December 2021
NOW - DEC www.charlottetownchristmasfestival.com19FEATURING• PEAKE’S WHARF CHRISTMAS VILLAGE | NOW - DEC 19 • HORSE AND WAGON RIDES | NOW - DEC 19 • LIVE @ THE CENTRE CHRISTMAS PROGRAMMING | DEC 4 - 19 • HOLIDAY PROJECTION ON THE PLAZA | NOW - JAN 9 • WHOVILLE & MORE!
Jenni Zelin
NOW!
Featuring brilliant hit songs of the era performed by co-creator Krystle Dos Santos how the actions of civil rights trailblazer Viola Desmond played continues
, discover
a huge role in a movement that
today. TICKETS: 1 800 565 0278 or confederationcentre.com
Page 2 The BUZZ May 2022 Between December 1 – 24, get an additional $10 for every $50 you spend on gift cards. To purchase, drop by the box office in-person or call 1 800 565 0278 GIVE THE GIFT OF THE ARTS BUY $50 – GET $60 BUY $100 – GET $120 HOLIDAY GIFT CARD SALE She’s back! P.E.I.’s most iconic redhead returns to The Charlottetown Festival in this classic family musical.
Co-written by, and starring music icon Alan Doyle, this new musical comedy is as relatable as it is ridiculous, hilarious as it is heartfelt, and full of East Coast pride.
as
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Created and performed by Island singer-songwriter Ashley Condon, quirky coming-of-age story takes through the perils of tough lobster lady raising a saucy teenager in 1990s Murray Harbour North.
The BUZZ May 2022 Page 3 TURFS BAR & GRILL OPEN FOR LUNCH | TUESDAY - SATURDAY 11:30AM - 1:30PM | $10 DAILY SPECIALS A THREE COURSE DINING EXPERIENCE FEATURING ISLANDER WINTER COMFORT FAVOURITES. ALSO FEATURING $5 GLASSES OF HOUSE WINE. EARLY BIRD SPECIAL • REWARDS CLUB MEMBERS WHO BOOK BETWEEN 4:45-5:45PM SAVE 10%! RESERVATIONS: 902.620.4264 VISIT US ONLINE: redshores.ca PRESENT! PLAY WITH YOUR REWARDS CLUB CARD, EARN BALLOTS, AND PICK A PRESENT FOR A CHANCE TO WIN! OVER $10,000 IN PRIZES TO BE WON! NOV.19TH - DEC.18TH • FULL DETAILS AT REDSHORES.CA Know Your Limit. Play Within It.
After four years of playing by her own rules, Sara published her first book, She Rules: What you didn’t know is holding you back in business in November 2021.
“As a middle-aged cis white woman, I recognize and acknowledge the many privileges I have [and my kid reminds me when I forget]. I endeavor to widen the path that I walk so that others face less barriers and challenges, and they can jump on the path as they want to.”
Sara has spent her life working in social justice, specifically in women’s organizations, movements, and circles. Her keen awareness and understand ing of the ways in which systemic oppression inhibits some people in our communities from achieving equal ity drives Sara to work with, and for, women. As a feminist, she has worked tirelessly within the system to disman tle the systems of oppression. After 15 years in the not-for profit sector, Sara was ready for a change.
Pro le: Sara Roach Lewis by
Without knowing exactly what her business would be, Sara did what she does best: she started to strategize and play by her own rules.
“All you really need to do is create a space where people feel safe and
We will all remember 2020 as a pan demic year, but it was also a year of social unrest and an uprising of move ments bringing awareness to many social injustices.
Sara Roach Lewis doesn’t like to play by other peoples’ rules, and she has cultivated a life and a business to help other women build businesses that t their life, rather than trying to t their life into their business/work.
“My first year in business was a crisis of confidence as I stumbled my way through to knowing exactly what I have to offer and how I want to create my life for myself. It took some time to see how many transferable skills came with me from my previous experiences and how they could shape my business in a way that suited me best.”
“I’ve done this by living what I teach my clients: You create a profitable, sustainable, successful business by focusing on creating you [the business owner] with care.”
Bull
By her own rules
“I was burnt out and I was maxed out from my time in the not-for-profit sector, and I knew it was time for a change. But what would my next job
“I knew I wanted to write a book ever since I was a kid and read Anne of Green Gables,” she says. “Though I had no idea my first book would be a business book. And who knows what my next book may be!”
“After so many years in leadership, I knew I was too unmanageable to work for someone else and to follow some one else’s rules.
Her background in adult education and facilitation proved instrumental as she created a name for herself as a business strategist. She works with women entrepreneurs across the coun try by supporting them in creating the life and business they want to have.
Page 4 The BUZZ May 2022
believe in the power of women sup porting other women.”
“I was observing so many people around me experiencing pandemic fatigue and I noticed that I was seem ing to be coping alright. It wasn’t that I didn’t also feel the effects of the pan demic; it was that I was well-versed in knowing how to bounce back more quickly from being knocked down.” Sara talked about how she lives with chronic illness and how she has still managed to double her revenues every year since she’s been in business.
“Business moves at the speed of rela tionships,” she says, and that includes the relationship we have with our selves. A delighted Sara talked through several parts of her book that she is proud of, and she draws attention specifically to the importance of “rede fining self-care as an essential business practice.” Sara has a gift of bringing practical tips, personal stories (com plete with the mistakes and missteps along the way), and powerful tools together in one place.
In just four short years, Sara has built a business that fits her life, and she gets to play by her own rules.
be? Government? Another NGO? I ended up doing a short stint with a startup and that’s when I realized I wanted to start my own business.”
Now in her fourth year of business, she shares her insights and wisdom about how she grew her business while having a chronic illness.
“I know what it’s like to play hurt and as a business strategist, I am sharing what has worked for me so that other women entrepreneurs can play to their strengths as well.”
HARDINGMELISSA Julie
Starting in July, Munschables will bring the silly world of children’s author Robert Munsch to life. Starring members of the cast of Anne, the show will include stories from books like Mud Puddle, Smelly Socks, and Murmel, Murmel, Murmel
Charlottetown Festival
There will be three shows playing in the Outdoor Amphitheatre.
Canada and a revered songwriter for his solo material and the band, Great Big Sea, Doyle is not only co-writing the musical but will also be starring in the lead role.
Tell Tale Harbour will be performed in repertory with Anne of Green Gables— The Musical™, which will return to the Mainstage for the first time since 2019.
OGGHEATHER
The 2022 Charlottetown Festival lineup at Confederation Centre of the Arts in Charlottetown will feature stories of resilience, community, and strength, including the world premiere of the new Canadian musical comedy Tell Tale Harbour and the return of Anne of Green Gables—The Musical™. The 2022 Festival includes seven productions across the Centre’s three venues and features stories and songs from Atlantic Canada.
The Xclusive Dance Crew will also return with their new show Island Vibe, which explores hip-hop, Afro- jazz, contemporary movement, as well as breakdancing and tap. Island Vibe was written and choreographed by Dawn Ward and Joe Dames in association with Xclusiv confederationcentre.comCrew.
“This Festival will be a celebration of our region, and the people who help to define what it means to be from Atlantic Canada,” explains Adam Brazier, Artistic Director of Performing Arts at the Centre. “There is a common thread of East Coast resilience and community woven throughout every show this summer.”
The BUZZ May 2022 Page 5
The musical is based on the screenplay The Grand Seduction (2013) by Ken Scott. When Brazier began drafting the musical adaptation, he sought out a collaborator who could encapsulate Atlantic Canadian storytelling through song, which led him to co-writer Alan Doyle. A Member of the Order of
Opening in early July will be Betty’s Song, a new play written and per formed by Island singer-songwriter Ashley Condon. The show is based on the true story of her mother, who was one of the first women to captain her own lobster boat in Eastern PEI. The coming-of-age story takes you through the perils of raising a saucy teenager in 1990s rural PEI.
The Mi’kmaq Heritage Actors will return for an exclusive three-week engagement of their new show Epekwitnewaq Mi’kmaq Voices, created and performed by the Mi’kmaq Heritage Actors.
Tell Tale Harbour will kick off the Festival in June. The musical tells the story of a struggling Atlantic fishing village. The community is looking for a miracle when an opportunity arises to bring a frozen french fry facility to town. Realizing this might be their last chance to save their beloved commu nity, the townspeople come together to secure the factory. The musical comedy celebrates the people, the trials, and the triumphs of living in a small com munity in Atlantic Canada.
in 1946. Created by Krystle Dos Santos and Tracey Power, the personal and powerful show features the dynamic and inspirational music that filled the life and home of the civil rights trailblazer, including hits like “Dream a Little Dream of Me,” “Smile,” and “A Change is Gonna Come.”
Tell Tale Harbour world premiere to headline 2022 season Confederation Centre of the Arts
The production’s music and lyrics are co-written by Doyle and Bob Foster, Music Director of Come From Away (Mirvish). The book of the musical is co-written by Doyle alongside Brazier and writer Ed Riche. The produc tion will be directed by Jillian Keiley, Artistic Director of the National Arts Centre English Theatre in Ottawa, ON, with choreography by Linda Garneau.
Playing in August at The Mack will be Hey Viola!, a cabaret-style show about Viola Desmond, a Black Nova Scotian businesswoman who chal lenged racial segregation at a cinema
“I am so excited to be a part of this project, and to be taking my first steps into musical theatre as a creator and performer. The whole deal is both invigorating and terrifying, as all good art should be,” says Doyle.
VESSEYLOUISE
Anne of Green Gables
recognized in the Guinness Book of World Records as the world’s lon gest-running annual musical. The Centre was unable to produce the show in 2020 and 2021 due to pandem ic-related challenges.
Musical will return for The 2022 Charlottetown Festival
Confederation Centre of the Arts
All events, shows and gatherings have been published The Buzz under the assumption that venues and organizers will be following protocols put in place by the Chief Public Health Office and adapting to new protocols as they come. Check with venues and organizers for protocols and requirements for access.
COVID-19
Anne of Green Gables--The Musical™ will start previews June 18, with opening night slated for June 25. The production will run until September 3. Announcements about casting will be made in the coming confederationcentre.commonths.
Page 6 The BUZZ May 2022
Anne of Green Gables--The Musical™ will be one of two mainstage produc tions (along with Tell Tale Harbour) in The 2022 Charlottetown Festival. The production ran annually since the Festival’s launch in 1965 and is
“We are so excited to welcome the Island’s most beloved orphan back to the stage next season,” says Adam Brazier, Artistic Director of Performing Arts. “The 2022 Festival will focus on stories from our region; stories that speak to east coast culture, resilience, and determination. No one epitomizes that more than Anne of Green Gables.”
The cast of Anne of Green Gables—The Musical™ (2018)
PEI’s famous redhead will return to the Confederation Centre of the Arts in June, marking the rst time the show will be staged since 2019.
For schedule, ticket and accom modation info, visit peibluegrass.ca or contact Shirley S. Jay at 566-2641 or smedleyjay@icloud.com. Watch local media for updates.
and Old Time
Society present new festival Deck the Halls Festival November 26th - December www.foundersfoodhall.com20th 6 Prince Street Charlottetown, PE - Culinary Tasting Experiences - Holiday Music - Tunes & Tales Storytime - Santa Pet Visits - Artisan Pop-Up Market - Vendor Specials & More! In partnerships with: .
“Seth Mulder and Midnight Run are making a name for themselves with a traditional approach to blue grass which has attracted a loyal following. They were the winners of the International Bluegrass Music Association [IBMA] 2020 Momentum Band of the Year.”
“We are honoured to bring world class bluegrass to PEI for what we hope will be an annual winter festival attracting audiences from the Maritimes, Canada and the US,” says Shirley Jay, President of PBOTMS.
Festival Coordinators Serge Bernard and Janet McGarry are in the process of confirming the lineup for the main stageBernardconcerts.says, “To have The Seldom
Maritime groups booked to date include Ray Legere and Acoustic Horizon (NB), Bluegrass Tradition (NS), Highway Train featuring Shane Douthwright (NB), and Janet McGarry and Wildwood (PEI).
The Seldom Scene (above) and Seth Mulder and Midnight Run (below) will headline Charlottetown’s new winter bluegrass festival.
The Delta will host the main stage for the festival, as well as partner with the event to offer accommodation packages, jamming rooms, and food and beverage options for participants.
The PEI Bluegrass and Old Time Music Society (PBOTMS) has announced the launch of the Prince Edward Island Winter Bluegrass Festival, a new bluegrass music festival to take place at The Delta in Charlottetown January 21 to 22.
Headlining the festival will be the internationally acclaimed band The Seldom Scene along with Seth Mulder and Midnight Run. Maritime and Island groups will also be featured to round out the pro gram of this major, inaugural event.
Winter bluegrass
Scene and Seth Mulder perform in PEI is exciting. Legendary in the blue grass world, The Seldom Scene have performed extensively and, over 50 years, have been comprised of the top musicians in the genre. Their accolades include numerous awards in various bluegrass and cross-over genres, and a Grammy nomination. They have 20 albums to their credit, Changes being their latest release.
“We are also contacting some of our best Maritime groups to fill the three days with music,” says McGarry. “This festival, in true bluegrass style, will offer afternoon and evening concerts, jams and after-hours events.”
The Seldom Scene were formed in 1971 in Bethesda, Maryland and throughout their 50-year career have been leaders of the progressive blue grass movement. The current version of the band includes Lou Reid (man dolin, vocals), Fred Travers (dobro), Dudley Connell (guitar, vocals), Ron Stewart (banjo, fiddle) and Ronnie Simpkins (bass). Ben Eldridge’s son, Chris, guitarist with the Punch Brothers, also frequently performs with the Hailinggroup. from Tennessee, Seth Mulder and Midnight Run began their journey in 2015 at the Ole Smoky Moonshine Distillery in Gatlinburg. Four like-minded musicians created a band tied to the rich traditions of bluegrass music, yet one that offers a fresh approach to that “high lonesome” sound. They are Seth Mulder (man dolin, vocals), Colton Powers (banjo, vocals), Ben Watlington (guitar, vocals), and Max Etling (bass, vocals). In 2020 they completed a new studio album, Traveling Kind, on their own label and won their first IBMA award.
From Sackville, New Brunswick, Ray Legereis a bluegrass fiddler, mandolinist, guitarist and band leader. He has been inducted into the New Brunswick Country Music Hall of Fame and the Nova Scotia Country Music Hall of Fame. He has played and recorded with some of the best known musicians performing the blue grass and fiddle repertoire in both the US and Canada.
PEI Bluegrass Music
Tuesdays & Sundays
Review by Sean McQuaid
November 18
Like the 2020 run, this 2021 revival features Kitbag’s three founders in key roles: Melissa MacKenzie and Jacob Hemphill starring as Mary and William (and doubling as various other characters as needed), with Rebecca Parent serving as the show’s director.
A small, dark gem
All three are impressive individually but even more impressive collectively, because this play more than most demands collaborative chemistry, focus and unity; with its seemingly endless flow of intercut, overlapping, frag mentary dialogue and its wide array of emotional, spatial and tonal shifts, there’s no room for error in terms of knowing their script and being in synch with each other, and the trio pulls it off by creating and sustaining an organically dreamlike, ultimately nightmarish vision.
Lennie Gallant: The Innkeeper’s Christmas...December 5 Dufflebag Theatre: Robin Hood.....................December 29 Laila Biali...................................................February 12 Red Sky Performance: Trace ........................March 9 Nikki & JD present Knot ..............................March 19 Raine Hamilton..........................................March 31 Classic Albums Live: Led Zeppelin II ............April 10 We continue to follow guidelines as advised by Public Health. SUMMERSIDE harbourfront | PRINCE EDWARD Tollharbourfronttheatre.comISLANDLocal(902)888-2500Free(800)708-6505 DEC5 HARBOURFRONT IS 29DEC Gift vouchers availableGift vouchers available
Our Town, or a dark, dis torted funhouse mirror version of It’s a Wonderful Life. Like the latter’s George Bailey, this play’s version of William Millman is an ambitious young man with dreams of escaping his sleepy little town, dreams derailed in part by falling for a younger local girl who adores him; but where George resigns himself to being stuck in Bedford Falls and ultimately thrives there, the weak, selfish William rages against his fate with disastrous results.
That stellar core creative team is enhanced by expert support, includ ing producer/stage manager Beth Elliot (who also shares set and lighting design credits with Pat Caron), plus costumes by Shawnte Burrell, sound design by Ryan Doucette, and music by Brielle Ansems. All of the above do fine work here, with particular kudos for the eerily minimalist set (more echoes of Our Town) and the evocative light and sound, with Doucette and Ansems doing a lot via the latter to build the claustrophobic sense of dread that permeates the show.
Amazingly, it took 20 years for this PEI-based play to be produced on Prince Edward Island. New local company Kitbag Theatre mounted the show in 2020 at the Watermark, where it had a brief but successful run despite the pandemic, and they’re now reviv ing it for a 2021 Maritime tour includ ing several dates at the Mack.
One of Kitbag Theatre’s stated goals has been presenting professional theatre year-round in PEI–and by staging such a lustrously polished version of this compact, complex gem well out side PEI’s peak theatre season, they’ve succeeded admirably.
Page 8 The BUZZ May 2022
Co-written by DualMinds duo Daniel Arnold and Medina Hahn in 2000 when they were University of Alberta theatre students, Tuesdays & Sundays was their first play. After its Edmonton debut, it went on to win awards and tour around the world, adapted for radio on CBC and the BBC, and optioned as a film.
The Mack, Charlottetown
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jumble of memories that charms us with idyllic small-town life until it shocks us with brutality and death
Tuesdays & Sundays is a theatrical sucker punch to the gut; a swift, sharp jab that knocks the wind out of you. A dense one-act play running just over fty minutes, it ies by so fast that it feels even shorter, but packs in so much humour, heart and horror that you don’t feel shortchanged.
Inspired by teenage lovers William Millman and Mary Tuplin, whose real-life romance in Margate, Prince Edward Island ended tragically in 1887, the play finds the disoriented spirits of William and Mary in a limbo realm reliving their doomed love story in a fragmentary, Wilder’sIt’sbrutalitysmall-townmemoriesstream-of-consciousnessdisjointed,jumbleofthatcharmsuswithidylliclifeuntilitshocksuswithanddeath.likealosteviltwinofThornton
The 2022 Guild Summer Festival will include a Mainstage Series, the East Coast Celebration Series, and The Guild Music Theatre School Summer Series. The Mainstage Series will feature Steel Magnolias, Dance Mix ‘95—On Stage, The Two Horsewomen, and the return of Tapestry: A Tribute to Carole King.
Party like it’s 1995. Dance Mix ‘95— On Stage will open July 2 and run to August 6. An original Guild pro duction, Dance Mix ‘95 celebrates the compilation albums that shaped an era, and the Hot 100 hits and artists of the decade. Directed by Geordie Brown with choreography by Brittany Banks, the show will star A’mar WhartonMatthew, Aryelle Morrison, Bri Roque, Joel Cumber, Lucas Popowich, Phoebe Rex and Stephane Hood.
Directed by Kate Lynch and starring Judy Marshak and Robin Craig, The Two Horsewomen by Robin Craig will stage its world premiere September 16. Two veteran theatre actors come to grips with the state of their careers as they share a dressing room—and the most challenging role of their lives. Laugh out loud as they put one hoof in front of the other, and gallop toward friendship and vindication.
Kate Lynch is a film, television and
stage actress, drama teacher, theatre director and playwright. Her exten sive film and television credits include her Genie-winning performance in Meatballs. She has directed plays for the Shaw Festival, the Blyth Festival and Theatre Passe Muraille.
The Guild’s hit production Tapestry: A Tribute to Carole King returns, opening July 29 and running to September 3. Tapestry celebrates the record-shatter ing album of a generation, Tapestry. “I Feel The Earth Move” and “Natural Woman” are just two of the record’s timeless tracks. Starring newcomer Rebekah Brown, alongside return ing cast members Brieonna Locche, Geordie Brown and Stephane Hood.
On June 21, the East Coast Celebration Series will feature Silver Wolf Band, Music Newfoundland and Labrador’s Rock Artist of the year (2018), First Light Indigenous Artist/Group of the year (2019), and Indigenous Artist of the year (2020, 2021). The show is part of The Guild’s National Indigenous People’s Day celebration and is free to attend. The Series will also feature: Keonté Beals, 2021 ECMA R&B/Soul Recording of the Year (“King”), July 31; Heather Rankin, August 13–14; and Joel Plaskett, August 20–21.
theguildpei.com
2022 Summer Festival The Theatre,Guildmusical theatre and music in the line-up Buon Appetito! *Only at Piatto in Charlottetown. Additional cost will apply for any substitutions or modi cations, or additions. Fixed price for Sundays from 5 pm to close. Cost is plus tax and gratuity. +Gluten Friendly dessert option. TOFROMAVAILABLE5PMCLOSE We’ve planned the perfect night out for you! Relax and enjoy a Sunday date night at Piatto with this exclusive special*: Start with our Classic Tomato Bruschetta Order any two 9” wood-fired pizzas Order any two side salads or share a Torta al Cioccolato Italiana+ for dessert $3499 Sunday Night FORDINNERTWO Visit piattopizzeria.com/charlottetown to book your table
The BUZZ May 2022 Page 9
Directed by Matt MacInnis, Steel Magnolias by Robert Harling will star Shelley Thompson as M’Lynn, Jessica Gallant as Shelby, Monique Lund as Truvy, Marlene Handrahan as Ouiser, Judy Marshak as Clairee, and Kaeley Jade Wiebe as Annelle. The show will open June 4 and run to July 10.
The Guild Music Theatre School Summer Series with Artistic Director of Children’s Programming Lori Linkletter, will feature four children’s productions: Honk Jr., Shrek Jr., 101 Dalmations Kids, and the all-new origi nal show, The Tunes & Tales of P.E.I.
(top): Kaeley Jade Wiebe, Shelley Thompson, Monique Lund, (bottom): Jessica Gallant, Marlene Handrahan and Judy Marshak star in Steel Magnolias
‘TIS THE SEASON
Holiday Skates
All are invited to join the Mayor & Council Free Holiday Tea & Social on December 11 from 1–3 pm at Jack Blanchard Hall in Charlottetown. Entertainment will be provided by Phase II & Friends. Pre-registration is required by calling City Hall at 566-5548, and only those on the registeration list will be permitted entrance.
Page 10 The BUZZ May 2022 Founding Member of Theatre PEI SPONSORS: Province of PEI • City of Charlottetown • Canadian Heritage The Other Ocean Group • The Joan & Regis Duffy Foundation DALMAC • Modo Yoga • Rodd Hotels • TicketPro www.theguildpei.com • 902.620.3333 Gallery Exhibit ‘All Things Hilda’ Until January 3RD All HildaThings December 3RD at 7pm December 4TH at 4pm December 5TH at 4pm DEC. 5 AT 1PM Phase II and Friends Dec 4TH & 12TH at 7:30pm SKETCHY CHRISTMAS FROM DEC. 16TH -19TH AT 9PM Holiday Greetings from The Guild, and here’s to a Happy & Healthy New Year! • 10 TH at 7pm, 11TH at 4pm & 7pm, 12 TH at 2pm • 17 TH at 7pm, 18 TH at 4pm & 7pm, 19TH at 2pmDecember CHARLOTTETOWNDISCOVER
Christmas Trees through the Ages exhibit
Wintertide Holiday Festival
The Wintertide Holiday Festival, a collec tion of seasonal events and celebrations offered by the City of Charlottetown, its partners and community organizations, continues until January charlottetown.ca/wintertide9.
Info: kingsplayhouse.com, 1-888-3465666, 65 Grafton St, Georgetown.
Holiday Tea & Social
Let Their Light Shine
Kings Playhouse has partnered with the Georgetown Senior’s Club to present the first two in a series of workshops and community gathering events for seniors. Art with Amy, December 2 from 1–3 pm, will offer hands-on instruction to create seasonal decor. Tea and Tunes on December 16 will feature Christmas High Tea with holiday tunes. All seniors are welcome. Registration is required.
Festive Fiddlers’ Feast
Holiday workshop and Victorian house tour
Wyatt Heritage Properties Inc and Culture Summerside will present the Christmas Trees through the Ages exhibit at Wyatt Heritage Properties
Charlottetown Christmas Festival
Seniors workshop series
The Charlottetown Christmas Festival presented by Discover Charlottetown continues until December 19 with upcoming signature events like the Peake’s Wharf Christmas Village on weekends, the live music series Deck the Halls at Founders’ Food Hall & Market every Saturday, LIVE @ The Centre holi day programming on select dates, and a nightly Holiday Projection on the Plaza. There are also weekly horse and wagon rides, breakfasts with Santa, carollers, a Whoville-inspired Christmas Town and classic Christmas movies at City charlottetownchristmasfestival.comCinema.
Hospice PEI’s annual Let Their Light Shine campaign is back for its 27th year. Give the gift of donation this holiday sea son and hang a memory card in honour of a loved one at one of Hospice PEI’s memory forests located in Charlottetown, Summerside and West Prince. To hang a card and make a donation, visit the O’Leary Co-op, December 2–3 from 10 am–4 pm; the Summerside Atlantic Superstore, Monday–Saturday from 10 am–6 pm or Sunday from 12–6 pm until December 5; or the Charlottetown Mall, Monday–Saturday from 10 am–8 pm or Sunday from 12–5 pm all month long.
All are invited to the Mayor & Council Holiday Skates taking place: December 5 at 1:50 pm at Simmons Sports Centre; December 12 at 3 pm at Cody Banks Arena; and December 19 at 1:30 pm at Bell Aliant Centre. Pre-registration is required, and only those on the regis teration list will be permitted charlottetown.ca/holidayskatesentrance.
The Festive Fiddlers’ Feast returns to the Emerald Community Centre on December 4 from 6–8 pm. Join Courtney Hogan and Fiddlers’ Sons for an evening of food and music. Guests will be treated to a fresh and locally made traditional roast turkey dinner with all the fixings. Tickets must be purchased in advance by e-transfer to emeraldboxcar@gmail.com.
Beaconsfield Historic House in Charlottetown will host a centrepiece workshop and Victorian House Tour on December 4 and 11 from 3–5 pm. Spend the afternoon in the coach house crafting a holiday greenery centrepiece with guidance from Beaconsfield’s historical interpreters. Then learn about Victorian Christmas traditions on a guided tour of Beaconsfield, fully decorated for the hol idays. Tickets are available at eventbrite. ca and include the tour plus all required materials. 2 Kent St, Charlottetown.
November 22, 2021 - January 9, 2022 Wintertide Holiday Festival Calendar of Events Available Now! Despite COVID-19, the spirit and sparkle of the Wintertide Holiday Festival is still alive in Charlottetown. Be sure to check out the calendar of activities and events at charlottetown.ca/wintertide
in Summerside, December 6–17. Over 20 Christmas trees decorated in the style of various eras will be displayed throughout the main floor of the historic Lefurgey Cultural Centre. Each tree tells a story. View by donation. Open Monday–Thursday, 10 am–5 pm; Friday (Dec 10, 17), 10 am–8 pm; Saturday (11), 1–5 pm; and Sunday (12), 1–5 pm. Info: Summerside.culturesummerside.com.wyattheritagepropertiesinc.com,205PrinceSt,
Christmas Brunch de Noël
Christmas Brunch de Noël will be held December 12 at Carrefour de l’Isle-SaintJean, 5 Acadian Dr, Charlottetown. A Christmas ornament craft workshop for young children will begin at 10 am with Santa Claus and his helper, Elf. A buffet-style brunch will follow at 11 am. The large menu will include crois sants, pancakes, cinnamon brioche, scrambled eggs, bacon, sausage, baked beans, danishes, meat pie, fish cakes, turkey, stuffing and more. Entertainment will be provided by CHIQUÉSA + Pascal Miousse, François-Buote School Orchestra, and Acadian musicians Maryse and Nicholas. Tickets: eventbrite. ca/e/211070917797. Info: carrefourisj.org.
of Trees—a ”forest” of more than 15 themed holiday trees, decorated by Confederation Centre volunteers will be on display until January 3 at 145 Richmond St, Charlottetown.
Festive wreaths and trees
Beaconsfield Historic House in Charlottetown is hosting a Family Holiday Centrepice Workshop on December 18 at 3 pm for family groups of up to four people. Craft two holiday greenery centrepieces with guidance from Beaconsfield’s historical interpret ers. Tickets are available at eventbrite.ca and include all required materials for two centrepieces. 2 Kent St, Charlottetown.
The Kirk of St. James in Charlottetown will offer a quiet, contemplative service of prayer and song on December 15 at 6:30 pm. This candle-lit service draws on traditions originated by the Taizé community in France, whose simple, chant-like songs were developed to facil itate prayer. The Taizé-inspired service will take an especially meditative and spiritual approach. In the spirit of Taizé, all are welcome to join in this service at the Kirk. 35 Fitzroy St, Charlottetown.
The BUZZ May 2022 Page 11
A project of The Friends of Confederation Centre, the annual display of festive wreaths created by the community will be on display until December 18 at Confederation Centre of the Arts in Charlottetown. In addition, the Festival
Christmas Family Worship
Advent Taizé
The annual Christmas Family Worship will take place on December 24 at 4:30 pm and 7 pm at St. Peter’s Cathedral in Charlottetown. All are welcome. Corner of 7 All Souls’ Ln, Charlottetown.
Beacons eld workshop
Review by Sean McQuaid
Like me, the Playhouse has been hin dered by the pandemic; my last visit in 2019 was for At the Dog Leg Turn of the Road, a theatrical tribute to the late PEI military veteran Sgt. Lawrence Batchilder, and the first in a planned series of “Legacy Projects” designed to preserve the personal stories of vet erans through story, song and theatre. Two years later, that series has finally resumed with Greetings: An Army Musician’s Message Home
Sunday, December 5th - Simmons Sports Centre - 1:50pm
It’s a long way to Tipperary (or so the old song goes), and lately it’s felt like an even longer way to Georgetown. I last visited two years ago, having travelled as little as possible in pandemic times; but I’m double-vaccinated now, so even a sickly scaredy-baby like me can’t resist the allure of that community’s iconic Kings Playhouse forever.
White Cliffs of Dover” and more; cov ering artists such as Bing Crosby, Glenn Miller and the Andrews Sisters. It’s largely instrumental but select songs feature singers, mostly the lively, melo dious O’Brien/Handrahan/Zavo trio.
History swings
Sunday, December 12th - Cody Banks Arena - 3:00pm
Mayor & Council Holiday Tea & Social
Entertainment by Phase II & Friends
Sunday, December 19th - Bell Aliant Centre - 1:30pm
Due to restrictions and guidance set by the Chief Public Health O ce, pre-registration will be required and only those on the registered list will be permitted entrance. To register please call City Hall 902-566-5548.
VAX PASS REQUIRED
Saturday, December 11th 1:00pm – 3:00pm - Jack Blanchard Hall
Mayor & Council Holiday Skates
Inspired by the true story of “band boy” George Bradbury, an army musi cian who spent years held in a Polish POW camp during World War II, GAMMH is named after “Greetings,” a song Bradbury wrote during his imprisonment and mailed home to his family. It’s one of many vintage tunes featured in this music-centric show starring Benton Hartley, Catherine O’Brien, Marlene Handrahan, Haley Zavo and the PEI Regimental Band.
The show features golden oldies like “Alexander’s Ragtime Band,” “Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy,” “Don’t Sit Under the Appletree,” “How High the Moon,” “I’ll Be Home for Christmas,” “I’ll Be Seeing You,” “In the Mood,” “A Nightingale Sang in Berkeley Square,” “Pennsylvania 6-5000,” “Sentimental Journey,” “Solid Potato Salad,” “The
That musical thread woven through out the production makes GAMMH an uncommonly warm, feel-good show for a wartime remembrance, echoing the wish expressed in Bradbury’s own lyrics: “Sunshine forever, no cloud in your sky.”
Kings Playhouse Artist in Residence Handrahan doubles as the show’s writer/creator with input from Bradbury’s daughter Diane Kerwin, who shared her father’s stories with the production, as well as his titular song. That family history and the wartime backdrop add appropri ate, effective notes of sentiment and somberness, but it’s also a really fun show thanks to a hit parade of grand old songs brought to infectious life by some fine singers and the adroit PEI Regimental Band (too many players to name them all, but this ex-percus sionist admires the artful suspended cymbal stylings of drummer Sgt. Michael Gallant).
Mayor & Council Free Holiday Activities
Due to restrictions and guidance set by the Chief Public Health O ce pre-registration will be required and only those on the registered list will be permitted entrance. To register for one of the skates, visit: www.charlottetown.ca/HolidaySkates
VAX PASS REQUIRED
www.charlottetown.ca
Page 12 The BUZZ May 2022
Greetings: An Army Musician’s Message Home Kings Playhouse, Georgetown November 6
The rest of the show is a series of read ings by Hartley and the trio (all four mostly working from script binders but seeming pretty familiar with their text)—recounting events of Bradbury’s life, talking about the music of the 1940s and its cultural impact, reading from POW camp newsletter The Clarion and sometimes performing in char acter, notably as Bradbury (Hartley) and as old-time radio personalities with period-appropriate shtick like an enjoyably cheesy Tyrone Power gag (inscrutable to most youngsters, but the show’s largely greying audience gets the joke).
Bahamas will bring his Still Sad Tour to Charlottetown this winter, supporting his fifth full-length album, Sad Hunk. The songwriter, musician, and self-described social media influ encer, will be on the Mainstage at Confederation Centre of the Arts in Charlottetown on January 19 at 7:30 pm.
Bahamas: Still Sad Tour
Mainstage at Confederation Centre—Jan 19
The Globe and Mail has called Bahamas an “unassuming sensation,” with over 3.5 million regular monthly listeners on Spotify alone and more than half a billion streams to date.
Sad Hunk is on pace to be his fifth con secutive album to receive more than 100 million streams.
The five-time JUNO Award winner took home the Adult Alternative Album of the Year award this year for Sad Hunk, making him the first to receive the accolade for three consecu tive albums. He did so in 2015 for Bahamas Is Afie, when he was also named Songwriter of the Year, and for Earthtones in 2019, which also won Video of the Year for “Depression,” directed by Ali Eisner. Earthtones was also nominated for Best Engineered Album, Non-Classical at the 2019 GRAMMY Awards.
Tickets: confederationcentre.com
The BUZZ May 2022 Page 13 GILLESPIEDAVE
Monday,DEADLINEJANUARYBUZZDecember 13
On view: BGL: Two Thumbs Up Arts and Crafts to December 5; Fairy Tails, a group exhibition on view December 18–March
Laura Vickerson, Softly, 2019, antique child’s dress and booties, wool eece and felt, dried bouquet of lily of the valley, cast beeswax dolls hands, found branch, drawing.
Grounded: Seeking Connections, a group exhibition presented by this town is small and Eptek, featuring work by William Baker, Doug Dumais, Maggie J. Whitten Henry, Monica Lacey, Sarah Saunders, LiliAnne Webster, Jane Whitten, and Damien Worth, will be on view to December 24. Visit the perma nent exhibit on the history and archi tecture of Summerside. Admission by donation. Eptek is a PEI Museum and Heritage site. 130 Heather Moyse Dr, Summerside. 888-8373, peimuseum.com
If animals are “good to think with,” as anthropologist Claude Lévi-Strauss once famously remarked, then folk
Receiver Co ee Co.
Fairy tails features the work of participating artists Amalie Atkins, Aganetha Dyck, Meryl McMaster, Sylvia Ptak, Vicky Sabourin, Diana Thorneycroft, Anna Torma, Laura Vickerson, and Janice Wright Cheney. confederationcentre.com
Curated by Anne Koval, Fairy Tails explores the wondrous in nature by reconsidering the role of animals in storytelling.Theworks in this exhibition present fantastical narratives in which animals preside over strange episodes: tales are rewritten or unwritten; travellers embark on uncertain journeys; dan ger lurks deep in the forest; a witch appears from nowhere; birds and beasts are spellbound; clothing is enchanted; and a shoe materializes, as if magically spun from gold.
EXHIBITS
Confed Centre Art Gallery
27; Bronson Jacque’s mural honouring missing and murdered Indigenous women and girls to December 31; Urgent Messages from Other Worlds, a tribute to Garry Neill Kennedy (1935-2021) to January 9; A Life’s Work: Canadian Artist Robert Harris (1849-1919) to January 16; and nayiìhtła ; light by Casey Koyczan to January 23. 145 Richmond St, Charlottetown. confederationcentre.com
and fairy tales have a long history of speaking through beasts, whose otherworldly transformations can express innate or unconscious desires.
New group exhibition at Confederation Centre Art Gallery
The annual fall group art show is on view to December 3. The annual Youth Art Show will be on display beginning December 7 until the end of the month. Contact the library for info on display ing in the gallery. 15 Mercedes Dr, Town Hall, Cornwall. 629-8415, library.pe.ca
Cornwall Library Art Gallery
Eptek Art & Culture Centre
Unearthing the past: Archaeological Discoveries of Prince Edward Island will be on view to February 28. View the per manent exhibition and video The Island Acadians: The Story of a People which features the story of the Acadians of PEI since 1720 and celebrates the vitality of today’s Island Acadian community. Acadian genealogy resources available to researchers. This museum is a PEI Museum and Heritage site. 23 Main Dr. E, Miscouche. museeacadien.org
Hilda Woolnough Gallery
ARTISTTHEOFCOURTESY
Acadian Museum of PEI
All Things Hilda:A Retrospective of works by Hilda Woolnough is on view to January 3. The Guild, 111 Queen St, Charlottetown. theguildpei.com
A new group exhibition opens this month at Confederation Centre Art Gallery (CCAG). Fairy Tails will be on view from December 18 to March 27.
Page 14 The BUZZ May 2022
this town is small presents Relational Geographies by Rilla Marshall on view to January 7. 128 Richmond St, Charlottetown. thistownissmall.com
Fairy Tales
Q (from Quid Pro Quo), 2012, acrylic on canvas by Garry Neill Kennedy.
£i:\ CONFEDERATION CENTRE OF THE ARTS � CENTRE DES ARTS DE LA CONFEDERATION lLIIVlE:I @THE CENTRE e �OUR� HOLIDAY LINEUP DEC04 coNFEDERATION _-._ RICHARDSON n • ,,,;��.� �. SERF ���WN E1ri::c��� Can d'·•COURT:,Li!:.':'..� !?.�.br-1�� Asi�� �J,�.�--LONE OAK c��a�l��:�·} 1 . CH�-���T.!:�!�WN 5"""tl<i"jS�- � a a BUY TICKETS: 1 800 565 0278 or confederationcentre.com Visit our website for the Gallery's holiday hours. confederationcentre.com/artgallery NEW EXHIBITION: This group exhibition explores the wondrous in nature by reconsidering the role of animals in storytelling. DIANA TH0RNEYCR0FT, Herd-girl (gardener and memory keeper), 2015, digital photograph, 55.8 x 76.2 cm. Courtesy of the artist IT'S YOUR LAST CHANCE TO SEE: � CanadaCouncil Conseildesarts Canr:1 ,da··© fortheArts duCanada w BGL EXHIBITION SPONSOR: :A_R._1'S j-lO'fE �
DuffleBag Theatre will return to PEI on December 29 with an adaptation of Robin Hood. The fami ly-friendly theatrical com pany will perform the show at Harbourfront Theatre in Summerside at 2 pm and at Kings Playhouse in Georgetown at 6 pm.
The theatre troupe’s fractured fairy tales are an annual favourite at Kings Playhouse in Georgetown and will mark the final show at the theatre for 2021 with fun for the entire family. harbourfronttheatre.comkingsplayhouse.com
Dot and Ada return December 5 in Dot and Ada’s Christmas Caper at the Souris Legion. There will be two perfor mances, 4 pm and 8 pm.
SUBMITTED
Dot and ChristmasAda’sCaper
PEI comedy veterans Rob MacDonald and Graham Putnam are remounting Sketch-22’s hall mark holiday favourite theatrical comedy, A Sketchy Xmas. This year’s production, presented by The Guild, has a newly updated script and a cast of plenty joining together to tell a truly whack-a-mole story.
Souris Legion—Dec 5
Ride along on this hilarious donkey ride to Bethlehem as Another Sketchy Xmas tackles the story of the birth of the baby Jesus. Joseph is suspicious and Mary is in no mood for it. Stoner shepherds are visited by a tired angel. Arrogant wisemen are joined by a puzzling new travelling companion. Desperate gospel writers attempt to add pizzazz to a simple story. And, as in all great stories, an evil ninja shows up in an attempt to ruin everything.
Irreverent, audacious, and undoubtedly a little bit sacrile gious. If that sounds like your cup of eggnog, then head to The Guild in Charlottetown for Another Sketchy Xmas this holiday season. Performances take place at 9 pm from December 16 to 19.
Du eBag’s Robin Hood
Sketch 22 veterans remount holiday favourite—Dec 16 to 19
Page 16 The BUZZ May 2022 DECEMBER 31ST IN CHARLOTTETOWN FAMILY SKATING PARTY | VIRTUAL ART ACTIVITY MUSICAL CHILDREN’S ENTERTAINMENT BOWLING | AND MORE! FREE FAMILY-FRIENDLY PROGRAMMING STAY TUNED FOR A DETAILED SCHEDULE CHARLOTTETOWN.CA/NYE
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The self-proclaimed “nearly world-famous” theatre troupe has travelled the globe with their original adaptations of fairy tales and classic stories since 1992. Their trademark wit, humour, and interactive storytelling are tailored for youngUsingaudiences.audience interac tion in each performance, DuffleBag invites willing audience members to join them on stage as the stars of the DuffleBagshow.will bring the classic story of Robin Hood to life, with plenty of hilarious twists along the way.
Tickets will be availble at the door or by calling 620-3333, emailing boxoffice@theguildpei.com, or visiting The Guild Box Office, 111 Queen St, Charlottetown. theguildpei.com
Sketchy producers Rob MacDonald (left) and Graham Putnam
Another Sketchy Xmas
rough and tumble, down-on-their-luck Charlottetown family as they learn the true meaning of Christmas as power outages, a lack of liquor, familial bick ering, and Knut—that oddball boarder. Due to content and language, this performance is not recommended for younger or umbrageous audiences.
The troupe will also check in on a
Performances in Summerside and Georgetown—Dec
It’s Christmas Eve and while the neighbours are at Dot’s for Christmas dinner they excitedly talk about that night’s annual Midnight Mass Christmas Pageant. When the curtain finally rises on the pageant, the cast is mixed up, the story is ever changing, and the ensuing hullabaloo is nothing short of Writtenhilarious.anddirected by Jonah Anderson, Dot and Ada’s Christmas Caper stars Sheryll O’Hanley, Claudette Anderson, Dylan Sampson and Jonah Anderson.Advance tickets are recommended by calling 687-2300 or 218-9697.
quick fashion. Lager yeast likes to ferment at a cooler temperature and at the bottom of the fermentation vessel, which takes a bit more time.
The BUZZ May 2022 Page 17
Having examined the role of principle raw materials used in the brewing process, we have essentially reached the most important piece in the creation of beer. That being the fermentation of sugars by yeast. The chemistry of water, sugars and nutrients present in malted grain and the oil contained in hops all play a crucial role in the making of a sweet grainy liquid called wort, but it is not until we introduce yeast that we truly see the transformation into beer.
The warmer fermenting ale yeast can create a range of flavours and aromas in beer. From the banana and clovey aromas of German wheat beers to big tropical fruit esters created by some English ales strains, and spicey pheno lics from Belgian ale strains. Brewers carefully select from dozens of yeast strains to create a finished beer that expresses the attributes they desire.
For brewers, there are new main families of yeast that are employed to ferment their wort. Saccharomyces Cerevisiae and Saccharomyces Pastorianus, commonly known as ale yeast and lager yeast. Ale yeast ferments at room temperature, on the surface of the wort and in a relatively
Yeast is a single cell fungus that is pres ent all over the natural world. Having developed over millions of years, this tiny creature has adapted to consume sugars and through an incredible biochemical process, it converts them into alcohol and carbon dioxide. For centuries people have relied on yeast for making their nourishing bread and beer, not truly knowing what was causing this fermentation pro cess. It wasn’t until advancements in microbiology in the 19th century and the invention of the microscope did humans begin to grasp the importance of this incredible creature.
Brewers carefully formulate their recipes for wort to create a finished beer that meets the characteristics they want in the finished glass of beer that comes across the bar or in the can, but in order for this to occur they need to carefully tend to yeast, as this little creature is truly responsible for that refreshing pint you drink.
The cooler fermenting lager strains produce a cleaner, crisper beer. These yeast strains have developed to create a refreshing beer that has grown in popularity from its initial discovery in the 19th century to become the most commonly consumed beer on the plant, and most like the first taste of beer you had coming of age.
CARVERBRYAN Fresh. Tested. True. 902-370-8809 Shop online at allthingsolive.ca QED Give the giftof great taste. . 2 x 200 ml – $32 | $34 4 x 60 ml – $23.50 2 x 60 ml – $12 Great Holiday gifts under $39 Exploring the basic beer ingredients, part four—yeast
Catch up on parts one, two and three of this four-part series at buzzpei.com. by Bryan Carver
The fermentation The Brew
Christmas Traditions in Brass Jack Blanchard Family Centre, Charlottetown
Park Royal United, Charlottetown
Dec 12
A Christmas to Remember Delta Hotel, Charlottetown
Dec 15–16
The Snowman’s Ball: Christmas with Matt Andersen & Friends Confederation Centre, Charlottetown
Dec 11
Dec 4, 12
Dec 6
The Silver Fox, Summerside
Dec 9
Sarah Hagen: Night Music St. Paul’s, Charlottetown
Featuring Nicholas Whellan, Suzy Wilde, Alan Buchanan, and PEI musicians. Victoria Playhouse, Victoria-by-the-Sea
Christmas with Corey Gallant & The Red Dirt Posse
Holly Dolly Christmas
Jill Chandler & Maureen Trainor
Elliot BROOD
Trailside Music Hall, Charlottetown
Dec 17–19
Dec 10
Dec 12
Dec 4–5, 11–13
Craig Fair Presents: Mixtape Nights
Shane Pendergast
Dec 2
Christmas at Home
Trailside Music Hall, Charlottetown
ASM: Xmas with Tara MacLean
Dec 11
Featuring music by CHIQUÉSA and Pascal Miousse, François-Buote School Orchestra, and Maryse and Nicholas. Carrefour de l’Isle-Saint-Jean, Charlottetown
The Island Choral Society: A Classical Christmas Park Royal United, Charlottetown
Dec 12
Tracadie Community Centre, Mount Stewart
The Emeralds: Jingle Bell Brunch Trailside Music Hall, Charlottetown
St. Paul’s, Charlottetown
The Guild, Charlottetown
Dec 16, Dec 17
Dec 18
Ellis Family Band
Dec 11
Dec 12
Florence Simmons Performance Hall, Charlottetown
Ava & Lily: An Island Christmas Delta Hotel, Charlottetown
Featuring Mike Ross, Brielle Ansems, Alicia Toner, Joce Reyome, Trevor Grant, and Carlie Howell. Harmony House, Hunter River
Dec 14
Featuring Thane Dunn & The Cadillac Kings. College of Piping, Summerside
Victoria Playhouse, Victoria-by-the-Sea
Dec 1–11 (Wed–Sat)
Dec 12
Tip Er Back Christmas Concert
Ava & Lily: An Island Christmas
Christmas in the Kitchen
Fiddlers’ Sons
Dec 11
Dec 4–5
Page 18 The BUZZ May 2022
Dec 5
Christmas on the Town
College of Piping, Summerside
John Gracie’s Once Upon a Christmas Tour Delta Hotel, Charlottetown
Voices for the Season
Dec 17
Music at the Manse, Marshfield
Christmas with the King
Pendy’s Pub Christmas Cheer
Dec 18
Featuring Jolee Patkai as Dolly Parton. Music at the Manse, Marshfield
With guests Josee Boudreau, Nick Gauthier, Emma Rudy and Ben Aitken. Trailside Music Hall, Charlottetown
CONCERTS
Holiday Kitchen Party
Dec 18
Dec 5
Irish Cultural Centre, Charlottetown
Dec 4
School Of Performing Arts December Showcase
Gordie Sampson
SUNDAY,CHARLOTTETOWNFARMERSMARKETDECEMBER5th,12th, 19th 10am 3pm
Stratford Community Choir Christmas Concert Park Royal United, Charlottetown
Dec 10
Brunch de Noël
Dec 12
ASM: Xmas with Tara MacLean
An Acoustic Christmas with Kelley Mooney
Trailside Music Hall, Charlottetown
Dec 17–18
Featuring Serge Bernard, Janet McGarry, Maxine MacLennan and Norm Stewart. Kings Playhouse, Georgetown
Dec 2
A Very Davy Christmas Songs from the 52 Christmas Somgs Project, featuring Dave Atkinson. Kings Playhouse, Georgetown
Charlottetown Jazz Ensemble The Pourhouse, Charlottetown
Trailside Music Hall, Charlottetown
Dec 16–17
Featuring Gordon Belsher, Todd MacLean and Brad Fremlin. St. John’s Presbyterian, Belfast (17), Stanley Bridge Hall (18), Murray Harbour Community Centre (19)
Hosted by Michael Pendergast with spe cial guests Johnny & Louise Arsenault. College of Piping, Summerside
Dec 5
Lennie Gallant: The Innkeeper’s Christmas Harbourfront Theatre, Summerside
Dec 9–10
Phase II & Friends
Out and About Tour. PEI Brewing Company, Charlottetown
Dec 5
St. James, Charlottetown
Lady Soul Trailside Music Hall, Charlottetown
Swift Kick
Forte Men’s Choir: A Very Forte Christmas Park Royal United, Charlottetown
Jenn Grant Christmas Show
Dec 28
…more at buzzpei.com
IRSA PEI Provides Settlement Services, Employment Assistance, Community Engagement, and Youth Settlement to Newcomers to Prince Edward Island, including Permanent Residents, International Students, Temporary Foreign Workers, and others who have recently immigrated to Canada.
Dec 19
Dec 28
Dec 19
The BUZZ May 2022 Page 19
Lennie Gallant: The Innkeeper’s Christmas Confederation Centre, Charlottetown
Absolute Losers, Baby God, and Prism Shores
The Night Social
Trailside Music Hall, Charlottetown
Featuring Rich Knox, Tian Wigmore, Remi Arsenault, and Nick Gauthier. Trailside Music Hall, Charlottetown
Barra MacNeils Celtic Christmas Confederation Centre, Charlottetown
Dec 29–30
Dec 19–21
Dec 23
Dec 31, Jan 1
Taylor Swift tribute. Trailside Music Hall, Charlottetown
Dec 26
Dec 18
Trailside Music Hall, Charlottetown
Jan 7, 8
Lady Soul’s Boxing Day Bash
Coyote Trailside Music Hall, Charlottetown
Holiday Hootenanny
Kiwi Jr. & Nap Eyes
Jan 19
Copper Bottom Brewing, Montague
Featuring Todd MacLean and Becca Griffin with special guests. John Brown Grille, Charlottetown
Dec 18
An Acoustic Christmas with Kelley Mooney
Trailside Music Hall, Charlottetown
Dec 22
Bahamas: Still Sad Tour Confederation Centre, Charlottetown
Choral Music: Sing Noël Trinity United, Charlottetown
Robbie Doherty & Pierce Clarkes: Together for Christmas Trailside Music Hall, Charlottetown
I & the Villages Presents: Amy Amy Amy Amy Winehouse tribute show. Trailside Music Hall, Charlottetown
Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree
Dec 27
Choral Music: Sing Along Messiah
For more information on our services and programs, please visit our website at www.irsapei.ca
Dec 21
Featuring Catherine O’Brien and Marlee Saulnier. Kings Playhouse, Georgetown
Dec 20
Featuring Tim Archer and Brian Langille. Music at the Manse, Marshfield
Dec 19
Port Cities Trailside Music Hall, Charlottetown
Dec 19
Dec 26
A holiday tradition, dance umbrella presents The Nutcracker on December 4 with performances at 2 pm and 7:30 pm at Confederation Centre of the Arts in Charlottetown.Thisreimagined telling of the clas sic story will feature music and whim sical elements to delight the whole family as they dream of sugarplums, candy canes, and other confederationcentre.comsweets.
ACT readingsplay
Dec 4
ACT presents: Hilarious Holiday Play Readings
ON STAGE
Watermark Theatre, North Rustico Dec 10–12, 17–19
Another Sketchy Xmas
Guild TheatreMusic
In December, The Guild Music Theatre School will present Bah, Humbug! Scrooge’s Christmas Carol,Elf Jr, The Musical, Elfis and the Frozen Princess and Santa Goes Green.
Page 20 The BUZZ May 2022
A CarolChristmas
It’s Christmas Eve, and whilst London is alive with festive cheer and seasonal goodwill, the miserly Ebenezer Scrooge grows meaner by the minute. Will a timely visit from the haunting ghosts of Christmas past, present and future change his wicked ways before it’s too late?
Elf Jr.
Hosted by Shawn Hogan. Trailside Music Hall, Charlottetown
Dec 6
Comedy at The Manse
24STRONG presents: Holiday Mixtape
Dec 3
Live Stand-Up comedy. The Guild, Charlottetown
Dec 5
The Guild, Charlottetown
The Guild, Charlottetown
SUBMITTED
Dec 16–19
Bah Humbug! Scrooge’s Christmas Carol
ACT’s first Hilarious Holiday Play Reading is a family-friendly event and will take place at Eptek Arts & Culture Centre in Summerside on December 5 at 2 pm. Registration is required by calling 888-8373 to reserve a spot.
ACT presents: Hilarious Holiday Play Readings
Tim, Jake and Koady from The East Pointers will be joined by a host of festive friends for the classic story. Expect lots of laughs, stumbling and stutters over a Victorian vocabulary as this cast of characters approach their lines for the first time in a seated tableread with musical interludes—sure to become a Christmas tradition.
Donations to ACT will be accepted at bothactpei.comevents.
Eptek Centre, Summerside
The Fox and Crow, Charlottetown
Three holiday performances for young audiences
Elfis and the Frozen Princess and Santa Goes Green will be on stage December 5 at 1 pm. After crashing the Snowflake Festival in Elfis and the Frozen Princess, the Abominable Snow Princess takes her revenge by casting a freezing spell on Snowella who becomes frozen in place. In Santa Goes Green everyone is excited that the North Pole is going green this year. Everyone except Santa, who likes things just the way they are. theguildpei.com
dance umbrella: The Nutcracker Confederation Centre, Charlottetown
Dec 7–8
At an ACT play reading, attendees will be invited to participate and read a character’s lines. Scripts will be dis tributed and everyone will read their parts aloud, “performing” together. Of course, attendees are also welcome to just listen to the play reading.
Elf The Musical Jr. is a holiday musi cal based on the film Elf with performances December 3–5 at select times. The fish-out-of-water comedy follows Buddy the Elf in his quest to find his true identity and features songs by Matthew Sklar and Chad Beguelin, with a book by Thomas Meehan and Bob Martin.
Dot and Ada’s Christmas Caper Souris Legion, Souris
Holiday Hilarity
Reading Dickens’ A Christmas Carol—Dec 16 and 17
ACT (a community theatre) will host two Hilarious Holiday Play Reading events in December, and they want audience members to throw on their ugliest Christmas sweaters, dust off those jingle bells, and join in the fun.
Dec 9–19 (Thurs–Sun)
A Christmas Carol
Watermark Theatre in North Rustico will present A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens in a new adapta tion by Danielle Pearson. Directed by Rebecca Parent, and starring Cameron MacDuffee and Leah Pritchard, performances will take place Thursday–Saturday at 7:30 pm and Saturday–Sunday at 1 pm, from December 9–19.
NutcrackerThe
Ledwell & Haines: A Trailside Christmas
Dec 12
Stand-up comedy featuring Justin Shaw and Taylor Carver. Lone Oak Brewing, Borden-Carleton
The East Pointers & Friends. Confederation Centre, Charlottetown
Brad Doiron, Tanya Nicholle, Katherine Cairns. The Manse, Marshfield
The Guild, Charlottetown
Dec 23
Tibbs Eve with Tanya Nicole & Friends
Du ebag Theatre presents: Robin Hood Harbourfront Theatre, Summerside Kings Playhouse, Georgetown
dance umbrella’s holiday tradition—Dec 4
Dec 12
Dec 5
Dec 5
Christmas sweaters for adults and Christmas pyjamas for kids—or vice versa—areconfederationcentre.comencouraged.
Bah, Humbug! Scrooge’s Christmas Carol performances will take place December 10–12 and 17–19 at select times. “Bah, Humbug!” Ebenezer sings, dooming himself to visits from three Christmas spirits in this adapta tion of Charles Dickens’s tale.
Tickets: ticketwizard.ca, 963-3963
The East Pointers and Friends present a new, under-rehearsed, seat of the pants live reading of a classic novel— Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol—at Confederation Centre in Charlottetown on December 16 and 17.
Eptek Centre—Dec 5
Dec 11
Leah Pritchard (left) and Cameron MacDufee
El s and the Princess/SantaFrozenGoes Green
On December 6, ACT will host a second play reading at 7 pm at The Fox and Crow, located in UPEI’s W.A. Murphy Student Centre.
East Pointers and Friends
The Guild, Charlottetown
Dec 17
Comedian Jon Dore
Confederation Centre, Charlottetown
The Fox and Crow—Dec 6
Trailside Music Hall, Charlottetown
Dec 2–3
A Christmas Carol reading
Dec 29 (two shows)
Watermark Theatre—Dec 9 to 19
and group dances; showcasing tap, jazz, lyrical, hip hop, street jazz and musicalChoreographerstheatre.
A brand-new energy will fill the Confederation Centre’s Mainstage Theatre in December as 24STRONG presents Holiday Mixtape, an upbeat dance performance for the whole family. Both recreational and competi tive dance students have been working hard over their fall semester and are ready to perform for the community in two completely different live shows at 2 pm and 7 pm on December 12. Performances include solos, duets
Performance by 24STRONG dance students—Dec 12
PE RODD CHARLOTTETOWN | RODD ROYALTY NS RODD GRAND YARMOUTH NB RODD MIRAMICHI RIVER | RODD MONCTON For more info, visit roddvacations.com/gift-cards or call +1 (800) 565-7633 This holiday, give your loved ones the vacation they will remember for a lifetime with a Rodd gift card. Gift cards can be redeemed for accommodation, dining, spa services & much more! To purchase, give us a call at +1 (800) 565-7633 or visit any of our hotels listed below. FROM NOVEMBER 15 TO DECEMBER 24, ENJOY ON OUR GIFT CARDS 10% OFF CREATE TIME FOR Memories
The BUZZ May 2022 Page 21
Holiday Mixtape
for Holiday Mixtape include Brigitte Carroll, Jessica Burrett, Mackenzie Cutcliffe, Grace Allen, Samantha Jenkins, Colton Curtis, Rebecca Lalonde, Cavell Holland and 24STRONG studio owner and creator, Lacey24strong.caconfederationcentre.comKoughan.
rapid one-liners and short stories full of ridiculous Originallytwists.fromPEI, Dan cut his teeth in comedy at Yuk Yuk’s Halifax and in just a few short years was fea tured on CBC TV and CBC Radio. He has since toured all over the country as a headlining comic including Halifax Comedy Festival and Hubcap Comedy Festival.Comedy Records is Canada’s first record label dedicated to releasing stand up and sketch comedy albums.
Stand-up comedian Dan Hendricken released his debut comedy album Last Call on Comedy Records in November. The album was recorded live at Trailside Music Hall in Charlottetown. Dan refers to himself as a “golden retriever of a human being,” and his happy, matter-of-fact nature is on display on Last Call. The comedian has an uncanny ability to make audiences feel like his set is full of inside jokes just for them. Throughout Last Call, Dan uses apple picking, dating apps, and animals—from giraffes, horses and dogs—as comedic devices in his
LOVELOCALPEI.CA
Tibb’s Eve at The Guild or for other show dates, tickets and details, visit tanyanicollemaccallum.com.TheGuildislocatedat111 Queen Street, Charlottetown.
Page 22 The BUZZ May 2022
Visit theguildpei.com for tickets to
Tanya Nicolle MacCallum
Bonshaw Young Players will resume on Saturday mornings from 10:30 am–12 pm beginning January 8 at the Community Centre in Bonshaw. Emphasis will be on singing, improv, team building and looking towards entering a piece in the District DramaPre-registrationFestival. is necessary. For infor or to register, contact Ruth Lacey at rlacey688@gmail.com or 675-4282.
Bonshaw Young Players
Dan Hendricken’s Last Call is avail able on Spotify, Google Play, Apple Music and comedyrecords.camore
This month, Tanya Nicolle will be also share the stage at comedy shows with other local musicians ahead of Tibb’s Eve at The Guild, includ ing: Comedy at The Manse (December 2–3); Comedy at the Tignish Legion (December 4); Crown Comedy at The Albert & Crown Pub (December 8); and Holiday Hilarity Comedy Show (December 12).
The recipient of five Island Literary Awards, Tanya Nicolle’s humour shines a light on mental illness. Her credits include A Showcase of the Funniest Women from Across the Maritimes at Hells Basement Comedy Club, and performances at The Comedy Nest, Yuk Yuks, PEI Brewing Company, and more.
Join PEI writer, producer and comedian Tanya Nicolle MacCallum and other local comedians for Tibb’s Eve with Tanya Nicolle & Friends on December 23 at 8 pm at The Guild in Charlottetown.
Shop local this holiday season with the Love Local, PEI Directory.
Tibb’s Eve comedy show
Tanya Nicolle & Friends at The Guild—Dec 23
Debut stand-up comedy album by Dan Hendricken
Last Call
The Holiday Hilarity Comedy Show at Lone Oak Brewing in Borden-Carleton will take place December 12 at 8 pm. The show will feature the comedic styl ings of Justin Shaw and Taylor Carver.
Carver has been a mainstay in PEI’s comedy scene and has worked with some of Canada’s most decorated comedians. He has had his material recorded for Sirius XM.
Brad Doiron
Comedy at The Manse in Marshfield on December 2 and 3 will feature live stand-up comedy with local comedi ans Brad Doiron, Tanya Nicolle and KatherineSeatingCairns.islimited.
With Tanya Nicolle and Katherine Cairns at The Manse— Dec 2 & 3
John Dore
Brad Doiron
Shaw has been featured on Yuk Yuks, World Online Festival, and Edmonton’s Nextfest. He has just finished a tour in Halifax and Ontario and is set to release his first comedy album, recorded live in November.
Holiday Hilarity
With guest Shawn Hogan at Trailside—Dec 7 & 8
Reserve at 2132861. The Manse is licensed. 4155 St Peters Rd, Marshfield.
Justin Shaw and Taylor Carver at Lone Oak Brewing—Dec 12
Dore is a Canadian writer and actor who has infused his comedic abilities into numerous hit television shows andInfilms.addition to recently wrapping his stand-up special for Comedy Central, Dore was the series lead in the CBS pilot, The Half of It. He played a mem orable guest star role on CBS’ hit series How I Met Your Mother, and he played a lead role on ABC’s How To Live With Your Parents.
Doors at 6:30 pm with perfor mance at 8 pm. Tickets are available at trailside.ca. Trailside Music Hall is located in The Arts Hotel, 155 Kent St, Charlottetown.
Joining Shaw and Carver is a collection of PEI’s comedic talent, each aiming to fill the audience with laugh ter and holiday spirit.
Comedian John Dore, with spe cial guest Shawn Hogan, will take the stage at Trailside Music Hall in Charlottetown on December 7 and 8.
Lone Oak Brewing Co is located at 103 Abegweit Blvd, Borden-Carleton. Visit justindshaw.com for tickets.
The BUZZ May 2022 Page 23
Dec 4
Etsy Holiday Market
Wool on the Wall
Branching Out Island Artisan Market
Christmas in the Villages will be heldDecember 3 from 7–9 pmand December 4 from 9 am–2 pm. The annual event will feature a variety of products from local artisans, farmers and commu nity organizations at several venues, five at press time, in the Murray Harbour and Murray River area. Follow Christmas in the Villages 2021 on FB for venue and vendor updates as they are confirmed.
Artisan Christmas Market
Christmas Craft and Bake Sale
Dec 3–4
Our Lady of the Assumption Catholic Women’s League will hold its Annual Bazaar December 4 from 10:30 am–1 pm at the Parish Centre in Stratford. There will be baked goods, pickles, preserves, fudge, crafts, holly, used books and puz zles, tickets for gift basket draws and a silent auction. 151 Stratford Rd, Stratford
Dec 4
Marché de Noël in Rustico will be held December 4 from 10 am–2 pm at the Centre acadien Grand-Rustico, 2244 Church Rd. There will be local vendors, children activities, a bistro café and Christmas music. Info: Follow Conseil acadien de Rustico on FB, info@consei lacadienrustico.org, 963-3252
Dec 11–12
Bogside ChristmasBrewingMarket
The Fortune Community Centre is host ing the 3rd annual Festive Fair in Fortune from 10 am–4 pm December 4 and 5. Featuring crafts, gifts, baked goods and more from 40 vendors. Info: lisagrose71@ gmail.com. 220 Fortune Wharf Rd N, Fortune Bridge
Main St, Borden-Carleton. A wide variety of crafts will be on offer.
Bogside Brewing will host a Christmas Market with 15+ local crafters and mak ers on December 12 from 12–4 pm. Items range from quilts, knitted items, jewel lery, candles, textile crafts, art prints and more. 11 Brook St, Montague
Dec 4–5
Dec 4
Annual Bazaar
Buy local at the Christmas Craft and Bake Sale, to be held from 2–5 pm at 236
Christmas in the Villages
Page 24 The BUZZ May 2022
Dec 3–24 (Fri–Sun)
Festive Fair in Fortune
East Coast Art Party is hosting a Christmas Market December 11 from 10 am–2 pm and December 12 from 10 am–1 pm at the Art Party Studio in Charlottetown. Featuring arts, crafts, beverages and Christmas tunes. Admission is by cash donation, going to the Upper Room Food Bank in Charlottetown. To rent a table, email info@eastcoastartparty. 135 Great George St, Charlottetown.
Island Matters Rug Hooking group is hosting a rug-hooking show and sale, Wool on the Wall, from December 3–11 at St. Paul’s Parish Hall. Open daily from 11 am–5 pm. An array of high quality,
Dec 5, 12, 19
SALES/FAIRS
locally hand hooked pieces of art— including floor rugs, wall art, pillow and other unique items—will be on display. Many pieces will be for sale. Also on hand will be a supply of hand-dyed wools, yarns, patterns, and rug hooking supplies. 101 Prince St, Charlottetown
Dec 3–11
Art Party ChristmasStudioMarket
Branching Out Island Artisan Market takes place every Friday and Saturday from 9 am–9 pm and every Sunday from 12–5 pm until December 24 at the Charlottetown Mall. The “mini holiday craft fair” has over 65 vendors repre sented. Info: @islandartisanmarket on FB. 670 University Ave, Charlottetown
Dec 4–5
The Etsy Team PEI Holiday Market will take place December 4 from 10 am–5 pm and December 5 from 12–5 pm at Murphy’s Community Centre. The two day event will feature live music, hand crafted items from local sellers and more. Admission at the door with proceeds in support of small business loans for Etsy Team PEI sellers. Free for children 12 and under. 200 Richmond St, Charlottetown
Marché de Noël
Dec 5
Holiday Market
The Artisan Christmas Market will feature offerings from local crafts people at the Charlottetown Farmers Market from 10 am–3 pm on December 5, 12 and 19. Free admission and parking. 100 Belvedere Ave, Charlottetown
Dec 12
Charlottetown’s Spring Park United is holding a Holiday Market on December 4 from 9 am–12 noon in the Church auditorium (Trafalgar St entrance). There will be baked goods, preserves, fudge, jewellery, scarves, puzzles and games, gift items, crafts, collectibles, holiday decorations and festive greenery.
The BUZZ May 2022 Page 25
Victoria Playhouse will be host ing two performances of the Atlantic String Machine Christmas with Tara MacLean, a holiday concert collab oration featuring songs and stories from the artists’ own family traditions. Performances take place December 11 at 2 pm and 7:30 pm.
Ewe and Dye Weavery, Birch Tree Gallery, Michael Stanley Pottery, The Studio Gallery, Victoria’s Glass Studio, and A Hand Made Cross will be open from 10 am– 5 pm, December 4, 5, 11, 12, 18 and 19. Island Chocolates will be available at “pop-up” locations during these same times.
Gifts from the Heart
Gifts from the Heart holds and end of month sale on the last Saturday of each month from 10 am–3 pm. The sale is open to the public and offers new and gently-used clothing, winter items, furniture and housewares, at bargain prices. Proceeds from sales help Gifts from the Heart pay overhead costs.
Christmas in Victoria
Local shops and artisan studios on the North Shore, from Brackley Beach to Rustico, are open for the holiday season and invite shoppers to take a scenic drive while knocking some names off their Christmas list.
Victoria Playhouse tickets can be purchased online at victoriaplayhouse. ticketpro.ca or call 1-800-925-2025.
SUBMITTED
A number of local businesses will have opening hours in the weeks lead ing up to Christmas.
The Playhouse will also host the musical tribute show, Christmas in the Kitchen, featuring Nicholas Whelan, Suzy Wilde and storyteller Alan Buchanan, along with some of PEI musicians performing new arrange ments of Christmas songs by The Rankin Family, Nancy White, David Myles, and Anne Murray. The show takes place December 12 at 2 pm.
Victoria by the Sea is a summer desti nation for fine crafts, culinary treats, and entertaining performances, but this year, Victoria-based businesses have teamed up to offer shopping and entertainment in the village through the month of December.
Participating in the Holiday Hop & Shop are The Toad Pond Studio, Robert Canning, Cabin Fever Carving, Moonsnail Mercantile, Fox Shop, Lilacs and Lanterns, The Makers Place, and Silkwalker Originals.
“With many Islanders consciously choosing to shop local this year for Christmas, a number of the artists and craftspeople of Victoria by the Sea have decided to remain open into December and to coordinate their opening hours to make it easy for folks to plan a shopping trip to our community,” says Michael Stanley, President of the Victoria Business Association.
Performances and shops coordinate hours for the holidays
As a registered non-profit charity, Gifts from the Heart provides low-in come Islanders and those experienc ing hardships with food, clothing, furniture and personal items—free of charge. 58 Spring Lane, Charlottetown.
Shop local on the North Shore
writer-director Edgar Wright (Shaun of the Dead) delivers a dazzling genre-bending extravaganza in his latest film. Starring Thomasin McKenzie, Anya Taylor-Joy and Matt Smith, this stun ning psychological thriller delves deep into London’s seedy past, all the while paying homage to the Swinging Sixties. McKenzie is Ellie, an aspiring fashion designer with a mysterious ability who finds herself trans ported back in time to 1966 London in the body of Sandie (a stunning turn from TaylorJoy), a talented night club singer. While in Sandie’s body, Ellie is seduced by smoul dering lothario Jack, but she soon realises things aren’t quite as they seem when Sandie is coerced by her new beau into a life of depravity and exploitation… Wright digs deep into his own influences to give us one of his most daring films yet. As well as paying homage to Soho’s rich and vibrant history, he and co-writer Krysty Wilson-Cairns have also devised a commendably precise story about exploitation and abuse… This is a thrilling, gorgeously acted offering from a filmmaker
DecJulia26–30
The 2021–2022 New York Cat Film Festival
DecMessiah/Complex12–13
Dec 26, 28 & 30
14A, not recommended for young children. Dir: Wes Anderson, US/ Germany, 2021, 107 min. Benicio Del Toro, Adrien Brody, Tilda Swinton, Léa Seydoux, Frances McDormand, Timothée Chalamet.
Only the Animals
PG, most films in English, other lan guages are subtitled. Dir: Various. International, 2021, 88 min. 10% of Box Office will be donated to the P.E.I. Humane Society.
The multi-award-winning innovative team at Against the Grain Theatre (AtG) is proud to present Messiah/Complex, a bold interpreta tion of Handel’s Messiah, created in partner ship with the Toronto Symphony Orchestra (TSO). Fusing diverse choral traditions and voices from every province and territory in Canada with one of the most enduring classical works of all time, Messiah/Complex showcases multilingual translations, and features a diverse cast of soloists and choirs, accompanied by the exceptional sounds of the TSO, conducted by Johannes Debus (Canadian Opera Company), and co-directed by Joel Ivany (Against the Grain Theatre), and Reneltta Arluk (Banff Centre for Arts and Creativity). “A rousing and decidedly Canadian version of Handel’s Messiah.” - The New York Times “A joyful screen adapta tion of Handel’s holiday staple... Messiah/ Complex unveils a moving mosaic” - Globe and Mail
Dominik Moll skillfully holds the audience in his grip. Like a whodunit, the plot circles around five interconnected people. But the question of why is just as important as who… In rural France during a snowstorm, an abandoned car is found on the road, its owner Evelyne missing. With no clues, local cop Cedric speaks to the disturbed sheep farmer Joseph nearby. His health worker Alice is having an affair with him, unbeknownst to her monosyllabic husband Michel, who also vanishes. Meanwhile, waitress Marion isn’t telling the cops that she was in love with Evelyne… And in Africa, lovelorn Armand is working a catfishing scam that hooks Michel. Each of these five people is concealing something, and the nonlinear narrative unfolds in chapters that add details from their perspectives, often including shocking moments that twist the story further… The plot and characters are wonderfully textured, dense with quirks and themes… It’s a ripping thriller as well as a provocative exploration of how badly we all need to feel needed, and how easily this yearning can warp our sense of reality… As Armand’s shaman Papa Sanou says, ‘Love means giving what you don’t have.’ All of which adds depth and meaning to a fiendishly clever dramatic puzzle.” Rich Cline, Shadows on the Wall
“Cat lovers can be a special breed - patient, willing to work for a little attention, often doting, sometimes a little obsessive, and always up for a little feline adventure. The fourth annual NY Cat Film Festival capitalizes on that abiding interest with a series of short films that celebrate the fascination with our enigmatic feline companions… Presented by pet wellness advocate/author and radio host Tracie Hotchner, this year’s program features 22 short films, from mini documentaries to narrative shorts and animations, from all over the world. And Hotchner is quick to point out that the festival is no cornucopia of cats with their heads stuck in tissue boxes. ‘These are the opposite of cat videos that mock and laugh at cats,’ she says. ‘Some of them are very funny, but they’re usually about cats making fun of people. I like to show the depth and breadth of who a cat is and feels and what he wants. These are films made with intention … to express appreciation and respect for cats.’… Offerings range from silly to heartfelt and includes day-in-the-life chronicles, like Zach the Cat, to the animation of an Olde English 19th-century tale, The King O’ the Cats, to the clever, charming voice-over noir parody about a hard-boiled cat and a woman with love troubles called Feline Noir. (Don’t miss the drolly narrated The Cat Flap, which chronicles the drama around a cat flap as caught by a wildlife camera.)”
- Karen Campbell, The Boston Globe
PG, mature themes, coarse language. Dir: Julie Cohen, Betsy West, USA, 2021, 95 min. José Andrés, Julia Child, André Cointreau.
The French Dispatch
14A, violence, language may offend. Dir: Edgar Wright, UK, 2021, 116 min. Thomasin McKenzie, Anya TaylorJoy, Matt Smith, Diana Rigg, Rita
G. Dir: Reneltta Arluk, Joel Ivany, Canada, 2020. Jonathon Adams, Looee Arreak, Spencer Britten. Presented in partnership with Against
who is at the top of his craft... Prepare to be charmed, horrified and genuinely startled.”Linda Marric, The Jewish Chronicle
“This endearing and enlightening soup-tonuts tale beautifully captures the essence of a truly larger-than-life figure. Through her cookbooks and TV shows, Julia Child introduced homemakers to the joy of French
“The French Dispatch is a mid-20th-century edition of The New Yorker magazine, if it were published in a small French town and everyone involved was picturesquely eccen tric. It doesn’t really have a plot, just a central event: Arthur Howitzer Jr. (Bill Murray), editor of The French Dispatch, has died, and the staff has gathered to write his obituary. Four mostly unrelated stories unfold, from the magazine’s pages: a travelogue led by a beret-wearing Owen Wilson; a tale of a mad artist/convict who becomes the talk of the art world; an account of a student strike in France, led by two students appropriately named Zeffirelli and Juliette; and a sort of Andersonesque French crime drama… All of this unfolds in a charmingly deadpan way, performed by a troupe of actors who seem to be having a blast… Murray delivers another quiet gem, as a non showy editor in an office full of preening writers drawn in various shades of diva. Howitzer, like all great editors, just wants the writing to be as good as it can be ‘Try to make it sound like you wrote it that way on purpose,’ is his trademark (excellent) advice… An elegant ode to good writing, and to those who quietly stand behind the words.” Moira Macdonald, The Seattle Times
Dec 12 & 14–16
Dec 17–20
14A, mature themes, coarse language. Dir: Dominik Moll, France/Germany, 2021, 116 min. Denis Ménochet, Laure Calamy, Damien Bonnard. In French with English subtitles. Tokyo International Film Festival winner, Best Actress and Audience Awards “Revealing a mystery out of sequence,
Nov 30–Dec 11
the Grain Theatre. Tickets are $18 for general admission and $15 for Featuringmembers/seniors.theUPEI Chamber Singers.
Page 26 The BUZZ May 2022
cooking... Starting out in her early 50s, Julia Child hosted wildly popular television cooking shows for almost four decades. Through the use of surprisingly intimate archival, rich audio and video of the woman herself and interviews with family members and colleagues, we learn how... the young, 6ft 3 Child wanted a life of adventure, joining America’s Office of Strategic Services with the intention of becoming a spy. Instead, a posting to Ceylon as a typist clerk eventuated in her only having eyes for her co-worker, Paul Child... the pair became inseparable, as he was posted first to China and then to France… It was there that she fell in love with French cooking... Cohen and West do a superb job of corralling all the wonderful, sometimes hilarious tales and vivid archival material into a satisfying narrative, while also looking at what Child achieved in a wider context. This warm and witty portrait paints her not only as an important figure of the American feminist movement, but also an incorrigible flirt and voracious eater… Richly satisfying and absorbing viewing.” James Croot, Stuff
“AcclaimedTushingham.British
Last Night in Soho
The 2021–2022 New York Dog Film Festival
It’s December so we’ll be screening Christmas movies! But for our part, we’ll stick to an alternative view of Christmas with two action films set during the holidays, Richard Donner’s Lethal Weapon and John McTiernan’s Die Hard, as well as two Christmas horror films: a Canadian horror classic from 1974, Bob Clark’s Black Christmas and Silent Night, Deadly Night directed by Charles E. Sellier Jr. This month we are launching, in a partnership with the Carrefour de l’Isle-Saint-Jean, a French ciné-club, so every month we will present a film from the French-speaking world (with English subtitles) and we start in December with Les Demoiselles de Rochefort (The Young Girls of Rochefort), a French film by Jacques Demy starring Catherine
The 2021 Festival wrapped in early November and the Banff Mountain Film Festival World Tour sets out across Canada and the US on December 1. The tour lands on PEI with screenings on January 14 and 15 at UPEI’s Duffy Amphitheatre in Charlottetown. Each night will feature a different set of films.
Tickets are available beginning December 1 at Sporting Intentions, Charlottetown and at the door (if any tickets remain).
Ban Mountain Film Festival
Playing every Sunday afternoon until Christmas. Tickets are $5 and can be purchased at www.citycinema.ca Films being screened are: National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation (PG), Elf (PG), and The Polar Express (G). See the schedule on this page for dates and showtimes.
The BUZZ May 2022 Page 27
Subject to change
NOVEMBER
Our new website citycinema.ca is live. We now accept all major credit cards online and both debit and credit at the cinema. Seating is limited—advance tickets are strongly recommended.
Masks
citycinema.ca
City Cinema is available for rent for private film viewings! We provide the projectionist and will have the the canteen and bar open for your group. Info/rates: chtownfilm@gmail.com
Classics at City Cinema
We now accept credit cards online and both debit and credit at the cinema
Advance Tickets
Discover ClassicsPresents:CharlottetownFamilyHolidayatCityCinema
Please wear a mask when not eating your delicious popcorn. We have paper masks available free.
Welcome to City Cinema from The Charlottetown Film Society
French
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Deneuve, Françoise Dorléac and Gene Kelly, a magnificent musical that will bring sunshine and joy to this gloomy autumn! With the upcoming release of the new Matrix film, we thought it would be nice to go back to the first movie of the saga. And finally, a screening of The Sound of Music on December 27th, will conclude Classics at City Cinema’s program ming for 2021!
Limited Seating
To learn more about BCNFBF visit banffmountainfestival.ca/tour
Du y Amphitheatre—Jan 14 & 15 Eat. Drink. Bowl. NEW MENU • FOOD & DRINK SERVICE ON LANES StartingStartingBOOKBOOKONLINE!ONLINE!YOURBOWLINGYOURBOWLINGJanuary,2022January,2022 GUARANTEE YOUR SPOT 902.892.7311 • thealley.ca AlleyPrivateRoomBuzzAd_V2.indd 1 2021-11-15 4:21 PM
Please check our website and book tickets in advance of show dates.
CITY CINEMA TIMETABLE
Regular $11.00 Member $8.00 65 and over $8.00 14 and under $8.00
NYJuliaJuliaNYJuliaNYJuliaSoundNYJuliaNYClosedHolidays!HappyClosedDieOnlyOnly...VacationOnlyOnly...DeadlyOnlyLastLastLastLastMessiah/ComplexLastPolarMessiah/ComplexBlackFrenchFrenchTheFrenchFrenchFrenchFrenchFrenchFrenchFrenchLesElfFrenchFrenchFrenchWeaponDispatchDispatchDispatchDemoisellesDispatchDispatchDispatchDispatchDispatchDispatchDispatchMatrixDispatchDispatchChristmasExpressNightin...Nightin...Nightin...Nightin...Nightin...theAnimalsNighttheAnimalstheAnimalstheAnimalstheAnimalsHardCatFilmFestDogFilmFestofMusicCatFilmFestDogFilmFestCatFilmFest
Created 46 years ago, Banff Centre Mountain Film and Book Festival (BCMFBF) has become the premier event of its kind in the world. The nine-day festival, hosted by Banff Centre for Arts and Creativity in Banff, Alberta, showcases the world’s best films, books and photographs on mountain subjects—climbing, culture, environment and natural history, exploration and adventure, wildlife, and sport—and attracts the biggest names in mountaineering, adventure filmmaking, and explorers as present ers and speakers.
Presented by Laurent Gariépy
Admission
Annual Memberships–$25.00
Stray dogs abroad, adventure dogs in sidecars, dogs winning prizes, dogs in prison, senior dogs, dogs who make you laugh,The NY Dog Film Festival is a philanthropic celebration of the love between dogs and their people, offering dog lovers a shared audience experience of canine-themed films from around the world that inspire, educate and entertain about the human-canine bond. With a New York City premiere every fall, the Festival then travels around North America, supporting local animal welfare groups which bring people and pets together. This year’s program features 20 shorts, including Legends of Comedy, The Comfort Dogs, Not Broken: Freedom Ride, The Second Time I Got To Know My Dog, Go Fetch, Ballad of Muttville, and more!
To help with social distancing we created a one-way traffic system, just follow the arrows!
City Cinema is owned and operated by our non-profit Society. We will continue to present a diverse mix of films and welcome your suggestions and support. Become a member, bring friends, share feedback!
We’re selling a reduced amount of our 70 seats per show, with checkerboard seat arrangement for distancing.
Dec 27 & 29
Mon Tue3029 7:00 7:00 ...Shop Around... Dispatch
PG, most films in English, other lan guages are subtitled. Dir: Various. International, 2021, 115 min. 10% of Box Office will be donated to the P.E.I. Humane Society.
Rent City Cinema
Film availability, showtimes and provincial COVID-19 guidelines are subject to change.
One-way TrafficSystem
DECEMBER
Wed Thur Fri Sat Sun Mon Tue Wed Thur Fri Sat Sun Mon Tue Wed Thur Fri Sat Sun Mon Tue Wed Thur Fri Sat Sun Mon Tue Wed Thur 7:00 6:30 9:00 7:00 9:30 2:00 6:30 9:00 2:00 4:30 7:00 7:00 7:00 7:00 6:30 9:00 7:00 9:30 2:00 7:00 9:30 2:00 4:00 7:00 7:00 7:00 7:00 6:30 9:00 7:00 9:30 2:00 7:00 2:00 7:00 7:00 7:00 2:00 7:00 1:00 3:30 7:00 7:00 9:00 6:30 9:00 7:00 9:15 French Dispatch French Dispatch French Dispatch French Dispatch Lethal
Live art demonstrations
this town is small artist-run centre is calling for submissions for Radiant Rural Halls. This new project will consist of a series of public art events (workshops, installations, and performances) at rural community halls in PEI. The program ming will take place from February–March with exact dates and venues to be confirmed. this town is small wants to connect with rural artists and commu nities. The artist-run centre is seeking project proposals that engage with the unique features and facilities of rural community halls. During Radiant Rural Halls, artists will present their projects and have an opportunity to speak about their work in a public setting such as a meet and greet, artist talk, or round-table discussion. A printed catalogue featur ing photographs and original writings that reflect on the artistic presentations and engage with the unique history and contemporary culture of PEI’s commu nity halls will be created as an exten sion of the project. Professional artists residing in Atlantic Canada are eligible to apply and artists with connections to rural communities will be prioritized. Submissions will be reviewed by a jury of professional artists and commu nity representatives. Artists can learn how to apply at radiant-rural-halls-call-2.thistownissmall.com/
Live art demonstrations take place weekly on Saturday from 12 noon to 2 pm until December 18 at The Zoopothecary Shop in Charlottetown. Resident artist and illustrator Pam Boutilier will focus each week’s demo on a medium or subject matter that she uses to create her whimsical fantasy art; scratchboard, pen and ink (with natural hand-crafted ink), and digital painting. Follow @Zoopothecary on social media updates. 119 Queen St, Charlottetown
Peake Street Collective this town is small’s Peake Street Collective is seeking artworks for a non-juried group exhibition of new works by Island artists. 10 by 10 will be mounted at Receiver Coffee on Victoria Row in Charlottetown in mid February and will feature 10 inch by 10 inch works in various themes and media.
The PEI Modern Quilt Guild meets on the fourth Thursday of the month from 7–9 pm. Follow the group @peimqg on Instagram for updates. If interested in attending as a guest or for any other inquires, contact peimqg@gmail.com.
Life Drawing sessions
Eptek gallery games
Kindred Spirits Quilt Guild
Radiant Rural Halls project
Holiday art box design
Purolator unveiled its 2021 limited-edi tion holiday art boxes, which were designed by a new group of emerging Canadian artists this year, representing all provinces and territories. In the spirit of the season, Purolator asked last year’s holiday-box artists to nominate the next generation of emerging artists from their home provinces and territories. Local artist Renee Laprise was selected to represent PEI. Renee was commissioned to create a limited-edition holiday art box with a design focus on the 2021 theme, Light Up the Holidays, as well as highlight the uniqueness of her home province. The seasonal art boxes do not require wrapping.
Looking for something fun and edu cational to do with the kids? Eptek Art & Culture Centre offers exhibit related scavenger hunts. Drop-ins are wel come but visitors are encouraged to call ahead. Admission is by donation. Open Tuesday–Friday from 10 am–4 pm and Sunday 12–5 pm. Follow on FB for upcoming activities. 130 Heather Moyse Dr, Summerside. 888-8373, peimuseum.com
Artists interested in participating are asked to email peakestreetstudios@ gmail.com. No formal application is necessary, however, space is limited, so email stating intent to create work for this exhibition as soon as possible and no later than December 8. The group exhibit is open to all artists regardless of their exhibition experience. First-time, pre-emerging artists with limited public exposure, are encouraged to participate. Works are generally selected on a firstcome-first-serve basis, but BIPOC artists without prior exhibition experience will be prioritized. Any artists with questions should feel free to contact Peake Street at peakestreetstudios@gmail.com.
The Life Drawing PEI group holds weekly drop-in drawing sessions with a nude model on Sundays at the Gertrude Cotton Art Centre from 2–4 pm (unless otherwise posted on their FB page). All skill levels welcome. Must be 18+ or have parent/guardian written permis sion. Easels are provided. Bring your own drawing material. 57 Bunbury Rd, Stratford. Info: @LifeDrawingPEI
The Kindred Spirits Quilt Guild meets on the third Wednesday of every month (except July, August and December) from 7–9 pm at the Irish Cultural Centre. New members and visitors are welcome. follow on FB for updates. Info: 393-3222, 582 North River Rd, Charlottetown
PEI Modern Quilt Guild
news ART
Page 28 The BUZZ May 2022
Island contemporary embroidery artist Nancy Cole is participating in the group art show, FotoFiber, at Robert Mann Gallery in New York City. The exhibition can be viewed online until January 28 at robertmann.com.
FotoFiber explores the synthesis of two art disciplines—embroidery and photography.Thepractice of embroidering photo graphic images has a long history. At the turn of the 20th century, European artists embellished photo postcards as part art object, part souvenir for tourists.Cole’s piece in the show, The Dark Room, is an 18 inch by 20 inch contem porary hand tinted embroidery and vintage photo enlargement, mounted
“I took this photo in 1977 using my Yashica 35mm and developed it in my darkroom,” says Cole. ”It looks like I did a slow exposure with maybe an ASA 32 film [probably Iliford]. Slow forward to 2021—contemporary embroidery.”
FotoFiber gathered work from a group of international female artists who combine photography with vari ous fiber techniques of the past while employing a contemporary sensibility. Techniques such as French knotting, cross stitching, weaving and hand stitched embroidery render unique and expressive handmade objects.
The BUZZ May 2022 Page 29
Follow Cole’s work @perrywinkle. cole on Instagram.
Nancy Cole in New York
Island artist in group art show at Robert Mann Gallery
ARTISTTHECOURTESY
The Dark Room (detail) by Nancy Cole. Contemporary hand-tinted embroidery and vintage photo enlargement.
on a black gesso stretched canvas.
Gentleman gunfighter Paladin seeks a peaceful solution to a Christmas conflict between a ruthless rancher, his long-lost son (guest star Johnny Crawford of The Rifleman fame) and the dying native tribe who raised the boy.
When a freak accident turns a Santasuited bank robber into the self-repli cating one-man criminal army known as Multiple Santa, Christmas-loving
The New Batman Adventures - “Holiday Knights” (S1E1-1997)
Have Gun Will Travel - “The Hanging Cross” (S1E15-1957)
For more details on each of these 12 shows, plus a bonus list of further Christmas viewing, see our longer companion piece online at buzzpei.com.
12 days of Christmas TV
superhero The Tick can’t bring himself to battle a villain who looks just like Santa Claus.
Doctor Who - “The Runaway Bride” (2006)
A Nero Wolfe Mystery - “Wolfe Goes Out” (S1E6&7-2001)
The Leaguers take a memorable winter break as Superman and Martian Manhunter enjoy a Kent family Christmas in Smallville, Green Lantern and Hawkgirl compare their very different approaches to holiday merriment, and the Flash races to find a special Christmas gift for orphans.
The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes“The Blue Carbuncle” (S1E7-1984)
Monday,DEADLINEJANUARYBUZZDecember 13
Airing in Canada and the USA as two back-to-back wintry episodes (“Door to Death” and “Christmas Party”), eccen tric armchair detective Nero Wolfe ventures out of his comfortable office and into the snowy countryside on an ill-fated quest for an orchid expert, then gets entangled in a murder at a holiday soiree attended by his rakish right hand man Archie Goodwin.
Friends of Eptek lm series
Page 30 The BUZZ May 2022
Taxi - “A Full House for Christmas” (S1E13-1978)
This polished anthology episode’s three holiday shorts include a Harley Quinn/Poison Ivy larcenous Christmas shopping spree, Batgirl & the GCPD vs. Clayface, and Batman & Robin vs. the Joker’s New Year’s evil.
news FILM
Sleeping off Dr. Johnny Fever’s special brownies after canceling everyone’s Christmas bonuses, hapless radio sta tion manager Arthur Carlson goes on a darkly comical, Scrooge-like dream journey.
See sights from around the world at the Friends of Eptek Lunchtime Film Series. The films, mostly travelogues, are screened at Eptek Centre on Thursdays at noon. Space is limited. Call ahead to register and guarantee a spot. The films planned for December include: Portugal: Land of Discoveries (57 min) distributed by IVN Entertainment (Dec 2); Spain: Everything Under the Sun (50 min) distributed by IVN Entertainment (Dec 9); Nature’s Great Events: Great Journeys (Iceland, Canada, Christmas Isles, Indian Ocean, Central America) (60 min) distrib uted by BBC Worldwide (Dec 16); and An Irish Christmas: Christmas from the St. Patrick’s Cathedral (56 min) distributed by Questar Inc (Dec 23). Eptek Centre is a PEI Museum and Heritage Foundation site located at 130 Heather Moyse Drive in Summerside.
by Sean McQuaid
The cab drivers and the show’s view ers are reluctantly rooting for oft-loath some taxi dispatcher Louie DePalma as he tries to use a card game wager to make his long-absent brother visit their mother for Christmas.
A wayward Christmas goose and a dazzling stolen jewel lead Holmes and Watson into a multi-layered mystery to save a wrongly accused man and find the real culprit.
When fiery-tempered, sharp-tongued bride Donna Noble (Catherine Tate) is randomly teleported out of her wed ding and into the Doctor’s TARDIS craft, the reluctant duo’s efforts to get her to the church on time expose a horrific alien menace.
Pinky and the Brain - “A Pinky and The Brain Christmas” (S1E8-1995)
The Twilight Zone - “The Changing of the Guard” (S3E37-1962)
DuckTales - “How Santa Stole Christmas!” (S3E18-2020)
WKRP in Cincinnati - “Bah, Humbug” (S3E7-1980)
Short lm production funding
Christmas TV often focuses on beloved classics that people watch every year, like Charlie Brown and the Grinch; but there’s plenty of less famous TV Christmas stories well worth watching, and here are 12 great all-ages examples from episodic TV series:
The Brain’s latest outlandish world conquest scheme leads him and Pinky to infiltrate Santa’s workshop at the North Pole in an absurdly funny and surprisingly moving adventure.
One of the show’s weirdest running gags, Scrooge McDuck’s vendetta against Santa Claus, is explained in the funny, touching tale of how Santa and Scrooge started out as friends whose clashing approaches to Christmas drove them apart.
Applications for the 2022 Film4Ward stream of short film production fund ing has been extended to January 17 at filmpei.com. Furthermore, if planning to apply but in need of a producer/direc tor/writer, FilmPEI has a matchmaking list. To participate, writers can send their story logline and mention whether they are looking for a producer, director or both to info@filmpei.com. Directors and producers can send an email to let FilmPEI know they are looking for a project. FilmPEI will send the loglines anonymously to producers and direc tors who have approached them to be matched, and writers will be contacted if their project is selected. For more grant information, visit programs/film-4ward-program.filmpei.com/Since its launch in 2018, Film4Ward has funded and supported the production of 15 PEI-made short films. This year, emerg ing and professional filmmaking teams are eligible to apply for up to $20,000 of funding toward their narrative or docu mentary project’s production. The four successful teams will also have access to on-the-job training opportunities and workshops facilitated by FilmPEI, as well as targeted mentoring opportunities by industry professionals.
Justice League - “Comfort and Joy” (S2E23-2003)
Elderly prep school professor Ellis Fowler (Donald Pleasence), forced into retirement and feeling like a failure, contemplates suicide on Christmas Eve until shadowy visitors intervene.
The Tick - “The Tick Loves Santa!” (S2E12-1995)
Learn more about the successful recipients and details about their proj ects at princeedwardisland.ca.
Teresa Kuo (Film/Media Arts, $5000): To direct and animate the seven minute animated short-film Where my Branches Stem on Chinese Canadian identity and culture for submission to film festivals by February 2023.
Ariel Sharratt (Music, $2500): To tour Canadian music festivals to pro mote Garbage Island, a new album to be released next summer.
Art grants recipients
Tyler Landry (Visual Arts, $2600): To create the graphic novel Old Caves The project tells a story concerning the nature of obsession and the isolation that often contains it.
related to the artist’s career and study of art-based creativity.
Teresa Kuo
The BUZZ May 2022 Page 31
Sid Acharya (Music, $4000): To work on the project PINKED, an expressive story of Sid-A’s re-connec tion to their roots and ancestors, as well as their discoveries of acceptance and self-love.
Renee Laprise (Visual Arts, $5000): To focus on the theme of “humans reconnecting with nature” for twelve sketches for a new painting series.
Kirstie McCallum (Visual Arts, $2500): To mentor with sculptor and designer Jody Racicot to develop an original design for the piece Forest Chair, a work of living sculpture.
Damien Worth (Visual Arts, $4000): To produce a new body of visual art work that examines travel, transition, and (dis)location as subject matter.
BIBIANA ARRIAGA RESTORE • BALANCE • ACHIEVE Experiencing any body pain? Dealing with a chronic injury? Feeling a scar painful and tight? Give ROLF STRUCTURAL INTEGRATION and SCARWORK a try! BNAINMOTION.COM 3-549 North River Road, Ch'town
Ryan Drew (Interdisciplinary, $1500): To attend the International Conference on Creativity and Cognition in June. The theme Creativity, Craft, and Design is directly
Ryan McCarvill (Film/Media Arts, $700): To take a series of online filmmaking workshops offered by the Liaison of Independent Filmmakers of Toronto in order to produce a micro budget feature film on PEI in 2022.
Doug Dumais (Visual Arts, $4500): To work on the photographic narrative The Third Place, about the history and future of PEI’s libraries.
Scott Parsons (Music, $6000): To record an album of songs telling the stories of PEI Black history using tradi tional forms of music including blues, folk and reggae.
Jenna MacMillan (Film/Media Arts, $4000): To write the outline and first draft of a feature-length comedy screenplay, B-UNIT, the story of an aspiring filmmaker who manages to attract a Hollywood project to shoot in her small coastal town.
Colton Curtis (Theatre, $4500): To develop a new interdisciplin ary work, Forgive Me, featuring two actors—a hybrid of text and ballet based on childhood journal entries, and explores the themes of queerness, religion, acceptance, and the relation ship between a grieving mother and a coming out son.
Hans Wendt (Visual Arts, $3200): To produce eight to twelve large scale watercolour paintings this winter, for exhibition in Ontario and PEI.
Fourteen Island artists recently received a total of $50,000 through the provincial Arts Grants program. The successful applicants were selected by a six-member jury of their arts commu nity peers and follows the same model used by the Canada Council of Arts.
Renee Laprise is moving on
PEI Writers’ Guild hires new ED
“FilmPEIahead.isexceptionally grateful to Renee for her eight years of service to the organization. Over that time, we have seen FilmPEI and the film indus try on PEI grow and flourish. Renee has been a keystone in that transition and success,” says Mark Sandiford, president of FilmPEI.
initiative of the UPEI Robertson Library, the UPEI International Student Office, the UPEI Student Union, PEI Public Library, Charlottetown Rotary Club, the Rotaract Club of UPEI, and the Black Cultural Society of PEI. Copies of the book can be borrowed from PEI Public Libraries and UPEI Robertson Library. Bookmark has offered 15% off the book purchase to those joining PEI Community Reads. Follow @peicommunityreads on FB.
suitable replacement is found, as well as through the transition period. It is anticipated that FilmPEI will continure to lean on her skills and experience in the years
and expand programs and services for Island writers.
“I am proud of everything that I have been able to accomplish with FilmPEI and appreciate the oppor tunity to learn and grow with the organization,” says Laprise. “FilmPEI is on solid ground now and it felt like the perfect time for me to return to my first loves of art and filmmaking. I look forward to continuing to be a part of the Island film community, but now in a different capacity.”
Members of the Eptek Centre Book Club will meet on December 2 at 7 pm to dis cuss the book Lillian Boxfish Takes a Walk by Kathleen Rooney. Register in advance as seating is limited. Eptek Art & Culture Centre is PEI Museum and Heritage Foundation site. 130 Heather Moyse Dr, Summerside. 888-8373
Over the last 10 years, Hogan has performed his own written work on stages across the country in his career as a stand-up come dian. He intends to bring that level of energy and excitement to the Writers’HoganGuild.also brings with him a wealth of knowledge in event planning, having co-created the Island Shine Festival, a four-day celebration of Island music, food, and comedy held in Mill River.
Shawn Hogan replaces outgoing Mo Du y Cobb
Eptek Centre Book Club
On December 8, the PEI Writers’ Guild (PEIWG) will host a free holiday open mic and social at the Haviland Club in Charlottetown. The open mic will take place from 7–8 pm with a social to follow. Those interested in reading are asked to sign up in advance by email to peiwritersguild@gmail.com. Organizers will confirm the roster by December 1. Donations to the Guild will be accepted but are not necessary in order to attend the event; all donations will be used to further PEIWG programming and services, which include offering bursaries for their workshops.
Laprise will continue to be a key member of FilmPEI. For now, she will continue to coordinate the organi zation’s training programs through March 2022 and offer support until a
E. Jean Simpson eBook
Dutch Thompson book launch
James McNutt book launch
Summerside Rotary Library program ming returns in December. Registration is required. Bring an instrument or borrow one and join other musicians for an informal evening of playing music at Adult Jam Session (6:30 pm; Dec 6, 20). Go green and create holiday crafts from repurposed materials at Reduce, Reuse, Recycle, Craft (2 pm, 6 pm; Dec 7). Knit, do needlework, meet new people, learn new techniques and bring materials to Needle Craft Club (2 pm; Dec 9, 23). Pick up a copy of the latest book selection at the circulation desk for the next Adult Book Club (2 pm; Dec 18). Children’s programming includes: Wiggle Giggle Read with rhymes and playtime activ ities for babies 0–36 months and their caregivers (9:30 am, Wed); Family Storytime with stories and activities for children 3 to 5 years (10:30 am, Thur); Puppet Play fun for the whole family (10:30 am, Dec 4); Get Rowdy with Reading related games and activities (10:30 am, Dec 11); and Science Saturday featuring educational hands-on projects for kids ages 6–12 (10:30 am, Dec 18).
After eight years, FilmPEI’s Renee Laprise has decided to leave her role as executive director of FilmPEI.
“In the last two years, we’ve gone from being a 100% volunteer-run organization to now having a paid staff member,” states Manley. “The inten tion is to make the Executive Director a full-time position in the next few years. This province is rich in artistic culture. We’re really excited to see the new vision and energy that Shawn brings to the peiwritersguild@gmail.compeiwritersguild.comGuild.”
Shawn Hogan is the new executive director for the PEI Writers’ Guild
PEI author James Macnutt will launch his trilogy, featuring all three volumes— The Mendelssohn Connection, The Odessa Connection, and The 9/11 Connection at Beaconsfield Carriage House in Charlottetown on December 9 at 7 pm. All are invited to attend.
The PEI Writers’ Guild (PEIWG) has hired Shawn Hogan as their new new Executive Director, replacing former ED, Mo Duffy Cobb, who stepped down in September.
FilmPEI’s ED leaving after eight years of success
Holiday Open Mic & Social
AandJPEITreasures
Teens can decorate terra cotta pots for gingerbread house ornaments or people candy dishes at Pots of Gingerbread (4 pm; Dec 14). Children and teens can solve the clues and learn about different holidays and their traditions to escape the room and make the Nice List at Escape the Holidays (11 am–8 pm; Dec 21); or Escape 2021—it’s almost 2022 but the ball can’t drop to ring in the New Year until the clues are solved to clear its way (10 am–1 pm; Dec 31). Find the Pickle—hidden in the library are 10 pickles, find them all to answer questions about holiday traditions from around the world and submit an answer sheet to be entered to win a pickle ornament (Dec 1–20). The Summerside Rotary Library in the Inspire Learning Centre is located at 57 Central St, Summerside.
Bookmark and Acorn Press will pres ent the launch of Reginald “Dutch” Thompson’s new book More Bygone Days: Moonshine, Dancin’ and Romancin’ on December 10, 7:30 pm, at Florence Simmons Performance Hall, 140 Weymouth St, Charlottetown. Join Dutch and enjoy an evening reminiscing on the bygone days. Free to attend.
“PEI has been blessed to welcome new Islanders from all over the world, and we want to showcase a variety of writing genres, styles, and voices,” saysPEIWGHogan.President Christine Gordon Manley notes that a big part of the ED position this year is to grow the role
The PEI community is invited to join the PEI Community Reads book club in reading and discussing The Skin We’re In: A Year of Black Resistance and Power by author, journalist and activist, Desmond Cole. Every month members read a couple of chapters, learn, and discuss them together using an intersectional and antiracist lens. All are invited to read and reflect on race, injustice, history, and a better future. PEI Community Reads was launched in February 2021. The group meets virtually via Zoom on the fourth Tuesday of every month until February 2022. On December 21 at 6 pm, the group will discuss chapters “uncontrolled movement (september)” and “women of exceptional merit (october).” The group will host a virtual event featuring Desmond Cole in February, which is Black History Month in Canada. Details to be announced. The book club is a joint
Summerside Rotary Library programs
Author, blogger, podcaster and photog rapher E. Jean Simpson’s new eBook, The Big Kid’s Magical Path to Insects in Nature, released by A & J PEI Treasures, is available on Amazon Kindle and Smashwords in a variety of formats. The eBook introduces the young and young at heart to the magical path of the insects found in and around PEI. Info: @
Page 32 The BUZZ May 2022
READERS / WRITERS
One of Hogan’s goals for the Guild over the coming year is to not only continue to shine a spotlight on PEI’s current and ever-growing writing talents, but to also expand the Guild’s reach and visibility to the vast num ber of diverse communities across the province through the PEIWG Diversity & Inclusion Committee.
PEI Community Reads
The BUZZ May 2022 Page 33
A gift of Island poetry
PILLARS OF CREATION
The Charlottetown Farmers Market is open weekly on Saturday from 9 am–2 pm. Local farmers, crafters, artisans and hot food vendors sell local, organic produce, fish, meats, baked goods, preserves, roasted coffee, specialty teas and more. Online ordering is available through the CFM2GO online market place at cfm2go.localfoodmarketplace. com. 100 Belvedere Ave, charlottetownfarmersmarket.comCharlottetown.
Find local produce, baked goods, meat, fish, prepared food, cheese, artisans and more at the Summerside Farmers Market. Open weekly on Saturday from 9 am–1 pm. Holiday hours on December 23 from 4–8 pm and January 2 from 9 am–1 pm. The Holman Centre, 250 Water St, summersidefarmersmarket.comSummerside.
Charlottetown Farmers Market
Charlottetown Flea Market
Solar winds are blowing up the pillars of the Eagle Nebula 7000 light years away from Eldon, where terrestrial winds are shaping this year’s Christmas Day, tossing last fall’s leaves for Star to chase, blowing hoods from heads, and staggering us in our steps, while a baby born more than 2000 years ago over 8000 km from here reminds us of the fragile strength of homo sapiens, and tells us that the qualities in that child, kindness, care, enlightenment, are in us as well, not to be blown o or measured up as of no account. We keep on through the wind.
Each month Deirdre Kessler selects a poem by an Island poet for The Buzz
Summerside Farmers Market
Judy Gaudet. Conversation with Crows (Oberon Press) and 150+: Canada’s History in Poetry (Acorn Press, 2018) are Judy’s two most recent collections.
The Charlottetown Flea Market is open weekly on Sunday from 9 am–2 pm at the Charlottetown Seaport. Find baked goods, vintage finds, antiques, plants, collectibles, Avon products, knitting, furniture, clothing, vinyl records, jewelry, Indigenous crafts and collectibles, wood work, fresh pretzels and more. 1 Weymouth Street, Charlottetown MARKETS
Prince Edward Island newcomer Klaude Trajanovski’s debut novel, In The Dark: The Haemot Saga, is the first installment in their brand new series published by Pretty Piper Publishing.
A book launch, presented by Bookmark and Acorn Press, will take place at 7 pm on December 10 at Florence Simmons Performance Hall, 140 Weymouth St, Charlottetown.
Set in the fantasy world of Sorne, this story follows the journey of a young woman named Melon, whose life takes a dramatic turn when her cult-leader father attempts to perform an exorcism on her “possessed” arm. Melon flees from her home, in the
BOOKS PEI
In the dark: The Haemot Saga, Vol. 1 K. Trajanovski
Page 34 The BUZZ May 2022
More Bygone Days: Moonshine, Dancin’ and Romancin’ Reginald “Dutch” Thompson
Reginald “Dutch” Thompson is back with More Bygone Days: Moonshine, Dancin’ and Romancin’. This second col lection by Thompson includes stories from moonshiner and horse whisperer Ralph Gallant and Maisie Adams, Canada’s first female lighthouse keeper. It has memories from railway engine driver and photographer Keith Pratt, and Kathryn MacQuarrie Wood, a tourism pioneer who ran the larg est rink on PEI. Don’t miss Stompin’ Tom’s best man, entrepreneur Johnny Reid and lighthouse keeper Manson Murchison, who saw the phantom ship of the Strait twice.
From CBC Radio to the pages of this book, Dutch’s encouraging voice illuminates these unforgettable and important histories from the lives of Maritimers.
Thompson has worked in film, the atre, television and radio, but his true love is collecting stories and memories from the bygone days in the Maritimes. His 900 recorded hours of oral his tory and folklore led to a 27 year (and counting) column on CBC radio and numerous heritage awards. He lives in a 170 year old house in Bunbury, PEI.
She Rules: What You Didn’t Know Is Holding You Back in Business Sara Roach Lewis
Sara Roach Lewis recently released her first book, She Rules: What You Didn’t Know Is Holding You Back in Business
The Odessa Connection
The third and final volume, The 9/11 Connection, will be published in December. A book launch for Macnutt’s trilogy will take place December 9 at Beaconsfield Carriage House in Charlottetown. All are invited to attend.
As CEO of SRL Solutions and creator of the 7-Figure Confidence Program, Sara is on a mission to help ambitious women build scalable busi nesses that support their busy lives. sherules.biz
Matty MacLeod, born and raised on PEI, recently self-published his debut novel Children of Terra: The Kids Don’t Stand a Chance
In She Rules, Sara rewrites the rules for women in business, sharing her strategies for exponential business growth, achieving laser-focus while moving through resistance, rebranding self-care as an important business prac tice, and how to turn imposter syn drome into seven-figure confidence.
Arlene Mighton moved to PEI in September of 2019.
The Viet-Co Conundrum is currently available through Amazon.
The young adult adventure/fantasy novel follows Slark Daniels and his friends, a group of young heroes, on a journey to save their friend, a princess, from an evil organization in their mag ical world, Terra.
Monday,DEADLINEJANUARYDecember 13
Watch the book trailer made for novel’s release, which includes a song that Ontario artist BatBoy cre ated for the trailer, at watch?v=MxVa2cE58jU.youtube.com/
James W. Macnutt
The BUZZ May 2022 Page 35
Moving between Russia, Ukraine, London and the Mediterranean, The Odessa Connection finds the protag onists Will and Isaac tested as never before. With so much to lose, Isaac experiences the extremes of joy and despair, while Will, weighed down by responsibility, finds his stoic self-as surance evaporating as he discovers betrayal lurking behind every corner.
The Viet-Co Conundrum
unexpected involvement of two men: the first a familiar figure from Russian history; the second hailing from Will’s own backyard on PEI...
Her arm is taken from her by a myste rious girl who vanishes as quickly as she appears. Darlin, a young traveller investigating the Black Church in the centre of Patch, stumbles upon a trau matized Melon. The new found com panions journey across the land to find a purpose for their lives, encountering many trials and meeting new people along the way. After an unexpected discovery, it seems that Melon and her new family may have unknowingly made themselves pieces of a much greater puzzle, and the fate of the uni verse may hang in the balance.
Island-based author Arlene Mighton has release her latest book, The Viet-Co Conundrum, about a middle-aged woman, Miranda Olsen, and her two children who are caught up with the lockdown miseries of COVID-19.
Arlene S. Mighten
Sara teaches ambitious women the strategies they need to claim their confidence, scale their businesses, and double their revenues. With decades of experience as a feminist business strat egist, Sara has supported thousands of women to shed society’s expectations and create new pathways for success.
The children are tired of staying indoors and are beginning to squabble over anything. Miranda tries to lessen the frustration by sitting down with the two fighting children and telling them a story about the missionaries in the Vietnam War. The children become absorbed in the story as Miranda focuses on the Tet Offensive and the end of the war (1975)—two Christian milestones of the war. The deaths of the missionaries in the Tet Offensive and the harrowing events of 1975 have one sitting on the edge of their seat. At the end, the children are more accom modating of one another, and Miranda begins the journey of reconciliation.
The Kids Don’t Stand a Chance
Illustrations by Casey Fulton
The book is full of illustrations by Nova Scotia artist, Casey Fulton.
How does a women succeed in a world where the rules of business were written by men? They make their own rules, of course.
Children of Terra is available at ama zon.ca and soon in local bookstores.
Author signed paperback copies are available at Indigo in Charlottetown. Paperback, hardcover, and e-book cop ies are available on prettypiperpublishing.comAmazon.
The Odessa Connection, the second volume of James Macnutt’s histori cal fiction trilogy, was published in November.Itis2008, almost three years have passed since the tumultuous events outlined in The Mendelssohn Connection, which thrust the unwilling Isaac Menshive into a position of global responsibility as the head of a wealthy family trust. Isaac now lives quietly in a dacha in Russia with his new family. Isaac’s old friend and most trusted advisor, Will MacIntosh, is emotionally unmoored at exactly the moment when events conspire to put the immense burden of the trust squarely on his shoulders.Stillindanger from unknown forces that will stop at nothing to get their hands on the trust’s considerable assets, Will and his team continue to investigate its origins and the extraor dinary fortune that it has accrued over the centuries. The team’s research points them in the direction of Odessa city, the early 20th century, and the
Matty MacLeod
ways, so signing up to be a mentor might be the best gift to give yourself this year. To volunteer, call us 569-KIDS or visit bbbspei.ca.
Gifts from the Heart’s Christmas Project Love provides Christmas food hampers and gifts to individuals and families during the holidays. Low income Islanders who earn less than $30,000 and wish to receive a hamper can register at Gifts from the Heart, 58 Spring Ln, Charlottetown. The registered not-for-profit charity was founded by Betty Begg-Brooks in 2014 to assist low income individuals and those undergo ing hardship. Islanders from tip to tip are provided food, clothing, furniture, toys and personal items free of charge. Staffed by a team of volunteers, items distributed are sourced from donations from Islanders and Island businesses. Donations of nonperishable food, and new clothing and toys are appreciated and can be dropped off Monday–Friday from 10 am– 3 pm. Volunteers are needed to package the food hampers and wrap the gifts. If interested, email bettybegg@ gmail.com or call 628-6871.
Page 36 The BUZZ May 2022
Women’s Network PEI TradeHERizons is a free 12-week career exploration and college preparation program for women with a focus on exposure to trades and technology careers, enhancing essential skills, career exploration and personal development. Participants will experi ence hands on learning opportunities with Holland College, meet mentors, and tour with employers in industry. Participants will also enhance life skills and focus on labor market research, resumes, interviews, math, and team building. The program runs January 9–April 12. Info: admin@wnpei.org, 3685040, wnpei.org
Trade HERizons 2022
Meet Wowkwis (Whoa-quis), the official mascot of the 2023 Canada Winter Games. Named after the Mi’kmaq First Nations peoples’ word for “red fox,” Wowkwis celebrates the rich history of PEI.
The mascot name and design was inspired by nine year old Myla Doucette of Gulf Shore Consolidated School in North Rustico. Her winning design was selected from over 1200 entries in a province-wide design competition that took place last spring.
PEIWCF seeking committee member nominations
ND Women’s Committee
The PEI Advisory Council on the Status of Women is hosting a Zoom Lunch & Learn, ”Facts on Femicide,” on December 2 with Dr. Myrna Dawson, the founder and director of the Canadian Femicide Observatory for Justice and Accountability. Everyone is welcome to join online and learn about the critical work of the Observatory. Register: 3684510, info@peistatusofwomen.ca
As a surprise, Myla and her classmates were the first to meet Wowkwis, who will play a vital role in welcoming the rest of Canada to PEI and showcas ing the spirit, heart and spark of the 2023 Canada Winter Games.
Wowkwis by Myla Doucette
Santa’s Angels
The Study & Stay PEI Program is seeking 58 professionals as volunteer mentors across the Island. The pro gram is designed for helping a group of select international students stay in PEI after graduation and find meaningful employment. Mentors help international students better understand workplace culture, improve their soft skills, and develop more connections on PEI. Mentors will meet with their assigned student, typically for one hour either online via webcam, by phone or in per son, four times between February–July. Spend time with international students while helping to create a more support ive community. Sign up at studypei.ca.
Study & Stay mentors
A local, who hails from North Rustico, Wowkwis’ favourite sport is ringette and her favourite colour is turquoise because it resem bles the water in the bay.
2023CanadaGames.ca
Christmas Project Love
Online Lunch & Learn
#1
The design showcases the local art and culture of the Abegweit Mi’kmaq First Nations peoples by uniquely integrating quill work that Wowkwis will wear, crafted by local Island artist Noella Moore.
This year, give the gift of time. Spend a few hours a month helping a child suc ceed by signing up to be a Big Brother, Big Sister, Big Couple or In-School Mentor with Big Brothers Big Sisters of PEI. Since BBBS makes their matches based on interests, a new volunteer could be a great mentor for a child who is wait ing. The benefits of mentoring flow both
BBBS PEI seeking mentors
Info: studyandstaypei@upei.ca
FHF holiday campaign
The New Democrat Women’s Committee will meet from 2–4 pm December 5 at the Voluntary Resource Centre to plan for 2022 and share some holiday treats. Current and new members who are fully vaccinated are always welcome. 81 Prince St, Charlottetown. Info: 892-1930, info@ndppei.ca
Calendar draw fundraiser
Students at Gulf Shore Consolidated meet Wowkwis, the mascot name for the 2023 Canada Winter Games, named and designed by fellow classmate Myla Doucette.
Tracadie Lions Club is holding their first ever Calendar Draw to fundraise for their community initiatives that help those in need, including Christmas hampers, medical transportation costs, youth men tal health, addiction and more. Tickets entitle the ticketholder to 28 draws—one draw for every day in February. Cash prizes total $3000 with the bigger draws taking place February 14 ($500) and February 28 ($1000). Ticketholders can win more than once—tickets get re-en tered for every daily draw. Tickets make great stocking stuffers and are available for purchase until January 31 by calling Joyce at 218-6047 or contacting a member at the Tracadie Lions Club, 148 Station Rd, Tracadie Cross.
The PEI Wild Life Conservation Fund (PEIWLF) is seeking nominations for three volunteer positions available on the PEIWLF Committee. One volunteer representative is needed from each of the following communities: angling, hunting and watershed group. The Committee meets four to six times annually and members serve a maximum of two three-year terms. Nominations should come with a short bio of the nominee. The deadline to submit a nomination is December 14. Written nominations can be forwarded to PEI Wildlife Conservation Fund Committee, PO Box 265, Charlottetown, PE, C1A 7K4, or sent by email to info@peiwcf.ca. Info: 892-7513
The 2021 Farmers Helping Farmers (FHF) Holiday Campaign is now underway. The PEI-based volunteer organizations raised a record-breaking total of more than $100,000 in 2020. With the pandemic continuing to impact their partners (women’s groups, farmers, dairies, and schools) in Meru County, Kenya, FHF are hoping to match or surpass that amount in 2021. Most donations will be multi plied fivefold with support from Global Affairs Canada to improve food security for Kenyan women farmers. There are many ways to donate to the FHF Holiday Campaign. To see the list of suggestions, visit farmershelpingfarmers.ca and click the Canada Helps logo. There is also a flyer detailing options in this issue of The Buzz, as well as December editions of The Guardian. Donors will receive a gift card in time for Christmas if donations are received by December 15. One hundred percent of the proceeds will go directly to Kenya. Info: farmershelpingfarmers.ca
COMMUNITY
and food for their children and families. The surprise visits come complete with Santa, his elves, a bag full of Christmas gifts and goodies, and all the fixin’s for a Christmas dinner. Volunteers organize, fundraise, and carry out these visits with customized packages based upon the needs of the family. Requests to be on Santa’s List can be made until December 11 at midnight using the online form at santasangels.ca/receive. People can also nominate a family they know could use a cheerful Santa visit, provided the family is genuinely in need. santasangels.ca
The volunteer-run registered charity Santa’s Angels has a new headquar ters this year, provided by Pat Morris. Located on the corner of Capital Dr and Malpeque Rd in Charlottetown, the space will offer more room for meetings, col lecting donations, sorting, packing, and storage. The public is invited to bring in donations and visit with Santa at the new location from 10 am–2 pm each Saturday from now until Christmas. Cash dona tions can be made at santasangels.ca and toy drop off locations are listed on their website as well. A convenient drive-through location is open Monday–Friday, 9 am–6 pm and Saturday 8 am–3 pm, at Storage Inn, 180 Minna Jane Dr, Royalty Power Centre (near the former Sears building in Charlottetown). The drive through gate will open automat ically and donations can be left in the dry, secure place. Since 2004, Angels have visited homes across PEI during the holidays and on Christmas morning, to help those who cannot provide gifts
2023 Canada Winter Games mascot
A series of instructional videos on lantern creation will be shared on the Pageant’s website and social media channels in the weeks leading up to December 21. Led by artist and ecol ogist Kristian Brevik, the videos will guide participants through a technique of sculptural lantern construction.
format; workshops in lantern building on Zoom and YouTube, and a constel lation of lights appearing across the country on the Solstice as small groups of lantern bearers walked out into the night.For the 2021 Solstice Walk, the Pageant is partnering with Kings Playhouse in Georgetown and other artists and organizations across the country to deliver workshops and outdoor walks.
FINANCIALANNUAL CAMPAIGN 2021 | 2022 This year’s campaign highlights the impact of family violence on children and youth and the importance of having prevention programs and support services in place. Please help us reach our goal! Goal $100,000 TO READ MORE OR TO DONATE: WWW.FVPS.CA or (902) 894-3354 ext.221 Find tools and services and share personal stories with others, all from the comfort of your home. BridgeTheGapp.ca Start mentaljourneyyourtowellness. Bridge the Gapp is an online resource for Islanders to nd mental health and substance use information.support gapptheBridge This ad is paid for by the government Prince Edward Island Solstice Walk participants in Rustico, 2020. STEWARTMEGAN River SolsticeClydeWalk
Free, in-person workshops will be held at Kings Playhouse in Georgetown on December 10 from 5–8 pm, and at The Mill in New Glasgow on December 11 and 12 from 1–4 pm. Zoom workshops will run December 18–19 from 1–3 Pre-registrationpm.is required for both in-person and online workshops.
The River Clyde Pageant presents the second annual River Clyde Solstice Walk this December, with digital and in-person lantern workshops, and out door processions in New Glasgow and Georgetown, as well as in other com munities across the country. The 2021 Solstice Walk will be a widespread procession of light on the darkest night of theTheyear.hybrid digital and in-person workshops and events dispersed across multiple communities expand upon the first River Clyde Solstice Walk in December 2020, which was adapted in response to a circuit-breaker lockdown. The lockdown gave rise to a unique
Lantern processions will take place from 6–7 pm on December 21 at the Gardens of Hope in New Glasgow and at Kings Playhouse in Georgetown. Both walks will conclude with food, beverages and live music.
To register or find out more, riverclydepageant.com/solstice-walk.visit
The BUZZ May 2022 Page 37
COMMUNITY #2
Beginning December 1, the Government of PEI will offer qualified low-income Islanders a free heat pump. This will assist in eliminating the need for fossil burning heat sources in residential homes. Under the Province’s effi ciency programs, Islanders with a total household income of $35,000 or less
Free heat pumps
Reg Porter was presented the Gilbert Buote Award at Government House in November at a ceremony attended by her Honour Antoinette Perry, Lieutenant Governor of PEI. Porter received the award for his research of early French maps of PEI that he published on his blog “Reg Porter’s Prince Edward Island Heritage Blog.” The Sister Antoinette DesRoches Historical Committee, a com mittee of the Association of the Acadian Museum of PEI, presents the award annually to recognize projects of merit in the fields of Acadian history and heritage in the province. In the course of his research, Porter discovered an impres sive number of maps of Île Saint-Jean in major North American and European archives, many of which were unknown to historians of Acadie and PEI. In this blog, Porter analyses maps from the 17th and 18th centuries. He gives the politi cal, economic, and social context of each map and, whenever possible, provides information on the cartographer who created the map. He also comments on the content of the maps and pays special attention to the toponymy, transcribing the place names and indicating the pres ent-day names. regporter.com
The Seniors College of PEI provides learning opportunities for adults 50 and over in Queens, Prince, and Kings Counties. They have loads of course offerings available and there is still plenty of time to enroll. A great gift idea. Info/register: seniorscollege.ca
Bridge courses
The Charlottetown Duplicate Bridge Club is offering two bridge courses in January. The eight-week Playing A Notrump Contract course with instructor Ray Malone will take place Thursdays from 9:30 am–12 pm starting January 6. This course may interest both beginners and intermediate players. An adult learning model will be used. The cost will be on a sliding scale depending on the number of tables. The Bridge in a Day course for beginners, with instructors Ray Malone and Ken Kerr, teaches the essence of bridge in one day. It will be held January 22 from 9:30 am–3:30 pm. The fee includes instruction, lunch and bridge materials. The instructors promise a supportive environment. Info/register: 368-8416, ray.teaches.bridge@gmail.com. Courses take place at the Charlottetown Duplicate Bridge Club, 92 Capital Dr, Unit 6, Charlottetown.
The PEI Advisory Council on the Status of Women will host a candle lighting in memory of victims of violence on December 6 from 12 noon to 1 pm. Guest speaker Anastasia Preston will present “Trans Experiences of Gender-Based Violence.” Members of the general public can look for the livestream at @peista tusofwomen on Facebook. In-person candle-lighting is open by invitation-only due to COVID limitations. For more information about the service or the Purple Ribbon Campaign Against Violence, call 368-4510 or email info@ peistatusofwomen.ca
Gilbert Buote Award
The Women’s Committee of the New Democratic Party of PEI recently announced the recipient of this year’s Hilda Ramsay Bursary. Meghan Dewar was presented the 2021 bursary by Lorraine Begley, a long time NDP women’s rights activist. Launched in 2019, the Hilda Ramsay Fund supports women students at UPEI or Holland College with a bursary. Preference is given to a student in financial need with a demonstrated interest in social justice, women/diversity studies, Indigenous, environmental studies, political studies, or trades. Dewar is a journalism student who studies at both Holland College and UPEI. Previous recipients were Fairouz Gaballa in 2019 and Bethany Keoughan in 2020.
Livestream Montreal Massacre Memorial Service
The East Prince Women’s Information Centre (EPWIC) invites the public to join them on December 6 for the National Day of Remembrance and Action Against Violence Against Women. The ceremony will begin at 12 noon at Summerside Presbyterian, 130 Victoria Rd, Summerside.
National Day Remembranceof
Hilda Ramsay bursary winner
are considered low income and will be eligible for a free heat pump. A new service model that includes an in-person navigation service has been implemented so that Islanders can find the best energy efficient program for their home’s needs. Islanders will no longer have to fill out applications or wait weeks to receive their rebates. If they qualify, government will arrange for their heat pump installa tion with a local contractor and govern ment will cover the cost. All Islanders can book a meeting with a customer service representative (CSR) through Contact PEI to go over all energy efficient programs they are eligible for. CSRs will be located at all eight Access PEI locations. Info: efficiencyprogramsprinceedwardisland.ca/
Seniors College courses
Page 38 The BUZZ May 2022
Signature events include free concerts at PEI Convention Centre: John Gracie’s Once Upon a Christmas
Capital New Year Three Rivers Levee
The BUZZ May 2022 Page 39
Wintertide Holiday Festival
Other Signature events include Mayor & Council Christmas Tea and Social and Family Skates; a Holiday home decorating contest; and Capital New Year celebrations. A calendar of events is now available at charlotte town.ca/wintertide.Signaturepartner events include Discover Charlottetown’s Charlottetown Christmas Festival, the Peake’s Wharf Christmas Village, Deck the Halls at Founders’ Food Hall & Market, and Confederation Centre of the Arts’ Live @ the Centre mainstage Christmas programming.
Mayor Edward MacAulay invites the community to the Three Rivers New Years Day Levee on January 1 from 1–3 pm at Kaylee Hall. Musical entertain ment will be provided by Fidders’ Sons. Snacks and refreshments will be provided. First come, first served. 2316 Poole’s Corner
The 2022 Capital New Year celebration will take place in Charlottetown at various locations on December 31. The family-friendly programming includes a family skating party, virtual art activ ity, musical children’s entertainment, bowling and more. Visit charlottetown. ca/nye for a detailed schedule.
The Festival also includes weekly horse and wagon rides, Breakfast with Santa at partnering restaurants, carollers, Santa visits around town, and a Whoville-inspired Christmas charlottetownchristmasfestival.comTown.
The Wintertide Holiday Festival, a collection of seasonal events and celebrations offered by the City of Charlottetown, its partners and com munity organizations, continues until January 9.
Tour on December 11 at 7:30 pm; Ava & Lily’s An Island Christmas on December 12 at 2 pm; and A Christmas to Remember on December 12 at 7:30 pm. Tickets are free to the public and can be picked up at the Confederation Court Mall Food Court from 11 am–12 pm while tickets last.
The Charlottetown Christmas Festival presented by Discover Charlottetown continues until December 19.
Charlottetown Christmas Festival
The Peake’s Wharf Christmas Village continues on weekends to December 19. Locals and visitors alike are invited to gather down under the newly installed lights on the water front. The public can expect all things festive: Christmas shopping, toasty beverages, live music, visits from Santa, carolling, and more. Many of the merchants at the Wharf will be open Friday–Saturday from 12– 8 pm and
We’re ready treeChristmasforatVeseys!ComeseeourcompleteselectionofChristmasgiftware,tabledecorations,ornaments,homedecor,gardensupplies&gifts! COME SEE OUR NEW CHRISTMAS ROOM! 411 York Rd., York • Garden Centre: 902-368-7333 • Equipment: 902-892-8873 www.veseys.com • veseysequipment.com Follow & Like us on Facebook www.facebook.com/veseysretail • www.facebook.com/veseysequipment Garden Centre: Mon–Fri 8am-5pm; Sat 9am–4pm • Equipment: Mon–Fri 8am-5pm; Sat 9am–1pm
There will also be a live music series called Deck the Halls at Founders’ Food Hall & Market happening every Saturday from 3–5 pm, LIVE @ The Centre holiday programming on select dates (December 4–21), and a Holiday Projection on the Plaza.
New this year is Holiday Projection on the Plaza presented by Confederation Court Mall, an ani mated holiday-themed projection and music show that will bring the Grafton Street facade of the Confederation Centre of the Arts to life. Created by Wasko AV, a multimedia and creative technology studio specializing in pro jection, production, and motion graph ics design, in partnership with the City of Charlottetown and Confederation Centre of the Arts, Holiday Projection on the Plaza will run every five min utes from 5–10 pm nightly.
Sunday from 12–5 pm.
The successful collabora tion concluded this year with participating suppliers of beer, wine and spirits donat ing a portion of their sales of participating products at PEILCC retail outlets to INT.
A five-year agreement with PEI Liquor Control Commission (PEILCC) and partnering suppliers, has helped the Island Nature Trust (INT) acquire natu ral areas in Alexandra and significantly accelerated its protection program.
UP $15,000TOINGRANTS IMPACTANMAKE LEGAL IMPACT GRANTS ARE ONE-TIME GRANTS AVAILABLE TO NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATIONS TO HELP ISLANDERS BETTER UNDERSTAND THE LAW AND IMPROVE ACCESS TO JUSTICE. Information sessions to learn more about our grants and how to best submit your application are available. Micro and multi-year grants are also considered. For steps to apply visit www.legalimpactgrants.ca Application deadline extended to January 15th, 2022
With $95,337 raised over five years, funds from the initiative have helped the Trust protect over 1600 acres of forest, wetlands and coast in RaisedPEI.funds from the initiative went directly to the purchase of Crown Point headland in Alexandra. The 120acre parcel’s location, next to the urban hubs of Charlottetown and Stratford, meant this ecological treasure was threatened by population growth and development before the Trust acquired the western headland. With adjacent parcels in the Trust’s sights, a corri dor of connectivity can be realised in the acquisition and protection of the
The Atlantic Veterinary College (AVC) recently announced the induction,
broader span of continuous saltmarsh along Pownal Bay. This stretch of shoreline, with its extensive salt marsh wetlands, provides critical resting places for migrating shorebirds and waterfowl moving north and south on the Atlantic Migratory Flyway.
Each year, one person from each of the four Atlantic provinces is recog nized for their outstanding contribu tions to the agriculture industry at an induction ceremony and reception, and their portraits and citations are on public display in Cumming Hall at the Faculty of Agriculture in Truro, NS. The 2021 induction ceremony took place this fall in Truro.
Dr. Robert A. Curtis inducted
Page 40 The BUZZ May 2022
agriculture.”upei.ca
posthumously, of Dr. Robert “Bob” A. Curtis (1931–2019) to the Atlantic Agricultural Hall of Fame.
Island Nature Trust gets donation from PEI liquor stores
Dr. Robert “Bob” A. Curtis
Environmental resource
(l-r): Island Nature Trust sta Charlotte Thompson, Fund Development Coordinator and Bianca McGregor, Executive Director, pictured with Darlene Compton, Minister of Finance for PEI.
In addition, the partnership has helped INT to advance its steward ship program across its 65+ Natural Areas, allowing the Trust to maintain and steward their trails in addition to hosting education and engagement opportunities.
“Dr. Curtis had a tremendous impact on agricultural veterinary medicine in Atlantic Canada,” said Dr. Hurnik. “From 1961 to 1996, he taught the majority of agricultural veteri narians who reside in the Atlantic provinces, and as a founding faculty member of the AVC, he set the stage for a new generation of veterinarians to receive their training.”
“Dr. Curtis’s dedication to agricul ture and the veterinary community was unwavering,” said Dr. Greg Keefe, dean, AVC. “Through his example of integrity, excellence, and commitment to livestock health, Dr. Curtis has left a permanent mark on Atlantic Canadian
HallAgriculturalofFame
of leaves on the deciduous trees, the movement of birds in the winter is much easier to pick out. The tiny brown creeper feed ing on the bark of a red maple tree or the downy woodpecker flitting from one dead balsam fir to another are very easy to spot. Your eyes quickly become accustomed to noticing sharp movements that during the summer months would have been hidden amongst the foliage.
There are days in December when it is di cult to venture outside of a warm house. The winter winds are howling, some form of snow/ice/ sleet is threatening to knock you o balance, your car doesn’t ever seem to warm up. Winters on PEI have become a di erent beast than we experienced thirty years or forty years ago.
Winter birding
everyone, and stay safe and warm. by Gary Schneider
I remember participating in a Christmas bird count in the Montague area many years ago where we wouldn’t even venture out of the car. The windows got rolled down just enough to check for birds at each stop, then they were quickly rolled up. It was brutal out. Yet I love birding in the winter. Some of my favourite winter memories of PEI are watching razorbills and red-throated loons at East Point, horned larks and roughlegged hawks in Earnscliffe, and American robins and Bohemian wax wings at Cape Bear.
The Nature of PEI
While all birders love the spring migra tion—where on PEI we’ll regularly see an array of warblers with lovely colours and songs—birds in the winter are quite special. A tougher lot, for sure. Anyone can travel north in the summer. But birds that move south in the winter are the real troopers.
NAME _________________________________________________ ADDRESS ______________________________________________________ PHONE ___________________________________________________ EMAIL _____________________________________________________ Please check your gift item(s), fill out the information below, and mail this ad with your payment to Farmers Helping Farmers, PO Box 2623, Charlottetown, PE C1A 8C3 Giving online has never been easier! Click donate at www.farmershelpingfarmers.ca All donations received by December 15, 2021 will allow us to mail you a gift card before Christmas. Make a difference this holiday season. 100% of your gift goes directly to Kenyan farm families. Gift Suggestions Mosquito bed net for a child to prevent malaria (qty____)$10 *Bag to grow vegetables for a farm family $15 *Seeds for a garden $25 *Solar light for children to study at night $50 Face masks and hand wash soap for school children $50 *5 Chickens to produce eggs for a family $75 Milk for 10 school children for three months $100 Make a school disability-friendly $200 *Fuel saving stove with chimney to cook family’s food $225 *Rainwater storage tank for a family’s clean water $600 Dairy cow for a family $600 *Establish and support a vegetable garden for a school $1000 *General donation (please fill in amount) $ The women farmers we work with in Kenya have been hard hit by the COVID-19 pandemic. Many of these gifts will help to lower the risk to them from the virus by reducing the need to venture out for water, firewood, vegetables and to buy paraffin for their lamps. An American robin in a highbush cranberry
You’ll want to have access to large quantities of hot coffee or tea. And snacks are never an option—they’re essential. If you wear glasses as I do, you’ll need something dry to regularly wipe your glasses and the lenses of any viewing or photographic equipment. And some warm and windproof cloth ing, including footwear.
Winter birding would not be complete for me without participating in at least one Christmas bird count. These are great events where you can learn more about what birds are around and also to either catch up with old friends or make new ones. The four counts, dates and contact information—in case you’d like to participate—are as follows: East Point on December 18 (dwaine. oakley@gmail.com); PEI National Park on December 19 (jdmcaskill@pei.sym patico.ca); Hillsborough on December 27 (jdmcaskill@pei.sympatico.ca); and Montague on January 2 (scsinclair@pei. Happysympatico.ca).birding
The BUZZ May 2022 Page 41
BIEDEFIEP
Another interesting aspect of win ter birding is that it is often a lesson
It is true that you often have to work harder to see birds in the winter, but it is worth it. Feeders can be wondrous places in winter, especially if you con sistently put out a variety of food and you have suitable bird-friendly habitat nearby. A sighting of an evening gros beak, a pine siskin, or an American tree sparrow can brighten my day. Hearing their calls and watching them fly from feeders to trees and shrubs makes even a dreary day much more bearable.
in patience. I’ve been in dead-silent woodlands wondering where all the birds are. Suddenly, the forest is alive with birds, with black-capped chicka dees, boreal chickadees, red-breasted nuthatches, purple finches and darkeyed juncos deciding to forage around you. It is quite magical—a flurry of activity and calls, and then a few min utes later they can move on to neigh bouring feeding grounds and you’re back in Becausesilence.ofthelack
There. That’s all the warnings you’ll get. Now the fun starts.
Celebrating over 40 years in Kenya Farmers Helping Farmers, an Island organization, works to help Kenyan farm families to produce enough food for their families and to educate their children. Gift cards will be sent to you for your family, friends or clients in time for the holidays, along with a tax deductible receipt. Your donation for items with * will be multiplied by 5 with support from Global Affairs Canada to improve food security for Kenyan women farmers.
Info: 314-4726, umpirebird@ yahoo.com. Advance tickets only at eventbrite.ca/e/203524365857.
Dr. Rejskind’s adventurous and eclectic programming is on display in A Very Forte Christmas. The unique arrangements for the blend of upper and lower tenor and baritone and bass voices lend a certain awe to the music.
Born in Chiapas, Mexico, Victor Cal y Mayor’s early musical formation was in traditional Mexican and Spanish music. He developed a deep fond ness for orchestral music and opera works after hearing them at home and church. In 2016, he joined SoPA at Holland College. In 2017, he was hired to perform recitals in Belgium, Netherlands and France). His voice has been heard in the Notre Dame
Cathedral and Le Palais Garnier.
Advancing Event Company launches its rst event
St. Paul’s—Dec 5
The Stratford Community Choir will present their Christmas concert, Images of Winter, on December 12 at Park Royal United in Charlottetown. The concert will begin at 2:30 pm. Joining together once again in song, the Stratford Community Choir will sing new and familiar songs of the changing seasons and traditional beloved Christmas carols in four-part harmony.Tickets are available from Choir members or at the door.
Page 42 The BUZZ May 2022
Beyond singing the seasonal music and hearing a few performed pieces, attendees can participate by honouring a remembered person by having their name inscribed on a star to be placed on the Memorial Tree in the church’s sanctuary. Memorial stars will be available at the door. The names will also be printed in the keepsake pro gramme if the required donation has been received by December 1. Proceeds will help maintain the church’s 1936 Cassavant organ. Donations are not required. To request a memorial star, call 961-3275, email stay@cable headpei.com or visit stpaulschurch. ca. Tax receipts will be issued. To attend, register at com,st-pauls-anglican-church-30668660304.eventbrite.ca/o/Info:892-1691,stpauls@pei.aibn.stpaulschurch.ca
Royal United—Dec 11
Along with a a few familiar car ols and a couple of pop tunes, the Forte Men’s Choir will perform traditional pieces like “O Holy Night” and “O Come Emmanuel” (with a Rejskind adaptation). There will be a Mediterranean flavour in the Spanish lullaby “A la Nanita Nana” and an arrangement of the lilting Italian carol “Gesu Bambino.”A couple of pieces are full of jazzy fun, like “Deck the Halls” in 7/8 and “Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy.” The concert will also include some more contemporary pieces from recentAdvancedecades.tickets only at umpirebird@yahoo.com.ets-203512560547.ca/e/a-very-forte-christmas-tickeventbrite.Info:314-4726,
Memorial Carol Sing is an opportu nity for participants to sing seasonal music together in honour of a remem bered loved one. The event will take place at St. Paul’s in Charlottetown on December 5 at 2 pm and will feature a sing-along as well as some performed pieces of Advent and Christmastime music. Memorial Carol Sing will also be live-streamed at stpaulschurch.ca and on their Facebook page.
Sara Campbell, Jennifer Cullen, Marlee Saulnier, and Shannon Scales— all members PEI women’s choral ensemble Sirens—have put together a special quartet for this perfor mance. These singers have studied and performed across Canada and internationally.Doorsopen at 6 pm. Tickets are available through the College of Piping. Ten dollars from every ticket sold will be donated to the Boys & Girls Club of Summerside.
A Very ChristmasForte
Island Choral Society (ICS), led by Dr. Margot Rejskind, will present A Classical Christmas at 2:30 pm on December 11 at Park Royal United in Charlottetown. The Yuletide choral concert will feature Dr. Magdalena von Eccher on piano.
Park
Stratford choir
Park Royal United is located at 11 Christie Drive in Charlottetown.
Voices for the Season
From her hometown Villavicencio in Colombia, to the chaotic capital city of Buenos Aires, Argentina, Luisa Güiza experienced a unique cross-sec tion of South American life and found guidance in listening intently to the people she befriended along the way. In this way, Luisa found herself travel ling to PEI to study music at SoPA.
Kirk of St. James—Dec 18
carolMemorialsing A ChristmasClassical
Forte Men’s Choir will present A Very Forte Christmas on December 18 at the Kirk of St. James in Charlottetown. Led by Dr. Margot Rejskind and featuring Jacqueline Sorensen Young on piano, the festive Yuletide concert will begin at 2:30 pm.
Park
Newcomer-owned Advancing Event Company in Summerside will launch its first event, Voices for the Season, at the College of Piping Celtic Performing Arts Centre in Summerside on December 11.
The music will include traditional and new, comforting and inspiring Christmastime gems ranging from Eric Whitacre’s “Glow” to the “Hallelujah” chorus from Handel’s Messiah to “Hark the Herald Angels Sing.”
(lr): Victor Cal y Mayor, Luisa Güiza, Tom Gammons and Mariko Osa Nicholson
In Voices for the Season, local and international artists who live on PEI will perform songs, arias, duets and harmonies in celebration of the holiday season. The performing artists are Mariko Osa Nicholson, Jennifer Collins, Victor Cal y Mayor, Luisa Güiza, Tom Gammons, Sara Campbell, Jennifer Cullen, Marlee Saulnier, and ShannonOriginallyScales.from Japan, Mariko Osa Nicholson graduated from the Theatre Performance Program at Holland College’s School of Performing Arts (SoPA) in 2017. She has eight years of training in piano and several years of voice. Her education also includes The Royal Conservatory of Music and training in musical theatre and opera as a soprano singer. Mariko sings with Luminos Ensemble, the Confederation Centre Choir, the Trinity United Choir, and as a soloist. She has performed at DiverseCity Festival and Indian River Festival. Jennifer Collins will accom pany Mariko on piano.
Accompanying Luisa will be Tom Gammons, whose similar passion brought him to PEI from the peaks of Montana. After studying together at SoPA, Luisa and Tom began exploring the songs that speak to them in the many languages of life.
Celtic Performaning Arts Centre
(clockwise from top-left): Jennifer Cullen, Sara Campbell, Shannon Scales and Marlee Saulnier
Royal United—Dec 12
“We are very pleased to have opened our event business in Summerside,” says Advancing Event Company owner Gary Man. “We wanted to host an event to celebrate the holiday season, which is our first one in Canada, and to welcome our Summerside neighbours. We have already learned that there is great talent in PEI.”
ICS choir was recently founded by Dr. Rejskind, who also directs the professional Luminos Ensemble and the Forte Men’s Choir. ICS will be the anchor group for the dramatic choral movement of Beethoven’s 9th sym phony to be performed by the PEI Symphony Orchestra in April.
I also made raised donuts, light and tender with a hint of nutmeg.
Beloved customs
We young folks also enjoyed making Spritz cookies, squeezing green and pink dough through the cookie press and decorating the fancy shapes after wards with icing and sprinkles.
General admission tickets (standing room only) are available at peibrewing company.com. This is 19+ only event.
I hope you have many beloved cus toms in your life, and this special sea son finds you full of hope and joy, and in my case, Swedish brown beans.
First, with a strong arm, a great beating of eggs and strenuous stirring, Mom prepared her dense dark fruitcake. In the middle of the month, under Dad’s tutelage a tiny bottle of Hires Root Beer Extract was turned into gallons of deli cious bottles of root beer that, during aging in a warm closet, often exploded. Somewhat later, meat for headcheese was boiled, chopped up and pressed in a dish weighed down on top by an old flatiron, after which it was care fully wrapped in cheesecloth and kept in the bottom of the fridge. Dad liked headcheese; us kids not so much. What we really liked was setting up the meat grinder and taking turns cranking out long coils of potato sausage or potatiskorv. Boiled, then cut in chunks and fried, korv was a staple of any proper Swedish smörgåsbord.
Sarah Harmer is bringing her Are You Gone Tour to the PEI Brewing Company in Charlottetown on February 28 at 8 pm. Her sixth album, Are You Gone, was released in February 2020 on Arts & Crafts.
WINTER WARMING Energy efficiency help for your home or apartment is free for low-tomoderate income Islanders. e iciencyPEI’s Winter Warming provides free air sealing, a low- ow shower head and an energy e cient thermostat. Heating system cleaning and other electricity savings measures are also available. Apply online PrinceEdwardIsland.ca / WinterWarming or call 1-877-734-6336 This ad paid for by the government of Prince Edward Island
Deep-frying on the day of a party was a challenge due to the clinging odor of hot oil. Will we ever have Open Houses in the Cove again? I sure hope so. My donuts are calling. Plus I miss walking up to a neighbour’s door, tap ping politely, then walking right in.
I meant to write about the gannets that were spotted diving offshore, and the fourteen seals gamboling in the Cove at high tide. And mention that the herons are gone but we have more bald eagles than usual. Those things will have to wait for another time.
I don’t make every dish of my child hood at Christmas—who would eat it all?—but I make a few special things, like Swedish brown beans seasoned simply with vinegar and brown sugar. For many years we held Open Houses in the Cove during December, every household serving up its own unique treats, and I always prepared Swedish brown beans… for the one or two people who always tried them.
Sarah Harmer
At least one tradition is happening again: the Living Nativity. “This year is the last,” says Doreen. A light specta cle not to be missed, this community extravaganza reminds us that we are not alone… that in this darkest season, while we wait, hoping the sun has not forsaken us… we have each other. And we have Christmas lights. Ladders are out all over the country with brave souls climbing up to hook colored lights on every available branch and outcropping. Lighting up the night with color: what a lovely gesture.
The BUZZ May 2022 Page 43
I was raised by custom; you could say I was custom-made. My parents were immigrants and at Christmas especially they clung to the familiar and comforting traditions of their youth. Food was front and center, with the whole of December given over to preparing traditional dishes.
The Cove Journal by JoDee Samuelson
Hit the Ground
Hit the Ground is available on all streamingkarilynmusic.complatforms.
Hit the Ground is Kari Lyn’s intro duction into the world of music. She created an album right when the global pandemic began and released it without a plan—other than to bring joy to those stuck at home. The album received a lot of praise, including a nomination for Music PEI’s Rock Album of the Year, but with time to sit, think and reflect, Kari Lyn came up with a reimagined album that includes a few new surprises.
Without touring as much as usual due to the pandemic, this past spring and summer found Lennie Gallant writ ing a plethora of new songs—many with some jingle bells attached. Now Gallant is offering an album of 11 origi nal Christmas songs.
PEI singer-songwriter Kari Lyn Blacquiere re-released her Music PEI award-nominated debut album Hit the Ground in November.
Christmas Day On Planet Earth
releases
Page 44 The BUZZ May 2022
Women—Simone Pineau, Olivia Blacquiere and Barb Blacquiere.
NEW ALBUMS
compositions for piano and violin, piano and flute, and one for piano and cello.“This recording project was a one year marathon in the making,” Pieter says. “During this difficult pandemic period, musicians around the globe were essentially house-bound and their touring and recording projects ground to a halt. With a bit of luck on my side, I was able to connect with a number of professional musicians who were avail able to help me launch this recording project. I have made a lot of friends and to them I owe my gratitude.”
blue planet with a couple of hopeful songs. Gallant takes the listener on an auditory journey to various Christmas locations around the world—from Southern Africa with the title song to Paris for a street waltz, to the Middle East, Motown, an East Coast Kitchen gathering, and a hospital ward on Christmas eve.
“I feel like every song on the album is very relatable. Every song is a dif ferent theme yet it all fits together. The album is messy in the best ways, just likeThelife.“12-song
Pieter and his wife Geraldine live in Hope River, pietersijsselstein.bandcamp.com/composerijsselstein.comPEI.
The album was mixed and mas tered by guitarist Don Ross, who is featured on the ragtime composition “On My Way Out,” accompanying the piano on a high string guitar.
The album, Christmas Day On Planet Earth, is as much a collection of songs for the times as it is celebratory and fun. The album also pays attention to the present trials of our fragile
PEI-based songwriter and spoken
With the help of co-producer and multi-instrumentalist Remi Arsenault, Hit the Ground came to life with backup vocals from Caroline Bernard and guest appearances by her Gingerbread
Lennie Gallant
The project features vocalist and instrumentalist Patricia Richard and a host of players including Black Umfolosi of Zimbabwe and Halifax trumpet virtuoso Mike Cowie. It was helmed by JUNO award-winning producer, Les Cooper. Parts of the album were recorded in Egmont Bay, Charlottetown, Toronto, Halifax and Drummondville.Gallantandhis band are cur rently promoting the album on The Innkeeper’s Christmas tour, perform ing 18 shows with upcoming PEI dates on December 5 at Harbourfront Theatre in Summerside and December 18 at Confederation Centre of the Arts in Charlotteown.Visitlenniegallant.com for the album and tour tickets.
Prince Edward Island Keys Strings Wind Pieter S. Ijsselstein
Pieter S. Ijsselstein released his first instrumental recording, Prince Edward Island Keys Strings Wind, in October. The album features Pieter’s
The album features two pieces recorded by Tina Bouey, “Wild Apples” and “It’s a New Day,” which were performed on a 1720’s Stradivarius violin. “Dreaming” was recorded by violinist Drew Jurecka, a fixture on the Toronto music scene who has produced and recorded arrangements for Jill Barber, Bahamas, Rose Cousins and Ron Sexsmith, to name a few. The cello on the last piece was recorded by Kirk Starkey who was a member of Quartetto Gelato. He is also the sound behind major network television pro grams and advertising campaigns.
All compositions were composed by Pieter and recorded in the perform ers’ studios. Distributed in Canada by White Gables Publishing, the album cover artwork is by Geraldine Ysselstein with design work by Margaretha Ysselstein. The album is available on Bandcamp, Spotify, YouTube, Deezer and Tidal.
The Silver Wren Jensen & McManus
A live CD release show will be held December 12 at Carr’s Oyster Bar in Stanley Bridge.
album reflects her five years of travel and takes the listener travelling with her from laughing with “Gingerbread Woman,” crying with “When I See My Momma Crying,” and dancing to “Hope You Shine.”
Says Gallant, “I am very excited about this project! I think it ranks with my very best work and the reaction from the folks who have heard early cuts has been over the top! It was a lot of fun to make and I can’t wait for more people to hear it!”
Kari Lyn Blacquiere
Music program lab upgrade
Entertainment trivia on Thursday at 9 pm. Hunter’s Ale House, 185 Kent St, Charlottetown.
word poet Bob Jensen and Scottish gui tar virtuoso Tony McManus recently released The Silver Wren, a collection of Christmas music, stories and poetry.
November 26. Like their previous work, it is the soundtrack for dive bar dance parties or windows-down drives. They play a smart blend of nos talgia and new; equal parts power pop, proto-punk, and garage rock. Melody and songcraft come first for North Lakes, keeping their tracks timeless andTheapproachable.newEPbegins a series of releases documenting where the band is now. The songs are about letting go after a long period of isolation and recognizing which people in your life matter most. The lyrics were written image-first, mostly set in the landscape of Canada’s northeast.
TRIVIA
Piano restoration donations
The East Coast Music Association (ECMA) will host the East Coast Music Awards: Festival and Conference in Charlottetown in May 2024. The five-day international gathering is the premier event of its kind in Atlantic Canada. Charlottetown has played host many times, most recently in 2019.
Kevin “Doc” Docherty
ALL THE BEST FOR THE HOLIDAY SEASON AND HAVE A SAFE AND HAPPY NEW YEAR!
East Coast Music Awards
Darcy Campbell
Trivia every Friday at 8 pm. The Factory, Charlottetown.
Music trivia on Sunday at 9 pm. Hunter’s Ale House, 185 Kent St, Charlottetown.
The album features artists from four continents with the lead single, a a cover of Jensen’s “Christmas Song,” performed by Australia’s Bush Gothic. Lennie Gallant performs the poem “The Swallowtail,” and Zimbabwe’s Black Umfolosi do a completely differ ent and a cappella take on the afore mentioned “Christmas Song.”
Darcy Campbell
Barry Parsons
Trivia on Friday at 7 pm. Lone Oak Brewing, 103 Abegweit Blvd, Borden-Carleton.
The cover artwork was also done by Sam Jensen, with graphic design by Clairefirsttimesinceaugust.comLynch.
North Lakes
“We did not want to release another album of well-worn favourites,” says Jensen, “So the music, chosen by Tony, consists of obscure traditional tunes from Ireland, Scotland, Brittany and Wales. Tony also composed some origi nal music for the album.”
Black Cat Music Vol. 1
The album also includes a read ing of The Nativity from The Gospel of Luke, as well as Christmas stories taken from Jensen’s humour column, “Jacob’s Ladder,” which ran in several Maritime papers for years. The title track is a story written by Jensen’s son, Sam Jensen, which was originally pub lished by Acorn Press in 2015.
Black Cat Music Volume 1 was engineered, mixed and produced by Colin Buchanan at Hill Sound Studio. The EP was mastered by Dan Weston.
North Lakes is Nathan Gill (vocals, guitar), Roger Carter, (organ), Michael Carver (drums), Christopher Francis (bass), and Chris Robison (guitar). During the making of Black Cat Music Volume 1, the band was listen ing to Jesus and Mary Chain, Brian Jonestown Massacre, and HAIM, among others. They recommend this EP for those who like power pop and alternative music.
news MUSIC
Trivia on Thursday at 7 pm. PEI Brewing Company, 96 Kensington Rd, Charlottetown.
Shayne Byrne
Trivia every Thursday at 7 pm. The Factory, Charlottetown.
Andrew Rollins
Trivia on Wednesday at 8 pm. Hopyard, 151 Kent St, Charlottetown.
Monday,DEADLINEJANUARYDecember 13
Judy and Gary MacDonald, owners of Barachois Inn in South Rustico, PE, are asking all history and music buffs to help restore their late 1800s R.S. Williams and Sons piano—one of the oldest grand pianos made in Canada. Built in Toronto, Gary rescued the piano over 30 years ago. It was tuned and repaired over the years but can no longer be played without a significant overhaul that is beyond Barachois Inn budget—espe cially this year. A GoFundMe campaign at gofundme.com/f/barachois has been set up for donations. Donors of any amount will be invited to attend a Country Christmas Sing-along at the Barachois Inn this coming December; and be entered to win a night stay at the Inn. The MacDonald’s goal is to host holiday sing-alongs and warm community events with local musicians and chefs in winter months to come. They see the piano as a symbol of community and sharing with each other. Judy has consulted local piano expert Max Keenleyside, who has agreed to restore the sound board, felts and strings. Joe McAskill of McAskill Woodworking Ltd. is working on restor ing the cabinet.
Trivia every second Friday at 7:30 pm. North Rustico Lions Club, 17 Timber Ln, North Rustico.
top of the Music Performance program’s wishlist and is welcomed by the students and their instructors. Students come from all over the world to take the two-year Music Performance program, which uses official curriculum from Berklee College of Music in Boston. Students learn how to interpret, improvise, and perform many contemporary music styles, how to use music technology to produce their own music and sound design projects, and how the business side of the music indus try works. The revitalized lab will be ready for students early in the new year.
Barry Parsons
The BUZZ May 2022 Page 45
BMO Private Wealth made a $25,000 gift to the Holland College Foundation, which will provide students with access to advanced music technology. The gift, designated for the School of Performing Arts, will upgrade the Music Performance program lab from its current set-up to an Apple iMac lab software. Students will learn to compose,
Spencer Gallant
For an afternoon of brand new Christmas songs, join Dave Atkinson at Kings Playhouse on December 12 at 2 pm for A Very Davy Christmas: songs from the 52 Christmas Songs Project. After Christmas 2020, Island writer Dave Atkinson (CBC Radio, the Wereduck series) challenged himself to write a brand new Christmas song every week for a year. The Playhouse invited him to pick his favourites for this performance. Dave has invited
Fiddlers’ Sons
Dec 5
Page 46 The BUZZ May 2022
Dec 9–11
Dec 5
Dec 2 & 19
Dec 4
Dec 5
Ledwell & Haines: A Trailside Christmas
Tara MacLean
DOUBTSCOTT
Christmas on the Town
Holiday Kitchen Party
and Courtney Hogan-Chandler. The concert will include some music from Hogan-Chandler’s Christmas album Oh Holy Night, as well as some of the band’s favourite seasonal songs. Quinn will also share some stories from his recently released book, Island Characters Volume 2. Admission is at the door. There will be a fudge sale at intermission. 11 Christie Drive, Charlottetown. Info: 894-9656
Christmas Traditions in Brass
Dec 10
Join Kelley Mooney for a special downhome, acoustic Christmas at Trailside Music Hall in Charlottetown on December 2 and at Kings Playhouse in Georgetown on December 19.
The collaboration between recording and touring artist Tara Maclean and PEI’s string quintet Atlantic String Machine will feature holiday songs and stories from their own family traditions. Performances will take place December 4 (2:30 pm and 7:30 pm) at St. Paul’s in Charlottetown, and December 11 (2:30 pm and 7:30 pm) at Victoria Playhouse in Victoria by-theSea. atlanticstringmachine.com
An old-fashioned Christmas ceilidh will be held from 6:30–9:30 pm on December 5 at St. Paul’s Parish Hall in Sturgeon. Enjoy Christmas music, singing, fiddling, comedy, a visit from Santa, a 50/50 draw, and a light lunch. Admission at the door. Doors at 6 pm, Rt 17A, Sturgeon.
Atlantic String Machine (ASM) presents Xmas with Tara MacLean in December with matinee and eve ning performances to be held in Charlottetown and Victoria-by-the-Sea.
PEI folk music group Fiddlers’ Sons will perform a Christmas concert at Park Royal United in Charlottetown on December 5 at 2 pm. Fiddlers’ Sons features Eddy Quinn, John B. Webster
Dec 1–11
Snowman’s Ball
Singer, songwriter and guitarist Matt Andersen is taking the holiday party on the road. Performing holiday favou rites with his trio, The Snowman’s Ball: Christmas with Matt Andersen & Friends will be on the Mainstage at Confederation Centre in Charlottetown at 7:30 pm on December 10. The show will feature special guest appearances by Fortunate Ones and Reeny Smith. 145 Richmond St, confederationcentre.comCharlottetown.
Dec 5
The Innkeeper’s Christmas
John B Webster, Courtney Hogan-Chandler and Eddy Quinn of Fiddlers’ Sons
Kelly Mooney: An Acoustic Christmas
ASM: Xmas with Tara
The Great George Street Brass Band’s (GGSBB) Christmas Traditions in Brass 2021 concert will be held at 7 pm on December 6 at the Jack Blanchard Family Centre in Charlottown. Featuring some favourite Christmas songs performed by GGSBB and the Great George Street Barbershop Quartet. The event will include the popular carol sing-along. Doors open at 6:30 pm. Admission is free but voluntary donations will be grate fully accepted at the door. 7 Pond St, Charlottetown. @PEIbrassband on FB
MUSIC SEASONAL
Lennie Gallant’s The Innkeeper’s Christmas tour will be on stage December 5 at Harbourfront Theatre in Summerside and December 18 at Confederation Centre of the Arts in Charlottetown. The 4th annual Christmas multimedia show will fea ture Gallant and his band performing songs from his new holiday album, Christmas Day On Planet Earth, as well as some favourites from his large cata logue of music. Visit lenniegallant.com for album information and tour tickets.
A Very Davy Christmas
Dec 12
Festive Fiddlers’ Feast
The Festive Fiddlers’ Feast returns to the Emerald Community Centre on December 4 from 6–8 pm. Join Courtney Hogan and Fiddlers’ Sons for an evening of food and music, includ ing some of the band’s most popular songs and holiday favourites. Guests will be treated to a fresh and locally made traditional roast turkey dinner. Tickets must be purchased in advance: emeraldboxcar@gmail.com. 1910 Nodd Rd, Emerald Junction. Info: 393-0610
Island musicians Serge Bernard, Janet McGarry, Maxine MacLennan and Norm Stewart will bring holiday music to the Kings Playhouse in Georgetown on December 5 at 2 pm. Christmas on the Town will feature holiday classics, fine musicianship and plenty of laughs. 65 Grafton St, kingsplayhouse.comGeorgetown.
Dec 6
Patrick Ledwell and Mark Haines are looking forward to bringing their charming blend of comedy and music to this holiday-themed show to Trailside Music Hall in Charlottetown from Dec 9–11— Yuletide memories, melodies, and remembered mishaps. Ledwell will perform comedy and slideshows that explore a range of helpful seasonal topics, from the dan gers of traditional Christmas candy, to pitfalls to avoid when re-gifting last year’s presents. Haines will perform, re-imagined Christmas favorites on guitar, fiddle, and piano. 155 Kent St, Charlottetown. trailside.ca
Sturgeon Christmas Ceilidh
Dec 4 & 11
The Harmony House Holiday Kitchen Party returns with 9090,19814dinnerTrevorAnsems,musicandDecemberWednesday–Saturdayperformancesat8pmfrom1–11.TheeveningofstoriessongsfeaturescelebratoryholidaywithartistsMikeRoss,BrielleAliciaToner,JoceReyome,GrantandCarlieHowell.Forreservations,call964-2745.Route2,HunterRiver.1-888-311-harmonyhousepei.com
Join Jill Chandler and Maureen Trainor at Trailside Music Hall in Charlottetown as they weave stories, laughter and songs together to kick your holiday season into that next gear—old favourites to sing along to, a few reimagined tunes plus some modern seasonal offerings. 155 Kent St, Charlottetown. trailside.ca
Jill Chandler & Maureen Trainer
Celebrate with “The Christmas Sibs,” Todd MacLean and Becca Griffin, as they return with their fourth annual Holiday Hootenanny on December 19 at John Brown Richmond Street Grille in Charlottetown. The annual fundraiser will donate all proceeds this year to The Upper Room Hospitality Ministry. Enjoy music and mayhem from these two effervescent elves and a handful of their friends including Brielle Ansems, Tim Hamming, Brady Cudmore, and Kristena McCormack. Tunes will begin at 7:30 pm. Admission is Pay-what-you-can at the door. Bring cash for the raffle. Email christmas sibs@gmail.com for details. 132 Richmond St, Charlottetown.
Join Michael Pendergast for an eve ning of Pendy’s Pub Christmas Cheer on December 18 at the College of Piping’s Celtic Performing Arts Centre in Summerside. Spirited tunes, sudsy songs and heart warming tales will be served up straight by Pendy himself. Special guests Johnny and Louise Arsenault will join Pendergast and his band, The Keggers on stage. Doors open at 7 pm, show starts at 7:30 pm. Water St. East, collegeofpiping.comSummerside.
Holiday Hootenanny
Dec 19
Dec 19
Christmas with the King
family pricing. Doors open at 10 am with music at 10:30 am. 155 Kent St, Charlottetown. trailside.ca
Jenn Grant Christmas
Elvis Greatest Hits: Christmas with the King featuring Thane Dunn and the Cadillac Kings will be on stage December 17 at the College of Piping’s Celtic Performing Arts Centre in Summerside. Showtime is 7:30 pm. The new show features classic Elvis Christmas, gospel and rock favourites, as well as duets with Melly Dunn. 619 Water St. East, collegeofpiping.comSummerside.
The Barra MacNeils Celtic Christmas will be on stage December 21 at the Confederation Centre’s Mainstage in Charlottetown. The Celtic Christmas show features a mix of traditional sea sonal fare along with stories and new musical twists. The Barra MacNeils have been writing and producing new material throughout the pandemic for their popular Christmas show. The family-friendly performance will feature multiple lead vocalists, har monies, instrumental talent on a wide variety of acoustic, stringed, percus sion and wind instruments blended with dancing, storytelling, humour and Gaelic songs. 145 Richmond St, confederationcentre.comCharlottetown.
Dec 16 & 17
Dec 17–19
Dec 18
Robbie Doherty and Pierce Clarke, present Together at Christmas, an eve ning of Christmas music, stories and memories, on December 22 at Trailside Music Hall in Charlottetown. With almost ten years of playing shows and touring together, Robbie and Pierce, along with their backup band, intend to enhance the Christmas spirit of all those in attendance while focusing on a positive message of what the season is about—spending time with loved ones. Doors open at 6:30 pm. 155 Kent St, Charlottetown. trailside.ca
The Emeralds: Jingle Bell Brunch
The BUZZ May 2022 Page 47
Jenn Grant is coming to town! …to Trailside Music Hall in Charlottetown on December 19. This festive matinee, for people of all ages, will feature a full band with special guests, surprises, presents for the audience, cooking and drinking Xmas tips, songs from her classic sounding Christmas album Forever of Christmas Eve, and a sneak peek into her online series “Jenny Town”. Doors at 1 pm, show from 2–4 pm. 155 Kent St, Charlottetown. trailside.ca
The Barra MacNeils
Dec 21
Happy Holidays from your Official Opposition Green MLAs www.peigreencaucus.ca | (902) 620-3977 @peigreencaucus
Dec 18
Dec 22
Natalie MacFadyen, Melissa MacKenzie, and Hannah O’Donnell promise a morning of holiday favou rites for all ages on December 18 at Trailside Music Hall in Charlottetown. From old Bing Crosby standards to new seasonal hits for audiences young and old to enjoy. Take advantage of our
Dec 14
Together at Christmas
Christmas at Home
Pendy’s Christmas Cheer
some special guests to put their own spin on some of his songs. He’ll also tell a few funny old stories from Christmases past.
Gordon Belsher and Todd MacLean will team up with Brad Fremlin for three concerts this Christmas season, one in each of their home communities. Concert dates are December 17 at St. John’s Presbyterian in Belfast at 7 pm, December 18 at the WI Hall in Stanley Bridge at 2 pm and December 19 at the Communnity Centre in Murray Harbour at 2 pm. guernseycove.ca
Saxaphonist Peter Wynne takes a solo with the Charlottetown Jazz Ensemble
jazz musicians ranging from gifted students to seasoned professionals.
Wood has taken his energetic brand of music around the world, touring extensively in Australia, Europe, Asia, and all across North America.
Richard wood & friends
The Charlottetown Jazz Ensemble will perform a concert at The Pourhouse in Charlottetown on December 5. Proceeds from the evening will be donated to The Upper Room Food Bank in SinceCharlottetown.1996,theCharlottetown Jazz Ensemble has been presenting an eclectic mix of traditional and contem porary jazz—everything from proven standards to contemporary composi tions. The big band features 18 Island
As in past years, the showcase will also be webcast so that the students’ family and friends will be able to watch. A link to the webcast will be posted on the Events calendar on the college website when it is available.
Island folksinger Shane Pendergast will return to the Tracadie Community Centre for a hometown show on December 17 at 8 pm.
Night Music
Music will start at 7 pm with seating for meals available at 5:30 pm. Admission will be by donation at the door with all proceeds going to the Upper Room Food Bank. The Pourhouse is located above The Old Triangle, 189 Great George Street, Charlottetown.Info:@charlottetownjazz on FB
Big band plays for the Food Bank—Dec 5
Inspired by Natkirke, a contempla tive initiative in Denmark, the care fully curated hour-long programme will include works by Bach, Chopin, Rachmaninoff, and others. In the spirit of shared reflection, the audience is encouraged to enter quietly, and pieces will flow from one to the next without pause or applause.
It recommended to reserve places in advance by emailinginfo@sarahhagen. com or by filling out the reservation form at Admissionsarahhagen.com.isPay-What-You-Will at the door. St. Paul’s is located atthe corner of Prince and Grafton Streetsin Charlottetown.sarahhagen.com
Richard Wood & Friends will be in concert at The College of Piping Celtic Performing Arts Centre in Summerside on January 28 at 7:30 pm. Joining Wood on stage will be Jon Matthews, Brad Fremlin and Rémi Arsenault, along with special guests Jolee Patkai, Keelin Wedge and Samantha MacKay.
Sarah Hagen solo piano recital at St. Paul’s—Dec 17
The College of Piping and Celtic Performing Arts Centre is located at 619 Water St E, Summerside.
Shane Pendergast at Tracadie Community Centre—Dec 17
This2021.performance will be a listen ing room style show. Conversation will be kept to a minimum during the performance. The show is open to all ages and minors must be accompanied by an adult. Seating will be general admission on a first come first serve basis. Doors open at 7 pm.
SoPA showcase
HASTIEGLORIA
Page 48 The BUZZ May 2022
Charlottetown Jazz Ensemble
Pendergast’s connection to Maritime folk music dates back to the efforts of his great-grandparents, preservers of folklore in PEI. Now he is carrying the torch forward with his own songs, inspired by rural life and Maritime history. His sophomore album, Second Wind, was released in March
Holland College School of Performing Arts Music Program
A cash bar will be available (no ATM on site). Tickets are available in advance at eventbrite.ca and at the door, if not sold out. The Tracadie Community Centre is located at 148 Station Road, Tracadie Cross.
Night Music with pianist Sarah Hagen returns to St. Paul’s in Charlottetown on December 17 at 8 pm.
Students in the School of Performing Arts (SoPA) Music Performance pro gram at Holland College are preparing for their annual December showcase, which is taking place December 9 at 7 pm in the Florence Simmons Performance Hall on the Prince of Wales Campus in Charlottetown. Since they arrived in September, the students have been working in ensembles to learn a variety of genres, including country, Celtic, rock, R&B, jazz, world music, and pop. For some, it is the first time that they have been part of a band or performed in front of a liveLiamaudience.Corcoran, SoPA Program Manager, said the showcase is an important aspect of the students’ training.
College of Piping—Jan 28
Hometown show
A portion of proceeds will go to fund an annual fiddle scholarship at the College of Piping through the Faye & Richard Wood Award.
Tickets may be purchased at the Florence Simmons Performance Hall or fromhollandcollege.comTicketpro.ca.
“Over the past 20 months we’ve had to adapt to a quickly-evolving situation because of the pandemic. Everything from our course offerings to our showcases has been affected. We’re hoping that this concert is just the beginning of in-person showcases again, as our students need the expe rience of performing in front of a live audience,” he said.
(l-r): Students Emily Williamson, William Morrison, Caedda Enright, Lucia Dostal, and Drew Cassibo in the SoPA Garage, preparing for the upcoming Music Performance showcase.
Music Jam Night
Summerside Kitchen Party
Gahan House
Lone Oak Brewing
Fridays at 6 pm. 45 Queen St, Charlottetown. 892-0909
Hunter’s Ale House
Kierrah Celeste every Saturday at 3 pm. Tunes on Tap weekly on Sundays at 3 pm. Inn Echo (Dec 5), TBA (12), Tuli Porcher (19), TBA (26). Admission is free. 567 Main St, Montague. 361-2337
Founders Hall
Levee Day with RTE 225, Jan 1 at 2:30 pm. 140 Dunk River Rd, Summerside. 439-7591
Old fashioned Christmas Ceilidh, December 5 at 6:30 pm. St. Paul’s Parish Hall, Rte 17A, Sturgeon. 838-2253
Kitchen Party every Saturday from 2–5 pm at Summerside Legion. Featuring Rheal Arsenault, Andy Paynter and a special guest each week. Dancing is now permitted. 340 Notre Dame St, Summerside. 436-2091
Marc’s Lounge
MUSIC LIVE/ONGOING
Once a month, Shane Pendergast hosts The Jack Pine Folk Club, an evening of songs, traditional music and poetry. The event is reminiscent of the folk coffeehouses of the 1960’s, with a number of guest performers taking the stage. Admission is at the door or email srmpendergast@gmail.com to reserve in advance. The next event will be held Dec 22, 7:30 pm, at The Pourhouse above The Old Triangle. 189 Great George St, Charlottetown
Saturdays at 2 pm. Blues music with Chris Roumbanis, Reg Ballagh, Mike Robicheau and special guests each week. Chris and Nick Gauthier (Dec 4), Doug Burton (18). Trailside Music Hall, Charlottetown. 367-3311
Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays. 132 Sydney St, Charlottetown. 892-6992
Blizzard Goat every Saturday at 3:30 pm. Live music Fridays & Saturdays at 6:30 pm. Mat Hannah (Dec 3), Adam MacGregor (4), Chris Johnston (10), Billy White (11), Keira Loane (17), Carter MacLellan (18). New Year’s Eve show at 8:30 pm with Broad Cove Boys (31). 11 Brook St, Montague. 838-4384
Acoustic music on Wednesdays and Thursdays at 9 pm. Brandon Gillis (Dec 1/16), Adam MacGregor (2), Stephen Szwarc (8/29), Lawrence Maxwell (9/30), Dave Woodside (15/23), Mat Hannah (22). 126 Sydney St, Charlottetown. 626-2337
An Irish Traditional Ceildih takes place on Saturdays at 2 pm at Evermoore Brewing Company in info@evermoorebrewing.ca.Summerside.192Water St, Summerside
John Brown Grille
Island Jazz
Red Dirt Girl Music Room
Brothers 2
Open Mic with KINLEY every Wednesday at 10 pm. Live music Fridays & Saturdays at 10 pm. SirReal and Dex (Dec 4), Kari Lyn Blacquire CD realease (10), Foggyswoggle (11), Supercar reunion with Stone Feather and Radio Roulette (17), Naked by the Fire (18), Space Bud (21), Whaleskin (23), Pineo & Loeb (28), TBA (30), Party like it’s 1999 with ThtMattyMofo (31). 181 Great George St, Charlottetown. 892-7377
Hopyard
Fridays and Saturdays at 8:30 pm. Bayview Crossing (Dec 3/17), Aaron & Alicia (4), Ricky & Barney (10), Alyssa & Corey (11), Nick Hann (18). 110 Water St, Summerside. 436-2153
Winner of the 2020 Music PEI Award for Live Event Programming and nominated for an ECMA for “Event of the Year”. Thursdays at 8 pm. Top local musicians perform original music, standards, jazz and pop favourites with a featured guest, followed by an open jam session where anyone is welcome to join in. Jacob Redding Group (Dec 2), Island Beatles Jazz featuring Josh Langille (9), Island Jazz Christmas with Kelley Mooney (16), Island Jazz Christmas Trio (23), Island Jazz New Years Eve Pre-party (30), Trio From Mars plays the Music of John Carpenter (Jan 6), Sean Kemp Island Gypsy Jazz (13), The Collective Trio (20), Peter Hum Quartet (27). 181 Great George St, Charlottetown. 892-7377
Olde Dublin Pub
Evermoore Brewing Irish Traditional Ceilidh
Baba’s Lounge
Adult Jam Session
Deck the Halls music series Saturdays at 3 pm. Dave Woodside (Dec 4), Kim Albert and Mike Arsenault (11), Maxine MacLennan and Norman Stewart (18), Frazer McCallum (Jan 15), Dave Woodside (22). 6 Prince St, Charlottetown
Industry night with live entertainment every Sunday at 8 pm. 151 Kent St, Charlottetown. 367-2599
Monday December 6 & 20 at 6:30 pm. Summerside Rotary Library in the Inspire Learning Centre, 57 Central St, Summerside. 436-7323
Live music at 9 pm. Alyssa & Corey (Dec 7/28), Copycat (11), TBA (16–23). 185 Kent St, Charlottetown. 367-4040
Live music at 9 pm. Richie & Brian (Dec 4), Adam & Liam (10), Kim Albert (18). 132 Richmond St, Charlottetown. 367-4040
Kaylee Hall
Roland Beaulieu and guests every Sunday at 1 pm. Nolan Compton every Thursday at 6 pm. Live music Saturdays at 6 pm. Shane Pendergast (Dec 11), Lawrence Maxwell (18). 103 Abegweit Blvd, Borden-Carleton. 729-2228
Old Triangle Sessions
Sunday Sessions, traditional music with host fiddler Roy Johnstone, weekly on Sundays from 2–5 pm. Schooner Sessions with Ward MacDonald & Friends weekly on Thursdays at 7 pm. 189 Great George St, Charlottetown. 892-5200
PEI Brewing Company
A ceilidh takes place at 7 pm on the first Sunday of each month at Dunstaffnage School Centre. Hosted by the Road Masters Band and guest entertainers. Admission at the door. 50/50 draw. 13529 St Peter’s Rd, Dunstaffnage. 626-1698
Fridays at 10 pm. Brandon Gillis (Dec 3), Dave Woodside (10), Mat Hannah (17). 125 Sydney St, Charlottetown. 566-4620
Thursdays and Fridays at 7 pm. 618 Water St, Summerside. 436-9654
Copper Bottom Brewing
A music jam takes place weekly on Wednesdays from 7–9 pm at Parkview Senior Citizens Club, 335 Central St, Summerside. A weekly get together. Open to all. bmorrison@pei.sympatico.ca
Acoustic Fridays in the Taproom at 6 pm. 96 Kensington Rd, Charlottetown. 629-2739
Piatto Pizzeria + Enoteca
The Silver Fox
Sturgeon Christmas Ceilidh
Bring your own instrument or borrow one and join other musicians for an infor mal evening of playing music.
Bogside Brewing
Got Blues Matinee
Live music Saturdays at 8 pm. Miller Creek (Dec 4). 2316 Rte 3, Pooles Corner. 838-4399
Dunsta nage Ceilidh
The Jack Pine Folk Club
E-mail: info@buzzpei.com Social Media: @buzzpei
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.
Editor/Sales: Yanik Richards
Page 50 The BUZZ May 2022
The Buzz is published monthly by Little Kit Bag Inc. www.buzzpei.com@buzzpei
Office: 160 Richmond Street, Mail:CharlottetownP.O.Box 1945, Charlottetown, PE Phone:C1A7N5902-628-1958
HANDYMAN SERVICES!
ORGANIC VEGGIE DELIVERY
Editorial: info@buzzpei.com
Happy Holidays!
Advertising: sales@buzzpei.com
Photo Credit: Omar Broderick
Phone: 902-566-7770
-
Home delivery of fresh local organic veggies, foods, and other natural products. $25 / $40 / $50 Veggie Boxes or custom orders. Aaron Koleszar 902-629-2575, aaron@organicveggiedelivery.com
Charlottetown artist Jenni Zelin also dabbles in pen and ink drawing, lettering, cartooning and fibre arts. To see more of Jenni’s work, find her on Instagram @diaryofasquirrel and at jenzelart.tumblr.com.
NUMBER 337 • DECEMBER 2021
Submissions and advertising booking deadline for the December issue:
Email: sean.casey@parl.gc.ca www.seancasey.ca
Partners: Maggie Lillo (Ruby Square Graphic Design), Carly Martin (Hawthorne House Media)
No Job Too Small! Contact me to help you tackle your “to do” list! FACEBOOK: Joe Mullen Handyman Services. EMAIL: joemullenhandymanservices@gmail.com
THE GREY CUP conjures up visions of comfort food … like wings! Try all 40 recipes in Kathy Birt’s Wingin’ It cook book, available at Book Mark, Budley’s and Chotto Shoppe.
Editor: Michelle Ollerhead
GET YOUR OWN BUZZIFIED
Creative Media: Greg Webster
Office: 75 Fitzroy Street, Suite 201
30 words $20 (tax included). Buy in bulk to save—6 months for $90 (tax included). Copy and payment due by deadline.
Contributers: Julie Bull, Bryan Carver, Judy Gaudet, Deirdre Kessler, Sean McQuaid, Takako Morita, JoDee Samuelson, Gary Schneider, Jenni Zelin
DecemberMONDAY13
As we bid adieu to 2021, I wish you a Merry Christmas and a Happy and Safe New Year!
Cover: Eight Crowy Nights, acrylic painting on canvas by Jenni Zelin. This piece was inspired by the crows of Brighton, absurdity, and Adam Sandler.
On behalf of Council and everyone at the City of Charlottetown, I would like to wish residents a safe and happy holiday season and a very Merry Christmas! Be safe, be patient, and most importantly, be kind. Mayor Philip Brown
BUZZIFIEDS DEADLINEJANUARYBUZZ
GLORY ZONE CONSIGNMENT
SHOP. There’s a new consignment shop in Charlottetown. Come see our great selection of collectibles, kitchen items, used books, quality used ladies’ fashions at 199 Prince Street.
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.
The BUZZ May 2022 Page 51 For a ZERO WASTE lifestyle For a ZERO WASTE lifestyle For a ZERO WASTE lifestyle
Saturday,
November 27............................................
November 28
Friday,
6:00PM - 8:00PM
1:00PM - 3:00PM
Sunday,
1:00PM - 3:00PM
December 17 Saturdays, December 4, 11, 18 Sundays, December 5, 12, 19................................... Sunday, December 5 (Silent Santa)...................
Friday,
12:00PM - 1:00 PM
November 26 ................................................
1:00PM - 3:00PM
Page 52 The BUZZ May 2022
1:00PM - 3:00PM
Santa’s Visiting Hours
6:00PM - 8:00PM
The BUZZ May 2022 Back Cover Available at any locations or online at MHGGIFTCARD.COM GIVEGIVEGIVEGIVE RECEIVE A $10 GIFT$50CARDCASHINMHGCARDS when you purchase 0 0 FROM NOVEMBER 26 - DECEMBER 31 GET C REATING M EMORAB LE E XPER IE NCES.
