By Jonathan Charlton
jonathan@peicanada.com

Mississauga resident Yvonne Lindgren-Price, a freelance writer, and her husband Jim, a real estate agent and personal trainer, are midway through a cross-Canada tour that sees them living for one month in each of the 10 provincial capitals.

On Friday, they were in Murray River for one of their last PEI sights before they head to Fredericton for the month of August. Starting in April, they had already covered Toronto, St. Johns and Halifax.

They were in the village to check out Mike Newman’s winery, tasting a sample of blueberry wine.

“We like to interview interesting people,” Ms Lindgren-Price said.

Their odyssey, which Ms Lindgren-Price will turn into a book titled
“Zooming Across Canada,” was inspired by their own wanderlust and the experiences of their children.

About three years ago, when their kids drove out to British Columbia, the couple realized they wanted to see more of Canada.

“I was really curious to know what it’s like to live in each city,” Ms Lindgren-Price said. They hope to teach Canadians more about their country.

Just staying in a city for a couple weeks isn’t enough time to get to know a city in depth, they said, so they arranged to rent out houses or apartments along each step.

They’ve enjoyed their stay in Charlottetown as well as the rest of the east coast, they said.

For example, they noticed that while in Toronto many people - even those they were interviewing - were constantly on their Blackberries, use of the devices is far less visible east of Quebec.

In their month on PEI they’ve admired the natural beauty of the province, the slower pace of life, its arts and entertainment and its food.

While at a party, a woman grabbed a pair of spoons and played along with a man on a guitar.

“Where do you see that? And she was good,” Ms Lindgren-Price said.

They’ve also come to know some of PEI’s cultural idiosyncrasies. One man couldn’t get over how nobody in Ontario ever asked her who her father was, she said.

While it’s hard to pick a favourite province from their Maritime trek so far, they have enjoyed getting to know the birthplace of Confederation.

“You feel a lot of Canadian pride in the city,” she said.

“Everyone, if they get the opportunity, should come here.”

The hardest part, Mr Price said, is saying goodbye to all the friends they make in a month.

“So we say, ‘see you later,’” he said.

Proceeds from the project will go to the CHIP charity, on whose board Ms Lindgren-Price serves, which helps long-term care patients stay in touch with family and friends.