Thursday means the weekend is near!

PEI WEATHER

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The weather conditions Thursday are resulting in some issues for travellers.  There are traffic restrictions in effect on the Confederation Bridge because of the strong winds.  They went into effect about 4:15am as winds have been gusting over 100kh in the Strait at times.  Northumberland Ferries has cancelled the 7:00am and 10:00am sailings from Wood Islands, and the 8:30am and 11:45am crossings from Caribou.  The ferry company will monitor the conditions and make an announcement regarding the status of sailings scheduled for the afternoon.

A new project is aiming to raise $50,000 to buy portable Wi-Fi hotspots that Islanders can borrow from the library in Charlottetown for free, letting them sign into the internet wirelessly from remote locations.

A watershed protection group on Prince Edward Island has 100,000 trees to plant as part of the federal 2 Billion Trees Program, meant to bring Canada closer to net zero by 2050. The program is attracting interest from landowners who lost trees during post-tropical storm Fiona. Nancy Russell headed to eastern P.E.I. to find out more.

From producing specialty metal products to charitable fundraising, some businesses and organizations on P.E.I. are in a bind as the Canada Post strike nears the end of its fourth week. 

Canadian financial institutions are lowering their prime lending rates to match the half percentage point decrease Wednesday from the Bank of Canada.  All of the Big Six banks said Wednesday that they’re lowering their prime rate to 5.45 per cent, effective Thursday.  Bank prime rates help determine the cost of things like variable-rate mortgages and lines of credit while fixed mortgage rates are influenced more by the bond market.  Bank of Canada governor Tiff Macklem says Canadians should expect a slower pace of cuts moving forward.

Charlottetown Police are investigating a hit and run vehicle/pedestrian collision that happened on Wednesday, December 4th.  Police say that a small, dark colored sedan was traveling westbound on Richard Drive and struck a pedestrian from behind while they were walking westbound on the right side of the road.  The pedestrian, a 54-year old Charlottetown man, suffered serious injuries and was taken to the QEH.  Police say the collision occurred on the east side of the Richard Drive / Doncaster Avenue intersection, and the vehicle would have sustained some noticeable damage to its front end.   Police believe the vehicle may be a Toyota Corolla, possibly a 2007 to 2012 model.  Police are asking anyone who may have information, witnessed the collision, or that may have video to contact Charlottetown Police or contact PEI Crime Stoppers.

AquaBounty Technologies has announced that the Company will wind down its hatchery operations in Bay Fortune.  In September, AquaBounty announced that it was looking for a buyer for its operation in Rollo Bay, and planned to hold onto its facility in Bay Fortune.  But AquaBounty issued a news release Wednesday indicating it will immediately begin to wind down its Bay Fortune operation, its only remaining operating farm, including the culling of all remaining fish and a reduction of substantially all personnel over the course of the next several weeks.

Northumberland Ferries has cancelled some crossings on Thursday because of the weather forecast.  It has cancelled both the 7:00am and 10:00am crossings from Wood Islands, and the 8:30am and 11:45am sailings from Caribou.  Northumberland Ferries will keep an eye on the conditions and provide an update on the afternoon sailings.

Stars for Life has secured a new building to house its Day Program Services.  Located in the West Royalty Industrial Park, the centralized space will allow Stars For Life to expand its services, providing tailored environments for learning, skill-building and community engagement.  But significant renovations are needed, so Stars For Life is launching a Capital Campaign.

Stars for Life has already raised 50% of the estimated $3 million required for the project through years of dedicated fundraising efforts.

For more information about the Capital Campaign and make a donation, you can go to https://www.starsforlife.com

Organizers behind the Sommo Festival and tourism industry officials on P.E.I. say the event’s move to September in 2024 gave the province’s tourism economy a boost during the early-autumn shoulder season.

The acceptable grounds for a workplace compensation claim on P.E.I. will include psychological harm from harassment as of Jan. 1, 2025. That's something Lisa Donovan has been advocating for since her husband's death was linked to workplace bullying in 2013. Donovan joined CBC News: Compass host Louise Martin to talk about the upcoming changes.

Charlottetown police are asking people to help them find a driver who hit a pedestrian in the Sherwood area the evening of Wednesday, Dec. 4, and didn't stay on the scene. 

With the Canadian postal strike now in its fourth week, some helper elves in P.E.I. are working hard to make sure Santa Claus gets children’s letters in time for Christmas. 

Massachusetts-based AquaBounty has announced it is shutting down its genetically engineered salmon hatchery in Bay Fortune, P.E.I., with 'several senior management members' leaving the company in the face of a cash crisis.

YAY! Happy Hump Day all over again!

PEI WEATHER

TODAY:   Drizzle ending this morning then rain starting this afternoon. High 9

TONIGHT:  Rain ending this evening. Wind South gusting to 70 this evening. Rising to 12 overnight.

TOMORROW:  Periods of rain in the morning ending in the afternoon. Winds Gusting to 70. Falling to 5 in the afternoon.

LATE BUS REPORT

Bus # 71 driven by Diana Leger and serving Sherwood Elementary, Stonepark Intermediate and Charlottetown Rural is running 30 minutes late.

Bus #423  driven by Sarah Chambers to Mt Stewart running 1 hour late

Bus #406 driven by Mary O’Donnell to Vernon River School 45 minutes late.

ANSWER: EGG NOG!

Request your favourite Christmas Song with a dedication for a minimum $25 donation to Toys for Tots on December 18th!

Birthdays for Wednesday, December 11th – CLICK HERE TO SEND ONE

The City of Charlottetown is attempting to mend its relationship with Elections P.E.I.

At about 5:20 pm on Saturday, Summerside Police responded to a call about a possible impaired driver. Officers located the vehicle on MacEwen Road and conducted a traffic stop.  The driver, a 46-year old Summerside area man was arrested at the scene and later provided two breath samples which police say were determined to be more than twice the legal limit. The man is facing impaired charges and a driving suspension was issued.

The Bank of Canada will make its final interest rate announcement for the year Wednesday after four cuts to its policy interest rate so far in 2024.  Those cuts include a half-percentage point cut in October to bring the central bank’s key interest rate down to 3.75 per cent.  Financial markets and forecasters are betting on another jumbo interest rate cut to bring the rate down to 3.25 per cent.

A lack of staffing has reduced the number of MRIs that P.E.I. conducts, leading to even longer wait times for a test and possible diagnosis.

Wearing T-shirts with his face on them, staff and students of Belfast Consolidated celebrated John Munro as P.E.I.'s principal of the year. The award is especially meaningful because the school was almost closed in 2017. Munro says he's just a reflection of what a great community Belfast is. Nancy Russell was there as he received his award.

Premier Dennis King and Canada’s other premiers will meet with Prime Minister Justin Trudeau Wednesday to talk tariffs.  It comes two weeks after they last met to discuss how to respond to U-S president-elect Donald Trump’s threat to impose a 25 per cent tariff on goods from Canada and Mexico when he takes office next month.  The federal government reportedly promised to present a plan to the premiers for their approach to negotiations with Trump and his officials.  News of the first ministers’ meeting came on Tuesday, the same day that Trump tauntingly took to social media to say it was a pleasure to dine with — quote — “Governor Justin Trudeau of the Great State of Canada.”  It’s a nod to a joke Trump made at a dinner last month in Florida that he might make Canada the 51st U-S state.

Premier Dennis King released a statement on Tuesday for Human Rights Day.  King says the day is an important reminder of the values of equality, dignity, and respect that all people should be afforded.  He says all Islanders are encouraged to reject discrimination and work together to build a more inclusive and equitable community for all.  The Premier’s statement notes that human rights play a crucial role in addressing discrimination and inequality.

Music PEI has announced the nominees for the 2025 Music PEI Awards. This year, Dylan Menzie and Vishtèn Connexions lead the pack with six nominations each, followed by Hikado with five, and both Absolute Losers and Richard Wood with four nominations apiece. Public voting for two fan-favorite categories—Ocean 100 and Hot 105.5 Entertainer of the Year and Maritime Electric Music Video of the Year— is open now and runs until January 3rd, 2025. Fans are encouraged to support their favorite nominees by casting their votes online.  Pop Music PEI Week will take place from March 4th-8th, 2025, with events across the Island celebrating PEI’s music scene. This year’s festival promises unforgettable performances, inspiring stories, and the long-awaited awards ceremony honoring the best in Island music.

Marlene Chapman, who fishes out of Murray Harbour, graduated from UPEI last week with a master's degree in Island Studies. She recently completed her thesis on climate adaptation in the P.E.I. lobster fishery, and shares some of her findings with CBC News: Compass host Louise Martin.

Todd Joseph Gallant was arrested earlier this year, with Charlottetown Police saying DNA evidence collected at the crime scene in 1988 pointed to him. Now his lawyer plans to challenge that evidence.

The nominations are out for the 2025 Music P.E.I. Awards, with winners to be announced during P.E.I. Music Week in March.

YAY! Happy Hump Day all over again!

PEI WEATHER

TODAY:   

TONIGHT:  

TOMORROW:  

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Request your favourite Christmas Song with a dedication for a minimum $25 donation to Toys for Tots on December 18th!

Birthday’s for Wednesday, December 11th 

Plans for the new $54-million school in Abram-Village also include an Acadian and francophone arts and culture centre, a public library and a daycare.

The building designs for the new École Évangéline were unveiled on Monday.  The new education centre will replace the school damaged by Hurricane Fiona and will be built on the same site. It will accommodate 225 school-aged students, 56 preschool children in the early years center, and 15 students enrolled in before and after-school care programs. In addition to the school, the centre will feature new office space for the French Language School Board; an Acadian and Francophone arts and cultural centre; a public library; and an expanded early years centre.  

Construction will begin in the summer of 2025, and is expected to be completed in the winter of 2027/2028. 

PEI RCMP stopped seven impaired drivers over the weekend. The RCMP had set up ten checkpoints over the weekend.  They included a checkpoint in Wheatley River, where RCMP say 3 impaired drivers were identified in just 1.5 hours. Checkpoints were also set up in Kinkora; Wilmot; Valleyfield; Stratford; Lower Montague; New London; Slemon Park and Brudenell.  The RCMP says the impaired driving cases involved alcohol and drugs.

Icy road conditions were a major factor Monday morning when an oil delivery truck travelling on the Winsloe Road slid off the road after 6:00am and overturned in the ditch.  The driver was trapped in the truck for a period of time and suffered minor injuries.  A section of the Winsloe Road between the Kentyre Road and Horne Cross Road was closed for several hours.  An estimated 400 to 700 litres of heating oil was spilled as a result of the rollover.  The Provincial Environment Department was called in and officials say the oil was contained and cleaned up with a vac truck.  The oil that was spilled did not impact any waterways.  The North River Fire Department, Island EMS, and Department of Transportation also responded to the scene.

Victims of work-related bullying and harassment will soon be able to make claims to P.E.I.'s Workers Compensation Board, as employees receive training in how to handle them starting in the new year.

Brothers Michael and Tafik Al Mayaleh have been glued to the news and keeping in touch with friends and family in their homeland after Syrian president Bashar al-Assad's authoritarian regime was toppled by rebels on Sunday, bringing what they hope is an end to 14 years of civil war.

Dr. Trevor Jain takes viewers' questions from CBC News: Compass host Louise Martin on this month's segment of Talk With the Doc.

An advocacy group is helping update the reading material in waiting rooms and public spaces across P.E.I., with the goal of deepening Islanders' understanding about a range of diverse topics.  

2024 was a record year for Golf PEI.  It reports that there were 446,000 total rounds played on PEI in 2024, which is a new record, up 12.3% from 2023.  There was also $2.11-million in Golf PEI Reservation Centre sales, a 24% increase.  Golf PEI also successfully completed the first year of its five-year strategic plan, which focused on strengthening its foundation and understanding customer needs. Year two will have new messaging and products to attract more non-resident visitors.

There was a single vehicle collision Monday morning on Route 223 – the Winsloe Rd.  The RCMP says it involved an oil truck rollover, and one person was trapped in the vehicle.  There are no details yet from the RCMP regarding injuries.  The RCMP said there appeared to be some oil leaking from the vehicle. 

A portion of Route 223 was closed off by Police to allow crews to deal with the scene.

The RCMP, Island EMS, North River Fire Department, Environmental officials and PEI Department of Highways crews all responded to the scene.

Air Show Atlantic is coming back to PEI.  The event will return to the Summerside Airport on June 28th and 29th after 7 years.  

Initial performers will be announced as early as this week, and the air and static display lineups will be announced gradually over the next several months. 

Event officials say the process and move to Summerside from Greenwood is underway. 

The fun continues as we kick off Christmas Karaoke today!

PEI WEATHER

DARCY’S TRIVIA FOR ROBIN’S DONUTS

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Emergency crews and provincial environment officials are at the scene of an oil truck rollover Monday morning just outside of Charlottetown. 

Some lobster fishing captains on Prince Edward Island say they think there will be little interest in new parental leave benefits just announced by the federal government. 

Canadian Para biathlete is motivated by last season's success.

As the temperature drops, the need from local food banks only rises. CBC's annual holiday campaign to help local food banks is running through the month of December. CBC's Jay Scotland has more on how you can help Make the Season Kind.

Larry Robbins and his son, Logan, of St. Peters Harbour are among 53 athletes, coaches and staff participating in the Special Olympics national championships this week in Calgary.

Green Party Leader Karla Bernard says the population framework released by the PEI Government this week presents more questions than answers.  She says the population framework is definitely not a strategy and it is not what the province needs to address the immense pressures on the healthcare system, housing market, childcare spaces and more.  The Greens say the only tangible action in the entire document is the 25 percent reduction of federal immigration nominations and the intent to target immigration to areas where staff is most needed. But, Bernard says there is no explanation on how this will help the government achieve its goals.

P.E.I.'s only commercial airport, which served 400,000 passengers in 2023, has released its first-ever sustainability plan as managers strive to reduce the travel hub's impact on the environment. 

The tax season is officially underway for 2024 — and for some, it can be daunting. But there is free help for Islanders with a modest income and simple tax situation.

Police on P.E.I. are asking motorists to drive with caution as temperatures drop and roads become more slippery.

As of 4:45pm Saturday, the RCMP says Route 2 near Lock Shore Road in Summerside is closed for the time being following a two vehicle collision. One vehicle caught fire after all passengers had safely gotten out of the vehicle.  The section of road is closed to allow emergency workers to deal with the fire and remove the vehicles.