the past two years, and former owners Ocean Choice did so as well. Beach Point representatives planned to attend the job fair in Souris Tuesday. The number of foreign workers they’ll have to hire will depend on how successful they are at the fair. There simply hasn’t been enough local labour to fill the 160-200 positions, Ms Perrot said. This, despite traditional ...

Town gets behind unprecedented Atlantic cancer research project

Wed, 02/01/2012 - 05:00

Montague Town Council was asked at its Committee of Council meeting recently to endorse and provide local logistical support for the biggest cancer research project in Atlantic Canadian history. Tony Loring represented the Atlantic chapter of the Partnership for Tomorrow’s Health, a research project that aims to follow the health of 300,000 people in British Columbia, Alberta, Ontario, Quebec and Atlantic Canada over the next 30 years to learn how genetics, the environment, lifestyle and behaviour contribute to the development of cancer. Atlantic Canada has one of the highest rates of cancer in the country, but it’s not clear why. Thirty thousand ...

Wed, 02/01/2012 - 05:00

Southern Kings Consolidated students from Grades 2 to 4 participated in the annual Royal Canadian Legion Essays, Poems and Posters contest, and won first, second and third prizes in each of their respective categories. In back are treasurer Sterling Conrad, past president Debi Smith, member Stewart Dewar and president Gilbert Murphy. Middle from left are Emily Gregory, Hannah MacKenzie, Bailee Sentner, Jason Gormley, Avery Reynolds, Briana Marie Creed and Jori Livingstone. Front: Carter MacNeill, Alletra Dort, Claire Gosbee, Sydney Gregory, Megan Fraser, Abbygail Matheson and Gabrielle MacDonald. David MacDonald photo ...

Souris doctor stays on

Wed, 02/01/2012 - 05:00

While it’s still not a full complement, Souris Hospital will remain with two permanent physicians after Dr Ambrose Kennedy had a change of heart and will continue practising in the area. In the meantime, the province is having no luck in filling Souris Hospital’s remaining two positions. The Graphic reported back in October that Dr Kennedy was slated to leave Souris this month for personal reasons, and had requested the Department of Health to be relocated to another area on PEI. But Marilyn Barrett, Director of Primary Care Networks for Health PEI, said Friday that Dr Kennedy requested to remain in Souris, ...

Wed, 02/01/2012 - 05:00

From the left, Colville Manor Fundraising Initiative Committee Member, Carol Anne Matheson and Jim Cheverie, member of the Eastern Kings Health Foundation Board accept a cheque in the amount of $1,000 from Bev Perry, Souris CIBC Branch Manager. This generous donation was used for the completion of the interior decor of the new facility. Staff and Residents thank the dedicated members of the Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce for their commitment to the seniors of Souris and surrounding areas. Submitted photo ...

Wed, 02/01/2012 - 05:00

Being all back under one roof, after a year of upheaval is a step in the right direction, but Morell Consolidated still needs some attention from the school board, some parents say. Michelle Gouthro said she is glad her children, who were moved to Morell Consolidated when St Theresas closed in 2009, only to be moved again when the Morell school closed last January due to mold issues, will finally be settled, but the fact that the school lost one full time teacher in this process, puts the students and staff at a disadvantage. “When our school (St Theresas) closed we were ...

Wanted: Most outstanding senior

Wed, 02/01/2012 - 05:00

The Home Instead Senior Care network is searching for the most outstanding senior volunteer in each province. The organization is also promoting the Salute to Senior Service public education program to honour the efforts of those helpful people. “It’s just to show recognition and respect. Seniors do so much for our communities and it’s right that individuals in the community show they recognize that and say thank you, ” David McMillan said from the network’s Charlottetown office. According to a recent survey conducted by the Home Instead Senior Care, 47 per cent of seniors volunteer their time through unpaid community service, and they ...

Save the Lighthouse group starts to gain momentum

Wed, 02/01/2012 - 05:00

A group of 17 Islanders have formed the Panmure Island Lighthouse Association and are on their way to taking over the building. At a meeting last Wednesday, executive, history and fundraising committees were formed, Glenna Campbell-Peardon said. “The whole group is very happy and everyone’s willing to work together.” The group has three years to put together a business plan, though Ms Campbell-Peardon hopes it will take less time. They hope to make the lighthouse into a self-sustaining destination. The lighthouse was recently designated a historic building and the next step is for DFO and Parks Canada to do a heritage assessment and see what ...

Wed, 02/01/2012 - 05:00

Even when it isn’t game night, these three Montague-area hockey players lace up their skates and hit the ice on a frozen pond near the Dalmaney Road to shoot some pucks. Tanner Nicholson, right, who plays with the Kings County AAA Midget team, is seen here taking a slapshot while his friends Luke Collings, who plays for the Montague Midget AA and Nolan Irving of the Morell Junior C team look on. David MacDonald photo ...

Wed, 02/01/2012 - 05:00

The Montague Branch of the Royal Canadian Legion celebrated its 79th anniversary last Thursday. Seven First World War Veterans founded the Legion in 1932. Here, president Gilbert Murphy cuts a celebratory cake, flanked by the Legion executive including, from left, Joseph MacLean, Debi Smith, Grant Dixon, Sterling Conrad and William MacLure. Missing are John Rowe, Pat McGowan, Caleb Daley, Stewart Dewar and Blair Vessey. Jonathan Charlton photo ...

Souris Duplicate Bridge

Wed, 02/01/2012 - 05:00

Souris Duplicate Bridge scores for Tuesday, January 24: 1) Alan Gauthier and Judy Chaisson 2) Betty Hannan and Helen MacDonald 3) Joe MacPhee and Ernie Gallant 4) Terry Brennan and George Beck 5) Dave Townshend and David White. ...

The big winner was the Kingswood Centre

Wed, 02/01/2012 - 05:00

Well we had quite a busy weekend both at home and away. Thirty-two teams participated in the Business Charity Bonspiel at the Montague Curling Club. Laughter filled the place as everyone had a great time. The winning team was Foster Campbell and his crew. Runner-up was the MacDonald’s Vegetable team with Johnathan MacDonald, Dennis Madden and Wade and Dawson Higginbotham. But the big winner was this year’s local charity, the Kingswood Centre which bonspiel chairman Scott Annear was able to give a donation to on behalf of all participants for $2,500.00. Thanks to Scott and his committee and to all ...

High school Disney Choir concert to get people in a loving mood

Wed, 02/01/2012 - 05:00

By Jonathan Charlton jonathan@peicanada.com ...

Needleworkers Guild to meet February 14

Wed, 02/01/2012 - 05:00

A meeting of the East Isle Needleworkers Guild will be held on Tuesday, February 14 at 7:30pm in the Active Communities Centre boardroom, 540 Main Street, Montague. Please use the side door off the parking lot. For more information, please call Thelma Fraser at 838-3472 or Carol Nicholson at 838-2795. ...

Cabin Fever Ceilidh to be held in Belfast February 3

Wed, 02/01/2012 - 05:00

A “Cabin Fever Ceilidh” will be held Friday, February 3 from 7pm-9pm at the Belfast Rec Centre to raise money for the Selkirk Millennium Seniors Club. It’s also, as the name implies, to help people from going squirrelly by staying indoors for too long, Andy LaBonte said. “It’s to get people the heck out of their easy chairs and up singing and dancing,” he said. Entertainment will be provided by local musicians and there will be a lunch of biscuits, jam, tea and coffee. There will hopefully be a couple more of these events in the future, Mr LaBonte said. ...