Sgt. Butler of the RCMP Talks About Road Safety With EOV

Joey (Q): How can islanders decrease the amount of yearly vehicle accidents?

Sgt. Butler (A): Here on PEI we have four main problems that we concentrate on and those problems usually contribute to most of the collisions that we have. We like to call them collisions instead of accidents because quite often an accident is something that just happens but with a collision usually there is something behind it, someone is speeding (also called aggressive driving), not wearing seat-belts, using a hand-held device (also called a cell phone) and our biggest problem on PEI is impaired driving or driving while drinking.

Joni (Q): Is there a right or a wrong way to wear your seat-belt?

Sgt. Butler (A ): That is an excellent question because, yes, there is a proper way to wear your seat-belt and some people like to wear it the improper way. To wear your seat-belt (and we can still give a ticket for only having it half on) the proper way, if it's the belts that we call the 'two system' they go around your waste and over your shoulder. It must be over your shoulder and buckled in. You can't put it behind your arm because that is an improper way to wear it and it's unsafe for the wearer. So people need to remember that we can fine somebody if they are wearing it the wrong way.

Joey (Q): What is the most common excuse given by drivers for texting while driving?

Sgt. Butler (A): We don't like to see any excuses because here on PEI it's a very serious problem. A lot of people are using hand-held devices to text or read their E-mail. We don't give warnings for that. We only give tickets. I think that a lot of people do it because its such a habit to have your phone in your hand all the time and also people are always in a hurry. If they want to use their phone they have to pull over to the side of the road and completely stop before using your phone.

Joni (Q): How many (approximately) are fined yearly on PEI yearly for texting?

Sgt. Butler (A): I don't have the numbers with me but it is an increasing problem. We have seen over the last number of years that people are 'texting and driving' more and more. We don't give any warnings. We must give a ticket and the ticket is very expensive. We have the highest fine anywhere in Canada. It's $500.00 dollars for texting or using your phone plus an additional $75.00 which is on every ticket,so, its $575.00 fine.

Joey (Q): How many (approximately) are fined yearly on P E I for not wearing their Seat belts

Sgt. Butler (A): I was very surprised in the last number of years to see how many people are not wearing their seat-belts. This year on PEI we have had 19 fatalities and I can tell you that in at least 6, if not 7 of those fatalities, not wearing seat-belts was an contributing factor. That's still a high number of people that don't wear them.

Joni (Q): Can you be fined for texting while driving your bicycle?

Sgt. Butler (A): That's a good question. If you are on a peddle bike,no, but any motorized Vehicle you can't use your hand-held device. That would include tractors that may go on the road. Any vehicle that is motorized and on a roadway on PEI can be fined.

Joey (Q): How are you folks raising awareness regarding texting and seat-belt use?

Sgt. Butler (A): We do a lot of Media interviews just like this so that people who put out articles help us educate others. There is signage on the roads coming onto the island that tell people that they are going to be fined if they don't wear their seat-belts and we try to include it in the various reports that we do. If there is a collision and they didn't have their seat-belts on, we tell the people. So we try to educate with Media Releases and we also have Twitter and Facebook accounts.

https://twitter.com/rcmppei

https://twitter.com/rcmppeitraffic

https://www.facebook.com/rcmpgrcpei/?fref=ts

A Word from Egmont Candidates

EOV sent an email out to all four Egmont candidates yesterday asking them to answer the following two questions. The following are the responses received to date.

1. What are your plans to develop opportunities for employment, affordable postsecondary education, and affordable independent living (specifically) for person's with disabilities here on Prince Edward Island?

2. As the candidate for your party in the Egmont district, what is your vision for the future, for persons with disabilities?

Gail R. Shea, PC, MP

The following items are relevant to your question about disabilities and education:

1) Disability Tax Credit

The disability tax credit (DTC) is a non-refundable tax credit used to reduce income tax payable on the income tax and benefit return. A person with a severe and prolonged impairment in physical or mental functions may claim the disability amount once they are eligible for the DTC.

The purpose of the DTC is to provide for greater tax equity by allowing some relief for disability costs, since these are unavoidable additional expenses that other taxpayers don’t have to face.

2) Disability Supports Deduction

If you have an impairment in physical or mental functions, you can claim a disability supports deduction if you paid expenses that no one has claimed as medical expenses, and you paid them so that you could:

• be employed or carry on a business (either alone or as an active partner);
• do research or similar work for which you received a grant; or
• attend a designated educational institution or a secondary school where you were enrolled in an educational program.

3) Child Disability Benefit (CDB)

The Child Disability Benefit (CDB) is a tax-free benefit for families who care for a child under age 18 who is eligible for thedisability amount.

A child is eligible for the disability amount when a qualified practitioner certifies, on Form T2201, Disability Tax Credit Certificate, that the child has a severe and prolonged impairment in physical or mental functions, and the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) approves the form.

4) Registered disability savings plan (RDSP)

A registered disability savings plan (RDSP) is a savings plan that is intended to help parents and others save for the long term financial security of a person who is eligible for the disability tax credit (DTC).
Contributions to an RDSP are not tax deductible and can be made until the end of the year in which the beneficiary turns 59. Contributions that are withdrawn are not included in income for the beneficiary when they are paid out of an RDSP. However, the Canada disability savings grant (grant), the Canada disability savings bond (bond), investment income earned in the plan, and rollover amounts are included in the beneficiary's income for tax purposes when they are paid out of the RDSP.

5) Canada Disability Savings Grant

The Canada Disability Savings Grant is a matching grant. That means that the Government also pays into your RDSP to help you save. The Government gives matching grants of up to 300 percent, depending on the beneficiary's family income and contribution. The maximum Grant amount is $3,500 per year, with a limit of $70,000 over your lifetime. Grants are paid into the RDSP until the end of the year you turn 49 years of age.


6) Canada Disability Savings Bond

The Canada Disability Savings Bond is money the Government contributes to the Registered Disability Savings Plans (RDSPs) of low- and modest-income Canadians. If you qualify for the Bond, you can receive up to $1,000 a year, depending on the beneficiary’s family income. Over an individual’s lifetime, there is a limit of $20,000. Bonds are paid into the RDSP until the end of the year the beneficiary turns 49 years of age. You do not need to make any contributions to your RDSP to receive the Bond

.

In terms of the future, my fondest hope is that barriers to inclusion will continue to be lowered for people with disabilities.  Technology, medical research, and ever greater societal understanding and all bode well for those who suffer physical or mental disabilities.  It's critical to understand that this is not an "us or them" situation: as we age -- and Canada's is an ageing population-- even those who have lived for years without disabilities will begin to develop them.  This is a situation that faces us all, and for which we must all work for solutions.  

Nils Ling Candidate for Green Party

Hi, folks,

Thanks for the questions!  It's always a pleasure to talk about the Green Party's platform since I am very passionate about so many elements of it.  

I learned a lot about people facing challenges during my time working at PCC.  And since then, my eyes have been further opened.

Canadians with disabilities and their families live with disproportionate levels of poverty and exclusion. To better understand the underlying factors, the Council of Canadians with Disabilities (CCD) and the Canadian Association for Community Living (CACL) commissioned the Caledon Institute of Social Policy to study the situation and propose solutions. It concluded that:

Canadians with disabilities are more likely to live in poverty than other Canadians. Poverty is a result of both exclusion and lack of supports, and it contributes to further exclusion and vulnerability in a ‘vicious cycle’.

Children with disabilities are twice as likely as other children to live in households that rely on social assistance as a main source of income.

Poverty rates of Canadians with disabilities result in large part from the lack of needed disability supports, which enable access to education, training, employment, and community participation.

Canadians with disabilities are too often exiled to inadequate, stigmatizing, and ineffective systems of income support that were never designed to address the real income needs of Canadians with disabilities.

The federal government has a key role to play in addressing the poverty and income security needs of Canadians – they have done this through Employment Insurance, CPP/QPP, Old Age Security and the Guaranteed Income Supplement, the National Child Benefit, and Child Disability Benefit, and various tax measures.  But it's clearly not enough. 

The Green Party is calling for a multi-pronged effort to meet these challenges and allow people with disabilities to enjoy their fair share of the richness that Canada has to offer.  So to answer your questions:

Green Party MPs will:

1. Work to create a Canada Disabilities Act (CDA) to express Canadians’ vision of a more equitable society rather than the current confusion resulting from the multiplicity of acts, standards, policies, and programs that prevail;

2.  Support a national equipment fund to provide equipment such as wheelchairs and accessibility tools to assist persons with disabilities with the tools needed to fully participate in work and community life (This can be a joint program with provinces – the concern is equal access and common standards.);

3. Invest in social housing adapted as necessary to meet particular needs, with both rental and purchase options. This is simply an expansion of our housing program recognizing particular needs;

4. Provide federal health transfer payments to provinces and territories directed to rehabilitation for those who have become disabled, e.g. loss of limbs etc.;

5. Enforce the Employment Equity Act to ensure that persons with disabilities have equal opportunity to long-term employment and advancement. Disabled people are generally the last to find employment and the first to be laid off;

6. Institute a basic income for people living with disabilities so that none live in poverty by:

•  Converting the Disability Tax Credit (DTC) to a refundable credit as a first step in creating a national Basic Income program for working-age adults with disabilities;

• Redesigning the Canada Pension Plan/Disability Benefit (CPP/D) test to incorporate the DTC definition of disability and permit employment, rather than the CPP/D definition that requires a ‘severe’ disability to be life-long and to be the cause of any incapacity to pursue ‘any gainful occupation.’ The revised definition allows individuals to work while retaining eligibility for basic income.

7. Immediately eliminate tuition fees for post-secondary education, including colleges and trade training for people with lower incomes, leading up to an elimination of all tuition fees by 2020.  We will also cap all existing student debt at $10,000.  We can’t ask young people to fix a mess we older folks made, then gouge them for the privilege of cleaning up after us.

2.  My vision for the future for people with disabilities in Egmont?  I see a society where people with disabilities are given the resources, the training, the encouragement, and whatever support they need to determine their own future.  I see a society that puts people before profits and supports every single person in becoming the best he or she can be.  I see a society that cares for those who need it and gives a fair chance to those willing to take it.  

To get there requires a change in thinking.  We can’t continue on with “politics as usual”.  I joined the Green Party not because it's the easy way, but because it's the right way.

I hope these answers are helpful.  

Finally Nashville Bound!!!

Joey -  Joni, when are you heading to Nashville?

Joni - November 17th on a bus tour!

Joey - When did you realize your dream was finally going to come true?

Joni - Over the summer my mom decided this was the year we were going to do it!

Joey - How does it feel to be this close to your dream finally?

Joni - Happy! Happy! Happy! Happy! Happy! Happy! Happy!

Joey - I guess it's pretty safe to assume you're happy about it!

Joni - Yeah (Smiling)

Joey - So you have a big concert coming up on the 18th of October. Tell me about that.

Joni - It's going to be a well-rounded country music concert with a fun Emcee, Aunt Matilda and some great performers.

Joey - Tell us some of who'll be performing.

Joni - Kim Albert, Carol Karr, Allan Sonier, D'Arcy Ellis, Lurlean Palmer, Adrienne Gallant, Jim Dickson (on Banjo), Veronica Murray (she's a dancer), Mike and Karen Penton, and Paige and Pierre Poirier.

Joey - Wow! How did you get such an awesome line-up?  This sounds like it'll be the country concert of the year!

Joni - We put a call out to folks to help and they are all people I know and like and they were all really happy for me to finally get to realize my dream and they wanted to help me raise some funds in order to make my dream come true.

Joey - Sounds like you have some amazing friends.

Joni - Yes I do diddley do!

Joey - How much are the tickets and where can they be purchased?

Joni - The tickets are $10 each or for a family of 4 there's a deal of $20. You can buy advance tickets at 420 Read Drive here in Summerside, the phone number is 436.0005 or you can purchase at the door.

Joey - Where is the concert being held?

Joni - The Hall in Lot 16.

Joey - How long have you been working towards this dream trip Joni?

Joni - I created a vision board for this ten years ago and have been saving for that long.

Joey - Wow, that's a long time but obviously it's been worth it.  Do you have any advice to give other people with dreams.

Joni - Yeah.  Just put your mind to it and if you need help, just ask.

Joey - Thanks for the interview Joni.  We at EOV wish you a fun trip and be sure to stay safe and post pics on your Nashville page.

Joni - Thank you for interviewing me and I will have lots of pics and a few souvenirs from Nashville when I get back!


https://www.facebook.com/Joni-is-Nashville-Bound-1200156810000597/

Culture Summerside's Historic Ghostwalk, Thursday, October 22nd

Looking to get spooked?  

Do you like a few spine tingling thrills with your history?

Then on Thursday, October 22nd come to 75 Spring Street and take in Culture Summerside's Historic Ghostwalk.  A guided tour throughout the historic district of Summerside to view vignettes of true stories of Halloween and the darker side of Island history. 

New stories every year. 


Tours start at 6:30 pm and go every 10 minutes through to 8 pm.
To book tickets call MacNaught History Centre and Archives at 902-432-1332
New Stories each year.
Ticket Price: $8.00, children under six free     
Tickets must be pre-purchased.
Dress for the Weather.

Wyatt Heritage Properties’ Historic Ghostwalk Thursday, October 22, 2015, 6:30 pm to 8 pm 75 Spring Street, Summerside Tickets must be pre-booked to determined tour time. 

A Chat with Corporal Josh Robillard (SKYHAWKS) on the Atlantic Canada International Air Show in Summerside (2015)

Joey (Q): Just wondering when did you first got interested in performing in the Air Show?

Josh (A): I started sky diving about six years ago.  I started civilian side, that means I started doing it as a sport. It was only recently that I got interested in doing it with the military. I had known of the SKYHAWKS for quite a few years. It has always been a dream to build and format Airshows. This past year I had the opportunity to apply for the team and its been a ride ever since.

Joey (Q): Who did you idolize growing up and did you have a family member that was involved in the airshow?

Josh (A): Like most kids growing up in Canada, you know we have our hockey heros. There wasn't anyone specific. I have always been a Toronto Maple Leafs fan. I have not had any family members involved in the airshow. One of my uncles was part of the old airborne regiment and that had peaked a lot of interest.

Joey (Q): How much training goes into each and every airshow performance? 

Josh (A): Prior to the start of the season the entire team under goes what is called the main trainning camp and we do this in April down in California. During this five week period we do approximately 150 to 200 trainning jumps with a world class coach.  Prior to even applying for the team we all have to be qualified parachutist so we are already bringing a skill set to the team and this training camp brings us up to standards needed to perform in front of large shows and land in small areas.

Joey (Q): What kind of security is behind every air show?

Josh (A): That is the responsibility of each individual venue. We are strictly performing a dynamic aerobatic parachute routine. 

Joey (Q): What kind of show can they expect this year?

Josh (A): The show is kept fairly similar from year to year.  We have a very large base of knowledge and experience that we build upon and this helps ensure the most dynamic and as safe a show as possible.

Joey (Q): How does it make you feel when you are performing in an airshow for new fans?

Josh (A): The shows are always an amazing experience. You know, everything from the kids reactions to the applause,  it's an amazing experience to be doing something I love that people appreciate.

Joey (Q): What kind of maneuvers will you be doing and are any of them new ones?

Josh (A) : During the main training camp, we are taught all the individual performances and formations. At the end of the camp we're designated a certain formation which we will fly the entire season and, once again, the consistency of applying the same formation allows for a much better show.  Myself,personally,  I am part of the tri-by-side. It's a three man formation. It basically looks like three canopies side by side. Once we are over the crowd we down play it straight at the ground and brake apart at the last minute and land safely.

Joey (Q): What made you want to dedicate your life to being an Air Show pilot?

Josh (A): Basically we are on a team for a year so the team is actually made up of all kinds of service men on the force. They are made up of army, navy, airforce, all different trades. Once the season is done, I go back to my regular job as a Vehicle Technician.

Joey (Q): What does it feel like when you are flying in the air?

Josh (A): The best way to explain it is the ultimate feeling of freedom.

Joey (Q): Do you have any rituals you do before your performance?

Josh (A): There is what they call the SkyDiver's handshake and it is a palm slap, followed by a fist pump prior to exiting every jump. Every member of the team does this handshake with each other. It is probably the most notable type of ritual.

Joey: Thank you very much Josh and all the best in future endeavours!

Reporter: Joey Blacquiere 

A Chat with Lt. Matthew Strong on the Atlantic Canada International Air Show in Summerside (2015)

ATLANTIC CANADA INTERNATIONAL AIR SHOW August 22 – 23 2015

Joey: Lt Mathew Strong when did you get interested in performing in airshows?

Lt. Matthew Strong: I guess, at a young age. I started going to airshows when I was a kid. My dad use to take me to airshows and I really enjoyed it. Ever since then, I have been really interested in aviation. I was an Air Cadet growing up as well. I joined the military about five years ago and the opportunity came up to become involved with the aviation team and I am really enjoying it.

Joey: Who did you idolize growing up and did you have a family member in the air force?

Lt. Matthew Strong: My father was in the air force for thirty two years and just retired last year. I am pretty proud of that. As for who I idolized, I guess when I was a kid there use to be a guy named Capt. Steven “Bunt” Nierlich and he was a kind of idol.

Joey: When it comes flying the CF-18 Hornet, how much training goes into each and every performance?

Lt. Matthew Strong: So our pilot and groundcrew practice for two and a half weeks at the beginning of the season. It's every day, two times a day, two flights a day and there is also the training our pilots go though just to become a Hornet pilot a CF-18 Hornet, that training takes about five years from start to finish.

Joey: How does it make you feel when you are performing in an airshow for new fans?

Lt. Matthew Strong: I am not the pilot. Our pilot feels like he is giving back to the community. The entertainment value of the performance he provides really makes him feel good. It feels good for him to interact with Canadians and put on a good show! The rest of the team is really proud of him too! We all are very proud to be in the military and to serve Canadians. We really enjoy that.

Joey: What kind of maneuvers will you be doing and did you learn any new ones?

Lt. Matthew Strong: At the start of the season he had to learn some new moves but he mastered those and he learned them very well. All the moves he does are all scripted out and they practice them a lot and he is really good at what he does!

Joey: What made you want to dedicate your life to an airshow?

Lt. Matthew Strong: Serving Canada and serving Canadians is something I've always aspired to do with my life and I am really proud to do it.

Joey: How does it make you feel when you are flying?

Lt. Matthew Strong: I am not a pilot myself but it's an exhilarating experience and CAPTAIN DENIS ''CHEECH'' BEAULIEU tells me that it's an extremely exhilaratingexperience. There's a lot of adrenalin when you go fast. When you are doing a lot of those maneuvers it's pretty physically demanding on him but he's pretty good at what he does.

Joey: Do you practice any rituals before your performance?

Lt. Matthew Strong: CHEECH likes to listen to Metallica before each performance when he is at the other airport in Charlottetown. Before this show when he was getting dressed, he was listening to their black album, then he rocked out in the air.

Reporter – Joey Blacquierre

Talking Lobster Festival Talk With Don Quarles

Joni: Why was the name Lobster Carnival Changed to the Lobster Festival ?
Don: To reflect more of what this event really is, a celebration of music, food, and community.

Joey: What can we expect this year that's different from last year ?

Don: Several things. First of all we have a new Title Sponsor, Curran and Briggs Limited. The parade this year is going to be produced by Generation xx and EastLink is going to be televising it, our website has been redesigned summersidelobsterfest.com and we are hosting our first annual world qualifying triathlon which is called trilobster.ca. It will be taking place on Sunday, July 19 th before the opening day and of course we are doing a

number of theme days, and we are having Matt Dean Pettit and Randall Angus of Lennox Island in the Confederation Bridge tent as well as all the other things that are happening down at the waterfront.  We are enhancing that whole area and of course we are going to have a waterfront outdoor stage, four beach Volleyball courts that are going to be poured down and there will also be parking on site.  "Go Lobster" of course is the event that is it is running all month long during the month of July and we have  22 restaurants in Summerside that are participating. They will all have specialty menu dishes and you can go get your free passport at the participating restaurants and it's golobster.ca in case if any one is wondering.

This year we have a beer tent sponsor, Upstreet Craft Brewing and those are some of the new things that are coming for Summerside's Lobster Festival 2015.

Joni: What kind of  children's events are you going to offer this year ?

Don: We have a whole kid's summer fun zone that's going to be taking place. There is an admission of   $5.00 and that gives them access to bouncy castles, the kids lego building zone (they get to build a lego lobster and take it home), the sand castle zone will be there again this year and of course the midway will be available for kids and families.

Joey: What kinds of entertainment are u going to offer this year ?

Don:  Every one of the days there is going be entertainment on the out door stage.b As an example, we are going to have a number of Acadian performances by Louise and Helene, as well as VISHTEN,  the youth talent contest, Meghan Blanchard, on the Wednesday is  the step-dancing comptation and also we are going to have the Collage of Pipping performing as well as the Prince County Fiddlers, on Thursday we will have the Mi' Kmaq Cultural Day Celtic day and diversity day. There are going to be a number of performers, and drum groups. On Friday we have  the Small Halls Sponsored Stage with a number of singer/ songwriters that will be performing, including Amy and Rachel Beck, Bret Gallant, Zach Doucette, Nathan Wiley, Taylor Sonier , Dylan McKenzie, Johnny Oliver Band and that night we are going we are going to have a sunset concert with SLOW-COASTER and on Saturday, its a full lineup for Multi Cultural bands and performers that are going to be performing as part of diversity from 2:00 pm until 10:00 pm  and they will be performing on the out door stage.

Joni: What venues will be used during the festival ?

Don: Most everything will be down on the waterfront on Green's shore other than some of the traditional events like the lobster trap challenge. It will be taking place at the Silver Fox Curling & Yacht Club also the cardboard box races are taking place at Spinnakers Landing but aside from that everything else is down on Green's Shore.

Joey: How many volunteers do you have? Are you looking for more?

Don: I do have some volunteers but we are always looking for more. Folks interested in volunteering can contact the office here.  They can E-mail us here: lobsterfestival@city.summerside.pe.ca or call the number (902) 432 – 1279. We will have a lot various things we will need people to help with; some parking, directing people and helping them find things, maintenance on the grounds, picking up garbage,  so any help would be great.

Joni: What is your vision for the future of the Summerside Lobster Festival ?

Don: Well, it's not just my vision. It's actually the community's vision and I think that everyone wants to see this as a successful event they can come to every year and invite friends and family. So, really we are trying to build something that is a combination of entertainment with a huge culinary component with lots of lobster  that brings the community out. It's really a community event.

http://summersidelobsterfest.com/

On behalf of EOV, Thank you Don Quarles for the interview

EOV Reporter - Joni Miner

EOV Reporter - Joey Blacquiere

An Afternoon with Summerside Planning Officer, Thayne Jenkins

Joey (Q):

Good Afternoon Thayne. Could you tell us about what generated the Community Engagement Project that is currently happening in Summerside?

Thayne Jenkins (A):

Well, every five years we are required to review our official plan. Our five years actually came up in 2011 and that's when we started this review. It's taken more time then what we had hoped but that is pretty normal. Many types of reviews take longer then we think. Back to your question, it is a five year review and council has said that they want it completed by October.

Joni (Q):

What is it that you personally hope to accomplish with the community engagement project?

Thayne Jenkins (A):

Most of all we want to educate residents about what an official plan is and work to create a vision for the community. Hopefully some people will be interested in the process and want to follow the process and contribute to the process. When we gather and listen to people's ideas it allows them to become involved in the process. I think there are some people who feel no one is going to listen to them so why bother to contribute.  So the message we want to send is that we want to hear everyone's comments. We want to hear their ideas and we want everyone's help to create a new vision for Summerside for the future.

Joey (Q):

Summerside's population in 2011, according to census was a little under 15,000. Have you received much in the way of feedback from Summerside residents ?

Thayne (A):

I have received feedback at the farmers market  but certainly there is room to receive more. At our Roundtable on April 23rd we hope to receive a lot more feedback or at least provide people an opportunity to become more aware of the process.  

Interesting point you bring up about our population. Since the 1995 amalgamation the population of Summerside has only grown by 250 residents which is not very much. We have to grow our population. A concern we are hearing from some people, a "What's Red Alert", is a concern that we are losing our youth. How do we keep our youth here? I think one possible way of increasing the population is to try to attract immigration to Summerside. 

Joni (Q):

Have you had time to go through all the feedback that was passed in so far or are you waiting for the feedback from the April 23rd Roundtable talks at Credit Union Place?

Thayne (A):

I have had a chance to go through some of the comments after each time at the farmers market.  In general people are saying that the Boardwalk is a great asset so obviously then a lot of people feel that way. But the purpose of this review is to try to get a general overview of what people are thinking. There maybe ideas expressed that we never even thought of at all and that's what I want to hear too.

Joey (Q):

How much weight will the feedback that you get from Summerside residents carry in future changes to the city?

Thayne (A): 

I am hoping that it does carry a lot of weight. It will depend on the nature of the comments but I am thinking the comments should get a lot of weight I will pass them along to Council and we will try to develop policies from their comments. Ultimately it's up to Council wheher they want to except, modify, deny or just refuse whatever the policy is but I am also trying to engage Council to learn the process as well because they have to listen to their constituients as well and hear from them.   I did extend the invitation to Council  and was happy when Councilor Desroches and Councilor McColeman joined me at the Farmers Market.

Joni (Q):

Will the information be made available to the general public?

Thayne (A): 

That's my hope. I want to have this on the city's website and perhaps social media.

Joey (Q):

Will the suggestions that come from the majority of the people who take part in this project be the suggestions that are given priority?

Thayne (A):

I think we will have to take everyone's suggestions and put some kind of ranking priority on them if we can and certainly any comments that apply. There could be questions that partly apply to other departments, may be parks and recreation for example, and those suggestions will certainly be given to those departments.

Joni (Q):

In carrying out this project, have you surprised by anything?

Thayne (A):

I was surprised that the reaction that I got at the farmers market actually because I had no idea what to expect and until you try, you really don't know what's going to happen. The purpose of the colors is that colors always attract people and because people see them and the colors engage them.  However, it's not just the words, its the graphics, how you present your display and how you frame the question. It should be easy for people to understand.  I am only looking for people to put down one or two words. We are not looking to write an essay.

Joey (Q):

What are the "one things" that you would list under each of your created categories; golden, rust, blue, and red?

Thayne (A): 

I did start putting down my own comments and for me what was golden is being that I am a big walker, I would say the boardwalk. I think what I put down for being rusty was Reads Corner. As you come into Summerside I think I would like to see a more attractive intersection. What was blue to me would be to have bike lanes. I am not a big biker or anything but that is something I would definitely do in the future. For a red alert,  I see the loss of youth as a concern, as well, concerns about retail. We are losing a lot of our retail from our downtown and that is a concern. I am a big believer in downtown.