The Buzz - June 2026

Teresa Doyle

Land and art

On an early spring morning, just as the mayflowers had come into season, I had a lovely chat with Melissa PeterPaul. She had already been up for hours, quilling and creating since the wee hours before daybreak. “My grandmother used to harvest mayflowers, create beautiful bouquets, and sell them to help care for her family.” To honour her grandmother, Melissa and her family did the very same thing. “I gifted some of the bouquets to Elders in the community, too.” Carrying on the traditions of her ancestors, Melissa is a proud Mi’kmaw woman from Abegweit First Nation. “After a long winter of the earth resting, it feels so good to be back out on the land, connecting with nature, and harvesting.”

One of the lovely gifts of being on Epekwitk is that we are never too far from the water. “We were in the woods, and we could hear the waves. It was so beautiful to experience the land and the sea like that.”

quilling but the part that really calls to me is the harvesting and being out on the land.”

By 2019, Melissa launched her fulltime quilling business. “Every day is something different and I love being able to do this for myself and my family.” Melissa’s great-grandmother was a quiller and then it skipped two generations. Melissa has picked it up and is carrying on the legacy of her ancestors through her quillwork. “It’s more than an art form; it is a connection to spirit.”

Melissa’s artwork is heavily influenced by the natural and spiritual world. “When I’m on the land, I am reminded that my family’s ancestors also walked in these woods, and I am following their path.”

Along with making her own creations, Melissa travels to deliver workshops, sharing her knowledge of quillwork with others. “I love being able to teach and share what I know, especially in my own community.”

Knowing now that she is meant to live a creative life, Melissa is grateful for her path. “I wasn’t well suited for education programs and thought I wasn’t good at things like math. But you should see how much math I need to use in my quillwork!” It turns out that she just needed the right methods to access her own inner brilliance. “I struggled in post-secondary school, and I didn’t know what I wanted to be or how I would provide for my family.” Land-based learning has helped Melissa access and embrace knowledge that she didn’t know was possible. “Now I am invited into math classes and art classes to teach the youth! Little me would be so proud to see that.”

Melissa shared many beautiful stories about the land, like picking sweetgrass with her Gram. I learned about the ways she uses various natural materials in her artworks and how she weaves teachings into her daily life. As someone who grew up disliking the outdoors—the bugs, the mosquitoes, the heat—Melissa has built a beautiful relationship with the natural world in her adult life. “I used to be afraid to be outside, and now you couldn’t get me to stay inside. The spirit of my ancestors call me out on to the land.”

Now known far and wide for her beautiful quillwork, Melissa recalls her early days of learning. “I took a workshop from my cousin, Cheryl Simon, in 2014, and I was hooked! Something lit up in me at that time, and I knew this is what I was meant to do.” She went on to apprentice with Cheryl, traveling to other parts of Mi’kma’ki to learn from the land, to see petroglyphs, and to hone her craft. “I love all aspects of

As the summer season is on the horizon, Melissa is preparing for a huge outdoor arts festival in Toronto and for vending on the pow wow trail a little closer to home. “I’ll be at the Abegweit and Lennox Island pow wows this summer and people can also find my work at the Indigenous PEI store in Charlottetown.” Along with promoting and selling her creations, Melissa is also eagerly awaiting the time to harvest birch bark which happens a little later in June. “This harvest happens only once per year, so we need to get enough now to last us all year.” With her ancestors’ knowledge and her own experience in hand, she has come to know exactly how much she needs to carry her through until the next harvest season. Whether harvesting or quilling, “it feels like my hands are being guided by my ancestors.” She sometimes wonders if the colours will look ok or if the materials will hold up under pressure. “It somehow always works out.”

BRADY MCCLOSKEY

Victoria Playhouse

2026 summer season announced

The Victoria Playhouse, PEI’s longest-running little theatre, announces its 2026 summer season, “A Season of Wonder,” running from June 23 to September 19. The thoughtfully curated lineup invites audiences to reconnect with curiosity, storytelling, music, and shared experience in one of Atlantic Canada’s most intimate and historic performance venues.

Nestled in the picturesque seaside village of Victoria-by-the-Sea, the Playhouse has been a cornerstone of Island cultural life for over four decades, known for its warm atmosphere and high-calibre programming. The 2026 season brings together an eclectic mix of music, theatre, and storytelling.

The Ross Family Ceilidh returns with weekly performances to celebrate its 20th anniversary, continuing a tradition of high-energy, family-centred East Coast music.

(top–bottom, L–R): Music Monday Series performers in July are Séan McCann, Daniel James McFadyen, Terra Spencer, and Kristen Martell

Steve Patterson, Patrick Ledwell, and Mark Haines return for three nights of Comedy Night Victoria by the Sea, a celebration of stand-up comedy and new storytelling styles.

Sean McCann’s SOS Tour delivers an evening of music and candid storytelling from the former Great Big Sea member, grounded in themes of resilience and recovery.

Eight performances of The Wonder of it All by Mark Weatherly and PEInative Monique Lund will anchor the season’s theme, exploring life’s small and extraordinary moments.

Nudie’s Legends of Country: Songs & Stories from the Golden Era revisits the roots of country music with wit, warmth, and deep musical knowledge.

Tunes and Tales delivers an engaging, family-friendly production blending music and storytelling for all ages.

Mass for Shut Outs by Tanya Davis brings poetic insight and emotional depth in a work that offers insight into solitude, ritual, and human connection.

How to Live with Dread by Jane Wells explores the complexities of grief and modern anxiety with intelligence and dark humour.

Serge Bernard’s Folk Songs of the Mountains of Appalachia examines the roots of traditional song heritage and storytelling.

The Playhouse also presents a dynamic Music Monday Series, featuring one-night performances by some of Atlantic Canada’s most

respected artists: The Janet McGarry Band, Catherine MacLellan, Daniel James McFadyen, Kristen Martell, Scott Parsons, Inn Echo, and Terra Spencer.

Expanding the season’s contemporary voice, audiences can experience two live recordings of Uma and Selma Gahd’s Dear Gahd Advice Column Podcast LIVE, offering sharp, comedic, and culturally resonant commentary by a top drag duo from Montreal.

In what is becoming a new tradition for the Playhouse, the season will kick off with four performances of Tim Kelly’s adaptation of The Secret Garden by Frances Hodgson Burnett, presented in mid-June by the Victoria Playhouse Theatre School students.

For tickets and more information, visit victoriaplayhouse.com or contact the Victoria Playhouse box office.

opening june 11th

Renaiss-ARTS

Productions highlight Acadian talent and repertoire

The Renaiss-ARTS project, an initiative of the Alliance for the Sustainable Development of Prince Edward Island (ADDIPE), continues to highlight emerging talent and significant works from the Acadian repertoire through a series of theatrical productions.

Renaiss-ARTS presents a revival of the French play C’était presqu’une histoire d’amour, now also available in English as This Should Have Been a Love Story. Originally created in the Évangéline region several decades ago, this powerful and still relevant work by Paul D. Gallant tells the story of Annie and Mario, a young couple whose relationship is deeply affected by alcohol use, leading to tragic consequences.

A Matter of Heart

Celebration of Stan Rogers at Florence Simmons

This Should Have Been a Love Story will be performed on June 4 at 7 pm, followed by the French version on June 5 at 7 pm. Both performances take place at the Evangeline Recreation Centre. Tickets are available at the door only. Children 12 and under must be accompanied by an adult.

In July, Renaiss-ARTS will present Le Grand Cercle (The Great Circle), the third and final chapter of the Acadian Trilogy of Prince Edward Island, in French. This ambitious production explores the history, struggles, and evolution of the Acadian people—from their roots to a vision of the future— while highlighting their resilience and place in the world.

Also written by Paul D. Gallant, Le Grand Cercle will be performed at the Scott MacAulay Performing Arts Centre in Summerside on July 27 at 7:30 pm and July 28 at 2 pm and 7:30 pm.

Stan Rogers: A Matter of Heart returns to the Florence Simmons Performance Hall in Charlottetown this summer with performances on select dates from July 4–August 1.

This theatrical celebration of the musical legacy of legendary Canadian singer-songwriter Stan Rogers features crowd favourites including the rousing “Barrett’s Privateers” and “Northwest Passage,” as well as heartfelt songs such as “Forty-Five Years” and “White Squall.”

Rogers’ vivid storytelling of Canada’s people and places continues

C’mon In!

An Island Kitchen Party at The Mack this summer

This summer, C’Mon In! An Island Kitchen Party brings the spirit of an Atlantic Canadian kitchen party to the stage at The Mack in Charlottetown, running from June 6–August 29.

The production places audiences inside a familiar Maritime setting where music, storytelling, and humour unfold over the course of the evening. Blending concert performance with comedy and easy, join-in moments, C’Mon In! reflects a tradition where shared songs and stories shape the

to inspire and entertain audiences around the world.

The cast of this summer’s production includes Stan’s daughter Beth Rogers and James Medeiros, both returning from the 2024 cast, alongside Island performers Rebekah Brown and Ryan Whitty. Musical direction is by Don Fraser, with vocal direction by James Medeiros. Originally conceived and created by Diane Stapley and Vince Metcalf, the script was written by Jim Betts, with musical arrangements by Bob Ashley and Paul Mills.

Tickets are available at ticketpro.ca.

experience as much as the music itself. The show is led by Island artists Robbie Doherty and Pierce Clarke, whose shared background in music and storytelling anchors the production. Together, they guide the evening with an informal, conversational approach that mirrors the atmosphere of a traditional kitchen party.

Drawing from the Atlantic Canadian songbook, C’Mon In! features music by artists including Stompin’ Tom Connors, Anne Murray, and Great Big Sea, alongside moments of banter and audience interaction that evolve naturally from performance to performance.

Tickets and information are available at confederationcentre.com.

A performance of Le Grand Cercle in Chéticamp

GESSY GESSY

(L–R): Beth Rogers, Rebekah Brown, Ryan Whitty, and James Medeiros

Coming Home

Musical play explores Black history and identity

The Arts Guild’s Rooted & Rising series, featuring performances that evoke and provoke, continues in July with Coming Home – The Musical Play, running July 2, 3, and 4 at 8 pm.

Exploring themes rooted in Black history and identity that continue to resonate today, Coming Home is a soul-stirring musical tribute honouring the strength, resilience, and brilliance of Black women. Through the voices and legacies of Nina Simone, Josephine Baker, and Jessye Norman, the production weaves together jazz, blues, and opera to tell a story of artistry as activism.

Blending live performance, theatrical storytelling, and powerful musical interpretation, Coming Home traces how these iconic women confronted racism, defied expectations, and transformed global stages while remaining rooted in their identities. Their songs become more than performance—they become protest, healing, and homecoming.

Created by multidisciplinary artist KhaRå Martin, who also stars as Josephine Baker, the production reflects her commitment to telling

Live at the Horseshoe

Dinner theatre at Stompin’ Tom Centre

The 2026 dinner theatre production at the Stompin’ Tom Centre in Skinners Pond this summer will be Stompin’ Tom Connors Live at the Horseshoe

Step inside Toronto’s legendary Horseshoe Tavern for a night celebrating one of Canada’s greatest musical storytellers—Stompin’ Tom Connors.

Live at the Horseshoe brings Tom’s spirit, songs, and storytelling tradition back to the very stage where he made history.

This special tribute performance highlights some of Tom’s closest musical friends, longtime bandmates, and

stories that centre Black voices with nuance, beauty, and power. Earlier this year, Coming Home played to soldout audiences in Ontario, resonating deeply with viewers across generations. The cast brings extraordinary presence and vocal power to these roles. Precious Osarenkhoe delivers an emotionally charged portrayal of Nina Simone. Christina Smith, a rising soprano known for blending operatic depth with contemporary reach, embodies Jessye Norman with commanding grace.

Executive Producer Monique Armstrong and marketing lead Bianca Garcia round out a creative team committed to amplifying Black artistry and expanding its reach nationwide.

More than a historical tribute, Coming Home is a reminder that the fight for justice and dignity continues. It is a celebration of legacy and a call to stand firmly in one’s truth. Audiences will leave moved and empowered, carrying the rhythm of resistance and the power of home within them.

Doors open at 7:30 pm. Tickets are available at theguildpei.com

rising Canadian roots artists in honour of the man who gave the country its soundtrack. From “Bud the Spud” to “The Hockey Song,” audiences will experience a night of pure Canadiana performed with the energy, humour, and authenticity Tom was known for.

The production features Chad Matthews as Tom, alongside Kurk Bernard, Danalee Lynch-Veinotte, and fiddler Andy Doucette portraying some of Tom’s closest friends and bandmates.

Set within the intimate, historic atmosphere of “The ’Shoe,” the show blends live music, shared memories, vintage footage, and stories from the road, giving longtime fans and newcomers alike a chance to revisit the legacy of a national icon. Expect tall tales, hard-stompin’ rhythms, and a room full of people singing along to the songs that helped define a country.

For tickets and more information, visit stompintomcentre.com.

(L–R): Precious Osarenkhoe, KhaRå Martin, and Christina Smith

DANCE

Craig Fair Productions Academy: Gotta Dance

Craig Fair Productions is offering a full weekend of immersive dance education, June 20 and 21, including three sessions led by industry professionals. From storytelling and choreography to the rhythm-driven world of tap and live percussion, Gotta Dance is designed for dancers who are ready to grow, perform, and be inspired. This program is made possible through the Rising Tides Community Fund. For details, fees, and to register, visit craigfairproductions. com/academy.

Summer Dance Workshop Series

Confederation Centre of the Arts Art Academy brings a full lineup of summer dance programming to PEI this July and August, with workshops and camps designed for dancers of all ages and experience levels. Running July 2–August 12, the Summer Dance Workshop Series offers weekly classes in hip-hop, jazz, ballet, and pointe, led by experienced instructors— for the first-timers or dancers looking to refine advanced techniques. Hip-hop fans of all ages can join The Elements of Hip-Hop, offered Thursday evenings. Younger dancers

(ages 6–12) take the floor at 5:30 pm, followed by a session for teens and adults (13 and up) at 6:45 pm. Running the same Thursday evenings, Open Jazz is offered at two levels: Beginner/Intermediate at 5:30 pm and Intermediate/Advanced at 6:30 pm. Both run July 2–August 6. Heels and Hip-Hop is open to participants 19 and older, running July 7–August 11. Ballet programming runs Mondays and Wednesdays beginning July 6–August 12. Open Beginner Ballet II meets Mondays at 5:15 pm, while Open Ballet Intermediate meets Wednesdays at 5:15 pm. Pointe classes are offered Monday and Wednesday evenings at 6:45 pm, with additional Tuesday sessions at the Beginner level at 5:30 pm and Intermediate/Advanced at 6:30 pm. Rounding out the summer is the Musical Theatre Intensive, a two-week camp for performers ages 12–17 running August 10–20. Registration is now open at confederationcentre.com/artsacademy.

Dance classes

The Downstreet Dance class schedule continues in June with Beginner Bellydance at 6:30 pm on Tuesdays, Classic Burlesque four week block: Fans at 7:30 pm on Thursdays, and a Salsa Workshop at 5:15 pm on Friday, June 26. Saturday classes include Zumba at 10:30 am, Latin Social at 8 pm (June 5), Salsa and Bachata Taster at 7 pm (June 20), followed by a Dance Social at 7:30 pm. On Sundays, Lindy Hop Practice takes place at 7 pm. downstreetdance.com

Summer Square Dances

A square dance will take place every Wednesday at 7:30 pm in July and August at the Olde Lorne Valley School. Music will be provided by Allan, Ward, and Hailee MacDonald, with a special guest each night. Special guests include Chrissy Crowley on July 1, Francis MacDonald on July 8, Hailee MacDonald on July 15, Chad Mooney on August 5, Chrissy Crowley on August 12, Chad Mooney on August 19, and Richard Wood on August 26. A 50/50 draw will be held and a light lunch will be provided. Admission is at the door, with a family rate available and free admission for children under 16. 922 Lorne Valley Rd, Rte 355, Lorne Valley

Watermark Theatre

First

two plays of the 2026 summer season

Watermark Theatre’s 2026 Summer Season features Alan Ayckbourn’s Relatively Speaking and Kristen Da Silva’s Sugar Road

In 1960s London, Greg is paying a visit to Ginny’s parents to ask for her hand in marriage. The only thing is, they’re not Ginny’s parents. Blithely misinformed, he arrives at the home of Philip and Sheila hoping they’ll give their blessing, but no one is quite what they seem and nothing quite goes to plan. Relatively Speaking is a well-crafted, funny, and perfectly-paced comedy of misunderstandings that weaves an entanglement that will leave audiences guessing to the last minute. The show runs on select dates from June 23 to August 29.

Kristen Da Silva’s Sugar Road is filled with laughter, romance and a little country music about the one that got away. A country singer and a young woman meet in a magical chance encounter before being separated by his rise to fame. Now it’s 12 years later, he’s at the top of his career, she’s keeping the lights on at the family business, and they’re about to meet again. The show runs on select dates from July 3 to August 29

Under the direction of Artistic Director Robert Tsonos, a shared ensemble anchors both productions, with cast members stepping into roles across each play: Leni Parker (Sheila in Relatively Speaking, Caroline in Sugar Road), Paul Van Dyck (Philip in Relatively Speaking, Ray in Sugar Road), Kait Post (Ginny in Relatively Speaking, Hannah in Sugar Road), and Dustin Freeland (Greg in Relatively Speaking, Jesse in Sugar Road).

The creative team for both productions includes Set and Costume Designer Sabrina Balliana, Lighting Designer Kahentanó:ron Brianna Montour, Sound Designer Pat Caron, and Production Stage Manager Susan D. Currie.

The Watermark Music Series also returns for another series of concerts by local PEI musicians interpreting the works of famous songwriters. Details will be released soon.

For tickets, visit tickets.watermarktheatre.com or call the box office at 902-963-3963.

Monday, June 15

(top–bottom, L–R): Leni Parker, Kait Post, Paul Van Dyck, and Dustin Freeland

Comedy Night returns

Steve Patterson joins Patrick Ledwell in Victoria—June 7 to 9

The Victoria Playhouse invites audiences to roll in the aisles this summer with the return of the sold-out hit Comedy Night Victoria by the Sea, a three-nightonly festival celebrating stand-up comedy and new storytelling styles. Comedy Night Victoria by the Sea runs July 7, 8, and 9.

Island comedian Patrick Ledwell is bringing one of Canada’s premier storytellers to join him for this year’s edition. All three nights will feature headliner Steve Patterson, multiple award-winner for Best Canadian Stand-up at the Canadian Comedy Awards, and host of the long-running CBC hit The Debaters.

consumed (probably after the show).”

Ice cream and improv

Bring your silliness or just watch—June 17

The final session of the 2SLGBTQ+ Adult Drop-In at PEERS Alliance before the summer break will be an ice cream social and improv night.

Special guests and seasoned improvisers Andrea Avery and Jay Gallant, along with newbie improviser Julie Bull, will lead the improv games. No experience is needed—just bring silliness and a willingness to play. Those who would prefer not to participate in the improv games are welcome to join for ice cream and be entertained.

“With all due respect to other Canadian provinces, nothing beats PEI in the summer,” says Patterson. “Last year, it made for incredible memories to laugh with Islanders, and share sights with my family. This year, I can’t wait to come back and hope to set a new record for lobster and mussels

Popalopalots

Improv Comedy—June 6

Popalopalots return to The Black Box theatre at The Arts Guild in Charlottetown for a night of lively and unpredictable improv comedy on June 6 at 8 pm.

Audience members can expect the unexpected as the cast dives headfirst into absurd situations, clever wordplay, and laugh-out-loud moments that keep the energy high all night long. This is a 19+ show. Admission is cash only at the door.

Ledwell will kick off the shows, showcasing the smart and honest comedy that has brought him from Island halls to national comedy festivals.

Storyteller and musician Mark Haines will play the hosting role, bringing a blend of humour and harmony to the evenings.

Tickets can be purchased online at victoriaplayhouse.com or by calling the box office at 902-658-2025.

@fter eight

Comedy game show—June 5

The gameshow @fter eight returns to The Black Box Theatre at The Arts Guild in Charlottetown on June 5, at 8:07 pm.

Andrea Avery hosts @fter eight, a ridiculous, barely regulated gameshow where three comedians battle it out for the dumbest prize imaginable—and the highly unofficial title of Supreme Funny.

This is a 19+ event. For tickets visit theguildpei.com.

The session will be held on June 17 from 6–8 pm at the PEERS Alliance office, 250B Queen Street, Charlottetown.

For more information, contact Josie at josie@peersalliance.ca or call 902-566-2437.

Charlottetown burlesque

The Arts Guild—June 26 & 27

Charlottetown Burlesque will perform in The Black Box Theatre at The Arts Guild on June 26 and 27.

Charlottetown Burlesque is a dazzling celebration of dance, live music, comedy, storytelling, and striptease. For over a decade, PEI’s premier burlesque troupe has championed self-expression, body empowerment, consent, and sex positivity through joyful, high-energy performances. Laugh, cheer, and celebrate individuality in a show that invites everyone to be unapologetically themselves.

This is a 19+ production. For tickets visit theguildpei.com.

Steve Patterson (left) and Patrick Ledwell SUBMITTED

La Veillée au Village

Dinner theatre in Abram-Village this summer

La Veillée au Village 2026 dinner theatre features a group of professional performers serving up a blend of music and comedy following a fourcourse meal. This popular show takes the stage at the Village musical acadien in Abram-Village on select dates from July 8–September 1.

The cast—returning from last year—includes fiddler Anastasia DesRoches, singers and multi-instrumentalists Dawson Arsenault and Caroline Bernard, bass player Rémi Arsenault, drummer Yves Arsenault, and guitarist Jason Burbine. Rémi Arsenault is also the musical and artistic director, with Albert Arsenault and Hélène Arsenault-Bergeron (both formerly of Barachois) contributing to the comedy sketches.

featuring fiddle, accordion, and catchy songs. Following dessert, a second set continues with more comedy and Acadian kitchen party music.

Toronto Bathhouse Raids

Performance that evokes and provokes at The Arts Guild

The Arts Guild’s Rooted & Rising series invites audiences into powerful, thought-provoking storytelling. The series launches this month with 333: The Toronto Bathhouse Raids, a bold and emotionally charged Canadian play that shines a light on a defining moment in queer history.

The production runs June 18, 19 and 20 at 8 pm.

The evening begins with the first three courses of the meal before the show launches into sketches filled with colourful characters, competitive spirits, and offbeat situations. Strong personalities clash, tease one another, and create memorable moments. After the laughter comes Acadian music,

Regular performances will take place July 8, 14, 15, 21, 22, 28, and 29; August 4, 5, 11, 12, 18, 19, 25, and 26; and September 1. Special performances on July 23 and August 20 will feature the comedy duo Mélina pi Gélina, Caroline Bernard’s family (July 23), and additional guests (August 20).

Tickets must be reserved or purchased in advance online at villagemusical.ca or in person at the Village musical acadien reception desk.

Written by PEI theatre artist Jay Whitehead and directed by Halifax director GaRRy Williams, 333 takes audiences back to “Operation Soap,” the infamous 1981 Toronto bathhouse raids that resulted in one of the largest mass arrests in Canadian history.

The play follows three fictional men arrested as “Found-Ins” during the raids: Honey, an aging queen with nothing left to lose; Darren, a closeted married man with everything to lose; and Eddy, a bathhouse employee and recent immigrant to Canada from Latin America who finds himself caught in the middle of a cultural and political storm.

Three individuals. Three arrests. Three radically different responses.

As Toronto’s queer community mobilizes in protest and outrage in the aftermath of the raids—an uprising widely regarded as a catalyst for Canada’s modern Pride movement—the characters of 333 confront

Creative futures

New initiatives for PEI performing arts creators

The Arts Guild has launched two new initiatives aimed at strengthening the performing arts sector on PEI: the Creative Career Catalyst Series, a focused training program designed to support local theatre artists and curious, creative community members in building sustainable, self-driven creative careers; and CultureSHIFT, a new initiative focused on advancing equity and inclusion within the local arts ecosystem.

The Creative Career Catalyst Series is a professional development program designed specifically for adult theatre artists at any stage of their careers or development. Structured in three phases—Dream It, Build It,

fear, desire, shame, and survival in deeply personal ways. Through sharp humour, theatricality, vulnerability, and unapologetic queerness, 333 explores homophobia, self-hatred, intergenerational dialogue, immigration, masculinity, and intersectionality, while asking urgent questions about who gets protected, who gets targeted, and what it means to fight for dignity when the world demands silence. At its heart, 333 reflects on historical injustice while honouring the resistance that helped shape queer rights in Canada today. Rooted in historical events, the production also speaks urgently to the present moment, reminding audiences that the struggles for dignity, justice, and belonging are ongoing.

Doors open at 7:30 pm. This play is for ages 18+ and contains strong language, sexual content, and full male nudity. Tickets are available online at theguildpei.com

Share It—the series supports participants in developing original work from concept to presentation. Through hands-on workshops, mentorship, and peer collaboration, artists will build skills in creation, producing, and performing, with a focus on sustaining independent theatre practice in today’s evolving arts landscape.

CultureSHIFT is an initiative that centres upon underrepresented voices and cultures while working to reduce systemic barriers within the arts community. By removing financial barriers to access The Arts Guild space, CultureSHIFT creates opportunities for artists who are Black, Indigenous, and People of Colour to share their cultures through performance and connect with peers in an inclusive, supportive environment. Throughout the year, CultureSHIFT will facilitate up to 12 public events celebrating diverse cultures that enrich PEI.

Programming for both initiatives will roll out soon, with additional details and registration information available at theguildpei.com.

The cast of Veillée au Village

Fix Your Plate by Tara Reeves

Summer’s here!

There’s a particular kind of relief that arrives in June. It’s my birthday month, and the grey has lifted, the soil is warm, and the farm stands are filling up with things that actually have colour again. After months of root vegetables and whatever was kept in cold storage, the shift feels almost emotional. You didn’t realize how much you missed genuinely fresh food until it’s right there in front of you.

June in PEI is the season of beginnings. Asparagus is still shooting up from the ground, strawberries are ripening at the tips of their runners, and the first tender heads of lettuce are ready to pull. Radishes are perfectly crisp. Sugar snap peas are sweet enough to eat standing in the garden. Rhubarb stalks are thick, tart, and demanding your attention. None of these ingredients are complicated. They don’t need to be.

The island is handing you some of its best ingredients right now. Pick them up, bring them home, and cook something real.

Long Boil Rhubarb Jam

Makes approximately 2 cups

Ingredients:

Start with asparagus, because it won’t wait. Snap the woody ends off, toss the spears with a neutral oil and flaky salt, and roast at high heat until the tips start to catch. Lay them over warm lentils or farro, add a soft poached egg on top, and you’ve got something worth sitting down for without having done very much at all.

The strawberries deserve their own moment of honesty. PEI strawberries are small, intensely red all the way through, and sweet enough that they barely need anything done to them. They’re nothing like the pale, oversized ones that travel from away. Slice them over plain Greek yogurt with a drizzle of local honey and some torn fresh mint, and you’ve covered breakfast, dessert, and a Wednesday afternoon at the same time.

Leafy greens are at their peak right now, too. Spinach, arugula, and kale from a local grower taste nothing like the bagged versions that cross the country in a refrigerated truck. Dress them simply with lemon and olive oil, then finish with whatever fresh herbs you’ve got on the windowsill. June basil, parsley, and mint are intense and bright. A generous handful of them turns even a plain bowl of grains into something you’d proudly serve a guest.

Rhubarb is June’s most underused opportunity on the island, and the best thing you can do with a generous armful is make a long-boil jam. It takes patience. The result is worth every minute.

4 cups rhubarb, chopped into 2 cm pieces

2 cups granulated sugar

Juice of half an orange

Instructions:

1. Combine rhubarb and sugar in a heavy-bottomed pot. Let sit for one hour until the rhubarb releases its liquid.

2. Bring to a boil over medium-high heat, stirring to dissolve the sugar.

3. Reduce to a steady simmer and cook uncovered for 45 to 60 minutes, stirring and skimming occasionally, until thick and deep rose-brown in colour.

4. Stir in the orange juice during the final ten minutes.

5. Pour into sterilized jars and seal while hot.

Spoon over toast, stir into yogurt, or serve over some vanilla ice cream.

SUBMITTED

Artist Trading Cards

Two decades of pocket-sized creativity

Confederation Centre Art Gallery invites artists of all ages and disciplines, professional and non-professional, to register for the 20th annual Artist Trading Cards event.

Artist trading cards are miniature works of art. They can be created with any material imaginable, including paper, wool, wood, clay, and more.

The main requirement is the size: cards must be the same size as modern baseball cards or 2 ½ x 3 ½ inches (6 cm x 9 cm), small enough to fit inside standard card-collector pockets, sleeves, or sheets. Artist trading cards must be self-produced. The artist’s name and contact information, as well as the card title and the edition or series number, is to be written on the back.

This year’s registration deadline is July 3. People who sign up for the event must make as many cards as the number of people who have registered. Cards can be produced in editions (a limited number of the same card), series (a set of cards with a unifying theme), or as singular originals.

ARTS ACADEMY

Registration will be on a first-come, first-served basis and is limited to 50 participants. Previous attendees are kindly asked to inform organizers if they can no longer participate in the event as a waiting list is expected.

The 20th annual trading event will be held on August 6 at 7 pm in Studio 1 at Confederation Centre of the Arts.

Email Monique Lafontaine at mlafontainem@icloud.com for more information or to register.

River Clyde Pageant

Stilt-walking, writing, movement, puppetry and more

River Clyde Arts announces programming for the 10th edition of The River Clyde Pageant, with performances running July 23–26 and July 30–August 2 in New Glasgow, PEI, and a series of free public workshops.

The 2026 Pageant will build on stories and characters introduced last summer, drawing inspiration from the collective movements of plants, animals, and people, and the responses such movements provoke. This year, the Pageant will be performed at a new site in New Glasgow that will serve as River Clyde Arts’ long-term home. The public is invited to a free Pageant Welcome Picnic on June 27 from 2–6 pm for an afternoon of arts and ecological activities introducing the new site and inviting collective dreaming about its future. Details are available on RCA’s website and social media.

Throughout June and July, the Pageant will offer free arts workshops led by professional artists from across PEI and beyond. Participants of all ages and experience levels can contribute to this milestone production through weekly workshops and standalone sessions.

Stilt director Laura Astwood will offer an Introduction to Stilt Walking

workshop, June 20–21. Playwright Mike Geither returns to lead a bird watching workshop and a four-day ecological creative writing workshop.

Pageant collaborators Garry Williams and Marti Hopson return to helm two music workshops. The Pageant Choir, starting June 2, led by Garry and Marti, invites participants to co-create and learn choral music for the show, while Garry’s music workshop, which launched May 27, gathers instrumentalists to explore improvisation and composition for the Pageant’s sonic world.

Puppet Ensemble, led by Evan Medd, Sebastien Labelle, and Franziska Glen, brings a collection of puppets to life through ensemble-based performance training. Flocking Together, a creative movement workshop led by choreographer Reequal Smith, draws from AfroContemporary dance traditions and Calypso Fusion to explore the patterns of birds in flight.

The Bee also returns as the Pageant’s signature weekly drop-in workshop, offering a relaxed space for crafting, costume-making, and socializing while contributing directly to the design and costume elements of the 2026 production. Danielle Moore-Rayner from the Lennox Island Cultural Centre will lead an afternoon medicine bag making workshop on June 13, and the Hunter Clyde Watershed Group are leading a community planting workshop on June 14.

No previous experience is required for any workshop, and all are welcome to participate in the creation of the 10th River Clyde Pageant, especially those new to the event. Workshop spaces are limited and early registration is a must. Tickets for the 2026 River Clyde Pageant go on sale June 24 at 10 am and June 25 at 7 pm. Volunteers are needed to help bring the production to life. For tickets, workshop registration, volunteer opportunities, and more information, visit riverclydearts.com.

Stilt-walking at the River Clyde Pageant 2025

ROBERT VAN WAARDEN

Urban Cuties, collage on paper by Lindsey Ross

Summer Exhibitions

Five installations at the Conferation Centre Art Gallery

The Confederation Centre Art Gallery summer exhibitions feature five compelling installations that examine the environment we share, the resilience of women, the weight of colonial inheritance, and the quiet power of humble materials.

This summer season brings together artists from across Canada, including perspectives from Toronto, Vancouver, and Prince Edward Island. Together, the exhibitions invite visitors to consider what we inherit, what we resist, and what we reclaim.

Among Others

June 6–September 20

Curated by Pan Wendt, this exhibition highlights work from the collection of the Confederation Centre Art Gallery, exploring themes of gathering, encounter, and conversation. It includes work by Molly Lamb Bobak (NB), Diane Borsato (ON), Hannah Claus (QC), and Stanley Fevrier (QC), among others.

Sandeep Johal: To Be Something More (and More)

June 20–January 10

Originated at the Kelowna Art Gallery, this exhibition by Vancouver-based artist Sandeep Johal explores the resilience of women through painting, collage, textiles, and mural in her signature Indo-folk aesthetic. Johal’s work confronts harsh and ugly realities with their dissonant opposites: brightness, hope, and beauty. The result is an expansive body of work that holds contradiction with grace, articulating survival not as the absence of difficulty, but as something luminous in spite of it.

ceramics for over forty years. His dedication to the integration of art into his life is evident in his home, which features over 1400 pieces by leading ceramic artists, often arranged in creative installations. Banks also collects paintings and other artifacts and is a passionate supporter of PEI’s art and art history.

Channelling

June 13–January 3

Inspired by a grand Victorian painting of an Alpine waterway, commissioned by an eccentric German baron for his Nova Scotia mansion, this exhibition brings together contemporary East Coast artists grappling with the contradictory aesthetic inheritances of Romanticism and colonialism. Curated by Pan Wendt, artists include Alfred Schoeck, D’Arcy Wilson, Doug Dumais, Gustav Amberger, Janice Wright Cheney, John Greer, and Ryan Josey, among others.

Consumed: Jane Meredith Whitten until September 6

PEI artist Jane Meredith Whitten uses traditional craft techniques to construct evocative objects from humble materials. Working with consumer and industrial waste, including plastic packaging and beach debris, Whitten’s practice transforms discarded matter into gestures of redemption. Her work sits at the intersection of making and unmaking, finding meaning and even beauty in the remnants of our shared reality of environmental degradation. Curated by Jill McRae and Pan Wendt.

THE INN AT BAY FORTUNE is a world-class, five-star country inn and home to the renowned FireWorks Feast, a multi-course, indoor/outdoor dining experience featuring live-fire cooking. Named after the 25-foot wood-burning hearth, the Feast is a nightly celebration of flavour, fire, and our island’s bounty.

Proprietors Chef Michael and Chastity Smith invite you to explore the Culinary Farm, herb gardens, whimsical grounds, Art forest and Woodland Trails, and relax in thoughtfully designed luxury rooms.

THE FIREWORKS FEAST Nightly, until October 10

The Art of Collecting: Selections from the Tom Banks Collection

June 6–September 20

The first episode in a series of exhibitions highlighting passionate local collectors, this show presents highlights from the remarkable collection of Tom Banks. Banks has been collecting and learning about Canadian studio

The public is invited to the summer exhibition opening reception on June 20 at 7 pm. Admission is free. Experience all five exhibitions and meet the exhibiting artists, many of whom will be in attendance. Light snacks and a cash bar will be provided. The evening continues with an after party in Studio 1 starting at 9 pm, featuring live DJs and video art, organized by the Centre’s Youth Advisory Board.

CHEFS’ HARVEST CULINARY RETREAT Weekends October 15 to November 7

Doug Dumais, A Landscape for Construction (Return), 2020, Inkjet print on Entrada 300 White [detail]. Background image: Pieter Bruegel the Elder, The Return of the Herd, 1565

GET CREATIVE

Fibre Arts Club

Fibre Arts Club runs weekly on Tuesdays at the Charlottetown Library. Bring supplies or a current project and drop in between 1–3 pm to join knitters, crocheters, rug hookers, and other fibre and textile makers.

CreativePEI Artmobile

Drop in to the Makerspace at the Charlottetown Library on June 3 and 17 from 10:30 am–12:30 pm for creative time with the CreativePEI Artmobile. Make something new from the art supplies provided, or bring your own materials or work-in-progress project.

Creative fun for youth at the Charlottetown Library

Free hands-on activities for children and teens continue at the Charlottetown Library. Creative Kids Club runs Wednesdays at 3:30 pm. Pre-register for Crafternoon in the Makerspace on June 10 at 1 pm to create a no-sew reusable bag. Crochet and chat during Hooked on Crochet with Julie on June 20 at 10 am (beginners welcome). Info: 902-368-4642

Sewing Club

Join fellow sewing and mending enthusiasts (ages 12+) in the Charlottetown Library Makerspace on the second Thursday of the month from 5–8 pm. The next meeting is June 11. Bring a machine and projects, start a beginner-friendly piece, explore tools and techniques, or try a machine with guidance.

Film photography workshops

Sion Irwin-Childs presents two ARC27 Film Photography Experiences workshops in downtown Charlottetown this month. The first, entitled “The Basics and Beyond,” takes place on June 12 from 10 am–5 pm. The second workshop, “The Urban Landscape,“ takes place on June 26 from 10 am–5 pm. For workshop fees and registration details, visit sionirwinchilds.ca.

Free collage workshop with Sandeep Johal

The Confederation Centre Art Gallery invites the public to take part in a free hands-on collage workshop with visiting artist Sandeep Johal on June 14 at 2 pm. Using guided prompts and the vibrant colours, patterns, and motifs that define Johal’s Indo-folk visual language, participants will create their own imaginative hybrid creatures through collage. Playful and accessible, the workshop encourages creativity and experimentation with no prior experience needed. Visit confederationcentre.com/event/ sandeep-johal to register.

Creative fun for youth at the Summerside Library

Free arts activities continue this month at the Summerside Library. Throughout the month, teens can think outside of the box and complete a picture using their imagination. Crafternoon for Kids takes place as a drop-in session on Saturdays and Sundays during open hours. On June 14, teens can take a kids coloring page and turn it into something else using their creativity and imagination. The Creative Corner runs on June 15 at 6:30 pm and June 17 at 2 pm. Call 902-436-7323 to register. On June 27, kids can create a paper torn beach scene and discover/explore their love of art during the Summerside Art Fest from 10 am–4 pm.

PEI Modern Quilt Guild

The PEI Modern Quilt Guild will meet on June 25 from 7–9 pm at the PEI Farm Centre (420 University Ave, Charlottetown). Doors open at 6:30 pm. New members and visitors are welcome. This is a scent-free meeting. Info: peimqg@gmail.com; peimqg.carrd.co

Eptek community mural

In the later part of June, visitors to Eptek Art & Culture Centre in Summerside will have the opportunity to participate in a community art project by drawing the faces of women who have inspired them. These faces will be added to a temporary living mural that will grow throughout the summer months in the hall gallery.

To Be Something More

Exhibition by Vancouver artist Sandeep Johal at CCOA

Confederation Centre Art Gallery (CCOA) presents To Be Something More (and More), a major exhibition by Vancouver-based Canadian artist Sandeep Johal, opening June 20.

Through painting, collage, textiles, and mural, Johal explores the resilience of women in her signature Indo-folk aesthetic, confronting harsh and ugly realities with their dissonant opposites: brightness, hope, and beauty. Originated at the Kelowna Art Gallery, this powerful body of work arrives at CCOA as one of the most vibrant and emotionally resonant exhibitions the gallery has presented in recent memory.

Ahead of the exhibition opening, the gallery invites the community to get hands-on with Johal’s visual world through a special workshop event on June 14 at 2 pm. Registration is open at confederationcentre.com/event/ sandeep-johal.

Johal is a visual artist, advocate, and leader whose practice engages drawing, collage, textiles, and largescale murals. Through her Indo-folk feminine aesthetic, she confronts themes of bleakness, despair, and

ugliness with their dissonant opposites: brightness, hope, and beauty. Her work centers around the stories of women and while she highlights female suffering in its many forms, these are ultimately stories of resistance and resilience.

Johal began her professional art practice after becoming a new mother at the age of 41. Since then, she has worked on notable site-specific commissions with the Vancouver Art Gallery (2021, 2019), Burrard Arts Foundation (2019), and Vancouver Mural Festival (2016 to 2021). Her work is held in numerous collections, including the TD Art Collection, the Gordon Smith Gallery of Canadian Art, Global Affairs Canada Visual Art Collection Program (Canadian Embassy, San Salvador), and Surrey Art Gallery.

She holds a Diploma in Fine Arts (honours) from Langara College (2007) and a Degree in Education from the University of British Columbia (2002). Learn more at sandeepjohal.com. To Be Something More (and More) will be on view through January 10, 2027.

Sandeep Johal, When the mortality of age overtakes the blind conceit of youth, 2026 (detail). Hand cut, stitched and embroidered textile stuffed with cotton.

Art Love

Live painting competition at The Arts Guild—June 1

Art Love, the live painting competition from the Hom’Art Festival, features local artists competing in real time. The event returns to The Arts Guild in Charlottetown on June 1.

Beginning at 6 pm, artists will go head-to-head through three rounds as brushes fly and artworks come to life. Each artist has 20 minutes to create a unique painting in front of an audience and a panel of three judges.

For tickets, visit theguildpei.com.

Bedford Station Gallery turns 5

Celebrate with an afternoon of art, music, and nature—July 1

The Bedford Station Gallery & Gardens is celebrating its fifth consecutive season with an afternoon of art, music, and nature on Canada Day, July 1, from 1–4 pm.

Art at Gallery Coffee House

Works from five Island artists this summer

Life in its many forms has inspired five Island artists with distinct backgrounds and creative approaches to produce visual works from their unique perspectives. Their varied styles and media will be featured in this summer’s art rotation at The Gallery – Coffee House & Bistro, 82 Great George Street in Charlottetown, from June 1 to August 31. The public is invited to attend a free opening reception on June 4 from 6–8 pm.

“Uncharted” is the joint theme of the collections by Teresa Doyle and Haley Lewis, both displayed in the main room at The Gallery.

The multimedia gallery features over 20 local artists, both full-time and seasonal, while the gardens represent the creative vision of landscaper and photographer Wayne Crouse.

Visitors who are interested in joining the Plein Air Painters in the gardens should arrive by 12:30 pm to set up, weather permitting.

Beginning at 2 pm, musician Leo Marchildon will entertain with original compositions and audience favourites.

The gallery and gardens are located at 96 Route 6. Look for the signage and park on the grass. Admission is free. Follow on socials for updates.

The North Nook

Installations at The Arts Guild

The North Nook Gallery presents an installation created for Mental Health Awareness Month (May) by Sarah Nicole Dart entitled A Gentle Reminder. The exhibit is viewable 24/7 in the front window of The Arts Guild in Charlottetown until June 18.

The work is inspired by a struggle a loved one recently experienced, and reflects on how a buildup of extreme stress, loneliness, lack of sleep, and dehydration can be enough to make the brain experience survival mode.

Up next in the North Nook Gallery, Katie Strongman will be showing new quilt work, entitled Wild Roses, from June 19–July 31.

Singer-songwriter Teresa Doyle has transformed what she has learned over decades of creating music into a series of improvisational abstract art pieces. Each piece is inspired by her love of nature, travel, and of course, her music, resulting in a free-flowing collection of colourful abstract imagery.

Haley Lewis is diving into uncharted territory with her new series. For this show, she has chosen to highlight various photos from her travels, crafting art around them using paint, handmade paper, and other elements from nature in an attempt to express the radiant yet impermanent nature of things.

The Gallery’s back rooms feature the works of artists Fariba Tabrizian Namini, Nancy L. Brown, and Vanessa Cross Bisceglia.

Fariba Tabrizian Namini is a selftaught watercolour artist. Originally

REUSE

Installation by Victory Lap at Fitzroy St. Tiny Art Gallery

The Fitzroy St. Tiny Art Gallery presents REUSE, an installation of work by PEI-based artist Victory Lap.

Inspired by walks along PEI beaches, REUSE transforms the discarded into the functional. Constructed from salvaged and repurposed materials, the work reflects on cycles of consumption, waste, and renewal through the lens of coastal experience and material recovery.

Central to the piece is a sail from a small craft, upcycled into a waist bag. The artist’s fabric-based practice incorporates found and recycled materials

from Iran and now based in PEI, she finds inspiration in the world’s quiet moments. Whether it is a calm wind at the beach or the rustic charm of a street in downtown Charlottetown, Fariba hopes to share the same joy, inner peace, and connection she experienced when creating her pieces with viewers of her collection, Peace of the Soul/ Aram-e-jan

Nancy L. Brown primarily works in fluid art, which is reflected in her collection My Life in Flow Vanessa Cross Bisceglia, the artist behind Cheeky Waters, has always been fascinated with watercolour art. Her work reflects the Island’s scenery, themes, flowers, and creatures.

while drawing on vintage and retro aesthetics. Through this transformation, the work invites consideration of the hidden histories embedded within everyday objects and the creative potential of reclamation.

Victory Lap is a one-person operation run by designer and maker James Hogan. James hopes to preserve local history by saving textiles that have otherwise been discarded. Each of his functional upcycled pieces features unique characteristics and is made sustainably, ethically, and with longevity in mind. Other works can be seen at Green Eye Designs in Charlottetown and at victorylapsewing.ca.

Curated by Monica Lacey, REUSE is on view 24/7 through mid-July at the corner of Fitzroy and Felling Streets in Charlottetown.

(clockwise from top-left): artwork by Nancy L. Brown, Haley Lewis, Teresa Doyle, Vanessa Cross Bisceglia, and Fariba Tabrizian

PEI Photography Club

44th annual show at The Arts Guild

The PEI Photography Club’s 44th annual show will be held this year from June 17–27 in the Black Box at The Arts Guild. All are invited to attend the celebratory reception on June 20 from 2–5 pm.

“For this year’s show, we are continuing with our open exhibition format,” says Elaine Schuller, photo show chair. “The goal is to encourage our diverse members to express who they are as photographers, with no limitations. No judging, no winners. Just an exhibition of what we are all about.”

Club members will present a series of photographs on a theme and in a style of their choice. There will also be a slide show/video component projected onto one of the Black Box walls.

New this year is a display featur ing a Group Photo Conversation held among several members of the club. As Schuller explains, “Do you remember playing the game of Telephone as a child, and how distorted a sentence can become by the time it is whispered to everyone in the circle? A photo conver sation works on the same principle!”

“[The show] also encourages mem bers to develop their personal skills and learn through new challenges,” says Phil Matusiewicz, club president.

The exhibition is open daily from 12–5 pm for viewing, except on June 21. Visitors are encouraged to check theguildpei.com for updated opening hours. For more info, visit pei.art/thearts-guild or peiphotoclub.com.

EXPLORE

Summer Gallery Opening Event - June 20, 7 P.M.

Join us in the Gallery and experience all we have on view this summer. Our summer gala is a fun and social opportunity to meet exhibiting artists. Light snacks and cash bar provided. Stick around for an after party in Studio 1 starting at 9 pm with live DJs and video art. Free and open to the public. Using consumer and industrial waste such as plastic packaging and beach debris, Whitten’s art becomes a gesture of redemption in our current shared reality of environmental degradation.

Jane Meredith Whitten

The Art Of Collecting:

Selections from the Tom Banks Collection

This exhibition presents highlights from the remarkable collection of P.E.I. collector Tom Banks, who has been gathering and learning about Canadian ceramics for over forty years.

Among Others

JUN. 6 TO SEPT. 20, 2026

Highlights from the collection of the Confederation Centre Art Gallery exploring themes of gathering, encounter and juxtaposition

JUN. 13 TO JAN. 3, 2027

This exhibition presents the work of contemporary East Coast artists grappling with the contradictory aesthetic inheritances of Romanticism and colonialism.

Sandeep Johal: To Be Something More (and More)

JUN. 20 TO JAN. 10, 2027

In this body of work, Vancouver-based artist Sandeep Johal explores the resilience of women through painting, collage, textiles, and mural in her signature Indo-folk aesthetic.

Sandeep Johal, Floating on the edge of desire, 2025, Acrylic on canvas, textiles, embroidery, 180 x 120 x 4 cm

Courtesy of the artist

Channelling

Part of the exchange in the Group Photo Conversation

Looking back on 50 years of the Island’s only French newspaper

Retour sur les 50 ans du seul journal francophone de l’ÎPÉ

Acadian Museum of PEI Musée acadien de l’ÎPÉ 23 Main Dr., Miscouche 902-432-2880 museeacadien.org

Black Box Theatre

The PEI Photography Club’s 44th annual show is on view June 17–27. The public is invited to attend the reception on June 20 from 2–5 pm. Open daily, except June 21, from 12–5 pm. Admission is free. The Arts Guild, 111 Queen St, Charlottetown. theguildpei.com

Breadalbane Gallery

This month’s show opens June 12 with a reception from 6–8 pm featuring a talk with artist Nancy Brown. Other gallery artists include Sabine Nuesch, Leo (Liu, Xin), Joan Sutton, Vian Emery, Zoe Novaczek, Denise Livingstone, Will Baker, Haley Lewis, Marianne Janowicz, Silver Frith, Laura Bain, LilyAnn Hein, Arjun Thappa, Zora Wendt, Rick MacDonald, Patrick MacDonald, Chris Mollins, Lisa Theriault, Yuzhu Yang, Lyneth Sausa, Becky Allain, and Erin Veitch. Gallery hours are 11 am–3 pm Tuesday, 9 am–1 pm Wednesday, and 4–8 pm Thursday. 4023 Dixon Rd, Breadalbane.

Confederation Centre Art Gallery

The public is invited to join the Confederation Centre Art Gallery for the

Summer exhibition Opening Reception on June 20 at 7 pm. Admission is free. Opening this month are: Among Others on June 6; The Art of Collecting: Selections from the Tom Banks Collection on June 6; Channelling on June 13; and Sandeep Johal: To Be Something More (and More) on June 20. Consumed: Jane Meredith Whitten continues until September 6. 130 Queen St, Charlottetown. confederationcentre. com/artgallery

Cornwall Library Art Gallery

Pulling Together, a surprise exhibit from the Cornwall Art Circle and associates, runs until June 19. The public is invited to the opening celebration for Home by Carla DiGiorgio on June 23 at 7 pm. Home can be a place, a state of mind, a person, a shape. The exhibition features a combination of paintings, drawings, and photography, and will run until July 31. Contact the library (902-629-8415) for information on displaying in the gallery. 15 Mercedes Dr, Town Hall, Cornwall.

Eptek Art & Culture Centre

ArtsSmarts by Island students is on view until June 19. The public is invited to a reception on June 2 from 6–8 pm. Admission to the gallery is by donation. 130 Heather Moyse Dr, Summerside. peimuseum.ca

The Fitzroy St. Tiny Art Gallery

REUSE by Victory Lap (James Hogan) is on view 24/7 through mid-July at the corner of Fitzroy and Felling Streets in Charlottetown.

The Gallery – Coffee House & Bistro

This summer’s art rotation, on view from June 1–August 31, features: Uncharted, collections by Teresa Doyle and Haley Lewis; Peace of the Soul/Aram-e-jan, a collection by Fariba Tabrizian Namini; My Life in Flow, a collection by Nancy L. Brown; and Cheeky Waters by Vanessa Cross Bisceglia. The public is invited to attend the opening reception on June 4 from 6–8 pm. All pieces are for sale. A permanent art exhibition by Patrick Guindon, Sita MacMillan, and Ashleigh Tremere is on view in the new nook space. Open daily, 8 am–5 pm. 82 Great George St, Charlottetown.

JUNE 14 | 2:00 P.M.

Join us at Confederaton Centre Art Gallery for this playful, hands-on workshop that encourages creativity and experimentation, with no prior experience needed—just bring your curiosity.

Keir Memorial Museum

A new installation features a commemorative stained-glass window of the ship The Annabella (1770). The window was designed and created by Glass Studio artist Linda Whaley. The museum preserves and celebrates the local heritage, which can be traced back to early 1700s. Housed in the former Keir Memorial Presbyterian Church, the museum showcases a collection of artifacts that depict the life and traditions of the local community, including homestead memorabilia, shipbuilding, fishing, blacksmithing tools, and a working mud digger. The museum has restructured several exhibits over the last five years. It also showcases the work of 37 Island artisans in their gift shop. 2214 Rte 20, Malpeque. museumspei.ca

The North Nook Gallery

A Gentle Reminder by Sarah Nicole Dart is on view until June 18. Katie Strongman will be showing new quilt work entitled Wild Roses from June 19–July 31. Exhibits are viewable 24/7 in the front window of The Arts Guild, 111 Queen St, Charlottetown.

The

PEI Farm Centre

Chaos Corralled: Art Harvested from the Heart of Havoc by Wendy Jones continues until June 30. Open Monday–Saturday, 8 am–11 pm, and Sundays, 1–8 pm. 420 University Ave, Charlottetown. Info: 902969-1989; peislandwendy@gmail.com

Summerside Rotary Library

More than 100 artworks by local artists, including original paintings, photography, handmade knits, mosaics, digital art, and more, adorn the library walls across three wheelchair-accessible levels, with an elevator for easy access. This ongoing exhibition continues year-round. 57 Central St, Summerside.

This Town is Small at the Hilda Woolnough Gallery

Home Body, a solo exhibition by Damien Worth, and Chance Encounters, a solo exhibition by Konrad Wendt, are on view from June 11–July 25. The public is invited to the opening reception on June 10 from 5–7 pm. Gallery hours are Wednesday–Saturday, 12–5 pm. The Arts Guild, 111 Queen St, Charlottetown. thistownissmall.com

Two solo exhibitions

New works from Damien Worth and Konrad Wendt

This Town is Small presents two solo exhibitions, Home Body by Damien Worth and Chance Encounters by Konrad Wendt, June 11–July 25 at the Hilda Woolnough Gallery at The Arts Guild in Charlottetown. All are welcome to the opening reception on June 10 from 5–7 pm.

These two exhibitions play with perception, illusion, and the body, inviting viewers to question what they are really seeing.

Experience recent work by these two Island artists at the Hilda

Breadalbane Gallery

Upcoming exhibition features works by Nancy Brown

The work of Nancy Brown will be featured at the June Breadalbane Gallery exhibition. All are welcome to the opening reception on June 12 from 6–8 pm where Brown will talk about her work and its inspiration.

Flow artist Nancy Brown’s paintings reflect how she feels each day. The variety and quantity of her work create a montage of colour and shape. A debilitating illness started Brown on this voyage of colour and shape. “It’s my freedom, my sanity, a way to release my energy and find a place where I can create and find movement where my body can’t,” Brown says. Previously, Brown worked in

Woolnough Gallery. Visiting hours are Wednesday to Saturday, noon–5 pm.

the pharmaceutical industry, where the work was fast-paced and precise. Creating art has become a way for her to regenerate and feel grounded.

Gallery hours are Tuesday 11 am–3 pm, Wednesday 9 am–1 pm, and Thursday 4–8 pm at 4023 Dixon Road in Breadalbane. After June 22, the Gallery will be open Tuesday and Wednesday afternoons from 1–4 pm with an artist in attendance.

ISLAND ARTIST

susan christensen

Montgomery and the Spirit of Place

Damien Worth, Longing of the Pear

Painting by Nancy Brown

Paintings inspired by the poetry of Montgomery

Poetry by Renée Blanchette inspired by the painting of Christensen

Green Gables Visitor Center Tues - Thurs 10 am to 4 pm

Susan will paint live

L.M. Montgomery is a trademark of Heirs of L.M. Montgomery Inc.

Call for Submissions: The Voice of Marion

Eptek Art & Culture Centre in Summerside is seeking submissions for the upcoming group exhibit, The Voice of Marion, to be displayed in the main gallery from January to March 2027. The Island-wide call is for visual art inspired by the work of Marion Campbell Hinton. Submission packages include images of the artwork. This project is presented in memory of Marion Campbell Hinton with the generous support of her niece and nephew, Catherine and Bill Callbeck. Submitted work will be part of a group exhibition and monetary awards will be presented in several categories. The jury consists of acclaimed Island artists Henry Purdy, Grace Curtis, and Maurice Bernard. Catherine and Bill hope many Island artists will be inspired to participate in celebration of their Aunt Marion. Submissions are welcome from artists at any stage of their career. The deadline for expressions of interest is November 1 at midnight. To receive a submission package, email eptek@gov. pe.ca or call 902-888-8373.

PEI Crafts Council AGM

The PEI Crafts Council will hold its annual general meeting at 98 Water Street in Charlottetown on June 2. Doors open

at 6:30 pm, with the meeting starting at 7 pm. All members are encouraged to attend and light snacks will be served. Info: peicraftscouncil.com

Arts, Culture, and AI Roundtables

CreativePEI is facilitating peer knowledge exchanges on arts, culture, and artificial intelligence between June 2 and 12. Themes include “AI and Creative Labour, Rights, and Compensation” (Charlottetown, June 2 at 3:30 pm and Summerside, June 9 at 3:30 pm.); “AI as a Creative Collaborator – Or Not” (Charlottetown, June 4 at 2 pm); “Access and Inclusion and AI in the Arts and Culture Sector” (Charlottetown, June 5 at 11:30 am); and “AI and Cultural Gatekeeping” (Virtual, June 12 at 11:30 am). The sessions are open to anyone interested in dialogue and they are free to attend (though numbers are limited). Email jane@creativepei.ca for the registration link and location details.

PEI Agriculture Photo Contest

The Department of Agriculture is welcoming photo submissions showcasing the beauty of Prince Edward Island. The Celebrate PEI Agriculture photo contest is now accepting images for the 2026 contest. Photos can be submitted in five categories until July 13. Categories include: Agriculture Is; Animals of Agriculture; Farmscapes; Modern Technology in Farming; and Wild Side. Finalists will

be showcased at the Celebrate PEI Agriculture Old Home Week event. Category winners will be presented with a Canada’s Food Island Cookbook, an Old Home Week Gate Pass for the week, a $50 Canada’s Food Island gift card, and their framed photo following Old Home Week. A special People’s Choice winner will be selected by popular vote from the category winners during Old Home Week 2026, and the winner will receive a grand prize valued at $500. For submission details, visit princeedwardisland. ca/en/service/submit-photo-for-celebrate-pei-agriculture-photo-contest. For contest rules, visit princeedwardisland. ca/en/information/agriculture/celebrate-pei-agriculture-photo-contest-rules.

Call for Artists

The City of Charlottetown is inviting professional artists from across Canada to apply for a new public art opportunity at the Charlottetown Library Learning Centre. The City has launched a call for artists to design and create a large-scale mural on the exterior of the library. The mural will be installed on aluminum panels along the library’s retaining wall, extending from Queen Street around the corner to Sydney Street. The selected artist or artist team will receive a commission of $12,500 (plus HST if applicable) to develop site-specific original artwork that reflects the library’s role as a welcoming, inclusive, and highly visible community space. The mural is expected to be installed and painted on site by the fall of 2026 and will remain on public display for 5–10 years. There is no

theme for this call. Artists are encouraged to respond creatively to the site and its connection to the surrounding community. Applications may be submitted by email to ddumais@charlottetown.ca or by mail to: ATTN: Doug Charlton-Dumais, City of Charlottetown, PO Box 98, Charlottetown, PE, C1A 7K2. Artists are encouraged to review the full call for artists, including submission requirements, eligibility criteria, and project details, by visiting Public Art Opportunities at charlottetown.ca/events___initiatives/ arts___culture/public_art_opportunities.

Stories in Stitches VI

For the sixth time since 2013, St. Paul’s in Charlottetown, in cooperation with Kindred Spirits Quilt Guild, is mounting a dramatic show of quilts, hooked rugs, and other artistic needlework. Stories in Stitches 2026 will run from September 22–26. Needle and fibre artists are invited to participate. During the event, the works of art are set out on the pews and railings throughout the church. Items will be labelled with contact information and details about the history, intent, and technique of the work. The exhibition attracts upwards of 1200 visitors. This is not a sale, although presenters are given the option of allowing subsequent purchase of their works. The registration deadline is August 31. There is no fee for exhibitors. For basic facts, photos from previous shows, and entry or registration forms, visit stpaulschurch.ca and search Stories in Stitches VI. For other information, contact Carol Macdonald at carolmcdnld70@gmail.com or 902-218-2213.

Down East Plein Air

Three-day outdoor creative experience

Art & Soul and the Municipality of Murray River present Down East Plein Air, a three-day festival from June 26–28, bringing together artists and art lovers for a relaxed, outdoor creative experience where participants can create and preserve memories through art inspired by this unique red-soiled province.

Whether attendees paint, sketch, collect art, or simply appreciate creativity, the festival offers an opportunity to connect, be inspired, and enjoy the natural beauty of southeastern PEI.

Artists of all levels are welcome, from beginners and hobbyists to professionals. Registered artists are

Community museums

Exploring and celebrating Island heritage this summer

The Prince Edward Island Community Museums Association (PEI CMA) is seeking to better understand and meet the resource needs of its diverse membership across the province. Austen Clayton, an Islander completing his final co-op placement with the PEI CMA this summer before graduating from Memorial University this fall with a master’s degree in Folklore, will lead this work.

In his role, Clayton will visit 50–60 heritage sites across PEI and survey operators to identify how the CMA can best support its members. He will also help increase awareness and appreciation of the Island’s rich heritage among residents and visitors, from centuries

eligible to participate in the PreFestival Plein Air Workshop and/or the Art Show (to exhibit, sell, and/or win awards), if they choose.

Finished works, whether for sale or not, will be on display June 26–28 at the Murray River Community Centre (1084 MacInnis St) and will be displayed as artwork comes in each day. Artists will have the opportunity to sell their work and compete for prizes.

Admission to the centre is free.

Visit downeastpleinair.com for more information.

of Mi’kmaq presence to later European settlement. Clayton is passionate about making the region’s heritage accessible and preserving it for future generations.

Clayton will share the artifacts and stories from the heritage sites on social media. He invites the public to follow the PEI CMA’s social media and join in discovering what he is learning and sharing about Island heritage this summer. The first of many posts will appear in early June: @museumspei on Facebook and @cma_pei on Instagram.

SUBMITTED

Austen Clayton

SUBMITTED

Goldie Gillis painting in plein air

WORKSHOPS

Workshop: Connected Couples

Family Service PEI is offering Connected Couples, an evidence-based, in-person relationship workshop, taking place in Summerside on June 6 and 7 from 10 am–5 pm. The workshop is designed to help couples deepen friendship, strengthen trust, improve communication, and navigate conflict in healthier ways. Grounded in decades of research from the Gottman Institute, this workshop provides practical tools to support healthier, stronger relationships for couples at any stage. Workshops are offered on a pay-what-you-can basis, with no one turned away due to financial barriers. To register, visit fspei.ca/ connected-couples-series/connected-couple-workshop. Info: connectedcouples@ familyservice.pe.ca

Workshop: From Partners to

Institute, this evidence-based program helps couples strengthen their relationship, improve communication and navigate conflict, build healthy co-parenting skills, better understand child development, and nurture positive parent-infant relationships during a life transition that can be both joyful and stressful. Workshops are offered on a pay-whatyou-can basis, with no one turned away due to financial barriers. To register, visit fspei.ca/from-partners-to-parents. Info: connectedcouples@familyservice.pe.ca

Lunch and Learn: La Leche League PEI

La Leche League PEI is offering a free, drop-in Lunch and Learn program for people who are pregnant or breastfeeding. The next session takes place on June 9 at 12 noon at the Gentle Beginnings Prenatal Centre, 17B Alley St, Charlottetown. Breastfeeding and chestfeeding support and information will be provided by Chris Ortenburger, with the help of Andrea and Nasim. A complimentary lunch will be provided. Visit gentlebeginnings.ca to register.

Workshop: Proportional Representation on PEI

Islanders for Proportional Representation is offering a free workshop titled “Looking Back & Moving Forward: Proportional Representation on PEI” in the Rotary auditorium at the Charlottetown Library on June 13 from 10 am–12 noon. The event will explain how proportional representation functions and the long history of efforts toward electoral reform in PEI. Participants will engage in conversations on how a new voting system might increase democratic participation. Snacks and refreshments will be provided. To register, email islanders4pr@gmail.com.

Palmer Leadership Institute

Dr. Jeffrey Collins appointed as new director

Confederation Centre of the Arts (CCOA) recently announced the appointment of Dr. Jeffrey (Jeff) Collins as Director of the Palmer Canadian Leadership Institute, ushering in a new chapter for the Centre’s national leadership programming.

A respected scholar, policy expert, and educator, Dr. Collins brings a wealth of experience in public service, academia, and national policy leadership. Originally from Placentia, Newfoundland, and a long-time resident of Prince Edward Island, he has built a distinguished career at the intersection of government, research, and public engagement.

Dr. Collins is widely recognized as a national media commentator on Canadian defence and foreign policy and is the author of two books, as well as numerous academic and policy publications. His leadership experience extends internationally through participation in prestigious programs, including Action Canada, the Perth USAsia Centre, the Warsaw Security Forum, and the U.S. State Department’s International Visitor Leadership Program. He has also served on the Board of the Banff Forum since 2023.

“I’m honoured to join the Confederation Centre of the Arts and lead the Palmer Canadian Leadership Institute at such an exciting time,” says Dr. Collins. “Embracing the Centre’s founding as a place ‘where Canada connects’, the Institute has a unique opportunity to convene emerging and established leaders from across the country to explore the ideas and challenges shaping Canada’s future, at home and abroad.”

Dr. Collins holds a PhD in Political Science from Carleton University, a

Master’s degree in Strategic Studies, a law degree, and a Bachelor of Arts in History and Political Science.

CCOA recently announce the naming of the Palmer Canadian Leadership Institute, made possible through a transformative gift from the Palmer Family Foundation in support of the Centre’s Shared Voices Campaign. The gift honours the legacy of the late James (Jim) Palmer, a respected lawyer, civic leader, and lifelong champion of public policy, national unity, and Canadian institutions.

A cornerstone of the Centre’s national mandate, the Institute cultivates leadership, dialogue, and civic engagement through the Symons Medal Presentation and Lecture, the Charlottetown Forum, and other programming that brings leaders and the public together on issues shaping Canada.

Under Dr. Collins’ leadership, the Institute will continue to expand its reach and impact, connecting Canadians through meaningful conversations about leadership, public policy, and the future of the country. confederationcentre.com

Dr. Jeffrey Collins

Staying ourselves

We don’t have much of a spring in PEI, insulated as we are by slow-warming Atlantic waters, but we wake one morning in June to discover it is fullblown summer. All at once, a thousand greens splash out in contrast with tilled red soil. Surrounding waters reflect the blue of the sky in the ripples and wakes around white-hulled fishing boats. Those ancient legume lupins bloom, so even the ditches are filled with colour.

And the roadways the ditches border begin to be filled with out-of-province license plates: tourist season. And under-valorized and under-funded as a tourist draw is PEI’s cultural sector. While arts and culture organizations hustle to put plays on summer stages and to maintain community museum collections without year-round staff, Tourism PEI’s exit surveys quietly tell the story of cultural tourism’s importance, concluding in 2023 that the cultural tourism market in PEI “accounts for more than half of the total overnight pleasure travel market,” and that cultural travel parties “not only spend more, but also stay longer than non-cultural tourists.”

Perhaps on a grass-scented June evening you will visit a community hall in rural PEI to take in one of the performances of traditional music, dance, and storytelling that make up the PEI Mutual Festival of Small Halls. Last year, the Festival’s director Josh Ellis tells me, almost half of ticket sales went to visitors from off-Island. Visitors drawn here to the festival stayed an average of eight nights and spent $1.8 million during their visits.

This is cultural tourism at its best: culture rooted deeply enough to fill half the seats with locals, while welcoming visitors to fill the rest. As Lindsay Connolly uncovered in a discussion paper on cultural tourism produced for CreativePEI in 2025, cultural tourism works best when we do what we love, artistically and culturally, and invite others in.

“Many cultural tourism operators are already contributing to year-round activities, events, experiences, and employment opportunities that impact PEI residents’ quality of life,” the discussion paper says, “and, whether they realize it or not, also align with [Tourism] priorities.” But this kind of tourism does not sustain itself; it depends on sustained investment in artists, arts workers, and cultural organizations creating contemporary culture now.

How can I say that cultural tourism is under-recognized in the land of Anne of Green Gables? Living as we do in the land of Anne, we get trapped in the dual nature of L.M. Montgomery’s beloved creation: where Anne is so visibly a commodity, we forget to look beyond the pig-tailed products to the artistry and culture beneath them. And we remain stuck in a past artistic rendering of ourselves.

In their history of tourism in PEI, The Summer Trade, Alan MacEachern and Edward MacDonald note how even that June landscape is both beautiful and marketing an idea of beauty. In PEI tourism, “Summer and everything it invokes is the commodity being sold,” they say. “The Island gains from the trade but also gives something away.” The problem for culture within tourism is the conundrum of Island cultural identity. Across PEI’s tourism history, we have “simultaneously sought to change to accommodate visitors’ needs and stay unchanged to accommodate visitors’ desires.” This is the ultimate PEI tourist trap.

What PEI most needs is sustained support for artists and cultural organizations, telling the story of who we are in this landscape now, today. Believe it: if we invest in the culture being made here now, and leave an open door and an empty chair, visitors will continue to join us.

Ken Williams

Poetry featured in Humanist Perspective Magazine

Two poems by PEI author Ken Williams are featured in the recent issue of Humanist Perspectives Magazine, released in May.

Williams is a member of the Gooseys writing group and a longtime resident of PEI. He published a children’s book in 2024 titled We Were All Together, written under the pen name K.T. Williams, which won an International Impact Award.

ArtsSmarts

Open your mind, learn through the arts at Eptek

Explore creations made by Island students during the annual ArtsSmarts exhibition at Summerside’s Eptek Art & Culture Centre in June. An opening celebration will be held on June 2 from 6–8 pm, celebrating the learning experiences that took place in classrooms across the Island this school year.

ArtsSmarts is the largest education initiative in Canada dedicated to improving the lives and learning capacity of Canadian children by injecting arts into academic programs. Engaging young people in artistic activity is critical to their development as creative thinkers. To support this creative process, artists work with teachers to create student-centred learning experiences that integrate the arts into learning and help students find a context for it in their own lives.

This vibrant exhibition will be on display until June 19.

Art Night

Open House & Artmobile Gallery at The Arts Guild

The public is invited to Art Night in Charlottetown: The Arts Guild Open House & Artmobile Gallery on June 5 from 5–7 pm.

The event offers participants from CreativePEI Artmobile events an opportunity to display their work, while The Arts Guild welcomes the community back to its newly renovated space.

There will be tables, easels, and a community gallery wall featuring work from the Artmobile community, as well as an Artmobile table set up for in-person creating.

The event is free and open to all ages. Refreshments will be provided.

Williams

The two poems selected for the issue reflect on themes of aging and faith. Find them in the Spring 2026 issue at humanistperspectives.org.

Ken

READERS/WRITERS

Story Makers

A weekly writing group for kids (ages 6–12) is held on Tuesdays at 3:30 pm at the Charlottetown Library. The group includes story prompts and challenges and gives writers space to work on their own projects.

Queer Poetry Club

The Queer Poetry Club meets on the first Saturday of each month from 2–4 pm at the PEERS Alliance office in Charlottetown. The next meeting is on June 6. The club offers members of the queer community an opportunity to write, read, and listen to poetry in a supportive environment. Snacks and materials are provided, and no poetry experience is needed. Info: queerpoetryclub@proton.me

Book Fair: ‘90s & ‘00s Edition

A 1990s and 2000s Scholastic-themed book fair fundraiser will take place in the rotary auditorium at the Charlottetown Library on June 6 from 10 am–4 pm and June 7 from 1–4 pm. The event will feature a mix of current adult releases, local authors, and special throwback treasures from childhood like Goosebumps, Harry Potter, and The Baby-Sitters Club

Local artisans will be selling unique handmade goods. Attendees will have the opportunity to recreate those classic school portraits with a free printed photo strip (included with admission). There will also be a 50/50 draw. Admission and 50/50 proceeds will go directly to the Charlottetown Library Learning Centre Foundation. Admission is free for children under 12. Info: cllcfoundation. ca/90s-00s-book-fair-fundraiser

Write Here, Write Now

Writers who want to dedicate time this summer to their creative writing practice can do so at the Charlottetown Library. Write Here, Write Now will run on June 11 and 25 at 10 am. The group will share writing goals and inspiration at the beginning of each session, try one of the library’s prompts or work on their own project, and share or listen to others. This is not a workshop or seminar. Writers are

encouraged to bring their own laptops and writing implements.

Call for Submissions: Trans Anthology

PEI Transgender Network is accepting submissions for its third Trans Anthology as part of Together We Thrive 2026. This call is open to all trans and gender diverse folks who live in PEI. The submission deadline is June 14 at 5 pm. There are two forms: one for written works and one for visual artworks. Folks may submit to one or both. This year’s Curation Selection Committee includes Julie Bull, Chelsea Ferguson, and Kim Endell, and they are available for support throughout the submission, editing, and publishing process. Reach out to Julie at julierbull@peitn.com, Chelsea at cferguson@peitn.com, or Kim at kendell@peitn. com with any questions. For more info and the submission forms, visit peitn. com/trans-anthology.

Afternoon Book Club

The Afternoon Book Club will meet at the Summerside Library on June 15 at 1 pm. Pick up this month’s selection at the circulation desk.

Book Lovers Book Club

The next Book Lovers Book Club meeting at the Charlottetown Library is on June 16 at 6 pm. Join an informal, conversation-style chat about books with other bibliophiles. No assigned reading or registration required.

Ask An Author

Drop in to the Charlottetown Library on June 18 from 4–7 pm for Ask An Author featuring Caitlyn Paxson. Attendees can meet Caitlyn Paxson, author of historical romantic comedy A Widow’s Charm. Caitlyn will chat about her book, the writing process, combining genres, working with an agent, and anything else attendees would like to ask about the publication process.

Monday Night Book Club

The Monday Night Book Club meets at the Charlottetown Library on June 22 at 6 pm. The group of like-minded book lovers chooses a new title each month. New members welcome.

Summer Reading Party

Families are invited to “Dive In” to this year’s Summer Reading program with a kickoff party at the Summerside Library on June 26 at 11 am. Kick off the summer with fun activities, with more to come throughout the season.

Summerside Library Book Club

The Summerside Library Book Club features lively discussions of today’s most thought-provoking books. Pick up the latest selection at the circulation desk. The next meeting is on June 27 at 2 pm at the Summerside Library.

PEI Poetry Bash

Promoting poetry in the Atlantic region

PEI Poet Laureate Bren Simmers and Bookmark present the PEI Poetry Bash on June 17 at 7 pm at the Beaconsfield Carriage House in Charlottetown.

The evening will feature three poets from New Brunswick—Fredericton Poet Laureate Fawn Parker, Ian LeTourneau, and Amber McMillan— alongside three Prince Edward Island poets: Chris Bailey, Yvette Doucette, and John MacKenzie. Bassist Adam Hill and guests will provide musical interludes between poets.

The PEI Poetry Bash promotes the cross-pollination of poetry in the Atlantic region, celebrating local talent.

From Frederiction, Ian LeTourneau is the author of two poetry collections, the managing editor of The Fiddlehead, and publisher of the chapbook press Emergency Flash Mob Press. Fawn Parker is a writer from Toronto, now based in NB. She is a SSHRC Postdoctoral Fellow in York University’s Mad Studies Hub and the current Poet Laureate of Fredericton. Amber McMillan is the author of five

PEI Writing Awards

Charlottetown Library Learning Centre—June 13

The PEI Writers’ Guild is hosting the PEI Writing Awards: Community Conversation in the Rotary Auditorium at the Charlottetown Library on June 13 from 1–4 pm. All are invited to attend this free, all-ages community event.

books. She is the winner of the UBC/ Penguin Random House Prize for Fiction, and has been shortlisted for the Atlantic Book Awards and the NB Book Awards. She lives on unsurrendered Wolastoqey territory.

Closer to home, Chris Bailey is a commercial fisherman from eastern PEI. He is the author of the poetry collections What Your Hands Have Done and Forecast: Pretty Bleak. Yvette Doucette is an award-winning poet, memoirist, and performer. Her first book of poetry, How I Connect to You, is being published this year by Acorn Press. John MacKenzie lives in Charlottetown and is the author of Sledgehammer and Letters I Didn’t Write Adam Hill is a bassist, composer, and curator of the Charlottetown Improvisation Laboratory. The host for the evening is PEI Poet Laureate Bren Simmers, author of The Work, and winner of the Pat Lowther Award.

This event is free and all are welcome to attend. Books will be available for purchase thanks to Bookmark.

Island writing legends and emerging writers will discuss the history and founding of the Island Literary Awards and reflect on the needs of a new and diverse generation of Island writers. Preliminary findings from the PEIWG writing awards community survey and engagement process will be shared and next steps in a revitalized awards program for Island writers will be outlined.

The event is designed for Island writers of all levels, as well as other creatives, community members, supporters, or anyone who is curious about writing on PEI and the new PEI writing awards program.

(top–bottom, L–R): Yvette Doucette, Ian LeTourneau, Amber McMillan, Fawn Parker, John MacKenzie, and Chris Bailey

A gift of Island Poetry

LOOKING TOWARDS THE GULF AT EVENING

The wind is from the northeast this early evening and not as sharp as it often is, having worn out for now its cold chisels of water and sand sculpting

all day, as it has every day for many epochs, the North Shore capes into sparse studies of ravaged limbs and torsos envied by Rodin.

I have seen my future there, and yours; our backs turned to the workman wind, shivers running up from our thin legs before we collapse into the gulf

giving to oysters, mussels, and clams the scant minerals of our bones.

—John MacKenzie

John MacKenzie lives in Charlottetown. You may see him here and there, a grey gull circling, scavenging bits of poems from the detritus of lives.

Each month Bren Simmers selects a poem by an Island poet for The Buzz

2026 PEI Book Awards

Recognition for Island authors

More than a dozen Island authors were recognized for their work at the 2026 PEI Book Awards, held on May 24 at the Charlottetown Library Learning Centre. The 2026 PEI Book Awards shortlists and winners (in bold) are:

Children’s Literature

Sarah Ponakey, Storycatcher and Âhâsiw’s Forest Powwow by Sita MacMillan; My Little Ogichidaa: An Indigenous Lullaby by Wille Poll; The Sandcastle that Jack Built by Judith Graves & illustrated by Maurice Bernard.

Fiction

Ken’s Corner by Katie Mac; The Baby Train by Stella Shepard; The Floating Days by Susan Rodgers.

Non-Fiction

Erica Rutherford: Her Lives and Works by Pan Wendt; Called by Mother Earth by Greg F. Naterer; Canada’s Defence Procurement Woes by Jeffrey F. Collins.

Poetry

The Work by Bren Simmers; The Geography of Home by Edward MacDonald; A Skeptic in Springtime by Brent MacLaine.

The PEI Book Awards are presented every two years. Submissions were assessed by an independent jury based on quality of writing, social and cultural merit, and originality of content, approach, and technique. Each award included a cash prize, a handcrafted commemorative gift, and a specially designed seal for display on the award-winning book.

For more info on the awards, visit princeedwardisland.ca/bookaward

Reading and book launch

Island poet Jennifer PlattsFanning at Bookmark—June 10

Bookmark, Charlottetown’s independent bookstore, will be hosting Island poet Jennifer Platts-Fanning on June 10 at 7 pm. In celebration of the launch of Dandelion Rebellion (Pownal Street Press), Jennifer and friends will be reading from her new collection.

“Jennifer Platts-Fanning’s new book, Dandelion Rebellion, is a dramatic, stream-of-consciousness exploration of wildness in its many guises, by turn oracular, cathartic, ferocious, environmentally-savvy, dream-saturated, and humorous,” says Jan Conn, Canadian biologist, poet, and visual artist. “The book is divided into nine waypoints, each simply and effectively illustrated by a different stage of a dandelion flower’s brief life, providing visual cues to a sense of urgency that permeates the writing.”

Jennifer Platts-Fanning is the recipient of multiple PEI Writers’ Guild Island Literary Awards. Her poetry appears in The Dalhousie Review, White Wall Review, and other journals. Her restless, empathetic voice explores memory, nature, and belonging. A playwright and forest steward, she volunteers with PEI Ground Search and Rescue, living by the motto: “That Others May Live.”

This is a free event, and all are welcome. 111 Kent Street in Charlottetown.

Jennifer Platts-Fanning

mimicking symmetry tasting honeysuckle decadently slow between perfectly pressured teeth drawing out nectar on wanting tongue

I’m held to the fire haunted by my chosen ghost whispering from a crack of entangled light hemmed into tamed darkness rescued by bloodletting jellyfish understanding the weight of water the heart of a wild buck in my hand squeezing the bonds of its muscle with every hoofbeat that strengthened it every coyote escape every bit of warmth it found

PEI BOOKS

Medicinal

Herbs of Canada: A Pictorial Manual

Written

and

illustrated by Brenda Jones

Wednesday, June 10 at 7 PM join us for the book launch

Medicinal Herbs of Canada by author and illustrator Brenda Jones is a comprehensive guide to 134 different healing plants found across Canada. A book launch will be held on June 7 at 2 pm at the Stanley Bridge Hall. Everyone is invited to meet the author, get a book signed, enjoy refreshments, and mingle with other herb enthusiasts.

Filled with detailed artwork, this easy-to-follow guide blends traditional knowledge with the latest research, making it easy to identify, collect, and understand the practical applications

The book also includes useful information for foragers and herbalists, with sections on poisonous plants, recipes, preparation instructions, and a glossary of terms. Whether readers are beginners or experienced herbal enthusiasts, this book will help them discover the healing power of nature that has existed across cultures for centuries.

Other Duties as Required: Stories from My Teaching Career

Dale McIsaac

The public is invited to attend the launch of PEI author Dr. Dale McIsaac’s book, Other Duties as Required: Stories from My Teaching Career, at 6:30 pm on June 29 at Beaconsfield Carriage House in Charlottetown.

a classroom.

Dale McIsaac, a long-time teacher and principal, learned this lesson from the very first day of his practicum. Other Duties as Required is a collection of some of the most memorable stories spanning McIsaac’s 37-year career, starting with his early days teaching in Boiestown, NB, to returning to PEI for a long career in teaching and administration.

With the same dry wit as Stuart MacLean, McIssac recalls coaching basketball, hijinks in the break room, the pranks played with his colleagues, and heart-warming homages to important people he worked with along the way.

McIsaac lives in Donagh, PEI, with his wife, Ann-Marie. They have two adult sons, Dean and Luke. Throughout his career, McIsaac coached 150 teams at the school, community, provincial, and college levels. He remains an active volunteer with local and provincial watershed organizations. McIsaac has received the Queen Elizabeth II Jubilee Medal and the King Charles III Coronation Medal. This is his third book.

The Farthest Peter B. MacIntyre

Stratford, PEI-based author Peter B. MacIntyre’s new sci-fi book The Farthest, published by FriesenPress, was released in May.

In the twilight zones of Zetara Prime, a planet locked in eternal shadow by its dying red dwarf star, survival is a way of life. Sattek, an introspective deep-space researcher, is drawn into a cosmic mystery when an anomaly is discovered in one of

his assigned observation sectors. The discovery sets him on a collision course with the past, present, and an uncertain future.

Amid a backdrop of political tensions, groundbreaking technology, and the looming reality of Zetara Prime’s decline, Sattek must navigate the challenges of duty, personal ambition, and a secret that could alter the fate of his world. As his team races to decode the anomaly, the question remains: Is this a new beginning for the Zetarans?

The Farthest is a gripping tale of survival, discovery, and the unyielding spirit of exploration. Dive into a richly imagined world of deep-space wonders and the timeless search for answers in the vast unknown.

To learn more or to order a copy of The Farthest, visit thefarthest.ca.

Sugar Shack Books

PEI imprint launched by Pownal Street Press

PEI publishing house Pownal Street Press has launched Sugar Shack Books, a new romance imprint dedicated to contemporary love stories set in vivid Canadian landscapes.

Sugar Shack Books will publish character-driven romance rooted in memorable places and authentic connection, with a focus on stories set across Canada.

The imprint will debut with Forever Is the Sweetest Con by Halifax-based author Joanna Thurlow. Set for release on June 16, the book has been selected as a Publishers Weekly Buzz Book and an American Booksellers Association top 10 Indie Introduce featured title for Summer/Fall 2026.

Follow @sugarshackbooks on Instagram for updates or visit pownalstreetpress.com.

Every teacher knows that being an educator involves much more than just standing at the front of

Excerpt from Dandelion Rebellion by Jennifer Platts-Fanning

J. M. PLATTS-FANNING

Romantic Suburbs

Kate Scarth in conversation with Sarah Emsley—June 26

Bookmark is launching Kate Scarth’s book Romantic Suburbs: Imagining Home in Greater London on June 26 at 4:30 pm in Room 243 of the Don and Marion McDougall Hall at UPEI. Kate will be in conversation with Sarah Emsley, author of The Austens. This event is free, and all are welcome.

Drawing on novels by Jane Austen, Charlotte Smith, and their contemporaries, Romantic Suburbs argues that in an era before public health and urban planning policies, Romantic-period women took matters into their own hands. Women novelists of this period imagined a new suburban world where women, their families, and communities could thrive. Romanticism and women’s fiction helped shape the story of suburban development—a phenomenon that continues to influence twenty-first-century life globally.

Prejudice and other novels that would eventually make her famous. The Austens explores tensions and rivalries between a great writer and the people closest to them.

Kate Scarth is the chair of L.M Montgomery Studies with UPEI’s L.M. Montgomery Institute and an Associate Professor in the Applied Communication, Leadership, and Culture (ACLC) program at UPEI.

The Austens brings to life the story of Jane Austen’s friendship with her sister-in-law Fanny Austen, who lived in Bermuda and Nova Scotia with her naval captain husband during the years when Jane was writing Pride and

Author readings

Sarah Emsley received her PhD from Dalhousie University, held a postdoctoral fellowship at the Rothermere American Institute, University of Oxford, taught classes on Austen in the Writing Program at Harvard University, and lives in Halifax, NS.

Bookmark in Charlottetown is hosting fiction authors Jeff Miller and Katie Mac on June 3 at 7 pm. This is a free event, and all are welcome.

Pulsing with the raw energy of basement punk shows and DIY creativity, late-night manifestos and first heartbreaks, Jeff Miller’s debut novel Temporary Palaces captures a generation caught between idealism and survival, art and activism, the dreams that define us and the compromises that save us. According to Sean Michaels the book is “a plainspoken, punk-rock hymn ... This is a book that will pick you up off the floor of a mosh pit and wrap you in its arms.”

former boss for help.

Katie Mac’s new novel Dunk River Murders follows Maggie, a woman who is burnt out in her old political job and is running away from her problems by way of fly fishing, until dead bodies keep inconveniently popping up in her river. With a demoralized cop on the case, a traumatized potential survivor, and a web of mob deals to untangle, the only way to solve the murder might be to ask her unsavoury

Jeff Miller is the author of the award-winning creative nonfiction collection Ghost Pine: All Stories True His stories have appeared in several anthologies, and he frequently publishes criticism. Miller holds an MFA from the University of British Columbia and lives in Nova Scotia.

Katie Mac writes noir, thrillers, and westerns, all with a little bit of love and comedy. She co-wrote the Bell Fibe TV1 show Currie, based on the life of PEI-born wild west outlaw George ‘Flat Nose’ Currie. Mac received an Island Literary Award for her short story “The Key to Wednesdays” and her debut noir novel, Ken’s Corner, was published in 2024.

CHARLOTTETOWN JUNE 18 - 21

YOGA & FITNESS SESSIONS WELLNESS WORKSHOPS ON-THE-WATER ACTIVITIES GUIDED MEDITATIONS OPEN-AIR MASSAGE 5K RAINBOW RUN UNIQUE VENUES GOLF TEE TIMES POTTERY WORKSHOPS DANCE PARTIES & MORE

SUBMITTED

MIKE NEEDHAM

Kate Scarth (left) and Sarah Emsley

PHOTOS SUBMITTED

Jeff Miller (left) and Katie Mac

Jeff Miller and Katie Mac at Bookmark—June 3

PERFORMANCE

music, theatre, dance, comedy...

›› until July 18 | select dates

Inside The Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald

Ft. Shane Pendergast, Brielle Ansems, Cameron MacDuffee, Alicia Toner, Greg Gale, and Mike Ross. Harmony House, Hunter River

May 30 | 7 pm

Canada’s Circus Spectacular Eastlink Centre, Charlottetown

May 30 | 8 pm

Jeff Leeson: Only Gonna Say

This Once

Florence Simmons Performance Hall, Charlottetown

May 30 | 8 pm

Brothers MacPhee: Nirvana

Unplugged in New York

Trailside Music Hall, Charlottetown

May 31 | 2 pm

Bluestreak and The Stiff

Family

A PEI Bluegrass & Old Time Music Society fundraising concert. The Barn Floor, Crapaud

May 31 | 3 pm

Abegweit Chamber Singers: Here’s to Song

St Paul’s Church, Charlottetown

May 31 | 7:30 pm

Symply Skynyrd

Tribute to Lynyrd Skynyrd. Scott MacAulay

Performing Arts Centre, Summerside

May 31 | 7 pm

The Charlottetown Jazz Ensemble

Trailside Music Hall, Charlottetown

June 2 | 8 pm

Ben Caplan

Trailside Music Hall, Charlottetown

June 3 | 8 pm

Mama’s Broke

Trailside Music Hall, Charlottetown

June 4 | 7 pm

This Should Have Been a Love Story

Evangeline Recreation Centre, Wellington

June 4–5 | 7 pm

Alice in Wonderland Jr.

Harbourfront Theatre, Summerside

June 4–5 | 7 pm

The Big Show: Three Oaks Music

Scott MacAulay Performing Arts Centre, Summerside

June 5 | 7 pm

C’était presqu’une histoire d’amour

Evangeline Recreation Centre, Wellington

June 5 | 7 pm

Charlottetown Rural Popular Music Performance: Dance

While the World Shifts

PEI Brewing Company, Charlottetown

June 5 | 7:30 pm

Amabile Singers: Bide with US

With pianist Sara White. Spring Park United, Charlottetown

June 5 | 7:30 pm

Ode to Outlaws

Ft. Nudie and Lawrence Maxwell. Tracadie Community Centre, Tracadie

June 5 | 7:30 pm

Richard Wood Live: Fiddle

Fandemonium 4 Centre 150, Summerside

June 5 | 8 pm

Lady Soul

Trailside Music Hall, Charlottetown

June 5 | 8:07 pm

@fter eight: Supreme Funny (Allegedly)

The Arts Guild, Charlottetown

June 6 | 8 pm

Joey Doucette & Randy Allain

Stompin’ Tom Centre, Skinners Pond

June 6 | 8 pm

blink-902

Tribute to Blink-182. Trailside Music Hall, Charlottetown

June 6 | 8 pm

Popalopalots

Improv comedy. The Arts Guild, Charlottetown

June 6, 7

Hit Play: Sirens Sing the Pops

June 6, 7:30 pm: Steel Recital Hall, UPEI

June 7, 3 pm: Alberton Welcome Centre, Alberton

June 6–7 | 7:30 pm

The Starlings Choir & Guests

Ft. Angie Arsenault’s Vocal Studio choral students. Harbourfront Theatre, Summerside

June 6–Aug 29 | select dates

C’Mon In! An Island Kitchen Party

Ft. Robbie Doherty and Pierce Clarke. The Mack, Charlottetown

June 9–Aug 11 | select dates

A Secret Chord: The Essential Canadian Songbook

Ft Lawrence Maxwell, Todd MacLean, Brooke MacArthur, Luka Hall, and Deryl Gallant. Kings Playhouse, Georgetown

June 10–13 | 8 pm

DIVA: A Night of Annie

Lennox

The Arts Guild, Charlottetown

June 11 | 7 pm

Shaw Nicholson, trumpet Kirk of St. James, Charlottetown

June 11 | 8 pm

Devin Cuddy Trailside Music Hall, Charlottetown

June 12 | 7 pm

Improvisors Orchestra

Beaconsfield Carriage House, Charlottetown

June 12 | 8 pm

The Soosh

Trailside Music Hall, Charlottetown

June 12–13 | 7 pm, June 13–14 | 1 pm

The Secret Garden

Victoria Playhouse, Victoria

June 12–21

The PEI Mutual Festival of Small Halls smallhalls.com

Various PEI halls and community centres

June 13 | 10 am

Definitely Not the Symphony

Zion Presbyterian, Charlottetown

June 16 | 7:30 pm

Carsie Blanton & The Burning Hell

Souris Show Hall, Souris

June 18–19 | 7 pm

Cubby Bear and the Adventure Home

Florence Simmons Performance Hall, Charlottetown

June 18–20 | 8 pm

333: The Toronto Bathhouse Raids

The Arts Guild, Charlottetown

June 18–Sept 24 | select dates

Live at the Horseshoe Tavern Dinner theatre. Stompin’ Tom Centre, Skinners Pond

June 19 | 7:30 pm

Songwriter Series: Tim Chaisson

The Summerside Shipyard, Summerside

June 19 | 7:30 pm

Green River Revival

Tribute to Creedence Clearwater Revival. Harbourfront Theatre, Summerside

June 19 | 8 pm

J.P. Cormier

Trailside Music Hall, Charlottetown

June 20 | 7:30 pm

Boogie Down Broadway: A Singalong Dance Party

PEI Brewing Company, Charlottetown

June 20 | 8 pm

Route 225 with Craig Fair

Trailside Music Hall, Charlottetown

June 20 | 8 pm

Chad Matthews & Slap Rail Society

Stompin’ Tom Centre, Skinners Pond

June 21 | 12:30 pm

Route 225 with Alyssa Harper

With special guest Ben Aitken. Trailside Music Hall, Charlottetown

June 23–Aug 29

Relatively Speaking

Watermark Theatre, North Rustico

June 24 | 8 pm

The Bug Club with The Boojums

Album release. Trailside Music Hall, Charlottetown

June 25 | 8 pm

Sheila Ann Smith and Band

Tribute to Eva Cassidy. Trailside Music Hall, Charlottetown

June 25–Sept 5 | select dates

Anne of Green Gables—The Musical™

Sobey Family Theatre, Charlottetown

June 26–27 | 8 pm

After Hours Band

Trailside Music Hall, Charlottetown

…continued on page 34

2026 SHOW SCHEDULE

*except where other times are noted

Welcome to City Cinema from The Charlottetown Film Society

City Cinema is owned and operated by our non-profit Society. We welcome donations, and can provide tax receipts. We will continue to present a diverse mix of films and welcome your suggestions and support. Become a member, bring friends, and share feedback!

Advance Tickets

Please visit our website at citycinema.ca, we accept all major credit cards online and both debit and credit at the cinema. Seating may be limited, advance tickets are strongly recommended.

Subject to Change

Film availability and showtimes are subject to change. Please check our website and book tickets in advance.

Rent City Cinema

City Cinema is available for rent for private film viewings! We provide the projectionist and will have the canteen and bar open for your group. Please check the Venue Rental on our website and send us an email! We’ll respond with information and rates.

Admission

Regular $12

Member $9

65 and over $10

Student $10 (with ID) 14 and under $8

We now accept credit cards online and both debit and credit at the cinema

Annual membership - $30.00

Classic of the Month: Witness

May 28–31

Thriller/Drama/Romance. 14A, violence, coarse language, brief nudity. Dir: Peter Weir, US, 1985, 112 min. Harrison Ford, Kelly McGillis, Lukas Haas, Jan Rubes. Academy Award nominee for Best Picture, Director, and Actor; Winner for Best Screenplay and Editing

“Witness begins like many thrillers, with a murder, this time at a city railway station. The killing is witnessed by a small boy who is a member of the Amish community… Pursued by the bad guys, the boy and his widowed mother are protected by a cop, who takes them back to their village and awaits the killers’ arrival, just as Gary Cooper did in High Noon… Witness is partly a love story and partly a thriller, but mainly a study of cultural collision… This bucolic world is brilliantly evoked: there is a magical barn-raising scene, a beautiful sequence when an embarrassed yet lustful Ford discovers a half-naked McGillis in the middle of her ablutions, and a telling episode as the Amish endure the hostility of the tourists who gawp at them. The performances are immaculate, with Ford shining in his first serious dramatic role after his action escapades as Han Solo and Indiana Jones. McGillis is perfectly cast, the camera adoring her Nordic beauty beneath her bonnet… There are also fine turns by Alexander Godunov as McGillis’s suitor, and Danny Glover as one of the heavies. Yet it’s Weir’s delicacy of touch that impresses the most.” —John Ferguson, Radio Times (UK)

Roving Picture Shows & Island Jazz present: Metropolis

June 1, 7 pm

Science Fiction. PG. Dir: Fritz Lang, Germany, 1929, 153 min. Alfred Abel, Brigitte Helm, Gustav Fröhlich. Silent with Live Improvised Musical Accompaniment by Chris Coupland. Tickets $20 regular, $15 Youth & Students

Set in a futuristic city split between wealthy elites above ground and oppressed workers below. The son of the city’s ruler discovers the workers’ suffering after meeting a woman who calls for unity. Meanwhile, a scientist creates a robot that incites chaos and rebellion. “Metropolis does what many great films do, creating a time, place and characters so striking that they become part of our arsenal of images for imagining the world. The ideas of Metropolis have been so often absorbed into popular culture that its horrific future city is almost a given. Lang filmed for nearly a year,

driven by obsession, a perfectionist madman, and the result is one of those seminal films without which the others cannot be fully appreciated” —Roger Ebert

The Art of Adventure

June 2–3

Travel/Adventure/Documentary. PG, nudity. Dir: Alison Reid, Canada, 2025, 90 min. Robert Bateman, Bristol Foster, David Suzuki, Wade Davis. Audience Award Winner, Victoria Film Festival

“This exceptional documentary, with original 1957 restored footage, captures the essence of mid-century exploration in its purest form. Two men, one outfitted range rover, and a lust for adventure through untamed landscapes offer a rare glimpse into a world before greed and chaos upset everything. It’s a film that doesn’t just show you some wild places, it invites you to feel it. The men in question are renowned Canadian wildlife artist and naturalist, Robert Bateman, and Bristol Foster, a prominent biologist… These men traveled to Africa at a time when it was very unusual to see foreign people… And they took chances off the beaten path. Young and fearless, but extremely smart and capable… The Range Rover (aka the ‘Grizzly Torque’) ran 30,000 kilometres across Africa, India, Southeast Asia, and Australia…. Bateman sketched animals and people along the way and painted a mural of every place they visited along the Grizzly Torque… Through in-depth interviews with friends and family and the original 16mm film footage of their incredible journey, Reid shows how the trip expanded the pair’s knowledge of the physical world while deepening their spiritual and emotional connection to it. A heartwarming, inspirational love letter to the adventure of life itself.” —Debbie King, The Girl Who Would Be King

Little Lorraine

June 5–9

Crime Drama. 14A, coarse language. Dir: Andy Hines, Canada, 2026, 116 min. Stephen Amell, Stephen McHattie, Auden Thornton.

“An unbelievable true slice of Canadian history serves as the basis for the crime drama Little Lorraine. It tells the story of how a remote Canadian fishing village with 60 residents became a major hub for cross-border cocaine smuggling in the 1980s… the film is both enthralling and haunting, delivering a story of deception, morality, and community… Set amid the stunning landscape of Little Lorraine in Cape Breton, the film opens in the wake of a devastating 1986 mining explosion

that claimed the lives of 10 men. Amidst the mine’s closure, Jimmy is left jobless with a young family to support. His estranged and unreliable great uncle Huey reappears, offering Jimmy a position on his lobster fishing boat – an offer he is in no position to decline… Huey’s true intentions are soon revealed: the men are part of a cocaine smuggling operation… The situation escalates when an Interpol agent determined to dismantle the ring, arrives, setting the players on a collision course… Hines’ debut transforms a forgotten chapter of Canadian history into a very human drama. Little Lorraine proves that reality can be stranger and more gripping than fiction, making it one to watch.” —Rachel West, The Alliance of Women Film Journalists

Tuner

June 10–15

Drama/Thriller/Romance. 14A, violence, coarse language. Dir: Daniel Roher, Canada/US, 2026, 109 min. Leo Woodall, Havana Rose Liu, Dustin Hoffman.

“Sometimes a movie sneaks up on you with such effortless charm and cleverness that you can’t help but grin at its sheer audacity. Tuner is one of those surprises. What begins as a modest character study about a soft-spoken piano tuner unfolds into a witty, quick-witted caper that hums with rhythm, humour, and invention… It ends up being one of the most purely enjoyable genre films of the year. Leo Woodall stars as Henry, a shy, musically gifted technician whose perfect ear makes him one of the best piano tuners in London, working alongside his mentor Harry Horowitz (Dustin Hoffman). When a late-night house call goes awry, Henry realises that the delicate art of listening for tonal imperfections also allows him to detect the subtle clicks of tumblers inside a safe. One small crime of curiosity spirals into a double life that brings him into contact with an eccentric underworld of thieves, collectors, and con artists.” —Doug Jamieson, The Jam Report

Little Lorraine

June 16–20

Crime Drama. 14A, coarse language. Dir: Andy Hines, Canada, 2026, 116 min. Stephen Amell, Stephen McHattie, Auden Thornton.

“An unbelievable true slice of Canadian history serves as the basis for the crime drama Little Lorraine. It tells the story of how a remote Canadian fishing village with 60 residents became a major hub for cross-border cocaine smuggling in the 1980s… the film is both enthralling and haunting, delivering a story of deception, morality, and community…

Set amid the stunning landscape of Little Lorraine in Cape Breton, the film opens in the wake of a devastating 1986 mining explosion that claimed the lives of 10 men. Amidst the mine’s closure, Jimmy is left jobless with a young family to support. His estranged and unreliable great uncle Huey reappears, offering Jimmy a position on his lobster fishing boat – an offer he is in no position to decline… Huey’s true intentions are soon revealed: the men are part of a cocaine smuggling operation… The situation escalates when an Interpol agent determined to dismantle the ring, arrives, setting the players on a collision course… Hines’ debut transforms a forgotten chapter of Canadian history into a very human drama. Little Lorraine proves that reality can be stranger and more gripping than fiction, making it one to watch.” —Rachel West, The Alliance of Women Film Journalists

Classic of the Month:

The Tall Guy

June 20–25

Comedy/Romance. 14A, brief nudity, some language. Dir: Mel Smith, UK, 1989, 88 min. Jeff Goldblum, Rowan Atkinson, Emma Thompson.

“Jeff Goldblum is a paragon of gawky charm and awkward vulnerabilities in The Tall Guy, a British-made romp with the comic gusto of A Fish Called Wanda… Goldblum is Dexter King, an actor who figured he’d have no competition for American roles if he moved to London. What he didn’t expect was that there would be none. So he has become a straight man for Ron Anderson (Rowan Atkinson), an abusive superstar with a long-running show on London’s White Way… At the local allergy clinic, Dexter is smitten by nurse Kate Lemmon (Emma Thompson)… Urged on by Kate, he goes on a series of auditions and lands the role of John Merrick in a preposterous musical adaptation of The Elephant Man called Elephant!… Just when everything seems to be falling into place, he falls in with a seductive chorine and very nearly loses everything…. The Tall Guy, breezily steered along by British comedian, writer and TV director Mel Smith, is chockablock with bits, puns, stuff and nonsense. Every twist brings some new turn-on, as when Dexter and Kate’s love is requited in a rumpus of burst milk cartons and broken furniture. It’s a triumph of tongue and cheekiness.” —Rita Kempley, The Washington Post

Rules of Living

June 26–28

Comedy/Drama. PG. Dir: Greg Dale, Japan, 2024, 109 min. Kaho Minami, Greg Dale, Mayuko Kawakita, Jeffrey Rowe. In Japanese and English with subtitles in both languages.

Winner Best Feature Film Comedy, Sedona International Film Festival Canadian Theatrical Premiere

“The writer-director (and star), Greg Dale, is a Japan-based New Yorker… The producer, Jeffrey Rowe, is a filmmaker and actor based between Japan and Canada [He grew up in Montague P.E.I.]… Rules of Living stars the always great Kaho Minami as Mikuko Abe, a career woman who’s living alone after her divorce and her mother’s move into hospice care. She’s stuck in a job she doesn’t love and a relationship with an elite businessman that gives her no real pleasure; and she can’t get her irresponsible daughter to listen to her. When Vincent, an American who has met said daughter overseas, shows up on her doorstep and asks to stay ‘just for 3 months,’ she’d like nothing to do with him. But he has money for rent, so Mikuko reluctantly agrees to let him stay in a spare room. After weeks of often hilarious miscommunications, the oddball roommates begin to start talking about themselves. As they navigate cultural differences and discuss societal expectations, each begins to make discoveries that eventually help them find a new sense of purpose.”

–Tokyo Filmgoer

The Last One for the Road

June 29–30 & July 2–4

Comedy/Drama. 14A, coarse language, substance use, brief nudity. Dir: Francesco Sossai, Italy, 2025, 100 min. Filippo Scotti, Sergio Romano, Pierpaolo Capovilla. In Italian with English subtitles.

Winner of 8 Donatello Awards (Italy’s Oscars), including Best Film, Director, Actor, Screenplay, and Song

“Set in Veneto, this lively comedy deconstructs the road movie genre as three men travel in circles looking for their next final drink together… Highlighting local culture and landscapes… It’s a charmer of a film that keeps a smile on our faces all the way through. After drinking all day, childhood friends Carlobianchi and Doriano are beginning to feel a bit tired as they begin killing some time before collecting their pal Genio from Venice airport in the morning…

They run into a group of partying university students. Bringing young Giulio with them as they continue through the night, they revisit old haunts and have a series of mini-adventures… Amusing details fill each encounter… as they crisscross the countryside, filling in their back-story with witty flashbacks to their youth… Meanwhile, their antics are packed with realistic flourishes that are funny, surprising and even moving… Carlobianchi and Doriano extend their open-hearted, inebriated joy to Giulio… It’s wonderful to watch him slowly awaken to the possibilities of life… Giulio is uncomfortable interacting with these older men, but their open-hearted worldview is contagious. And they also begin to see through his eyes, discovering new details about this corner of the world… Human connections, even across seemingly unsurmountable cultural barriers, are everything.” – Rich Cline, Shadows on the Wall

Be sure to follow us on our social media pages for up-to-date reminders and updates to our schedule.

Email info@citycinema.ca to sign up for our newsletter and stay in the know with all the goings on!

JULY BUZZ

DEADLINE

Monday, June 15

Advertising: sales@buzzpei.com

Editorial: info@buzzpei.com

PERFORMANCE

music, theatre, dance, comedy...

…continued from page 28

June 26–27 | 9 pm

Charlottetown Burlesque

The Arts Guild, Charlottetown

June 27 | 7 pm, June 28 | 2 pm

Cubby Bear and the Adventure Home Harbourfront Theatre, Summerside

June 27 | 7:30 pm

Under the Spire Opening Night: The Barra MacNeils

Historic St. Mary’s, Kensingtion

June 27 | 8 pm

Greenmount Band

Stompin’ Tom Centre, Skinners Pond

June 27 | 7:30 pm

June 28 | 2 pm, 7:30 pm

Renaiss-ARTS: Le Grand cercle (PEI version)

Scott MacAulay Performing Arts Centre, Summerside

June 28

Progressive Organ Concert

Ft. Royal Canadian College of Organists.

1:30 pm: St. Paul’s, Charlottetown

2:30 pm: Trinity United, Charlottetown

3:30 pm: St. Dunstan’s, Charlottetown

June 28 | 7:30 pm

Latin America Sings

The Arts Guild, Charlottetown

June 29 | 7:30 pm

Acadian–Cajun Night: Vishtèn & Louis Michot

Harbourfront Theatre, Summerside

June 29, 30

Vishtèn & Louis Michot

June 29, 7:30 pm: Harbourfront Theatre, Summerside

June 30, 7:30 pm: Souris Show Hall, Souris

June 30 | 8 pm

Vintage 4.0: Bangers & Ballads Volume 2

Trailside Music Hall, Charlottetown

June 30–Sept 26 | select dates

Come From Away

Sobey Family Theatre, Charlottetown

July 1 | 12–6 pm

Worship Canada: Celebration of Canada Day Heritage

Various artists and bands. Beaconsfield Historic House, Charlottetown

July 1

Capital City Canada Day: Coastal Vibes

Wintersleep (9 pm), Ria Mae (7:30 pm), Logan Richard (6:30 pm), Vishtèn (5 pm), Diana Delirio (4 pm), and The Soosh (2 pm). Beaconsfield Historic House, Charlottetown

July 1 | 3 pm

Kurk, Joey & Jamie Band

Stompin’ Tom Centre, Skinners Pond

July 2–4

Sundrift Sound DJ Festival sundriftfestival.com Downtown Charlottetown.

July 2–4 | 8 pm

Coming Home: A Musical Play

The Arts Guild, Charlottetown

July 2–4 | 8 pm

Big Love: The Music of Fleetwood Mac

Trailside Music Hall, Charlottetown

July 3 | 7:30 pm

Ron Sexsmith

Under the Spire. Historic St. Mary’s, Kensingtion

July 3–4 | 8 pm

Gordie Sampson

The Fiddling Fisherman Lookout, Souris

July 3–5

39th Annual PEI Bluegrass & Old Time Music Festival peibluegrass.ca

Dundas Fairgrounds, Dundas

July 3–Aug 28

Sugar Road

Watermark Theatre, North Rustico

July 4 | 8 pm

Kim Albert & Faces

Stompin’ Tom Centre, Skinners Pond

July 4–Aug1

Stan Rogers: A Matter of Heart

Ft. Beth Rogers, Rebekah Brown, James Medeiros, and Ryan Whitty. Florence Simmons Performance Hall, Charlottetown

July 5 | 8 pm

Gordie Sampson

Trailside Music Hall, Charlottetown

July 5 | 7:30 pm

Séan McCann: Sink or Swim

Victoria Playhouse, Victoria

July 6 | 7:30 pm

The Janet McGarry Band

Victoria Playhouse, Victoria

July 7–9 | 7:30 pm

Comedy Night: Victoria by the Sea

Ft. Steve Patterson, Patrick Ledwell, and host Mark Haines. Victoria Playhouse, Victoria

July 8–Sept 1 | select dates

La Veillée au Village Dinner theatre. Village musical acadien, Abram-Village

July 9–11

Cavendish Beach Music Festival

cavendishbeachmusic.com

Cavendish Beach Events Centre, Cavendish.

July 9–11 | 8 pm

A Journey Back

Craig Fair Productions. Harbourfront Theatre, Summerside

July 10 | 8 pm

Dave Gunning

The Fiddling Fisherman Lookout, Souris

July 10 | 8 pm

Stolen Goods Band

Tribute to Chris Stapleton & Tyler Childers. Trailside Music Hall, Charlottetown

July 10 | 8:07 pm

@fter eight: A Comedy Gameshow

The Arts Guild, Charlottetown

July 10–12

Evangeline Bluegrass & Traditional Music Festival evangelinebluegrassfestival.ca Exhibition Grounds, Abram-Village.

July 11 | 7 pm

Sheila Ann Smith & The Diamond Jazz Collective. Beaconsfield Historic House, Charlottetown

July 11 | 8 pm

Jordan LeClair & Family

Stompin’ Tom Centre, Skinners Pond

July 11 | 8 pm

Popalopalots

Improv comedy. The Arts Guild, Charlottetown

July 11–12, 18–19 | select times

Legends of Country Music: Songs & Stories from the Golden Era

Ft. Nudie with Bobby McIsaac. Victoria Playhouse, Victoria

July 12 | 7:30 pm

Searching for Abegweit: The Island Songs & Stories of Lennie Gallant

Harbourfront Theatre, Summerside

July 12, 19, 26 | 8 pm

The Summer Side of Lightfoot: A Celebration of The Man & His Music

Ft. Nudie & The Sundowners. Trailside Music Hall, Charlottetown

July 13 | 7:30 pm

Terra Spencer

Victoria Playhouse, Victoria

July 15 | 8 pm

The Sidewalks and Arrows in the Air

Trailside Music Hall, Charlottetown

July 15–18 | 7:30 pm

Yesterday: The Magic of The Beatles

Harbourfront Theatre, Summerside

July 16–Aug 13 | select dates

Highland Storm: The Elements

Scott MacAulay Performing Arts Centre, Summerside

July 16–Aug 22 | 11 am

Polka Dot Door

Confederation Centre Outdoor Amphitheatre, Charlottetown

July 17 | 8 pm

Whose Line Is It Anyway? PEI Edition

Ft. Jalen MacLeod and friends. Trailside Music Hall, Charlottetown

July 17–18 | 9 pm

Charlottetown Burlesque

The Arts Guild, Charlottetown

FILM & SCREEN

FilmPEI’s new website

FilmPEI recently launched its newly redesigned website, developed to provide a comprehensive and accessible platform for filmmakers, industry professionals, and the broader community. The launch of the website represents an important step in enhancing engagement with the filmmaking community and improving access to FilmPEI’s programs, services, and resources. Info: filmpei.com

Short film support

Islander Heather Kondak Ross of Fortune, PEI, who wrote and co-directed the short film How We’re Really Actually Doing, along with co-director Kairon Edwards, is seeking support for post-production and festival costs. Following a successful Kickstarter campaign to film on location in London, the team is now hoping to raise $5500 to complete the project and help bring the film to audiences. Supporters can contribute to help the independent film move forward and support plans for a future Island screening. Donations can be made at: greenlit. com/project/how-were-really-actually-doing-queer-drama.

Free screenings at the Charlottetown Library

Free screenings continue this month at the Charlottetown Library Learning Centre. The Afternoon Movie Club series continues with Mrs. Harris Goes to Paris (G) on June 2 at 1 pm. On June 9, adults can join Anime Club (18+) at 6 pm to watch and discuss two episodes, with titles chosen at the start of each meeting. The family feature on June 14 at 1 pm is Hoppers

Afternoon Movie Club

Summerside

The Afternoon Movie Club meets monthly for a film at the Summerside Rotary Library. This month’s selection is Hamnet (G) on June 4 at 2 pm.

Red Dirt BarrelRama

Crapaud Exhibition Grounds

Venture Stables is hosting the firstever Red Dirt BarrelRama Horse Show on July 4 at the Crapaud Exhibition Grounds in Crapaud.

This high-energy western event will bring together riders, families, and spectators from across Atlantic Canada. Visitors can camp on-site and enjoy barrel racing, pole bending, Friday exhibition runs, and an upbeat Friday night barn dance featuring live performances by Richard Wood, Karine Gallant, and Kevin Chaisson at the Crapaud Curling Club.

With food and shopping vendors, the event blends equestrian excitement, live music, and community spirit.

Visit venturestables.com for full event details.

Annual car show

Father Day weekend—June 20

The Rural Municipality of Miltonvale Park presents the fourth annual Fathers of Confederation Car Show on June 20 from 12 noon–4 pm on the grounds of Charlottetown Metal Products, located near the Confederation Trail at 2744 North York River Road, Milton Station.

This family-friendly event will feature live music, including Crow Black Chicken, canteen service, and more. The rain date is June 21.

Car registration begins at 11 am or can be completed online at surveymonkey.com/r/MVPCar26 by June 18. Individual and family admission available. Proceeds support the Food Bank.

Find and follow the event page on Facebook for updates.

Island Tides

Yoga & Wellness Festival returns—June 18 to 21

This June, Discover Charlottetown invites Islanders to slow down, reconnect, and recharge during the Island Tides Yoga & Wellness Festival, happening June 18–21 across the city’s waterfront and downtown spaces.

Designed to celebrate movement, mindfulness, creativity, and community, Island Tides brings together four days of wellness experiences for every comfort level.

Festival-goers can explore more than 75 experiences throughout the weekend, including beach yoga, guided meditation, open-air massage, sound baths, golf lessons, movement classes, pottery workshops, live music, panel conversations, and curated community events led by local and visiting instructors. From sunrise sessions by the water to evening wellness experiences downtown, Island

Strongman competition

2026 Canada Atlantics in Charlottetown

The 2026 Strongman Corporation Canada Atlantics takes place on July 18 from 9 am–3 pm at Confederation Landing on the Charlottetown Waterfront. Hosted by Island Strength & Power, this premier event brings together some of Atlantic Canada’s strongest athletes for a full day of competition.

Watch competitors push their limits in crowd-favourite events like the Zercher Carry into Sandbag Over Bar, Press Medley, Lever Deadlift for Repetitions, Fingal’s Fingers, and the

Alongside the festival programming, attendees can enjoy Charlottetown’s vibrant food scene, local shops, patios, and summer nightlife throughout the weekend. Island Tides is designed to make wellness approachable, social and inspiring.

Tickets, accommodation offers, full schedules, and festival details are available at islandtidesfestival.com.

Each challenge is designed to test strength, endurance, and determination.

Set against the scenic backdrop of the harbour, this family-friendly event offers a chance to experience incredible feats of strength.

Admission is free.

islandstrengthandpower.com

Keg Carry into Power Stairs.

Tides transforms Charlottetown into a city-wide celebration of wellbeing and connection.

Anchor Fest

Charlottetown Film Festival rebrands and expands

For its 12th year, the Charlottetown Film Festival will relaunch as Anchor Fest, expanding beyond film to include television, comedy, music, and podcast programming. The five-day festival will take place in Charlottetown from October 14–18.

Organizers say the change was inspired by multi-arts festivals such as South By Southwest in Austin, Texas, with the goal of connecting emerging and established artists with industry professionals across Canada.

Programming will include Canadian and select international films with “a bold, defiant, and comedic lens,” more world premieres, and interactive screenings. The festival will invite actors and directors connected to the films to give festival goers a unique experience at the movies. The first wave of films will be announced on June 23.

New to Anchor Fest in 2026, audiences can expect nightly live music and

comedy performances in venues across Charlottetown. These hand-picked showcases will combine headline performers and acts alongside some of the most exciting new talents from the Atlantic and across Canada. The first wave of performers was announced in late May.

Returning in 2026 is a revitalized Anchor Industry conference, with experts and decision makers joining for three days of lively and insightful conversations across film, television, and music industries. Also new for 2026 is a $75 price for access to the entire conference.

Anchor Fest is run by Anchor Motion Picture Alliance (AMPA), a newly founded not-for-profit organization. In addition to promoting and executing the festival, AMPA is a representative and advocacy body for producers and professionals working in film, television and digital media on Prince Edward Island, and is a unified voice for such producers and professionals in industry and policy discussions.

Jenna MacMillan, director of Anchor Fest, says audiences in Atlantic Canada are “hungry for innovative, cutting-edge, and comedic content.”

FILM & SCREEN

FilmPEI’s new website

FilmPEI recently launched its newly redesigned website, developed to provide a comprehensive and accessible platform for filmmakers, industry professionals, and the broader community. The launch of the website represents an important step in enhancing engagement with the filmmaking community and improving access to FilmPEI’s programs, services, and resources. Info: filmpei.com

Short film support

Islander Heather Kondak Ross of Fortune, PEI, who wrote and co-directed the short film How We’re Really Actually Doing, along with co-director Kairon Edwards, is seeking support for post-production and festival costs. Following a successful Kickstarter campaign to film on location in London, the team is now hoping to raise $5500 to complete the project and help bring the film to audiences. Supporters can contribute to help the independent film move forward and support plans for a future Island screening. Donations can be made at: greenlit. com/project/how-were-really-actually-doing-queer-drama.

Free screenings at the Charlottetown Library

Free screenings continue this month at the Charlottetown Library Learning Centre. The Afternoon Movie Club series continues with Mrs. Harris Goes to Paris

(G) on June 2 at 1 pm. On June 9, adults can join Anime Club (18+) at 6 pm to watch and discuss two episodes, with titles chosen at the start of each meeting. The family feature on June 14 at 1 pm is Hoppers

Afternoon Movie Club Summerside

The Afternoon Movie Club meets monthly for a film at the Summerside Rotary Library. This month’s selection is Hamnet (G) on June 4 at 2 pm.

FOOD & DRINK

Community Changers Breakfast

The Open Door Outreach Community Changers Breakfast will be held at the Rodd Charlottetown Hotel on June 11 from 7–8:30 am. The annual fundraiser is a celebration of personal transformation for marginalized women of PEI through the work of Open Door Outreach. The event invites individuals, businesses, and community groups to consider partnering with Open Door as it works directly with incarcerated and addicted women to change the cycle of crime and addiction. There is no cost for this event but there will be an opportunity to donate to Open Door. To reserve a seat, email opendooroutreachpei@gmail.com or text

Dianne at 902-940-2303. Info: opendoorpei.ca/community-changers-breakfast

Lobster Supper Take-Out

Trinity United in Charlottetown is hosting a take-out lobster supper, with pickup from 4:30–5:30 pm on June 13 at the Sydney Street entrance. The menu includes lobster, potato salad, jelly salad, coleslaw, a roll, and homemade pie. Tickets must be purchased in advance and are available at the church office,

located at 220 Richmond Street. Info: trinityunitedchurch@gmail.com or 902-892-4114

Canoe Cove Rhubarb Social

The Canoe Cove Women’s Institute is hosting a Rhubarb Social at the historic Canoe Cove School on June 18 from 6–8 pm. Everyone is invited to join for dessert and sample a variety of homemade rhubarb pies, cakes, cookies, squares, and more. All proceeds will go toward Women’s Institute charitable projects for the PEI community.

Roast Beef Take-out

Central Queens United will be holding its take-out hot roast beef supper on June 20, with pickup times at 3:30 pm, 4:30 pm, and 5:30 pm. The meal includes hot roast beef with all the trimmings and a dessert. Tickets will be collected at diners’ vehicles in the church parking lot, and suppers will be brought out. Free for children five and younger. Tickets should be ordered in advance from Debbie at 902-964-2882 or Lois at 902-621-0669.

Canada Day Old-Fashioned Picnic

The Wood Islands Women’s Institute is hosting an old-fashioned family picnic at the historic Wood Islands Schoolhouse on July 1 from 1–3 pm. The picnic will include food, entertainment, games, and prizes, along with a special cake-cutting ceremony. This is a free community event with lots of fun for everyone.

A Night with Chris Nilan

Fundraiser in support of The Equality Project

“A Night with Chris ‘Knuckles’ Nilan,” a fundraising dinner in support of The Equality Project, will take place on June 26 at the Eastlink Centre in Charlottetown. The event will begin with a reception at 6 pm followed by dinner at 6:30 pm, a silent auction, and a special guest appearance by former NHL enforcer and Montreal Canadiens ambassador Chris Nilan.

The Equality Project Inc. is a community-based nonprofit providing advocacy, shelter, programming, and direct support for Islanders facing hardship. Proceeds from the event will support its ongoing efforts to develop and expand community outreach services.

To purchase tickets, visit bit.ly/ Equalityproject.

Tea & Tales

At The Haviland Club

This season at The Haviland, Tea & Tales invites guests into a Victorianinspired tea and storytelling experience inside one of Charlottetown’s historic homes.

Guests gather around shared tables as tea is poured and tiered stands arrive with sandwiches, scones with preserves and cream, and a selection of desserts. Throughout the experience, stories inspired by Victorian Charlottetown, the house itself, and the people connected to it will unfold in the Great Room.

At the centre of the story is Esther Lowden—believed to be one of PEI’s earliest female entrepreneurs and among Canada’s first businesswomen. In a time when women were rarely recognized in business, Esther built a remarkable life through determination, hospitality, and vision. Over time, much of her story faded into history. This year marks the 190th anniversary of her birth. Attendees will have a chance to rediscover and celebrate a woman who helped shape a small part of the Island’s past.

For visitors, it offers a different way to experience Charlottetown beyond the usual itinerary. For Islanders, it may feel a little like rediscovering the city itself.

Tea & Tales runs from May through October on select Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays at 2 Haviland Street in Charlottetown.

Visit teaandtalespei.com for reservations and more information.

The Cove Journal by JoDee

Samuelson

Live razor clams

One evening in May, the tide being unusually low, we walk across the Cove barefooted for the first time. Clean sandbars decorated with sharp waveformed ridges challenge my mollycoddled winter feet, but just when I’m starting to get used to the rather unsympathetic massage, I step on a sharp object: a live razor clam.

Although there are always empty razor clam shells strewn about the beach, I’ve never seen a live clam. Tonight there are dozens! The feeding tubes poke out 1-2 cm from barely visible shells, and when I touch one, like magic it sucks itself down into the sand and disappears.

A razor clam is an elongated saltwater clam that lives in the intertidal zone and is described as resembling “a closed straight razor” (the shaving weapon used by barbers in former times). They are edible and no doubt delicious, but I’ll leave them for the seagulls. What’s so amazing to me is that, in forty years of living in the Cove, this is the first time I’ve seen live razor clams in the sand, and I may never see them again.

A little boy and his mother pass by, the young lad shyly holding his bucket out for viewing: “Crab looking at me.” “So it is!” (The crab is dead.)

The tide yet receding, we wade through rivulets rushing out to sea and watch millimetre-thick tubes of “sand mason worms” bending and waving in the current. The worms’ durable constructions are built out of individual grains of sand glued together with patented mason worm cement, allowing each mason lanice conchilega to safely pop out its fringed head and dine on minuscule water-borne particles that come a-drifting by.

Enough shore life. Time to put shoes on and head home, past fat olive-green

catkins drooping from birch trees, forsythia blossoms quivering in the breeze, and violets peeking out from secret corners. The honeysuckles are ready to bloom, raspberry canes are coming up in places they don’t belong, and tiny perfect flower buds are forming on the currants bushes. Stand aside: life coming through!

In the garden, radishes, peas, lettuce and spinach are up, and the flavourful leaves of lovage (tastes like celery), sorrel (lemony) and dark green dandelion (mildly bitter) have become major salad ingredients. The rhubarb will clearly be ready in time for the Rhubarb Social, an annual dessert fest that rhubarb lovers dream of all year. But before that big celebration of spring can happen there’s the Perennial Sale down at the park. No time to lose! Every spare moment is spent potting everything pottable: daylilies, irises, pansies, chives, Johnny-jump-ups.

With our brilliant blue seas and sky, our tilled red fields full of possibilities, lemon-green leaves of hedgerow and forest, bursts of color from tulip plantings in every yard, and sweet-smelling lawns freshly mowed and trimmed to perfection—why, we have it all.

We also have nasty Asian ladybug-beetle look-alikes and potholes and stoppages on the bridge, but let’s not think about those things. The razor clams are saying hello! Let’s grab all the special clam-spotting moments that come our way and run with them.

COMMUNITY

Women+ Health Survey

Researchers at IWK Health are inviting participants to take part in a 5–10 minute survey to help identify priorities for women+ health research across Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, and Prince Edward Island. They are seeking input from a wide range of individuals, including people with lived experience related to women+ health, caregivers, family members, the public, healthcare professionals, researchers, and policymakers. The survey is part of a Priority Setting Partnership, which brings together patients, the public, and professionals to identify and prioritize unanswered questions about women+ health. The goal is to ensure that future research reflects the needs and experiences of communities across the Maritime provinces. The survey is available in English (bit.ly/maritimewomenshealthsurvey) and French (bit.ly/santédesfemmesmaritimes). Info: maritimewomenshealth.com

Rainbow Youth Club

Members and allies of the 2SLGBTQIA+ community who are looking for new pals and fun times are welcome to join the PEI Rainbow Youth Club at the Summerside Library. The next meetings are June 2 and June 16 at 6 pm. These sessions are led by trained PEERS Alliance staff and volunteers, and include a healthy snack. The Club is open to youth aged 12–18. Youth will not be asked to identify. All are welcome.

Seniors Cafés

Seniors Cafés take place at both the Charlottetown and Summerside libraries and offer welcoming spaces for conversation, refreshments, and community connection. In Charlottetown, cafés are held on the third Thursday of each month at 1 pm, with the next session on June 18 featuring a Game Day (crib, backgammon, corn hole). Snacks and refreshments are provided. In Summerside, the next café takes place on June 12 at 11 am. Attendees can enjoy tea or coffee and a friendly discussion with guest Patti Arsenault.

French conversation circle

The French conversation circle is held at the Charlottetown Library on June 2, 9 and 16 from 5–7 pm. The program is open to all adults whose first language is not French and who wish to practice French in a group. These events are designed for people with a beginner to intermediate level of French.

EAL conversation circles

The Immigrant & Refugee Services Association of PEI offers EAL conversation circles for adults this month at the Summerside Library on Tuesdays at 6 pm and on Saturdays at 10:30 am. Conversation circles are also offered this month at the Charlottetown Library: Thursdays at 6:30 pm and Saturdays at 10 am. Adults looking to improve their

English skills are welcome to join for informal conversation. Registration is not required.

PEI Group Meditation

The next PEI Group Meditation session will take place on June 15 from 7–8 pm in the Multipurpose Room at Simmons Sports Arena, Charlottetown. The guided session is open to people of all experience levels and will be led by guest facilitator Paula Smith, who has studied and practiced the disciplines of breath work, meditation, somatic movement, and nada yoga (music) for the past 25 years. On June 20, a free Global Compassion Meditation session will take place at Confederation Landing Park in Charlottetown at 2 pm, facilitated by Susana Rutherford as part of the Island Tides Festival. The aim is to create an inclusive space where secular, spiritual, and religious meditators can practice together and build community. For more information, including confirmation of location or accessibility needs, contact Susana Rutherford at firehorsestudios66@gmail.com or Michael Gaudet at michaelgaudet53@gmail.com, and follow @peigroupmeditationevent on FB.

Pickleball courts open

Pickleball courts at Hillsborough Park are now open daily for the season from 9 am until dusk. A “paddles-in” format will be used to help ensure fair court access. Under this format, players place their paddles in the designated queue upon arrival. Paddles are grouped in sets of four, with the next group playing when a court becomes available. Players who wish to continue playing are asked to place their paddles back at the end of the line after each game. Info: 902-368-1025

NDP Meet & Greet

NDP members will gather for a Meet & Greet on June 6 at 2 pm at Tyne Valley Teas Café. The public is invited to join the conversation, meet NDP PEI leader Thomas Burleigh, and hear an update from the NDP Federal Council.

PEI Rural Beautification Competition

The PEI Rural Beautification Society has launched its annual competition for 2026. From heritage homes, community buildings, and home improvements to vegetable patches, gardens, and cemeteries, there’s a competition for every age group and skill level across 17 categories. New this year is a competition aimed at native planting and biodiversity. Competitors are asked to create a habitat for native pollinators and birds, while also creating a resilient and low maintenance garden that requires less water and fewer pesticides. See the competition book for the full competition and category details. Competition books are available online at peirbs.ca, or in person at all Access PEI locations, Veseys Seeds, Kool Breeze Farms, and other Island greenhouse locations. Open to all rural Island residents, a total of $15,000 in prizes is up for grabs.

PEI Trailer Club

The PEI Trailer Club is seeking new members. The group meets for weekends in June and September. Membership fees apply, and include special meals and other activities. Perks include discounted rates and being able to leave a trailer on-site between weekends for a small fee. For more information, call Ron Sampson at 902-394-0246.

Brain Injury Association of PEI Support Group

June is Brain Injury Awareness Month on PEI. The Brain Injury Association of PEI meets on the second and fourth Tuesday of the month in Suite 102 at Canada House, 293 Allen St, Charlottetown. Contact Jo-Ann McInnis at jmmcinnis65@ gmail.com or follow @braininjurypei on FB for more info.

Under the Spire AGM

The Under the Spire Music Festival Association will hold its annual general meeting at 7 pm on June 15 at the Pavilion beside Historic St Mary’s, located at 1374 Hamilton Road, near Kensington. All are welcome to attend, but voting will be limited to those who are members of the association. This will be a hybrid meeting; those who wish to participate virtually can email info@ underthespire.ca. Memberships can be purchased that evening or online at underthespire.ca.

ADHD PEI

A monthly discussion for those interested in attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is held at the Charlottetown Library. The next meeting is June 17 at 7 pm. This supportive space allows peers to share experiences, seek advice, and connect with others who understand the challenges of living with ADHD.

PEI Autistic Adults

PEI Autistic Adults is an online and in-person peer-support group for autistic adults and seniors on PEI to talk about autism, share experiences of navigating PEI as autistic adults, and support each other. The website has a public blog, a private discussion forum, private chat functionality, and links to their social media. PEI Autistic Adults was started by an autistic senior and currently has over 200 members ranging from students to seniors. Those who wish to participate in meetings but do not wish to interact online can email peiautisticadults@gmail. com. The group is not affiliated with any organization. peiautisticadults.com

Stay in the loop: 2026 road construction season

As construction ramps up across the Island, motorists can plan ahead and stay informed about road projects and traffic impacts by using the government’s online resource Stay in the loop, Plan Your Route. Motorists can receive road construction alerts by text or email by creating a free account on the province’s 511 service and adding their most frequently travelled routes. It also offers free trip-planning tools, instructional videos, and other helpful information about highway safety and infrastructure improvements. PEI’s road construction

season typically begins after the May long weekend and runs through early November. Visit Stay in the Loop, Plan Your Route at princeedwardisland.ca for more information.

Library for All

The PEI Association for Community Living invites adults and youth with intellectual disabilities and their caregivers to Library for All, a monthly program at the Charlottetown Library. This month, participants will create and decorate fruit pizzas in the library’s Community Kitchen on June 27 at 11 am. For special dietary restrictions, email charlottetown@gov.pe.ca.

Teen leadership

Teens interested in developing leadership skills and helping their community can join the volunteer and leadership program at the Charlottetown Library on Thursdays from 3–6 pm. Participants can drop in to work on a volunteer project from start to finish while making a meaningful impact in the community.

Teen Study Hall

The Charlottetown Library auditorium is open to teens who are looking for a place to study this month. The Study Hall times are: June 10 (4–8 pm), June 17–18 (4–8 pm), June 19 (2–4:30 pm), June 20 (10 am–4:30 pm), and June 21 (1–4:30 pm).

Food Security & Climate Change survey

PEI residents aged 18 and over are invited to take part in a short online survey on livelihoods and food security in PEI. The survey is anonymous, takes about 10 minutes to complete, and includes 24 questions. Participants can also enter a weekly draw for a $25 Sobeys gift card, while helping support research on food security challenges across PEI communities. To complete the survey, visit forms.office.com/r/35fygaNwCS.

Teen advisory group

Teens are welcome to join the teen advisory group on Mondays at 3:30 pm at the Summerside Library. Meetings start with an opportunity for teens to share their voices and opinions, followed by assisting staff with various tasks. Participation allows teens to earn volunteer hours toward the Community Service Bursary.

Stroke information

In recognition of Stroke Month, there will be an education booth set up at the Summerside Library on June 15 from 10 am–2 pm. There will be information, resources, and staff from the provincial stroke office on site.

Community fridges

Betty Begg-Brooks of Gifts From The Heart manages three community fridges, located at 10 Maple Hills Ave in Charlottetown, the West Royalty Community Centre, and the Stratford No Frills parking lot. Food donations can be dropped off weekdays from 9 am–5 pm at the nearest location. Training is provided for new volunteers. Monetary and food donations are also accepted during the week at the Charlottetown office (10 Maple Hills Ave). Info: 902-393-0171.

DiverseCity Festival

The DiverseCity Festival is returning for its 20th year, bringing celebrations to seven communities across Prince Edward Island this summer. The festival will kick off in Charlottetown on June 28 and continue throughout the season with events highlighting the Island’s cultural diversity through music, food, art, and community connection.

Founded in 2007, the DiverseCity Festival is created to celebrate multiculturalism in Canada, strengthen connections between newcomers and long-time Islanders, and support inclusion, anti-racism, and community belonging. Since expanding in 2014, the festival has grown into one of PEI’s most anticipated summer cultural events.

“We are so excited to be celebrating our 20th festival this year. DiverseCity is an incredible showcase of the vast culture of our tiny Island,” says Dean Constable, Executive Director, Immigrant and Refugee Services Association.

This year’s festival locations and dates include Confederation Landing Park in Charlottetown on June 28 (12–4 pm); Main Street in Alberton on July

5 (12–3 pm); West Point Harbourside Centre Grounds, 159 Cedar Dunes Park Road, West Point, on July 19 (1–4 pm); Lefurgey Cultural Centre in Summerside on July 26 (11 am–3 pm); Waterfront Park in Three Rivers (Montague) on August 1 (12–4 pm); Kensington Railway Station and Confederation Trail on August 16 (11 am–3 pm); and Centennial Park, Pond Street, Souris, on August 30 (1–4 pm).

Each event will feature multicul tural food vendors, artisan and craft booths, live performances, and activi ties for children, creating a welcoming atmosphere for all ages.

“Celebrating 20 years is a very meaningful milestone for us, and I am especially happy to see more cultural organizations joining DiverseCity this year. To me, it shows that DiverseCity has become a place where people feel welcomed, seen, and a true sense of belonging. It gives communities the confidence to proudly share their cul ture, traditions, and talents in a space without barriers,” says Hai Nguyen, DiverseCity Coordinator, Immigrant and Refugee Services Association.

For festival details or to get involved, visit diversecityfest.com.

PEI PRIDE FESTIVAL

Connection is Care

DiverseCity Festival 2025

GAMES

Auction in Dunstaffnage

The card game Auction is played weekly on Fridays at 7:30 pm at the Dunstaffnage School Centre. All are welcome. Admission is at the door. 13529 St. Peters Rd, Dunstaffnage

AFL at Village Green

Drop in to Village Green Brewery on Sundays at 4 pm to watch Aussie Rules Football (AFL). Catch the Sydney Swans and learn about the Atlantic AFL League. 30 Church St, Cornwall.

Bridge club location change

In last month’s issue of The Buzz, it was incorrectly published that the Charlottetown Duplicate Bridge Club was changing locations in June. That should have instead stated that both Over the Bridge Club and Happy Bidders have a new location for duplicate bridge. Beginning June 1, bridge sessions on Mondays (1–4 pm), Tuesdays (7–10 pm), Thursdays (7–10 pm), and Saturdays (1–4 pm) will move to Room 107 at Murphy’s Pharmacies Community Centre, 200 Richmond St, Charlottetown.

Summerside Duplicate Bridge Club Tournament

The Summerside Duplicate Bridge Club will hold a friendly ACBL sectional tournament at the Loyalist Country Inn in

Summerside on June 5–7, with play running from 10 am–3 pm daily. The tournament will feature Stratified Open Pairs on Friday and Saturday, and Stratified Swiss Teams on Sunday. Partners are required for this tournament. Info: 902-598-0142

Crokinole

Drop in to play crokinole on June 10 and 24 at 2 pm at the Summerside Rotary Library.

Scrabble Club

The Charlottetown Scrabble Club meets weekly on Tuesdays from 5–8 pm at the Charlottetown Library. Scoresheets, strategy tips, and cheat sheets are provided. All skill levels are welcome. It is free to attend, with prizes and snacks.

Dinosaur Detective with Tim Jeffries

Kids can enjoy a dinosaur detective mystery game at the Charlottetown Library on June 26 anytime from 10:30 am–3:30 pm. This fully interactive game invites the audience to solve a mystery 66 years in the making. With Dinosaur Superstar Tim Jeffries as their guide, participants will search for clues, make discoveries, and solve the case.

Board Game Café

Bring family and friends for an evening of board games at the Summerside Rotary Library on June 29 at 6:30 pm. Bring your own or play one from the library’s collection

Summer garden tours

Free on Sunday afternoons

The Summerside and Area Garden Club is offering its annual Summer Garden Tours this season, with free tours held on Sunday afternoons from 1–4 pm, rain or shine.

The July 5 tour include the Summerside gardens of Guy Jacquart (111 Hillside Ave), Stella WallaceChagnon (143 Granville St), Audra and Michael MacBeth (455 Tower St), and the Prince County Hospital Garden (65 Roy Boates Ave).

On July 12, the tour feature Serenity Gardens, owned by Alan and Heather Thorpe (45 South Dr), Michelle Hirtle (2691 Rte 11, Miscouche), Heron’s Nest Sanctuary, owned by Brian and Bev Cooper (1344 Mont Carmel Rd, Mont Carmel), and House of Wind and

Canadian

Rivers Day

Celebrate with the Hillsborough River Association

The second Sunday of June is a national day for all Canadians to celebrate the vital role rivers play in their lives. On June 7, the Hillsborough River Association (HRA) invites everyone to visit their favourite Island river and celebrate the many values of rivers on Canadian Rivers Day. This day is an opportunity for watershed residents to enjoy the viewscapes and the history of the Hillsborough, the

BUZZ DEADLINE

Monday, June 15

Wildflowers, owned by Amy Arsenault (1964 MacIsaac Rd, Richmond).

The July 19 tour will showcase the gardens of Jonathan and Anne Christensen (1515 Burlington Rd, Burlington), Carl and Marlene Toombs (7030 Rte 13, Mayfield), Sue Albrecht (254 Toronto Rd Extension, Rte 13, Mayfield), and Devon Perry and MaryEllen Nicholson (1430 Church Rd, Wheatley River).

The July 26 tour will feature the gardens of Dean and Anna MacDonald (245 Colin Ave, Summerside), Roberta Gaudet (30 Townsend Cres, Travellers Rest), Rhonda Milley (26 Fenway Farm Lane, Kelvin Grove, off Blue Shank Rd), and Janie Gaudet (112 Victoria St, West Kensington).

Visitors can tour the gardens in any order and are encouraged to ask questions, take notes, and to bring sunscreen and insect repellent. Supervised children are welcome. Do not pick flowers, seeds, or weeds without permission.

first river designated as a Canadian Heritage River on Prince Edward Island and the 17th designated as a Canadian Heritage River.

Some ways that people can contribute to the conservation of the Hillsborough’s history and environment include: enhancing wildlife by planting native wildlife cover or food plants such as red-berried elder or red oak, taking and sharing a photograph of their favourite river with others, creating a wildlife cover patch, sharing their knowledge of family history or family photos, documenting wildlife sightings (see inaturalist.ca or eBird Canada), or cleaning up and properly disposing of waste materials along a section of the river.

To see the progress that is being made on the Hillsborough riparian zone and watershed, contact the HRA at pisquidwatershed@gmail. com and ask for the latest issue of the Hillsborough Tidings newsletter or follow @HRA-Watershed-Management on Facebook.

The Nature of PEI

by Gary Schneider

Wildlife and water

Perhaps it is the season, perhaps it is the long list of threats that we humans are responsible for, but the subject of water seems to be gaining traction among Islanders.

We’re the only province or territory in Canada that is 100 per cent reliant on groundwater for our drinking water supply. Certainly, what happens to our water through inappropriate developments, agricultural chemicals, saltwater intrusion, and the latest occurrences of high levels of PFAs (persistent chemicals that pose a significant threat) greatly impacts human health.

Though it is understandable that people worry about their drinking water, the wildlife of PEI doesn’t have its own voice. It has no access to newspapers or the internet. No Atlantic salmon ever posted on Facebook, ranting about low water levels and a lack of oxygen.

Yet clean water is incredibly important to so many species of both flora and fauna. A few columns back I highlighted all the wildlife that make use of dead or dying trees. It was a long list. Equally long is the list of Island wildlife species dependent on water and wetlands.

Of course, we think of fish when wetlands and wildlife come to mind. There are many fish species present in the province, either throughout the year or seasonally. This includes everything from smelt to salmon. It is imperative that they have cool waterways without toxic chemicals, which is not always the case.

Some years, black ducks seem to be almost everywhere where there is open water. Less common but perhaps more beautiful members of this family include buffleheads, hooded mergansers, and the small green-winged teals. Some dabble, some dive, but all are reliant on healthy waterways.

And what about other birds that make

use of our wetlands? Rarities such as the American bittern and sora are usually difficult to see but easier to hear calling from marshes. The iconic and always photogenic great blue herons seem to constantly be looking for a feed of fish.

A springtime visit to a wetland might also showcase American toads, spring peepers (the smallest of our native frogs) green frogs, wood frogs, leopard frogs, and pickerel frogs singing up a storm. Red-spotted newts, spotted salamanders, and blue-spotted salamanders all are dependent on wetlands. These amphibians only use wetlands at certain times of the year, but clean water is nonetheless critical to their health. Though most amphibians breathe through lungs and their skin, some are actually lungless and absorb all of their oxygen through their skin. Toxic chemicals in waterways are too easily absorbed into the body of an amphibian.

And don’t get me started on mammals. While we don’t have moose wading through our wetlands on PEI, we do have many small mammals that depend on healthy waterways. A beaver would have no place to create a dam and couldn’t survive the winter without a lodge. Mink are regularly sighted around waterways, as they consume a lot of fish and small mammals. Muskrats are fun to watch as they chow down on cattails. And recently river otters have made a comeback in the province after being thought to have been extirpated for decades. Those are just some of the biggies. There are many insects that also rely on water. In truth, some of these we’d rather have a few less of. But dragonflies, damselflies and many other types of insects are regularly seen around wetlands.

Healthy wetlands are incredibly important habitat for so many of the creatures that cohabit our province. We need to think more of how we share it.

NATURE

Nature PEI meeting

On June 2, Nature PEI will host a short meeting at 7:30 pm followed by a presentation on weather topics with Bill Jameson, known on social media as “PEI Stormchaser.” The evening will take place at Beaconsfield Carriage House in Charlottetown, and after sharing sightings and a short raffle break, the program will begin at about 8 pm. Bill’s illustrated presentation will focus on understanding basic weather, from clouds, thunderstorms, and weather models to forecasts. There will be time for Q&A. Nature PEI meetings are free and welcome all ages. The presentation will be livestreamed on the Nature PEI Facebook page and may be recorded for future viewing. The next public meeting resumes October 6. naturepei.ca

PEI Untamed with Kate MacQuarrie

Learn, explore, and reconnect with nature at PEI Untamed with Kate MacQuarrie. Upcoming sessions include: Plant Walk at Macphail Woods in Orwell on June 6, Natural History Walk in North Rustico on June 10, Lady Slipper and Edible Plant Walk in Miltown Cross on June 13, Foraging with the Beach Goats in St. Chrysostome on June 20, and another Natural History Walk in North Rustico on June 24. For registration details, the 2026 schedule, and new original content each week about plants, fungi, and wildlife, visit pei-untamed.com.

Restoring coastal defenses

The Macphail Woods Ecological Forestry Project is participating in the 2026 Climate Challenge Fund through its project, “A Community-Based Approach to Restoring the Coastal Shield in Prince Edward Island.” They are calling on Islanders to restore coastal defenses by participating in hands-on coastal planting events at provincial parks across the Island. These events will give participants the opportunity to contribute directly to shoreline restoration efforts. The planting events begin at 10 am and will take place at Cedar Dunes Provincial Park on June 13 and Brudenell River Provincial Park on June 20. All events are open to the public. Visit macphailwoods.org to learn more.

A wood frog (left) and an American toad

MACPAHIL WOODS

Hit Play

Sirens perform pop favourites reimagined for choir—June 6

Sirens closes its 2025–2026 season with Hit Play: Sirens Sing the Pops, an energetic and heartfelt concert celebrating pop favourites reimagined for choir. Performances will take place on June 6 at 7:30 pm at UPEI’s Steel Recital Hall, and on June 7 at 3 pm at the Alberton Welcome Centre.

Featuring music that spans decades and styles, Hit Play includes “Landslide,” “The Times They Are A-Changin’,” “What Was I Made For?,” and “Pink Pony Club.” From classic folk to contemporary pop, the program offers fresh choral interpretations of familiar favourites, highlighting rich harmonies, rhythmic energy, and the unique possibilities of ensemble singing.

Founded on PEI and inspired

Bide With Us

Amabile Singers concert at Spring Park United—June 5

“Bide with us, for evening shadows darken.” So begins an invitation by Josef Rheinberger in “Abendlied.”

Amabile Singers present Bide with Us, directed by Clement Carelse and featuring collaborative pianist Sara White, at Spring Park United in Charlottetown on June 5 at 7:30 pm.

The singers have gathered their

Definitely Not the Symphony

Spring concert at Zion Presbyterian—June 13

On June 13, DNTS (Definitely Not the Symphony) will present an entertaining program of music at Zion Presbyterian at 10 am.

by the enchanting voices of Greek mythology, Sirens is an award-winning treble choral ensemble led by Kelsea McLean. Known for its rich tone, expressive musicality, and polished ensemble sound, Sirens has gained national recognition through CBC Radio 2 broadcasts, performances at festivals and conferences across Canada, and collaborations with acclaimed artists and ensembles. Since releasing its debut album Boundless (2020), Sirens has received multiple Music PEI Awards and an East Coast Music Award for Choral Recording of the Year.

Tickets are available at sirenschoir. com/concerts or at the door. A recommended admission fee with a paywhat-you-can option is available.

favourite choral selections to share, with a program featuring composers Lauridsen, Brahms, and Fauré; poets Robert Frost and L. M. Montgomery; and folk songs “Shenandoah,” “Feller From Fortune,” and more.

Late in the program, Guest Conductor Carl Mathis takes the baton. Countless Islanders have had the privilege of singing under Carl’s direction, many as members of Coro Dolce, PEI’s long-running “summer choir,” founded and directed by Carl.

Admission is by a suggested price with a pay-what-you-can option.

Conductors Marti Hopson and Travis Boudreau have selected many pieces from film (Up, Spirited Away) and stage (Mamma Mia!) for this 40-member community orchestra to perform. The concert will feature soloist Leo Marchildon on piano and organ.

Admission is by donation (cash or e-transfer) at the door, with proceeds going to the Zion Church fund for a new accessibility lift.

The church is located at 135 Prince Street, Charlottetown.

Sirens choral ensemble

Under the Spire

2026 season set to get underway at Historic St. Mary’s

Concerts return to Historic St. Mary’s in Indian River as Under the Spire Festival launches its 2026 season.

This year’s lineup showcases diverse musical genres, including classical, folk, country, blues, jazz, Celtic, and contemporary East Coast music. Audiences can expect performances from Island favourites, emerging talent, and internationally acclaimed artists, including JUNO and East Coast Music Award winners.

Highlights include the Barra MacNeils opening the season as they celebrate their 40th anniversary; Like Father, Like Son, a collaboration between Shane and Mike Pendergast and Dave and Jud Gunning; the return of Island favourite Rose Cousins; and Australian blues artist Lloyd Spiegel with Suzie Vinnick.

The Under the Spire Concert Series schedule for June and July includes The Barra MacNeils on June 27, Ron Sexsmith on July 3, Rose Cousins on July 18, Joel Plaskett on July 24, Brooklyn Wood and members of the PEI Symphony Orchestra on July 26, and Lloyd Spiegel and Suzie Vinnick on July 31.

The festival also continues its

commitment to community programming with several special events throughout the season, including Arioso and Island A Capella on June 14, the Youth Legacy Awards featuring Harmonia and the top Kiwanis champions on June 21, and Legion Choir on July 5.

Located at 1374 Hamilton Road, just outside Kensington in the Malpeque Bay area, Historic St. Mary’s is renowned for its sunsets, architecture, and exceptional acoustics.

Tickets are available online at underthespire.ca or by calling the box office at 902-836-3733.

Souris Show Hall

Three major collaborative performances in June

The historic Souris Show Hall continues to present a variety of programming this summer. The 1891 theatre has been undergoing a renaissance since reopening in the wake of pandemic shutdowns. This June, it will host three major collaborative performances.

First, the Hall will host the Festival of Small Halls on June 13 with Harmony! at the Show Hall, featuring The Pairs, JD Crosstown, and Tzu-Cheng Wang.

On June 16, American songwriter Carsie Blanton returns to Souris with local globetrotters The Burning Hell. Blanton and The Burning Hell first met while performing at the Show Hall in 2023, a meeting that turned into a close collaborative relationship resulting in the 2026 protest album Everything is Great! and a sold-out European tour this spring. They will revisit this collaborative political performance at the Show Hall—their only North American appearance—before Blanton, backed by The Burning Hell, opens for Billy Bragg throughout the Maritimes.

Vishtèn, the Magdalen Islands/ PEI supergroup, returns to the Show Hall on June 30 with Grammy Awardwinning Cajun fiddler Louis Michot. Audiences can expect some of the finest Acadian and Cajun traditional music being performed today.

Later in the summer, the Show Hall will present Island country artist Ben Chase, Kelly Mooney and Salt Water Dollies, Ontario folk group Maggie’s Wake, Tanya Davis’ Mass for Shut Outs, and Island fiddler Richard Wood. Visit sourisshowhall.com for tickets and more information.

SUBMITTED

Carsie Blanton, Joe Plowman, Mathias Kom, and Arielle Sharratt

Ron Sexsmith performs on July 3

PEISO looks ahead

Canadian themes featured in upcoming 2026-27 season

The PEI Symphony Orchestra (PEISO) is inviting audiences to discover Canadian themes through the universal language of music. The Symphony’s 2026–27 season is entitled Our Story, the first in the four-cycle Discover arc that will reflect the stories that have knit Canada together.

“I envision transforming the orchestra into a prism; reconciling the past, challenging the present, and imagining the future of Canada through music,” says PEISO Music Director Jaelem Bhate. “Each season will take on a new question and theme, a musical path to discovery through civic discourse and conversation.”

Improvisors Orchestra

Debut performance at Beaconsfield—June 12

The newly formed Charlottetown Improvisors Orchestra will present its debut performance at 7 pm on June 12 at the Beaconsfield Carriage House.

Bringing together musicians from across the Island’s jazz, classical, rock, and folk music communities, the orchestra expands on the spirit of the Charlottetown Improvisation Laboratory series with a larger ensemble and the incorporation of conducted improvisation. Directed and curated by bassist Adam Hill, the ensemble explores collective creation, deep listening, and musical risk-taking.

With this approach, Bhate suggests that the PEISO has a unique opportunity to be recognized as a musical thought leader in Canada, employing music to connect, engage, and unite communities.

Our Story opens October 18 with Belonging. PEISO’s principal flautist Morgan Saulnier will perform one of the most virtuosic pieces for orchestra, Aram Kachaturian’s Flute Concerto. The audience will belong to the orchestra during Eric Whitacre’s “Deep Field,” when smartphones will morph into instruments. A “Leap of the Heart” by Cecilia Livingston sets the stage for Laura Sgroi and Rebecca Thomas to tell Canada’s tragedy of colonization and the hope of reconciliation in “We’re Not Done Drumming.”

On November 15, Maritimer Emily Doolittle’s “Falling Still” opens Revolution with a gentle exploration of sounds from natural processes. Then the orchestra launches into Franz Liszt’s dark, yet triumphant “A Hero’s Funeral” and ends the afternoon with Dmitri Shostakovich’s revolutionary bang, “The year 1905.”

On March 7, a trio of Canadian premieres open Resurface with Maritimer Hope Salmonson’s “Ocean Solitudes,” followed by a PEISO co-commission and the Atlantic Canada premiere of Saman Shahi’s Viola Concerto “...then the sky was amber,” featuring violist Sharon Wei, and Thad Bailey-Mai’s live premiere of “Three short pieces about birds.” Tying it all together, almost 200 years to the day of Beethoven’s death, is Beethoven’s 5th Symphony.

For the season closer on April 11, Edge will open with Mozart’s Overture from “The Magic Flute.” “Bondarsphere,” an original work by Montreal composer Nicole Lizée traces the life of Canadian astronaut Dr.

Roberta Bondar. “O Virtus Sapeintiae,” is the reimagined 900-year-old music of Hildegard von Bingen, a German polymath and the first woman composer of written works. The performance and season ends with Kevin Lau’s “The Infinite Reaches” and Richard Strauss’ towering “Death and Transfiguration.”

Season subscriptions and tickets are now available through the Confederation Centre Box Office. Visit confederationcentre.com or call 1-800565-0278. For more information, visit peisymphony.com.

A longer version of this article, which expands on the message and intention of each of these chosen pieces, can be found online at buzzpei.com

Kirk recitals

Series begins with Shaw Nicholson—June 11

Shaw Nicholson

The summer series of recitals at the Kirk of St. James starts early this year with a performance on June 11 at 7 pm. Featured performer Shaw Nicholson will be playing trumpet.

The Kirk is located at 35 Fitzroy Street, Charlottetown.

The concert on June 12 will feature violinists Karen Graves, Sean Kemp, and Jeffrey Bazett-Jones; drummers Mat MacEachern, Matt Bridges, and Max Gallant; pipa player Tiffany Liu; bassist Maya Márquez Calle; and pianist/conductor Sandro Manzon.

The ensemble will perform some of their favourite compositions that were commissioned for the Improv Labs, interwoven with conducted group improvisation using Soundpainting, a live-composition sign language that allows a conductor to shape musical ideas in real time through gesture.

The performance will emerge as a

Progressive Organ Concert

Three performances at three venues—June 28

On June 28, music lovers will have a unique opportunity to experience pipe organ music performed in a variety of churches as members of the Royal Canadian College of Organists present a Progressive Organ Concert. What exactly is a Progressive Concert? It begins with a 30-minute recital and then proceeds down the street for another 30-minute concert

Pipes & Pizza

St. Dunstan’s Basilica in Charlottetown will host Pipes & Pizza, an introduction to the pipe organ offered by Leo Marchildon and members of the Royal Canadian College of Organists on June 6 at 10 am in the choir loft.

Music students will have the opportunity to try out the three manual Casavant and receive helpful hints on how to adapt their piano pieces for the

single extended work moving fluidly between composed material, spontaneous interaction, texture, rhythm, and silence. Musicians will respond to each other moment by moment, creating a one-of-a-kind performance that is constantly unfolding in real time.

Admission is pay-what-you-can, with a suggested donation at the door. The venue, located at 2 Kent Street in Charlottetown, is accessible.

given by different organists on a different instrument, and so on. The concert begins at St. Paul’s on Prince Street, with a program starting at 1:30 pm. The following concert at Trinity United, also on Prince Street, starts at 2:30 pm. The final program at 3:30 pm takes place at St. Dunstan’s Basilica on Great George Street. Between each concert is a half-hour break allowing people to leisurely make their way to the next location. This event coincides with the DiverseCity Festival in Charlottetown, so attendees are encouraged to plan ahead for nearby parking. Admission to any or all recitals is by free will offering. Proceeds will support the Dr. Alan Reesor Scholarship Fund to help educate aspiring student organists.

King of Instruments.

Following an “organ crawl” and instructive demonstration, students and parents can enjoy fellowship and pizza downstairs. This is also an opportunity for young musicians to apply for the Alan Reesor Memorial Scholarship, which grants successful candidates up to eight hours of free organ instruction.

Admission is free but registration is required by contacting Leo at leomarchildon88@gmail.com.

PEISO Music Director Jaelem Bhate leads the PEI Symphony Orchestra

MIKE BERNARD

Adam Hill (above) and Sandro Manzon

Talking from Experiences by Ashleigh

Tremere

A real who’s hoo

Two of my children and I, and about twenty other folks, gathered this past April one evening in Orwell, all with the same hopeful intention. From raised hands, I learned that for the majority of us, this would be our first Owl Prowl. The event has become so popular over the years that more dates have been added each season to accommodate the eagerness and curiosity of Islanders. This final outing happened to coincide with one of my wee folks birthdays, so I resolved this would be the time we actually attended. Spending a few hours among likeminded strangers trying to communicate with an elusive bird of prey is a proper rite of passage for entering the double digits, I should think.

We arrived at Macphail Woods in the long hold of late Spring dusk. The sun was going down in its usual way, someplace off in the West, but obscured by steel blue masses of roving altostratus clouds. The sky held its exit in monochromatic sheets. We were welcomed into a presentation area just inside the old homestead building and directed to where we could access the facilities or have a seat. My crew headed up front to get nearer the taxidermy raven and barred owl. I would later be told seeing these up close was one of their favourite parts.

Gary Schneider was our host for the evening, and I’ve had the pleasure of being led around various woodlands for various reasons by Gary over the years. He shares his knowledge in a very conversational manner; it’s not rigidly structured, more audience-guided and interest-led. While presenting the various kinds of owls known to inhabit or pass through PEI, he encourages folks to ask questions as we go and elaborates where eagerness calls for it. This is a man who holds his experience and whimsy for nature unabashedly

out for you to learn from. It’s delightful.

I consider myself to be “bird nerd light.” I don’t intentionally go birding but wherever I go, I am looking at the birds. In the last number of years I’ve tried to familiarize myself with more calls because I don’t have the quickest eyesight. And yet, I was unaware of the variety of sounds that come out of the variety of owls we could encounter in our Island nights.

We somehow lucked into an evening that was neither windy nor rainy, but calm, still, and seasonally chilled. Wandering the property together, hopefully asking the trees, “Who cooks for you? Who cooks for you all?” We heard but never fully encountered a Barred Owl, which we were told initially is a possibility. It’s really up to the owls if they’re interested in looking at us. The kids and I lingered after all the rest of the participants had left and made a few more attempts. Our calls became quite strong then and while mildly disappointed to depart without spotting our quarry, both said they’d still do it again.

HEELS & WHEELS

Flora’s Walk PEI

Flora’s Walk for Perinatal Mental Health will take place at the Beaconsfield Carriage House in Charlottetown on June 6 from 11 am–1:30 pm. Flora’s Walk raises funds and awareness for timely perinatal mental health care in Canada. Seventy per cent of proceeds raised will stay in PEI to support Family Service PEI’s counselling programs for new parents, while the remaining funds will support national initiatives. The Charlottetown event will include opening remarks, refreshments, a stroller-friendly walk (under 2 km), and a door prize/gift basket draw. The event is rain or shine, with indoor activities planned. Flora’s Walk is a national campaign taking place in more than 50 cities across Canada. The walk is named in memory of Flora, who died from undiagnosed postpartum psychosis two months after the birth of her daughter. For information, visit tinyurl. com/2umxv44h or lifewithababy.com/ floraswalk.

Hike & Bike for Hospice PEI

Islanders are invited to walk, hike, run, or bike in memory of a loved one for the Hospice PEI fundraiser, Hike & Bike. The all ages event will be held at Confederation Landing Park in Charlottetown on June 6 from 1–3 pm. There will be a barbecue, prizes for top fundraisers, face painting, and giveaways for furry companions. Register as an individual, student, or a team, or participate virtually. For more information or to register, visit hospicepei.ca, email development@hospicepei.ca, or call 902-3307506. Online registration closes on June 5 at 3:30 pm but people can register on site. This special event brings Islanders from all regions together in support of Hospice PEI, celebrating compassion, connection, and the power of community.

Cycling PEI Road Race

Cycling PEI’s first road race for the 2026 season will be the Indian River Road Race on June 7 from 10 am–1 pm, starting at Historic St. Mary’s in Indian River. The 12 km loop course features rolling hills, offering low difficulty and a high fun factor. Visit cyclingpei.org to register.

PEI Kidney Walks

Kidney Walks fund life-saving research, real-time support, and powerful advocacy for people living with kidney disease. Each dollar raised supports critical programs and services, including shortterm financial assistance. More than 70 per cent of the national organ transplant waitlist is made up of people waiting for a kidney. PEI Kidney Walks take place in Prince County on June 7, starting at Credit Union Place in Summerside at 1:30 pm, and in Queens County on June 14, starting at Simmons Sports Centre in Charlottetown at 1:30 pm. Registration for both events begins at 1 pm.

Lady Slipper Walk

The Tracadie Good Neighbourly Club welcomes Islanders to join its free Lady Slipper Walk on June 14. Curious walkers can trek to see the Lady Slipper, PEI’s floral emblem. The group will meet at the Tracadie Community Centre at 2 pm. All ages are welcome. Info: 902-330-2248

Terry Fox Gravel Ride of Hope

Riders of all ages and abilities are invited to participate in the third annual Gravel Ride of Hope fundraiser on June 20 at 10 am. Hosted by Cycling PEI, the ride departs from the Sir Andrew Macphail Homestead in Orwell and offers various scenic route options, including three on the Confederation Trail (7 km, 15 km, 30 km) and two on mixed terrain (57 km, 75 km). The fundraising goal is $10,000, with proceeds supporting cancer research via the Terry Fox Foundation. Participants and their families are welcome to explore the Macphail Homestead grounds, and the Tea Room will be open for lunch (email macphailhomestead@ gmail.com for reservations). To register, visit cyclingpei.org/events/roh2026.

Seniors’ (60+) Bike Ride

Cycling PEI is hosting the Seniors’ Bike Ride on June 27 from 10 am–12:30 pm. The relaxed bike ride will take place on the Confederation Trail, followed by post-ride social time at Knead a Brake Cafe. Free refreshments will be

provided. This event is open to those aged 60 or older who already know how to ride a conventional two-wheeled bike. Participants must bring their own bike; both pedal-powered and e-bikes are welcome. Advance registration required via ccnbikes.com/#!/events/free-seniorstrail-ride-2026, or contact Cycling PEI at info@cyclingpei.org or 902-368-4985.

The Glucose Grind

The Glucose Grind returns to Charlottetown on June 27, bringing together runners, walkers, and community supporters to raise funds for vulnerable Islanders living with diabetes. The event is organized in partnership with the Community Foundation of PEI, ensuring that all donations directly support Islanders who struggle to afford essential diabetes-related needs, including medical supplies and nutritious food. The 2026 event runs from 6 am–12 noon with a new, more accessible format. This year moves to a 4 km loop around Victoria Park and participants are invited to see how many laps they can complete over six hours. Participants can walk, run or bike, and do so for as long as they like. All donations are eligible for tax receipts. Info: cfpei.ca/glucosegrind

The Island Run

The Island Walk returns for its third annual Island Run, taking place on July 4, beginning at 9 am. The scenic 12 km route will start in Cardigan and stretch to Montague as participants of all experience levels can run, walk, or bike at their own pace in a non chip-timed event. Following the event, participants are invited to gather in Montague for lunch at Bogside Brewing, included with registration. Attendees can also enjoy live entertainment, connect with fellow walkers and runners, and take part in the prize giveaways. Race kits can be picked up at Sporting Intentions in Charlottetown on July 2 from 5–7 pm or in Cardigan on the day of the event from 8–8:30 am. Advanced registration is required, with capacity limited to 90 participants. Transportation back to the start is the responsibility of participants; however, limited return lifts will be available. A portion of the proceeds will go to the Upper Room Hospitality Ministry and PEI Food Banks. To register, visit raceroster.com/events/2026/118011/ the-island-run and for more information, visit theislandwalk.ca.

PEI Bluegrass Festival

Ray

Legere and Acoustic Horizon headline

The most accomplished and awarded bluegrass musician ever to come out of the Maritimes, fiddle and mandolin player Ray Legere will be bringing his band, Acoustic Horizon, to the 39th Annual PEI Bluegrass & Old Time Music Festival being held at the Dundas Fairgrounds, Dundas, PEI, on July 3, 4 and 5. Ray has performed with Tony Rice, Alison Krauss, David Grisman, Rhonda Vincent, Alison Brown and Doc Watson. Acoustic Horizon features the “cream of the crop” of Maritime bluegrass musicians: Frank Doody on banjo, Alan Jeffries on guitar, and newest member Kaden Mattinson on bass.

brother-duet vocal style.

Also on the Festival program are The Grass Messengers from New York, the Spinney Brothers from Nova Scotia, and High River from New Brunswick. PEI bands are the Janet McGarry Band, The Stiff Family, Bluestreak, Whitecap Drive, The Bad Hoss, SK Bluegrass, Heartfelt Bluegrass and Bluegrass Revival.

The Grass Messengers were the overwhelming audience favourite according to the 2025 Festival audience survey, so were invited back this year. The Grass Messengers are based in New York State and feature lead singer and guitarist Chris Luquette. A major highlight of the 2024 Festival was the lively late-night jams led by The Grass Messengers. Expect more of the same this year.

From the Annapolis Valley of Nova Scotia, brothers Allan and Rick Spinney formed their first band in 1992 to play the traditional bluegrass music they love and showcase their tight,

Acadian-Cajun Night

Vishtèn and Louis Michot

Acadian-Cajun Night, a double-bill featuring Vishtèn and Louis Michot, will be presented at Harbourfront Theatre in Summerside on June 29 at 7:30 pm and at Souris Show Hall in Souris on June 30 at 7:30 pm.

Making their PEI Bluegrass Festival debut are High River from Eastern New Brunswick. The band members are Jason Guimond on banjo and vocals, Thomas Leblanc on guitar and vocals, Marcel Allain on bass and vocals, Marc Landry on dobro and vocals, and Lawrence Martin on mandolin and vocals.

Janet McGarry will take the stage with her husband, the multi-instrumentalist Serge Bernard, along with bandmates Trevor Boutilier and Karen DaCoste, award-winning musicians from the Nova Scotia group Bluegrass Tradition.

The three-day festival includes stage shows on Friday afternoon, Friday evening, Saturday afternoon, Saturday evening, and Sunday along with Open Mic stages on Wednesday and Thursday for early arrivers. The Festival also offers camping facilities, workshops, a children’s program, food services, and late-night jamming sessions.

Registration is available at peibluegrass.ca. Tickets and festival details are available at peibluegrass.ca/tickets or by calling 902-218-8916.

Vishtèn, a cornerstone of the modern Acadian music scene, returns to the stage with a renewed spirit. The trio—Emmanuelle LeBlanc, Pascal Miousse, and Megan Bergeron—brings an electrifying blend of traditional French songs, powerful instrumentals, and driving rhythms.

Joining them is Louis Michot. As the driving force behind the Grammy Award-winning Lost Bayou Ramblers, Michot has more than 20 albums to his credit. His music continues to push the boundaries of Louisiana French musical traditions.

harbourfronttheatre.com sourisshowhall.com

(L–R): Alan Jeffries, Ray Legere, Kaden Mattinson, and Frank Doody

Vishtèn (left) and Louis Michot

SUBMITTED

Evangeline Bluegrass

Spinney Brothers and Moyenne Rig headline festival

All types of bluegrass music, from old-timey to modern to folk- and country-influenced styles, will be featured during the 2026 edition of the Evangeline Bluegrass and Traditional Music Festival from July 10–12 on the Exhibition Grounds in Abram-Village. Special spotlight performers during this 24th edition of the festival include the Spinney Brothers from Nova Scotia and the young Acadianfolk-bluegrass ensemble Moyenne Rig from New Brunswick.

The Spinney Brothers, from the Annapolis Valley, have made a resurgence in the past couple of years. With their traditional style of bluegrass, gospel, and classic country music, they continue to deliver the “real deal.” The group is made up of brothers Allan Spinney (guitar and vocals) and Rick Spinney (banjo and vocals), along with Gary Dalrymple (mandolin) and Terry Mumford (bass). They will perform hour-long sets at 2 pm and 8 pm Saturday and at 11 am Sunday.

Moyenne Rig, featuring Martin Bourque on guitar, Jeremy Richard on mandolin, Noah Ouellette on banjo, and Jacob Ouellette on bass and guitar, has performed extensively on festival stages across the Maritimes, Quebec, Manitoba, and even France since 2018. Known for their infectious chemistry, charming accent, and high-energy performances, Moyenne Rig quickly builds a strong connection with audiences. In July 2025, the band released its debut album featuring 12 original songs. They’ll be the headlining closing act Friday night at 9:15 pm and again at 1 pm Saturday.

Other headliners on all three days will include Bluegrass Diamonds and Eddy Poirier & Grassline, both from New Brunswick. Also featured during the weekend are Common Ground from Nova Scotia, along with Janet McGarry, the Stiff Family, Bluestreak (featuring hometown singer Marcella Richard), SK Bluegrass, and Dawson et les Country Boys, all from PEI.

A pre-festival event called Le Gros Jam will take place Thursday from 7:30–10 pm in the Acadian Festival Barn next door.

Weekend bracelets, day passes, and evening passes are available at the gate. Camping is available on site. More details are available at evangelinebluegrassfestival.com.

Stompin’ Tom Festival

Series returns to Skinners Pond this summmer

The Stompin’ Tom Festival Series is an enduring tribute to Stompin’ Tom’s greatest passions: supporting musical talent and showcasing what it means to be Canadian. Visitors can enjoy live music, dinner theatre, a songwriters festival, and more this summer at the fully licensed open-air venue in Skinners Pond.

This year’s Stompin’ Tom Festival Series features artists such as Gordie MacKeeman & His Rhythm Boys, John McDermott, Kurk Bernard, Joey Doucette & Jamie Mathews, Acadian favourites Jonny Ray & Louise Arsenault, Jay Gavin, comedian Shawn Hogan, and many more. The full lineup of live concerts taking place Saturdays at 8 pm from June 6 to October 24 is available at stompintomfest.com.

and storytelling tradition back to the stage where he made history. The show features Chad Matthew as Tom, alongside Kurk Bernard, Danalee LynchVeinotte, and fiddler Andy Doucette.

St. Peters Courthouse—July 18

St. Peters Courthouse Theatre will welcome Carlie Howell with Ben Aitken on July 18 at 7 pm.

Carlie Howell is a multi-instrumentalist, composer, educator, curator, and arts worker. Their international performance practice spans genres, including jazz, classical, folk, improvised, and Brazilian traditional and contemporary music. A strong musical voice across genres, Howell composes and arranges for many groups, from jazz duo to percussion ensemble to orchestra. Their curatorial practice is intergenerational, interdisciplinary, and centres the voices of feminized, trans, and queer artists.

Ben Aitken is a pianist and singer-songwriter based in Charlottetown,

PEI. He plays and tours regularly with numerous bands and artists. Awarded the 2022 Music PEI Musician of the Year Award, his session work as a pianist, co-writer, and music arranger has been featured on multiple Music PEI and ECMA Award-winning albums.

Visit locarius.io/events/4263/carlie-howell-with-ben-aitken for tickets.

The Courthouse Theatre is located at 5697 St. Peters Road, St. Peters Bay.

Returning August 27–29 is The Nashville Songwriters Festival, part of this year’s Summer Festival Series. PEI host Ben Chase has once again curated a lineup of seasoned and emerging songwriters for this three-day festival of song circles and meet-and-greets. Anyone who has experienced the Bluebird Cafe or one of Nashville’s iconic music venues will love the vibe.

New this year is the dinner theatre production Stompin’ Tom Connors Live at the Horseshoe. Step inside Toronto’s legendary Horseshoe Tavern and celebrate Stompin’ Tom Connors. Live at the Horseshoe brings his spirit, songs,

Ode to Outlaws

Visitors can also enjoy the Shucked-In Series, featuring free live entertainment daily from 1–2 pm at the Stompin’ Tom Centre. This year, Shucked-In will also pay tribute to the struggling PEI oyster industry with a daily experience following the live entertainment. Experience PEI’s twist on Newfoundland’s Screeched-In tradition: slurp a freshly shucked PEI oyster, chase it with a shot of PEI shine, and recite a salty pledge to earn the title of “Honorary Islander,” complete with a certificate.

Stay tuned for details on the Gail Shea Memorial Dance Hall fundraising events taking place later this year in August and October.

For tickets, schedules, and additional information, visit stompintomcentre.com.

Paying homage to country music legends—June 5

Ode to Outlaws, a celebration of country music’s most intriguing and influential generation of cowboys, poets, and rebels, will be at the Tracadie Community Centre on June 5 at 7:30 pm. PEI country troubadours, Nudie and Lawrence Maxwell, along with the quick-picking styles of Isaac King and upright bass man, Jason Burbine, pay homage to country music’s legendary outlaws. Take in all of the heartbreaking ballads, downhome anthems, and barroom staples featuring selections from the musical catalogues of Waylon Jennings, George Jones, Johnny Cash, and Willie Nelson.

Visit lawrencemaxwell.com/tour to

Gordie MacKeeman & His Rhythm Boys

Spinney Brothers (above) and Moyenne Rig PHOTOS SUBMITTED

Ode to Outlaws is the perfect night out for the classic country music fan. Doors open at 7 pm.

purchase tickets. Nudie (left) and Lawrence Maxwell

Carlie Howell (left) and Ben Aitken

Festival of Small Halls

Music, dance, comedy and storytelling—June 12 to 21

The PEI Mutual Festival of Small Halls, a traditional music, dance, and storytelling festival, returns to rural communities across the Island from June 12–21. More than 40 acts across 30 shows will fill community halls and performance spaces from tip to tip.

For two weeks, Islanders and visitors alike are invited to share in the love of music, dance, and storytelling in traditional meeting places steeped in community significance and cultural heritage.

The long list of performing acts includes James Mullinger, The Pairs, Beòlach, Maukin, Richard Wood, Joce Reyome, Cynthia MacLeod, Fiddlers’ Sons, Logan Staats, Cara Luft, Troy MacGillivray, Jake Charron, Inn Echo, Logan Richard, Catherine MacLellan, Derek Seguin, Patrick Ledwell, Shawn Hogan, Beauxmont, La Famille Leblanc, Rum Ragged, Ben Aitken, Caroline, Remi & Family

A Journey Back

The heartbeat of Summerside takes centre stage

For three decades, the Harbourfront Theatre in Summerside has been the vessel for thousands of stories, but this July, the theatre itself becomes the main character. For its 30th-anniversary season, the theatre presents A Journey Back, a retrospective production that honours the stage that has served as the community’s cultural heartbeat since 1996. Performances run July 9, 10 and 11 at 7:30 pm.

Co-created by Craig Fair

Band, Mark Westberg, Dan Walsh, Dutch Thompson, Emily Dubois, Fiona MacCorquodale and Isaac King, Gadelle, Gammons & Knorr, Gordie MacKeeman & His Rhythm Boys, JD Crosstown, Karine Et Vincent, Keelin Wedge, Lucy Farrell, Luka Hall, Marrow Bones, Mike Dixon, Nudie, Nathalie Arsenault, Roger Stone, Romy Munkres, Rowen Gallant & Nick Vanouwerkerk, Shane Pendergast, Strum, Tre Sutherland, The Vaudevillian, and Tzu-Cheng Wang.

The rich traditions embedded in the artistry of these local and national performers reverberate beautifully in the host venues that have long been essential to their communities.

For a full schedule, visit smallhalls. com or see page 30 and 31 in this issue of The Buzz. Tickets can be purchased online, by phone at 902-892-2308, or in person at the Maypoint Plaza, 161 Maypoint Road, Charlottetown.

Productions and Harbourfront

Executive Director Mary Dennis, A Journey Back is more than a variety show—it is a time machine. Featuring a powerhouse cast of sixteen PEI performers and surprise guests, the production weaves together the music, memories, and milestones that have defined the theatre’s legacy.

The show revisits many of the performances and “Harbour Highlights,” inviting the community to see their own history reflected on stage, told through the songs and stories that turned a building on the water into a home for the arts.

Visit harbourfronttheatre.com to purchase tickets.

TRIVIA

Bogside Brewing Montague

Tuesdays (6 pm). Mixed Tape Music Bingo on Wednesdays (6 pm). 11 Brook St, Montague.

Bogside Brewing Summerside

Tuesdays (6 pm) Mixed Tape Music Bingo on Wednesdays (6 pm). 110 Water St, Summerside.

Churchill Arms

Tuesday (8:30 pm) with Hank. Reserve by calling 902-367-3450. 89 Kent St, Charlottetown.

Copper Bottom Brewing

Taproom Trivia on Fridays (7 pm) with Dana Jones. 567 Main St, Montague.

Evermoore Brewing

Thursdays (8 pm) with Wil MacDonald. 192 Water St, Summerside.

The Factory

Music Bingo on Saturdays (7 pm) with Darcy Campbell. 189 Kent St, Charlottetown.

Founders’ Food Hall & Market

June 27 (5 pm) with Darcy Campbell. 6 Prince St, Charlottetown.

Holy Whale

Wednesdays (7 pm). 151 Allen St, Charlottetown.

Hopyard

Wednesdays (8 pm) with Hank. 151 Kent St, Charlottetown.

Harmony House

Music Trivia on June 4 & 11 (6:30 pm). 19814 Rte 2, Hunter River

Hunter’s Ale House

Entertainment Trivia on Thursdays (9 pm) with Darcy Campbell; Name That Tune Trivia on Sundays (9 pm) with Andrew Rollins. 185 Kent St, Charlottetown.

Montague Legion

Thursdays (7 pm) with the Catch the King of Clubs draw. 15 Douses Rd, Montague.

The Whiskey Pub and Kitchen

Wednesdays (7 pm) with Barry. 25 Hopeton Rd, Stratford

Monday, June 15

(top–bottom, L–R): Tzu-Cheng Wang, La Famille Leblanc, Gammons & Knorr, and Joce Reyome

PEI RECORDINGS

that permeates society.

ALBUMS SINGLES

Vintage Love Aging Disgracefully

Disgracefully has released their new EP, Vintage Love, a bluesy, emotionally charged collection celebrating passion, resilience, and the power of lived experience. The release follows a major milestone for the duo: a 2026 ECMA Award nomination for Blues Release of the Year for their previous album, Shatter the Mirror

Aging Disgracefully’s momentum has been amplified by strong critical acclaim from music reviewers, including Scene Magazine, which described the duo as a “vital voice in the Canadian blues scene.”

Vintage Love marks the next stage in Aging Disgracefully’s drive to showcase themes related to living in the second half of life, themes often missing from mainstream music today. The EP offers gritty guitar lines, warm harmonies, and grooves steeped in tradition. It explores complex emotions such as regret, deep grief, and enduring love, while doubling down on the Aging Disgracefully mantra of refusing to be held back by the ageism

Vintage Love is available on major streaming platforms, with physical copies available at upcoming performances throughout Atlantic Canada and at agingdisgracefullyduo.com.

Hand Me Down Guitar

Cindy Penny Vanneste

Cindy Penny Vanneste of Beach Point, PEI, released her new CD, Hand Me Down Guitar

The project features a collection of heartfelt songs written by Cindy and performed by PEI artists. The music was recorded by Jon Matthews at The Sound Mill.

“This collection isn’t just about my dad’s guitar, but it’s also my story of how music inspired my life from Beach Point to Nashville and many other places in between,” says Cindy. “I owe so much to the incredible voices of some of the Island’s best artists who breathed life into my lyrics and gave each song the painted picture I had hoped for.”

Featured vocalists include Brian J. Dunn, Joey Kitson, Jon Matthews, Keira Loane, Kelley Mooney, Lawrence Maxwell, Maxine MacLennan, Norman Stewart and Waylon Hurley.

Contributing musicians include Courtney Hogan Chandler, Ed Ringwald, Iain MacInnes, Jeffrey BazettJones, Johnny Ross, Jon Matthews, Keelin Wedge, Maxine MacLennan, Natalie Williams Calhoun, Norman Stewart, Paul Chapman, Shane Guse, Troy Engle and Waylon Hurley.

Face Like A Clown Glitter Pigs

Glitter Pig Technologies recently released Face Like A Clown, the second EP from PEI rock/punk band Glitter Pigs.

Face Like A Clown is the garage rock soundtrack to a gargoyle love story. Songs follow The Clown through the dark bleeding edge of the modern world. Guitars flirt with metal, pop, and desert rock. Bass and drums are motorik. Following the band’s debut, Bad Little Kitty, Glitter Pigs added a fourth member. The new sound is more dense, but still spacious.

Glitter Pigs will host a release party for Face Like A Clown in Charlottetown on June 13 at Baba’s Lounge. The new release can be heard wherever music is found.

CDs can be purchased in Charlottetown at Back Alley Music and in Montague at Stewart and Beck’s Home Hardware or Montague Office Supply in the Down East Mall. The album is also available on streaming platforms.

“Worthless”

Dear Blossom

Young, up-and-coming Charlottetownbased post-hardcore band Dear Blossom released its debut single, “Worthless,” on May 22. It is now available on major streaming platforms.

Band members include Authin Hercules on lead vocals and guitar, Brendan Cheverie on guitar, MacKenzie Curley on bass, and Logan Richards on drums.

As the winner of Music PEI’s first annual Battle of the Bands during Music PEI Week ’26, Dear Blossom received free studio time with Adam Gallant at Hill Sound Studio in Charlottetown. Written by Hercules, “Worthless” was mixed by Gallant and mastered by Micah Brown.

The single’s cover art was created by Hercules and Richards.

“Worthless” is part of the band’s forthcoming EP, planned for release later this summer.

Follow @dearblossompe on Instagram for updates and more.

“Everything But Slow” Moh & Me

Bonshaw, PEI-based folk duo Moh & Me (Dennis MacKenzie and Meaghan Wilkie) released their first single, “Everything But Slow,” on May 8.

“We’re really proud of how it captures our sound,” says Dennis, adding that they “are currently working on

PEI blues duo Aging

more material to follow this release.”

“Everything But Slow” was recorded by Adam Gallant at The Hill Sound Studio in Charlottetown and is available on streaming platforms.

“Y laisse la radio on” Aubin pi la S.C.B.

PEI Acadian garage rock band Aubin pi la S.C.B. recently released their third single, the gritty Acadian francobilly track “Y laisse la radio on,” now available on all digital platforms.

The song was recorded and mixed by Robbie Gallant at Rec Room Studio in Abram-Village, PEI, and produced by Robbie Gallant, with co-production by Shane Arsenault and Aubin pi la S.C.B.

The band—Riel Gallant, Shane Arsenault, Dawson Arsenault, and Robbie Gallant—continue to build a solid reputation with their high-energy shows and gritty Acadian rock sound. After playing major stages in 2025, including Canada Day with Blue Rodeo, Festival acadien de la région Évangéline, showcases at Francofête en Acadie (Onépascouchées) and Showcase PEI, as well as the Music PEI Awards where they won the Prix de

l’Acadie Award, the band is gearing up for another big year.

With big riffs and their signature raw sound, “Y laisse la radio on” offers a preview of where the band is headed on their upcoming album, expected this summer.

aubinpilasbc.com

“Piano in the Garden”

Richard Wood

PEI fiddler Richard Wood is set to release the new instrumental single “Piano in the Garden” on June 1. It will be available on all major streaming and digital download platforms.

Known internationally for his Celtic performances and high-energy live shows, Wood takes a more cinematic and reflective approach with this latest recording. Composed by PEI musician Ward MacDonald and newly arranged by Wood, “Piano in the Garden” blends expressive fiddle with rich atmosphere and emotion, creating a track that feels both intimate and expansive.

Moody, bold and slightly gritty, the piece moves beyond traditional genre boundaries while remaining deeply rooted in Wood’s musical style. The track was recorded at Studio Dimanche, mixed and mastered by Brent Chaisson, and features Wood on fiddle, piano, organ and synth, with Chaisson on guitar, bass, drums and percussion.

The release also marks part of a broader creative direction for Wood, with additional singles planned ahead of a future full-length project. rwood.ca

ONGOING MUSIC

ceilidhs, dances, series, sessions...

Back In Tyme in New London

Coughlin, Peter Burke, George MacPhee,

Community Complex. Shows run from everyone is welcome. 10227 Rte 6, New

The Blues Jam with the Plain Dirty Blues band takes place on the last Saturday of each month from 5:30–8 p.m. at Baba’s Lounge. The final jam is June 27. Admission is by donation. Follow @Plain Dirty Blues Band on FB for updates. 189 Great George St, Charlotteown.

Ceilidh and Cones

Island musician Michael Pendergast will perform a variety of East Coast and family music in the gardens outside Holman’s Ice Cream Parlour in Summerside. Shows take place on Tuesdays from 7–9 pm, from July 7 to September 8. Enjoy wholesome family fun with ice cream and music. 286 Fitzroy St, Summerside.

Come to the Ceilidh

A family-style traditional Island ceilidh takes place on Mondays at 7:30 pm at the Brackley Beach Community Centre from June 29–September 28. The show features singer-songwriter Shane Pendergast, chanteuse and step-dancer Olivia Blacquiere, and fiddler Flora MacLaine. Audience participation is encouraged. Admission is by cash or e-transfer at the door. 3330 Brackley Pt Rd, Rte 15, Brackley Beach.

Dunstaffnage Ceilidh

A ceilidh hosted by the Road Masters Band with guest entertainers is held at the Dunstaffnage School Centre on the first Sunday of each month. There will be a 50/50 draw, and coffee, tea, and juice will be served at intermission. Admission is at the door, and the venue is wheelchair accessible. 13529 St. Peters Rd, Dunstaffnage.

Friday Night Ceilidhs at BIS

The public is invited to the Benevolent Irish Society’s annual 2026 Friday Night Ceilidh season. Running weekly on Fridays through September 25, the authentic Irish ceilidhs feature PEI musicians, storytellers, dancers, and special guests. Upcoming performances feature: Fullerton’s Marsh’s Frank McQuaid, Randy Dibblee, Willie Arsenault, and Dave McQuaid, fiddler Flora MacLaine, and step dancers Grace Sulis-Chaisson and Lillianna Bradley on June 5; Tip ‘er Back’s Clive Currie, Allan Betts, and Wade Murray, vocalist Darlene Bradley, fiddler Allison Gigge, and step dancers Grace Sulis-Chaisson and Lillianna Bradley on June 12; Chaisson Trio’s

Louise Chaisson MacKinnon, Kevin Chaisson, fiddler Shiela MacKenzie and step dancer Gerard Beaton on June 19; The Proud Islanders’ special bilingual performance by Karl Proude and Armand Arsenault with step dancers, fiddler Louise Arsenault, and keyboardist Helene Bergeron on June 26. All two-hour, family-friendly shows start at 7:30 pm (doors open at 6:30 pm) at the BIS’s air-conditioned, wheelchair-accessible Irish Cultural Centre, located at 582 North River Rd, Charlottetown. Tickets may be purchased in advance online at Locarious. io (plus applicable fees), or with cash at the door, subject to seating availability. A 50/50 draw and light refreshments will be available during intermission. Info: benevolentirishsocietyofpei.com

Got Blues Matinee

Got Blues, led by Chris Roumbanis with friends Mike Robicheau and Alan Dowling, hosts a weekly Saturday matinee from 2–4 pm at the Salvadore Dali Café. Each week, a special guest joins the first set, followed by an electric blues jam in the second. There is no cover charge; they pass the hat. The upcoming performances feature: Littler Big Band featuring Brian Langille (guitar/vocals), Ross MacDougall (sax), Dave Gordon (keys) on June 6; Doug Burton (guitar/vocals) and Steve Guy (sax) on June 13; and the Season Finale with Amanda Jackson (vocals) and Todd MacLean (sax/keys). 155 Kent St, Charlottetown.

Island Jazz

Jazz on Thursdays at Baba’s Lounge features top local musicians performing original music, standards, jazz and pop favourites. Each show features a different group and two sets starting at 8 pm. The upcoming lineup includes: Island Jazz Quartet (June 4); Sean Ferris Group on June 11; Island Jazz with Ruby on June 18; Gammons & Knorr on June 25; and Luisa Güiza & Friends on July 2. Admission is by donation. 181 Great George St, Charlottetown.

Let’s Have a Ceilidh

Local fiddler Flora MacLaine and dancer Grace Chaisson host a traditional family ceilidh at the Brackley Beach Community Centre. Shows take place on Fridays at 7:30 pm from July 3–August 28. Local singer-songwriter Michael Pendergast will perform a variety of Island and Maritime songs. Each night will feature a guest performer. 3330 Brackley Pt Rd, Rte 15, Brackley Beach.

Live Big Band Music

Now in its 30th season, the Charlottetown Jazz Ensemble (CJE) hosts a monthly series on the first Friday of every month from 6–7:30 pm at the Salvador Dali Café. The next concerts are June 5 and July 3. The big band brings together Island musicians, from students to professionals. For three

decades, CJE has performed an eclectic mix of standards and contemporary jazz. With full horn sections (five trumpets, four trombones, and five saxes) plus a rhythm section, CJE showcases some of PEI’s best improvisers. Admission is free, and donations are welcome. Follow @ charlottetownjazz on FB for updates. 155 Kent St, Charlottetown.

Malpeque Ceilidh

Now in its 30th season, the Malpeque Ceilidh will be held at the Malpeque Community Centre every Wednesday at 7:30 pm, from July 8–August 26. Hosted by Michael Pendergast, the ceilidh celebrates traditional Island stories and songs. It features local musicians, a fiddler, and a dancer. Admission is by cash or e-transfer at the door. 2197 Rte 20, Malpeque Bay.

The Nave Series

The Nave Series is a live acoustic concert experience built around the natural sound of church spaces across PEI, creating intimate, high-quality performances. The first show in this ongoing series will be held at the Free Church of Scotland on June 27 from 7:30–9 pm. Tickets can be purchased at thenaveseries.com. 1726 Rte 10, Cape Traverse.

Stanley Bridge Ceilidh

A traditional PEI ceilidh will be held at Stanley Bridge Hall every Thursday at 7:30 pm from June 18–September 24. Hosted by Michael Pendergast, the family-style show will feature a fiddler, a dancer, and a variety of Island musicians sharing songs and stories. Audience participation is encouraged. Admission is by cash or e-transfer at the door. 4897 St. Marys Rd, Stanley Bridge.

Stratford Ceilidh

A ceilidh featuring old-fashioned country music and more takes place at the Robert L. Cotton Centre in Stratford on the fourth Sunday of each month from 2–4 pm. The next ceilidh is June 28. Contact Cliff Martin at 902-213-3255 for more info. 57 Bunbury Rd, Stratford.

Summerside Kitchen Party

A matinee kitchen party with Back in Tyme (Blair Coughlin, Peter Burke, George MacPhee, and Bob Gagnon) takes place at the Summerside Legion on Saturdays, June 6, 13, and 20. The band will perform classic country and old rock ’n’ roll from 2–5 pm. Admission is at the door. 340 Notre Dame St, Summerside.

Sunday Hootenanny

The Blizzard Goat Band performs at Copper Bottom Brewing for the weekly Sunday Hootenanny from 3–5 pm. Admission is free. 567 Main St, Montague.

Trad Night at Village Green

An Irish Trad Night is held every Thursday in the taproom at Village Green. Enjoy free, live music from 7–9 pm. Space is limited. Located at 30 Church St in the old post office/dental clinic in Cornwall.

Ross Family Ceilidh

A fresh show for 20th anniversary

Ross Family Ceilidh celebrates its 20th anniversary with a fresh show highlighting the group’s growing focus on songwriting and storytelling while continuing to explore roots-trad songs and tunes of the Island. The show’s content is dynamic, ranging from light and lively to sensitive and deep, united by the theme of home and its people, yesterday and today.

In addition to showcasing originals and its Acadian and Scots-Gaelic heritage, the group lets loose, interpreting selections from influential Island songwriters such as Stompin’ Tom, Gene MacLellan, Angele Arsenault, and more.

Rounding out the show are fiddle set staples, with stepdancing and piano-playing hijinks.

The group consists of Stephanie Ross (vocals, guitar, bodhran, percussion, dance), Danielle Ross-Cairns (vocals, fiddle, percussion, dance), and Johnny Ross (piano, keyboards).

After twenty years of performing this music series together, the sibling trio has become very comfortable with one another. This is on full display in both their tight musical connection

during performances and the way they tease and laugh together on stage while interacting freely with audiences.

From June 23 to September 19, the Ross Family will perform on Tuesdays and select Wednesdays at Victoria Playhouse, Victoria-by-the-Sea.

In honour of their 20th anniversary, the group will tour the show in eastern and western PEI as well. On July 7 and August 25, they will perform at the Scott MacAulay Performing Arts Centre in Summerside, and on August 18, they will be on stage at Kings Playhouse in Georgetown.

Contact the venues for tickets or visit rossfamily.ca for more information. All shows, at all locations, begin at 7:30 pm.

Back Home Tonight

Concert series celebrates its fifth year

Musicians and good friends, Gordon Belsher, Todd MacLean, Cynthia MacLeod and Courtney HoganChandler grouped together in 2022 for the Back Home Tonight concert series. These much-loved, award-winning instrumentalists and vocalists perform on Monday evenings at Stanley Bridge Hall each summer to wild acclaim and sold-out houses.

The show features an entertaining and heartwarming mix of sing-along songs, lively jigs, rollicking reels, and poignant ballads performed on fiddle, guitar, piano, saxophone, ukulele, bodhrán, spoons, voices and feet. There are always a few surprises in store, and

Close to the Ground

Concert series at Hillcrest United in Montague this summer

The Close to the Ground concert series, with hosts Fiddlers’ Sons, featuring Eddy Quinn, John B. Webster, Keelin Wedge and Fiona MacCorquodale, returns to Hillcrest United in Montague this summer, with shows on Thursdays at 8 pm from July 2 to September 24.

Fiddlers’ Sons invite a different musical guest to join them each week for a night of PEI roots music and storytelling. This year’s guests include ECMA Award winners and nominees, Music PEI Award winners, veteran performers, and up-and-coming young talent. The season kicks off July 2 with two of Kings County’s best, Lester MacPherson and Emery Kenny, joining Fiddlers’ Sons on stage.

and

The July lineup continues with special guests The Ellis Family Band (9), Lawrence Maxwell and Isaac King: A Tribute to Merle Haggard (16), Cynthia MacLeod with Todd MacLean and Gordon Belsher (23), and Brooke MacArthur with Isaac King (30).

In August, the special guests are Liv Deagle, Aggy Deagle and Frankie Evans “Valkyrie” (6), Steven Somers

Gadelle

Back at Ti-Manuel’s Barn in Abram-Village

Gadelle, the popular traditional Acadian music group from Prince Edward Island, will return to Village musical acadien in AbramVillage this summer, where the group will perform in Ti-Manuel’s Barn Tuesdays through Fridays from July 7 to August 27.

ice cream and berries at intermission.

The 2026 summer season will begin on June 22 and run weekly on Mondays through September 14. Doors open at 7 pm, with the shows starting at 7:30 pm. Most nights the show features Gordon, Todd, and either Cynthia or Courtney on fiddle. But the stars have aligned for the season’s opening concert on June 22 and all four of these talented performers will join together for a night of music and mayhem.

The hall is located at 4897 St Marys Road, Stanley Bridge. Visit gordonbelsher.ca for the complete schedule and to book seats.

In September, special guests include Gordie MacKeeman and The Rhythm Boys (3), Keelin Wedge and Christine Cameron—The Salt Water Dollies (10), Kendall Docherty with Peter Burke and Brian Langille (17), and Kim Albert and Mike Arsenault (24).

Admission is at the door; no advance tickets. The church is located at 50 Wood Islands Road, Montague.

Gadelle is composed of four musicians from the Evangeline region, all of whom have established international reputations in other groups. Fiddler Louise Arsenault and organist-singer Hélène Bergeron are former members of the groups Barachois and Les Girls, which are themselves recognized around the world. Singer, guitarist, pianist, and accordionist Caroline Bernard (also formerly of Les Girls) and multi-instrumentalist Rémi Arsenault have also performed on stages around the globe.

The members of Gadelle dance and play with joy, conviction, and ferocity. The sound is Acadian, the songs are in French, and the banter is bilingual. Their show is well rehearsed and ready to energize the crowd.

Gadelle presents two 45-minute sets, at 1:30 pm and 2:30 pm, Tuesday through Friday. Adult admission covers the full afternoon; students and children are admitted free.

Orwell Corner Hall—June 24

The Orwell Corner Historic Village board will host a fundraising ceilidh on June 24 from 7–9:15 pm in the Orwell Corner Hall.

There will be a 50/50 draw and a light lunch. Admission is by donation. The Hall is located at 98 MacPhail Park Road, Vernon.

(L–R): Ross siblings Danielle, Stephanie, and Johnny

(L–R): Louise Arsenault, Rémi Arsenault, Caroline Bernard, and Hélène Bergeron.

(L–R): Todd MacLean, Cynthia MacLeod, Courtney Hogan-Chandler, and Gordon Belsher

The Red Wing Black Birds (13), Billy MacInnis and Leon Gallant (20), and Tip Er Back (27).

(L–R): Eddy Quinn, John B. Webster, Keelin Wedge and Fiona MacCorquodale

Sundrift Sound Festival

Inaugural DJ event with Skratch Bastid and Pineo & Loeb

Canada Day celebrations in Charlottetown will continue beyond July 1, with Discover Charlottetown presenting the inaugural Sundrift Sound DJ Festival from July 2–4.

The multi-day festival will bring music to venues across the city, featuring rooftop sets, patio parties, and the Sunset Series along the waterfront.

Highlights for the Festival include performances by Skratch Bastid at Lobster on the Wharf and Pineo &

Loeb performing at Peake’s Quay.

Additional performances on the waterfront and at various downtown locations include DJ IV, Heads or Tails, Hype, DJ Novah, DJ Duff, Javier, DJ Jane Blaze, DJ Big S, Jada Kiss, DJ Dekz, Diego, DJ Wolfe, Good Neighbour, DJ Derek, DJ Purdy, DJ Method, DJ Douce, DJ Jérémie, DJ CeeDee, DJ Laey, Mandobros, and DJ Virraj For ticket details and the complete schedule visit sundriftfestival.com.

Maggie’s Wake

Two communities unite to expand community engagement

Maggie’s Wake, a contemporary folk band from Ontario and recipient of the 2025 Canadian Folk Music Award for Best New/Emerging Artist, is coming to Prince Edward Island through a collaboration between Souris Show Hall and St. Peters’ Courthouse Theatre. The July 3 program will feature an afternoon workshop at the Courthouse Theatre and an evening performance at Souris Show Hall.

With Maggie’s Wake, Souris and St. Peters are using different formats to expand community engagement with a unique act that would otherwise be out of reach.

“From Tradition to Creation” is a 75-minute creative workshop that bridges tradition and innovation by exploring how familiar melodies and songs can be reimagined through modern arrangements, fresh harmonies, and contemporary rhythmic ideas. Participants learn how to honour the essence of traditional tunes while shaping them into something new, dynamic and distinctly their own. Maggie’s Wake will also offer insight into their own creative process. That process creates their original compositions that

Cloggeroo Blues

Festival brings rare blues reunion at Kings Playhouse

A special blues reunion is coming to Prince Edward Island this summer as Cloggeroo welcomes an all-star lineup of East Coast blues legends to the stage at Kings Playhouse.

On August 14, audiences will witness the only PEI performance of Garrett Mason, Keith Hallett, Rhéo Rochon Jr., and Chuck Bucket performing together as a full band.

This performance marks a rare reunion of four musicians whose roots run deep through Canada’s blues scene. Long before becoming respected names in their own right, the group spent years crisscrossing the country in packed vans, hauling vintage gear into clubs and festivals while building reputations as relentless road warriors with a shared love for raw, authentic

blues music.

Audiences can expect an electrifying blend of gritty blues, psychedelic grooves, and rock ‘n’ roll energy that promises to be one of the standout moments of the festival weekend.

After years of carving out acclaimed careers of their own, the road has brought them back together—and Cloggeroo audiences will be among the few to experience it live.

Opening the evening is Halifaxbased multi-instrumentalist duo Mama’s Broke, bringing their signature haunting harmonies to the stage.

A welcome reception on the Playhouse deck featuring live piano by SoPA graduate Paulina Cooper will set the tone for an evening of live music. cloggeroo.com.

Dancing While the World Shifts

Charlottetown Rural Popular Music Performance Class

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remain faithful to influences of folk and classic country music combined with celtic instrumentation.

With a rich network of venues across the Island that cater to overlapping audiences, it makes sense for neighbouring communities to work closely together, whether joining up for performances or supporting each other with cross-communication of events.

St Peters and Souris hope this is the first of many collaborations between themselves and an expanding group of communities. Working together to host great entertainment for Islanders means audiences benefit, no matter where they live. Visit courthousetheatre.ca and sourisshowhall.com for tickets.

The Charlottetown Rural High School Popular Music Performance (PMP) Class of 2026 will present its final concert, Dancing While the World Shifts, on June 5 at 7 pm at the PEI Brewing Company in Charlottetown. The concert will transport audiences back to the neon-coloured 1980s, touching on the cultural and social issues of the era while drawing parallels to issues still being faced today.

Andrew Waite has taught the PMP course at Charlottetown Rural for the past three years and has inspired hundreds of students to pursue a high level of musicianship. In many ways, this performance serves as the course’s final exam, showcasing months of hard work and dedication by the students. Its goal is to demonstrate how talented young musicians come together to collaborate in the organization, rehearsal, and execution of a professional-level show.

Arts and culture in the 1980s were known for vibrant colours, political turmoil, and booming tech industries.

MTV had just launched in 1981, the Cold War was nearing its end, veterans were returning home to little support from the governments they fought for, and AIDS had become an uncontrollable epidemic. The world today still experiences some of the effects of the 1980s, and many current events continue to parallel those of the era. With MTV recently ending, countries still at war, and COVID-19 fresh in the rearview mirror, the current generation can relate in many ways to the generation of the 1980s.

The ability to play music as an academic course is a dream come true to many students at Charlottetown Rural, and they look forward to sharing their efforts with the PEI community. Sherwood Elementary’s school rock band will open the show with an eighties number of their own.

Doors open at 6:30 pm. Tickets will be available online and at the door on the night of the event, subject to seating and standing-room availability.

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Pineo & Loeb (left) and Skratch Bastid

(L–R): Keith Hallett, Chuck Bucket (drums), Rhéo Rochon Jr., and Garrett Mason

Music Arcade by Dennis Ellsworth

Brielle Ansems

Brielle Ansems was born in Hamilton, Ontario. She was ten years old when her parents decided they’d had enough of the break-ins and bicycle thefts and relocated their family to Montague, Prince Edward Island.

Her penchant for performance started in Ontario with school talent shows when she was only eight. After moving to the Island, her interest in music heightened. At 12, she learned to play the piano, and at 14 she picked up the guitar. At this time, she was gaining confidence and comfort in her performance skills and she found a thrilling and comfortable place on the stage at the Sturgeon Ceilidh. It was also around this time when she started writing her own songs and really finding her own voice.

Ansems has always had a love for lyrics and she’d relish in getting a new CD so she could follow along with the words of the songs she loved. Over time, she began refining her voice and her own lyrical style. She’d always enjoyed creative writing and this felt like a natural development for her artistic life.

Along the way, she had doubts. She’d started and dropped out of college and tried to find her path, often questioning if she should truly pursue a life in the arts. Her parents supported and encouraged her to follow her heart, so she did.

In 2017, she enrolled in the theatre program at Holland College’s School of Performing Arts. She dug in, honed her skills over the two-year program, and graduated in 2019.

Her first album, This New Hurricane, produced with Adam Gallant at The Hill Sound, was released in 2020. In 2021, for this album, she was awarded the Music PEI Pop Recording of the Year. Once again working with Adam, she made her sophomore album, Still Awake. It was released in 2022.

When Harmony House approached her about joining a team of performers to present a new wave of theatre-based music productions, she wasn’t sure what she was getting into. The effects Covid-19 had on the entertainment industry were still very much present and things were uncertain for most

performers, but she can now say with certainty that her life changed in extreme and positive ways. She has been a part of the Hunter River venue’s resurgence under the guidance of Mike Ross and Nicole Bellamy, and in it, she has found a supportive and creative community in abundance.

The success of the theatre has presented Brielle with a reliable and rewarding foundation for her creative life. It has been a place for real career growth and presented her with opportunities she may not have otherwise had. For Harmony House, Brielle conceptualized, wrote, and arranged her first show called The Soundtrack Songbook. This was a major growth moment for her.

The success of the show Inside American Pie has given Brille Ansems the chance to perform in major markets, with Mirvish Productions presenting the show in Toronto, and internationally with a run of performances in the United Kingdom.

In the off season from Harmony House, last year she worked with Catherine O’Brien’s theatre group, Young at Heart, a not-for-profit organization focused on giving seniors a space to work in musical theatre.

Ansems would love to return to the studio for a third album, but for now, she is focused on the upcoming summer series at Harmony House. This summer you can find her on stage in Inside the Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald, Ladies of the Canyon, Behind the Veil, and Inside American Pie

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Music at Trailside

Some music selections on offer in June

Halifax’s Ben Caplan is a singer, songwriter, and live performer known for his unmistakable baritone voice and emotionally immersive concerts. Blending folk, blues, gospel, and Eastern European influences, his music often feels less like a performance and more like a shared ritual—songs shaped by breath, silence, poetry, and raw emotion.

pounding the transatlantic tour trail. They brought their dark, fiery folk-without-borders sound to major festivals and DIY punk houses, absorbing traditions from their Maritime home in Eastern Canada all the way to Ireland and Indonesia. Nowhere is the duo’s art-in-motion approach more apparent than on their JUNOnominated sophomore record Narrow Line (2022).

the music of Louis Armstrong and New Orleans blues piano players like Dr John and Professor Longhair. After attending York University for jazz piano, Devin started hanging around Toronto’s Cameron House, where he was inspired by the local singer-songwriter scene. The Devin Cuddy Band’s latest release, Livin’ Hard Ain’t Easy, is a throwback to the sounds and vibes of their first record, Volume One. Ultimately it is a country record about Canada and for Canada.

The Soosh

June

The Soosh is a retro funk band from PEI, blending the timeless sounds of Prince, Whitney Houston, Stevie Wonder, James Brown, and more into a fresh, electrifying live experience. From smoothed-out disco vibes to funky, bass-driven jams, The Soosh is here to keep the spirit of funk alive, loud, and grooving.

J.P Cormier

June

Mama’s Broke spent over a decade in a near-constant state of transience,

Route 225 with Craig Fair

June 20 ›› 8 pm with Alyssa Harper

June 21 ›› 12:30 pm Devin Cuddy June

People still leave his shows confused, amazed and wondering what they just saw. Did they see a storyteller? A songwriter? Arguably one of the best guitar players in the business today? Someone who crosses the lines between different instruments like

PEI premier backup band Route 225 has backed standout artists including Amanda Jackson, Kelley Mooney, Lawrence Maxwell, Brooke MacArthur, Anica (Canada’s Got Talent), and Trinity Bradshaw. Their reputation for professionalism and excellence has secured them three consecutive years supporting performers at the Cavendish Beach Music Festival, plus a packed schedule of their own. With an expansive, genre-spanning repertoire, Route 225 specializes in “the best songs you may have forgotten.”

The Bug Club with The Boojums

June 24 ›› 8 pm

The Bug Club are Welsh duo Sam Willmett (guitar/vocals) and Tilly Harris (bass/vocals). Their fifth LP, Every Single Muscle, was released May 29 via Sub Pop Records. Known for uploading fuzzed-out live VHS tapes to Reddit and YouTube, The Boojums have built a reputation for their refreshingly raw and unfiltered sound—equal parts nostalgic and forward-looking. Recorded live off the floor, their debut album channels themes of small-town escape, personal reckoning, and full-throttle freedom.

Sheila Ann Smith

Eva Cassidy Tribute

June 25 ›› 8 pm

PEI singer and guitarist Sheila Ann Smith will pay tribute to Eva Cassidy, an American singer-songwriter who was known for her vocal ability. Eva’s renditions of songs like “Fields

The Bug Club (left) perform with The Boojums on June 24

Ben Caplan

Capital City Canada Day

Wintersleep and Ria Mae headline at Victoria Park

The City of Charlottetown has announced the entertainment lineup for its Capital City Canada Day celebrations, taking place at Victoria Park on July 1.

Canadian favourites Wintersleep and Ria Mae will co-headline the Canada Day Coastal Vibes Stage. Logan Richard will open for the main acts, with additional performances by Vishtèn, Diana Delirio, and The Soosh. DJ Gufaah will perform between sets throughout the day.

Hailing from Halifax, JUNO Awardwinning band Wintersleep has been shaping Canada’s indie rock landscape since 2001, earning acclaim for albums

such as Welcome to the Night Sky, Hello Hum, and The Great Detachment, and for immersive live performances defined by atmospheric soundscapes and introspective songwriting.

Ria Mae, a platinum-selling pop artist from Halifax, has built a national following with hits including “Clothes Off,” “Bend,” and “Ooh Love,” earning multiple JUNO, SOCAN, and ECMA Award nominations.

Capital City Canada Day is a free, family-friendly celebration that brings residents and visitors together each year for live entertainment, Family Fun Zone activities, food vendors, and more.

MacMaster Leahy Family

Two performances at Harbourfront Theatre

In the world of Canadian traditional music, Natalie MacMaster and Donnell Leahy are recognized for their platinum records and JUNO Awards. This August, the “First Family of Fiddle” will take the stage at Harbourfront Theatre alongside their seven children.

As part of the theatre’s 30th-anniversary celebrations, the MacMaster Leahy Family will present two performances on August 16 at 2 pm and 7:30 pm. This concert is a dynamic showcase of a musical dynasty in motion. While Natalie and Donnell provide the world-class virtuosity that made them household names, their children bring a fresh, high-energy fusion of piano,

guitar, accordion, and step-dancing to the stage.

The family’s evolution is is reflected in the work of their eldest, 19-year-old Mary Frances Leahy. Since releasing her debut solo album in 2024, she has toured as far as Australia, earned multiple Canadian Folk Music Award nominations, and recorded with legendary cellist Yo-Yo Ma.

The program includes traditional folk music, jazz-influenced vocals, step-dancing, and the pounding drum grooves that give this family their signature contemporary edge.

Visit harbourfronttheatre.com to purchase tickets.

DIVA: A Night of Annie Lennox

Craig Fair Productions at The Arts Guild—June 10 to 13

Craig Fair Productions will present DIVA: A Night of Annie Lennox at The Arts Guild in Charlottetown, June 10–13 at 8 pm.

Few voices have shaped modern music the way Annie Lennox has. From the groundbreaking anthems of Eurythmics to her soaring solo career, Lennox created a body of work that is bold, emotional, intimate, and iconic. DIVA is a concert experience that celebrates her extraordinary artistry, her unmistakable sound, and the fearless heart behind it all.

This powerful tribute brings Lennox’s legendary catalogue to life, featuring hits like “Why,” “No More I Love You’s,” “Wonderful,” “Little Bird,” and more.

“We believe the best tribute shows do more than recreate the music,” says producer Craig Fair. “They capture the depth of the music and lyrics the original artist intended.”

With stunning live vocals, a dynamic band, and a beautifully

crafted concert experience, DIVA invites audiences to rediscover the magic of one of pop music’s most influential voices.Celebrate the woman, the voice, and the legacy. Visit theguildpei.com for tickets.

Open Mic Night

Bonshaw Hall—June 19

Open Mic Night at Bonshaw Hall on June 19, hosted by Aaron Stevenson, and runs from 7–9:30 pm.

Musicians, comedians, poets, and storytellers are all invited to perform, with sign-up available at the door. Everyone is welcome, including seasoned performers and those stepping onto the stage for the first time or those who just want to listen.

Coffee and refreshments are available. Admission is at the door with a pay-what-you-can option.

Wintersleep (left) and Ria Mae

LIVE MUSIC

Albert & Crown Pub

Joey Doucette (June 4/11/18/15 @8 pm); Crystal Paynter & Wade Carragher (5 @7 pm); Blair Gaudet (12 @6 pm); June 20 Perry Batten & Cathy Jackman (20 @7 pm); Floyd Gaudet (26 @6 pm); Blake Crockett (27 @7 pm). 480 Main St, Alberton.

Baba’s Lounge

Fridays & Satudays (10 pm *unless noted) and Tuesdays & Thursdays (8 pm): Plain Dirty Blues (May 30 @5:30 pm); Caitlyn Alexis, Bridget Patterson, Ivan Garnica (June 2); Island Jazz (4/11/18/25); Javier & Diego (5); TBA (6); Vinyl Night w/ Rylee (9); The OBGMs, Firing Squad (12 @7 pm); TBA (12); Out From Under (13 @7 pm); Glitter Pigs (13); Kendra Lyttle, Caitlyn Alexis, Nico Romero (16); Scalawag, D-ROK, Dale Mannette (19); Holy Crow, Bandit Queen of Sorrow, The Devil’s Punchbowl, Punch Bueller (20); Vinyl Night (23); Lizleo Album Release with Lizleo, k3voh, Lane, Adjust the Facts (25); Sam O, Kendra Lyttle, Henry Ervetta CD release with My Cat Lewis (26); Plain Dirty Blues (27 @5:30 pm); Pantera Tribute (27); TBA (30). Open Mic on Wednesdays (9 pm) with Ivan Stewart. 181 Great George St, Charlottetown.

Bogside Brewing Montague

Fridays & Saturdays (6–9 pm): Billy White (May 30);John Allaire (June 5); Nathan Carragher (6); Brothers MacPhee (12); Taylor Johnson (13); Adam MacGregor (19); Ethan MacPhee (20); Rodney Perry (26); Taylor Johnson (27); Bogside Birthday Bash with Guns N’ Roses Tribute Band, Nice Boys (30). 11 Brook St, Montague.

Bogside Brewing Summerside

Fridays & Saturdays (6–9 pm): Alyssa Harper (May 30); Nick Hann (June 5); Floyd Gaudet (6); Ryan Merry (12); Ethan MacPhee (13); Barry O’Brien (19); Karen and Mike (20); Alyssa Harper (26); Brother MacPhee (27). 110 Water St, Summerside.

Brothers 2

Thursdays (7–9 pm) & Fridays (7–10 pm): Marc Coughlin (June 4); Nick Hann (5); Todd Gallant (11); Crystal Paynter (12); Danny Drouin (18); Madjoy (19); Ryan Merry (25); Lawrence Maxwell (26). 618 Water St, Summerside.

Charlottetown Beer Garden

Kim Albert Trio on (June 19 @6 pm) and DJ Fernando & DJ Laey (20 @6:30). Then daily (6–10 pm *unless noted): Adam MacGregor & The Foes (27 @5 pm); Jon & Liam (28); Chris Ahern Duo (29); Brad & Isaac (30). Late Night DJs on Saturdays: DJ Douce (May 30); DJ Purdy (June 6); DJ Duff (13); DJ Jeremie (20); DJ Method (27). 185 Kent St, Charlottetown.

Charlottetown Legion

Saturdays (9:30 pm–12:30 am): Kim Albert and Faces (May 30); The Rustlers (June 6); Neon Country (13); Gypsy Soul (20); Kim Albert and Faces (27). 99 Pownal St, Charlottetown.

Copper Bottom Brewing

Saturdays (6–9 pm): Lisa Birt (May 30); Nick Doneff (June 6); Dan Doiron (13); Billy White (20); Carter MacLellan (27).

Sunday Hootenanny W/ The Blizzard Goat Band on Sundays (3–5 pm). 567 Main St, Montague.

Evermoore Brewing

Tuesdays (6–8 pm)(*unless noted): Nick Doneff (June 2); John Alaire (8 *Mon); Blu Robin Music (9); Mallory Chipman (16). Irish Trad Session with Geoff Charlton on Saturdays (1:30–4 pm). 192 Water St, Summerside.

The Factory

DJs on Fridays and Saturdays (11 pm): DJ Method (May 30); DJ Purdy (June 5); DJ Douce (6/19/26/27); SendSzn (12); Derek (12 *lower level); DJ Method (13/20). 189 Kent St, Charlottetown.

FiN Folk Food

Nathan Carragher (June 1 @5:30 pm); Olivia Blaquiere (5 @12:30 pm); Shane Pendergast (8 @5:30 pm); Nathan Carragher (12 @12:30 pm); Nathan Carragher (15 @6 pm); Mat Hannah (19 @2 pm); Lawrence Maxwell (22 @6 pm); Nathan Carragher (26 @2 pm); Mat Hannah (29 @6 pm). 106 Beach Rd, Grand Tracadie.

Founders’ Food Hall & Market

Dave Woodside (June 6 @5 pm); Livia Duncombe (13 @5 pm). Summer Kickoff Night Market on June 20 W/ MacArthur (@3 pm), Livia Duncombe & Band (@5 pm), and The Wannabeez (@7 pm). 6 Prince St, Charlottetown.

Gahan House

Fridays (9–11 pm). 126 Sydney St, Charlottetown.

Hunter’s Ale House

Thursdays, Fridays & Saturdays (11 pm): Nice Boys, The Heartfakers (May 30); Mat & Adam (June 4); The Jailbirds & Masters of Reality! (5); Carter MacLellan (6); Adam & Liam (11); Griff & Don (12); Brad & Isaac (13); Carter MacLellan (18); Mat & Ryan (19); Gin N Tonic (20); Jon & Liam (25); Brad & Isaac (26); Laura & Don (27). Open Mic on Mondays (10 pm) with Travis. 185 Kent St, Charlottetown.

John Brown Grille

Saturdays (2–5 pm). 132 Richmond St, Charlottetown.

Lone Oak Cavendish

Dave Woodside (June 20 @7 pm); Taylor Buote & Dennis Dunn (25 @6 pm); Nathan Carragher (27 @7 pm). Avonlea Village, 8779 Rte 6, Cavendish.

Lone Oak Brew Pub

Saturdays (6–8 pm) on the patio: Moh and Me (June 6); TBA (13/20); Jon Matthews (27). 15 Milky Way, Charlottetown.

Lone Oak Brewing Co

Saturdays (1–3 pm): Gordon Butler (June 6); Jordan Cameron (13); Mat Hannah (20); Jodi & Parker Cameron (27). 103 Abegweit Blvd, Borden-Carleton.

Next Door @ The Merchantman

Thursdays (2–5 pm), Fridays (2–4 pm/6–8 pm) & Saturdays (2–4 pm/6–8 pm): Mike Stratton (June 4); Curtis Reginald/Jodi & Parker Cameron (5); Adam MacGregor/ Ashley Gorman (6); Brian Dunn (11); Moh and Me/Rodney Perry (12); Margarita Wayne/Mike Stratton (13); Brothers MacPhee (18); Curtis Reginald/ Rodney Perry (19); Mike Stratton\ Margarita Wayne (20); Mike Stratton (25); Moh and Me/Brothers MacPhee (26); Mat Hannah/Fraser McCallum (27). 23 Queen St, Charlottetown.

Olde Dublin Pub

Wannabeez (May 30 @10 pm); Carter MacLellan (June 4 @7 pm); Stratton and Kays (5 @7 pm); Ethan MacPhee (6 @6 pm); Gypsy Soul (6 @10 pm); Richie & Trevor (10/17/24 @7 pm); Brad Milligan (12 @8 pm); Ultimate Friday DJ’s (12/26 @11 pm); Gordon Belsher & Allison Giggey (14/28 @7 pm); Cole Brioux (15 @7 pm); Carter MacLellan (16/23/30 @7 pm); Vintage 2.0 (18/25 @7:30 pm); Reed McGregor (19 @7 pm); Brad Milligan (19 @11 pm); Salty Dogs (20 @10 pm); Gordon Belsher & Courtney Hogan Chandler (21 @7 pm); Dan Doiron (27 @6 pm); Roundabout (27 @10 pm); Gordon Butler (29 @7 pm). 132 Sydney St, Charlottetown.

Peake’s Quay

Fridays & Saturdays (7–10 pm): Brad Milligan & guest (June 5); Brothers MacPhee (6/19); We 3 (12/26); Acoustic Brothers (13); Kim Albert (19); TBA (20/27). 11 Great George St, Charlottetown.

PEI Brewing Company

Acoustic Fridays (4–7 pm): Fraser McCallum (June 2); Gordon Butler (9); Brothers MacPhee (16); Ethan MacPhee (23); Margarita Wayne (30). 96 Kensington Rd, Charlottetown.

RCAF Wing Summerside

Fridays (7 pm) & Saturdays (9 pm): Dave Doyle Band (May 30); Cathy & Perry (June 5); Dunk River (6); Marc Coughlin & Jim Williams(12); Nightshift (13); The Treble Makers (19); Roundabout (20); TBA (26); Dave Doyle & Friends (27). 329 North Market St, Summerside.

Red’s Gold Cup Lounge

Fridays & Saturdays (10 pm–1 am): Dan Doiron (May 30); Richie Bulger Duo

(June 5); Breakwater Acoustic (6); Billy White (12); Mike & Karen Penton (13); Wayne Gallant (19); Steve Zaat (20); Nathan Carragher (26); Mat Hannah (27). Red Shores, 21 Exhibition Dr, Charlottetown.

Slaymaker & Nichols

Nick Gauthier on Fridays & Sundays (2–5 pm). 82 Fitzroy St, Charlottetown.

Summerside Legion

Johnny G and the Legionnaires on Fridays (8 pm). Back in Tyme on June 6, 13, & 20 (1:30–5 pm). Open Mic on Thursdays (7:30–11 pm) with Adam Basset. 340 Notre Dame St, Summerside.

Tekila

Fridays & Saturdays (6–9 pm). 165 Prince St, Charlottetown.

The Whiskey Pub and Kitchen

Brian Dunn (June 5 @5 pm); Carter MacLellan (12 @5 pm). 25 Hopeton Rd, Stratford.

SALES

Tyne Valley Friday Night Market

A Friday night open-air market will take place at Brittania Hall (816 Canada Rd) in Tyne Valley from 4–7 pm, beginning June 5 and running weekly until October. The market features local produce and crafts. All are welcome. Contact tynevalleycoop@gmail.com for more info or follow on FB.

Church Mouse Thrift Shop

The Church Mouse Thrift Shop at St. John’s Anglican Church is open from 9 am–2 pm on Saturdays through November. The sale includes gently-used, quality items such as clothing, footwear, housewares, bedding, small furniture, collectables, and more. 391 Nelson St, Crapaud.

St Peter’s Mega Yard Sale

St. Peter’s Cathedral will hold a mega yard sale at the corner of All Souls’ Lane and Rochford Square in Charlottetown on June 13 from 9 am–2 pm. The sale will include a special boutique of clothing and accessories, in addition to tables of items from A to Z at reasonable prices.

New Glasgow Christian Church Yard Sale

The New Glasgow Christian Women’s Fellowship is hosting a yard sale at New Glasgow Christian Church, 617 Rte 258, on June 13 from 9 am–12 noon. Proceeds will go toward missions.

Tracadie Community Yard Sale

The annual Tracadie community yard sale runs from July 11–12. Items range from collectibles, houseware, sports equipment, toys, and more. A portion of the proceeds will go toward helping the Island Peace Committee’s education and advocacy work. Info: 902-330-2248

Collector Frenzy Market

JBS Pickers presents the Collector Frenzy Market at the Cornwall Curling Club in

the Cornwall Civic Centre on June 27 from 9 am–3 pm. The market includes sports cards, Pokémon and other TCG, vintage toys, comics, LEGO, Nintendo game systems, DVDs, VHS, collectible Hot Wheels, and more. Meet others who share a passion for collectibles, chat with vendors, and discover new treasures. There will be free Hot Wheels for kids and face painting from 11 am–1 pm. There is an admission fee at the door with a portion of the proceeds going to Blooming House. Admission is free for children under 12. Follow @collectorfrenzymarket on FB for updates.

East Village Vintage Market

The East Village Vintage Market is a new community market in Murray Harbour. It is open monthly from 10 am–2 pm on the last Saturday of each month: June 27, July 25, and August 29. The market was created from a desire to showcase the region’s carefully curated vintage sellers, support businesses focused on sustainable living, and offer a thoughtful shopping experience. It is held at the historic 10 Mariners Lane heritage building in Murray Harbour. Shoppers can expect to find vintage clothing, home décor, collectibles, furniture, and one-of-a-kind treasures, while learning more about the value, care, and enjoyment of vintage pieces. Admission is free, and guests are encouraged to bring a reusable shopping bag. Follow @eastvillagevintagemarket on IG for updates.

Gifts from the Heart

The Gifts from the Heart public thrift sale takes place on the last Saturday of each month from 10 am–3 pm at 10 Maple Hills Ave in Charlottetown. The next sale is June 27. Proceeds go toward operating costs. Info: giftsfromtheheart.com

Summerside Library Book Sale

The Friends of the Summerside Library are holding a book sale on July 18 from 10 am–1 pm. The sale will feature thousands of fiction and non-fiction books, and more. Proceeds will go to family programs and equipment purchases. Donations of gently-used books, puzzles, DVDs, and more are appreciated. Check with library staff about donation drop off. Info: 902-436-7323

ISSUE# 390 • JUNE 2026

buzzpei.com @buzzpei

Editor: Yanik Richards

Editor: Michelle Ollerhead Website: Nakeesa Aghdasy

Partners: Maggie Lillo (Ruby Square Graphic Design), Carly Martin (Hawthorne House Media)

Contributors: Julie Bull, Teresa Doyle, Dennis Ellsworth, John MacKenzie, Takako Morita, Tara Reeves, JoDee Samuelson, Gary Schneider, Bren Simmers, Ashleigh Tremere

Office: 160 Richmond Street, Charlottetown

Mail: P.O. Box 1945, Charlottetown, PE C1A7N5

Phone: 902-628-1958

E-mail: info@buzzpei.com

Website: buzzpei.com

Social Media: @buzzpei

The Buzz is published monthly by Little Kit Bag Inc.

The opinions expressed in this publication are not necessarily those of the publisher or staff. Compensation for errors in advertising copy which are the proven responsibility of the publisher is limited to a maximum of the cost of the placement of the advertisement.

Little Kit Bag Inc., operating as The Buzz, acknowledges that we are located on and operate on Mi’kma’ki, the traditional unceded territory of the Mi’kmaq people who have lived here for many thousands of years, and who continue to live here.

Cover:

Emerging, ink and acrylic on canvas, 24”x24” by Teresa Doyle

Teresa Doyle is a vocal explorer and visual artist. She has a passion for pushing the boundaries of her voice and in recent years has taken her love of vocal improvisation and applied it to abstract art.

Doyle has had a life-long passion for painting. She created the artwork for a number of her album covers, was invited to show her watercolours in Kyoto, Japan, and was represented for a time by Pilar Shepard’s Gallery in Charlottetown. She’s been part of group exhibits at The Arts Guild and Confederation Centre of the Arts. She works in acrylic, ink, pastel, collage and watercolour.

Teresa is teaming up with Haley Lewis for a summer long exhibition at Gallery Cafe on Great George Street in Charlottetown—opening on June 4.

Boats