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Kelly's Writing Page - A collection of poetry, story beginnings, ideas, names, titles, etc. by Kelly Mason
(Added: 14-Dec-2005 Hits: 314 Rating: 8.00 Votes: 1) Rate It

  • Fall Busyness
    Well ... good news! At my last post, I mentioned how the doctors told me that I had to lose weight. Well, I went to see them again in October, and yes, I lost some weight. Since my visit in July, I lose 18.7 pounds. I was happy. They were happy. My parents were happy, and I was happy. The doctor at the QEII in Halifax then proceeded to tell me of the problems with my heart ....

    1.) The right side is significantly enlarged
    2.) There is even more leakage than before
    3.) One of the tubes leading into the heart is narrowed
    4.) The patch needs repairing ...

    So, in other words, I still have to concentrate on losing weight. It's been a battle. Some weeks I won't lose or gain anything, and some weeks I'll gain a pound, but to date, overall, since that first dire visit in July, I've lost 32 pounds. I am so excited. It's not that noticable (though bless his heart, one of the guys that I play poker with asked me recently if I've lost weight ... :) ), and the big teller will be on December 23RD. At that time I'll be heading over to Ottawa for Christmas and visiting my older sister. She doesn't believe that I've made a life time commitment to losing the weight, but she will see ... especially if I lose another 20 pounds!!! :)

    The next day, I went to see a doctor in Halifax about a diagnosis for having Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD). The diagnosis came back affirmative, and it's a relief on my mind to finally know for sure. I wasn't that worried, after all, my mother is knowledgable on the subject, but just the having of an official diagnosis is helpful in cutting through the red tape at applying for study grants and such.

    Another good piece of news ... I've met up with a Mrs. Lorna Kirk (based in Halifax), and we are going to be working on a year long documentry on FASD.
    As I know next to nothing about video cameras, she is going to start teaching me how to use a disposable camera, then work my way up to a digital camera. So, now only will I be in the documentry, I will be part of the interview and filming process. This will be an incredible opportunity!

    I haven't done that much writing lately as I have been completing my On-the-Job training with Children's Wish here in PEI. I've edited my chapter that I've written for Alpha Omega though. Made some formatting and other changes, much better than before ... have started on chapter II, but not sure where that is going to go.

    Anyway ...

    Cheers!
  • Summer Busyness
    Well, so much has happened. It's been an incredible whirlwind of good luck, anticipation, and now it is almost over. Since I last posted, I've been hired for an awesome position, I've moved back home, and I'm working towards losing weight and adding up the kms with the walking.

    For starters, I quit my customer service representative position at Resolve Corporation. While the job itself was semi okay, the company itself didn't seem to realize what us CSRs had to deal with. Working there for over a year and a half, it's understandable that not everyone is made out to work in a call center environment. Looking back, I remember feeling justified that at around the time I quit, a lot of other people had quit, and Resolve had to do a complete major overhaul of its employees. It will be interesting to see how things work out. Call centers can be great places to work at, but for the long permanent term, call center managers must realize that CSRs will only take so much for any length of time, and eventually, they won't be able to hire such huge amounts of staff, because everyone in the vicinity will have already worked there. But anyways, that's my piece on the subject. Moving onwards ...

    And the reason for my defection at Resolve Corporation, I was hired through the Canadian Council on Rehabilitation and Work to work as their Research Coordinator here in Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island. The project that I'm working on is entitled "Youth Ability in Skilled Trades". This incredible position is my first 'adult' job. Given the chance to network across Canada (with all of the other research coordinators), I was able to finally put my Bachelor of Arts degree into good use. Not bad. Ten months after graduating from UPEI, and six months into my Holland College Program, I get this research position. I lost a month from my Holland College program, but as I have my UPEI degree, I feel confident that the month lost will not hurt me. I will always be getting upgrading in my education. Eventually, I hope to get my Masters in Creative Writing.

    I recently went to Halifax, Nova Scotia to get checked out by my doctors at the QEII Hospital. There, I was given a severe warning to lose weight as in October, I will be needing to see them to see when I need to go through an Open Heart Surgery. The first two months, while I was still living in town, I didn't do all that much in my diet or walking. I wasn't accepting what the doctors had said. I thought everything would be alright. As it happens, I moved back home, and since moving back home, I've had family making sure I don't waste any more time. Now that I've gotten back into the walking routine, I've clocked around 123kms since the beginning of August.

    Well, that's all that's new right now. Nothing much else to report. I'm still single, doing a little bit of writing (working on a children's series right now), and oh yes, I recently won at a weekly poker night I go to with some guys. :)


    Cheers!
  • Spring Busyness ...
    Well ... It's been interesting the last few weeks. A lot of stuff have been happening now that all of that white stuff has melted and disappeared ... knock on wood ...

    Let's see ...

    On March 28TH, I did a Fetal Alcohol Syndrom Disorder(FASD) Presentation. Spoke in front of about 200 people, thank god I wasn't the only one presenting. Rather nervous for about the first ten minutes. Spoke for 35, so it all seemed to work out. :) Was approached by two other people to do more presentations.

    Through this presentation, I was invited to participate as a board member on the FASD Provincial Advisory Group. My first meeting was yesterday, the 11th, and it went very well. Of course, I can't remember all of the names, but, I do know that in the future, we are going to start making some wonderful changes for those that have FASD. As I have FASD, it is great to see this support and the ideas that are happening through this support. Personally, I had a network of people growing up that helped me through FASD, but not everyone is as lucky as I am, so, lets hope this support can get the ball rolling and provide resources for those needing them. If wanting more information, contact me at writer_KMason@hotmail.com.

    Cheers.
  • Holland College Creative Writing Club
    So, I started a new club, and I am so excited. I have never started anything like this before, and I'm hoping against hope that it will succeed. The club, Holland College's Creative Writing Club is something I have always wanted to do. So, in December of 2005, I met with Student Services and approached them with this initiative since there hadn't been anything of that nature created in the College.

    To date, we've had three meetings, and the ideas and suggestions are gaining interest. It's incredible, an absolute high to have created this! I will be posting our work on this blog page very soon. :)
  • Mothers
    Always knowing when they are needed.
    Loving and strong.
    Even in the face of childish angst and strife.
    They are the ones that know you best.
    Your constant companion.
    No matter where you are.
    No matter what your mistakes are.
    You always wonder if some day, you'll ever be like her.
    You can only hope,
    That when you become a mother,
    You'll be as good at it as she is.

L.M. Montgomery fans unite! - This community is for talking about anything and everything to do with PEI's L.M. Montgomery, the author of Anne of Green Gables and many other novels. Her books, her short stories, her journals, her poetry, the many TV shows and movies based on her works, and any other LMM-related topics are all completely open for discussion.
(Added: 8-Aug-2005 Hits: 303 Rating: 2.00 Votes: 1) Rate It

  • Anne of the Island - Fan Arts


    Hello,

    I've drawn a couple of pictures inpired by "Anne of the Island" and I'd like to share them with you

    HERE

    Sorry for Cross Posting ^^
  • L. M. Montgomery Conference
    Hey guys! My sister goes to the University of Guelph and sent me this link today which is for an upcoming L. M. Montgomery conference in Guelph from October 23-26. They have a whole bunch of speakers and is where alot of her original journals and stuff are kept. I'm definitely going to try to see all of the Saturday stuff.

    http://www.lmmrc.ca/conference/
  • Hi! I'm new!
    Hi! My name is Lauren. I hope everyone is doing well. i joined this community because I LOVE Emily of New Moon and Anne of Green Gables. I saw the Emily of New Moon TV Series before reading the books. It didn?t' matter though because I loved them both! I'm def buying Emily of New Moon on DVD asap.

    My fave eps are: The Ghost of Whither Grange, A Child Shall Lead Them, Reap What you Sew and The Enchanted Doll. I really love all of them, but the ones I mentioned are my top favorites! Out of the books, I LOVE the first two and the third was great as well! As for Anne of Green Gables, there is only one version for me. The dramatization FOF did with Mae Whitman as Anne. Mae did a fantastic job and it's because of her that I now love Anne of Green Gables!
    I hope to hear from everyone soon!
  • Where to purchase LMM books?
    Hi Everyone,
    I've would like to buy some of the not-so-well-known titles of LMM's works but do not know where to get them. I've tried Amazon, Amazon Canada,Ebay,and Chapters but they either don't have the titles I am looking for or only direct me to individual sellers.

    Would you know of a bookstore or website where I could purchase LMM books for a reasonable price? I am looking to buy each book in the paperback version and under $10 each, preferably.

    If it helps, I am looking for titles other than the Anne, Emily, Story Girl, Pat, and Chronicles of Avonlea series.

    Thank you for your help!

    (Mods, I hope my question is allowed, and I apologize if it isn't)
  • News about LMM's death.
    I thought you'd want to know.

    Doesn't make me respect her one bit less, but how sad :-(

Matt MacLeod's Magic 93 Blog - For everyone that has ever said "oh no what was that thing that the guy on the radio said" have no more fears any kind of stuff that is talked about I will post it here just for YOU! Like contest winners, what Britney Spears or Martha is up to (no good usually) it will all be here!
(Added: 26-Sep-2005 Hits: 284 Rating: 0 Votes: 0) Rate It

  • (no subject)
    Into another week here on PEI, and what a way to kick it off a BLIZZARD!!

    Our winners for today:
    Invite to the Chucky Danger CD Release Party and a set of Sennheisser headphones
    Lisa Bernard
    2 Whopper Combos & Pair of Tickets to the Hockey Momma's Game
  • (no subject)
    Well this month has been very quiet so far... weather wise, which in a way is beginning to scare me, so as we roll into Sunday we are goin to make sure we are keeping track of the incoming storm for Kings County. Until tommorow, we will have to see what we have in store!
  • (no subject)
    Congrats to this afternoons winner of the prize pack for Career Month Tracey McLean!
  • (no subject)
    Happy New Year! I hope everyone is having a very enjoyable holiday, only a couple more days till the kids are back to the books, as for me I am off for a couple of days, doing some stripping......the house of decorations, and so on. You will be in good company with Gregg until Thursday. Enjoy the kick off to 20-06! SEE YA!
  • (no subject)
    Nick and Jessica's Divorce Papers

    http://cdn.digitalcity.com/tmz_documents/12-16-05_jessica_simpson_divorce_papers.pdf

Mean Poetry - Poetry can be cool. - Contributions by Elizabeth Barrett, Simon Arsenault, David Fleming, and Shannon.
(Added: 21-Feb-2006 Hits: 207 Rating: 0 Votes: 0) Rate It

  • (no subject)
    i think i've found myself a home
    a place for life to take ahold
    my roots have found a water well
    the sky pulls up, inspires growth

    the road grows wide
    ___my fingers, toes
    ______dig through air
    what matters most
    ___uncertain breaths
    ______are in the past
    _________and in the future
    ______they will come back

    But here, oh earth
    ___the smell is sweet
    I lick my lips and lift my feet
    I praise my soul and know that deep
    under this spot a rhythm beats
    ___and keeps
    ___me here.
  • never been home
    The road finds my feet.
    My secrets kept
    the space between.
    Not wide nor thin,
    just enough to miss.
    Taste of breath
    replaced the kiss.

    As comfy as it seemed
    there's other wheres to be.

    If you'll agree
    then walk with me.
    We are free
    to come and go.
    The world is big
    and draws me in
    but nomatter where
    i have been
    I've never been home.
  • (no subject)
    My poems desire flow too much
    raised on rhythm and dr. suess.
    Rhyme and passage of time and such
    effect the words i pass to you.

    When tones control the waves of time
    and music not meter gives pace to the lines
    then i can avoid the obvious rhymes
    and perhaps say something meaningful.
  • (no subject)
    I love like wind which loves the tree
    my hidden strength removes your leaves
    intentions masked by peaceful means
    I leave you shiv´ring violently.

    Sedated by my subtle touch
    convinced i haven´t asked for much
    your leaves believe they fell by chance
    while air blows through your ev´ry branch.

    Feb.8 2007
  • (no subject)
    we are the children of the earth
    born fast in a quiet revolution
    where our hearts beat louder than our drums
    we are the twisted sisters of sorrowed hearts
    who are born alone and die alone
    we live not for religious pain or agnostic hate
    our fatherless watch is our freedom
    our tasteless food and ragged hair define us
    more than our riches ever will
    we laugh and love and make love
    and fear not those who will rule
    for the only shackles that bind
    are placed heavy on the mind
    but our chaos is designed
    and our disgrace is truth
    we bow only to beauty
    we speak only in grace
    we don't long for freedom
    we are the children of the earth
    freedom longs for us.

Meanwhile Studios - PEI artist & graphic novelist Troy Little.
(Added: 2-Sep-2008 Hits: 5 Rating: 0 Votes: 0) Rate It

  • Fri., November 14th, NIN - Montreal, Nov. 12th

    I've been a rabid NIN fan since '94 but have only managed to see them once before this on the Fagility Tour in 2000 where I was regrettably stuck in a seat in the nosebleeds. Not this time my friend! 

    Thanks to my friend Jean we scored GA floor space and when March of the Pigs came on I was four people away from the front and center of the show. Now THAT is how to see a NIN concert.



    (see me down there?)

    Setlist:

    999,999
    1,000,000
    Letting You
    Discipline
    March of the Pigs
    Head Down
    The Frail
    Closer
    Gave Up
    Me, I'm Not
    The Great Destroyer
    5 Ghosts I
    14 Ghosts II
    19 Ghosts III
    Ghosts Piggy
    The Greater Good
    Pinion
    Wish
    Terrible Lie
    Survivalism
    The Big Come Down
    31 Ghosts IV
    Only
    The Hand The Feeds
    Head Like a Hole

    Encore:

    Echoplex
    Reptile
    God Given
    Hurt
    In This Twilight




  • Sat., October 11th, SPX 2008: There and Back Again
    I've been trying to get to SPX for years now but something always seemed to crop up and I'd put off the idea for a year or two. This year I finally made it and it sure was worth the wait.

    SEPT 30TH, 2008

    My pal Patrick and I rented a car (thanks Jay!) and hit the road for Moncton to catch Blue Man Group playing at the Moncton Colosseum.

    I've been a big fan of these guys for years, but Patrick knew very little about them and was rather indifferent until the show started. I knew he was going to love it and I was not wrong - how could you not? Our floor seats sucked so we took to the high ground for a better view. I'd seen the show before on PBS and knew all the music so it wasn't too much of a surprise to me, but very enjoyable none the less. Great crowd.

    After the show, a few friends had backstage passes to meet the BMG, so me, Pat and my nephew Josh were waiting around for them to get back. Out of no where my cousin Craig Wilson from St. John greets me. I haven't seen him in decades! What I remember most about Craig was him giving me his Star Wars toys one time when we visited (I still have them too).

    We crash at Carol's uncle Dave's house that night. I have trouble sleeping because Pat bought me a coffee just before the show.

    OCTOBER 1ST, 2008

    Woke up early the next morning with a mild headache, fueled up on coffee and hit the road! We had a few days travel time so the plan was to not have a plan. Stop at interesting or weird places and take back roads where possible.

    Just outside St. Stephen, NB we find our first weird stop.




    The next stop was the US border where I learned and interesting thing: A Canadian can not go into the US and sell stuff. We were stopped and whisked into the Department of Homeland Security building, the watchful eye of George W. Bush grinning at us from a large framed poster while border guards went through our car and belongings.

    An elderly woman, attempting to bring 8 peaches across the boarder was stopped and her fruit confiscated. Pat had a peach while we waited.

    I was mildly concerned when the officer came in with a handful of books from the car, one of them Dave Sim's Judenhass. I half expected them to flip it open, see a drawings of Hitler and Jews from Auschwitz and charge us with distributing hate literature. Thankfully that was not the case. In fact, the officer was as helpful as she could be but in the end told us to go back to Canada and get rid of all but 2 copies of my books and I could keep the free preview comics.

    We grabbed lunch at a nearby Pizza Delight and tried to formulate a plan. I'd be damned if I wasn't going to SPX this year! My salvation came in the form of Brenda Matheson, a kind and trusting soul who manages the Tourist Information Building in St. Stephen. She kept my books in her office for a week and I can't thank her enough for helping me out!

    We breezed back through the US border without anyone bothering to make sure I'd done as told. None the less, The US is justly safe from Canadian comics and peaches - well done!

    Pat wanted some Marlboros and happily smoked away when the fancy struck him. We stopped at a Tim Hortons, curious as to what passes for Tim Hortons coffee in the States. I ordered a medium and got a large. Pat ordered a medium and got a large. When he commented on that, the woman serving us said, "Oh, you must be Canadian. Everything is bigger in the US". Sadly (but not surprisingly) the coffee sucked.

    We drove until it got dark and rainy, stopping outside Boston around 9PM. We found a dark parking lot and decided to save a few bucks and sleep in the car for a few hours. It was almost impossible to sleep, and when I did finally fall asleep for a few hours, it was on a sharp plastic corner of the armrest. I still have a baseball sized black bruise on my thigh from that.

    OCTOBER 2nd, 2008

    By about 4AM I'd had enough and started driving again in the pitch dark and in a downpour through Boston and onto the I95. By dawn we were pretty hungry so we pulled off and found this amazing little German styled restaurant filled with teddy bears, aptly called Pat's Kitchen. Breakfast was awesome.

    Our first sight of NY signage! We debated if we should go for the day but rightly decided against it in favour of hitting Philly for the day tomorrow.

    Pat veered off and we took a pit stop in Port Jervis, an awesome little place filled with neat antique shops. We started off at an Army Surplus Shop.

    This would have made an excellent Halloween costume!


    We decide to go for a walk.


    Pat finds himself a nice Hawaiian velvet Elvis painting at a great antique shop. I find this book I had and loved when I was a kid, so I bought it to read to Alice & Hayden. Good coffee house called Port Java in this town too.




    We drive and get to Philadelphia in the early evening. Driving into town was interesting; litter everywhere! The place was dirty and looked very old and poor. It took a long drive to get down town and then it was like night and day - huge, beautiful buildings everywhere! Such a contrast.

    We found a hotel after a good deal of insane driving around the busy core of the city then we went out to find some food and a good pub. I guess the Vice Presidential Debate was taking place in town; every TV was tuned into the debate. It seemed to be about the only thing anyone would talk about was the Election everywhere you went. So very unlike Canada.

    OCTOBER 3rd, 2008

    Next morning we're up early after a much better nights sleep and we start to hoof it around Philly.

    The architecture, fountains and statues everywhere are truly amazing!

    Trick photography at it's finest.

    Randomly walking around the city we find ourselves in the Free Library of Philadelphia. A sign indicates there is an Edgar Allen Poe exhibit on in the Rare Books section of the library. We go check it out and are truly floored by the things we find:


    To show but a fraction of what we saw:

    A hand written copy of "The Raven"...

    ..."Grip", the actual raven owned by Charles Dickens (featured in his book "Barnaby Rudge" and the inspiration for Poe's poem....

    ... Original artwork by Arther Rackham...


    ... 4000 year old Cuneiform tablets (not shown) and 2500 year old Egyptian scrolls on papyrus...


    ... 12th Century hand painted illuminated Book of Hours (each page is made of real vellum, it took the dried flesh of two calf's to make a page)...


    ... A page from the Gutenberg Bible...

    ... The list goes on and on, from the desk that Charles Dickens wrote in (he etched his initials into the wood) to letters from Columbus to the King telling of his discovery of the Indies (we were not actually allowed to see that one, but they had it there!). It was completely mind bending.

    Our next find was the Rodin Museum!

    The imposing "Gates of Hell" greet you.

    Detail.





    On our way to the Art Gallery. The steps leading up to the building were made famous by this movie called "Rocky".

    Amazing sculptures outside the museum.




    Patrick attempts to spar and fails.

    I just want to be his Adrian.

    And here is the moment you've all been waiting for:





    We never made it into the museum as time was running out and we had to get to the convention. We hailed a cab and got an enlightening history lesson from the cabbie (who was about to go home and put a big rockfish in the oven). "We call this place the City of Brotherly Blood. All those pretty buildings you see are thanks to 400 years of free slave labour". We asked him about the upcoming election and he was convinced that America was not ready for a black President and should he get elected he would be killed. I hope he's wrong.

    We hit the road and make it to the hotel without incident. We find our show passes and in the evening have drinks with a few of the other comic creators who've arrived (Hi Ben, Lamar, Chris and Mike!)

    The meet and greet moves to the hotel lounge and I get to meet a few of my IDW brothers, Pat Lewis and Kevin Colden and a slew of other. It's been a long time since I've been to a comic con and I'm really enjoying it.

    OCTOBER 4th, 2008

    Pat and I went breakfast hunting and found an awesome place called the Silver Diner. The menu had a special "Vote With Your Breakfast" item: The Obamalette and the McCainlette. As a Canadian in the US at election time I had to cast my vote, and I'm happy to see that the Obamalette is way ahead in the polls at silverdiner.com

    Show Time! I neglected to take many pictures at the show as I was so busy meeting people and dealing with legal issues surrounding the Angora Napkin cartoon. Pat snapped this one at my table just after the show started. Thankfully, IDW had sent my advance TPB copies of Chiaroscuro to the show! Thanks Ted!!


    The blurry view from my table. Ignatz Award winner Nate Powell and his book Swallow Me Whole at the bottom left. I got so many books to read it's going to take some time to get through them all. Pat took off to check out Washington and I didn't see him again until later that night.

    This photo was lifted from Brian Heater's Flicker page. After the Ignatz Awards everyone made their way to Karaoke. I was in the loud room where James Kochalka and Liz Baillie belted out Quiet Riots "Come on Feel the Noise" as best they could (the screen text was in Korean).

    I got a lift back to the hotel with the great folks from the table next to me (Hi Joe, Maris, Duddits and Tim!). I found Pat hanging out in front of the hotel with Danielle from Girls With Slingshots fame.

    OCTOBER 5th, 2008

    Last day of the show. I'd gotten Pat hooked on Scott Pilgrim a week before the show and he showed his good taste by buying a page of original artwork from Brian O'Mally. Sales were pretty good, I handed out hundreds of preview comics and had a great time. Now the big debate is what to do next year: SPX or Mocca....

    That night after the show Pat and I took the subway into Washington to check out some sights.


    The White House is much smaller than I expected, especially in comparison to all the gigantic Romanesque buildings everywhere else. I asked a security guard if the President ever plays frisbee out in the front yard and I guess he doesn't. Too bad.

    Directly across the street is a tent and a man by the name "Start Loving" who (with others) has been holding a 24 hour protest against war and US policies since 1981. He gave us grief for putting Stephen Harper (Bush jr.) as our Prime Minister, I don't disagree. The Canadian Federal Election is on Oct 14th, I hope we see a change in our Government.

    We walked down past the Washington Monument, the city seems nearly deserted of people. The long walk down to the Lincoln Memorial is truly one of the most amazing things I've ever seen, I'm glad we went at night as it was lit so nicely.

    Photos do not do justice to this monument. It is huge and very somber. Standing on the steps looking towards the Washington Monument was where Martin Luther King gave his "I Have a Dream" speech. Etched on the inner South wall is the Gettysburg Address.



    On the trek back to the subway we passed by the Vietnam / Korean War memorial wall. Dimly lit it's a very somber view. Pictures of families, stuffed toys and little flags sit here and there at the base of the wall. A old man in a military jacket flips through a book that catalouges the names of the dead and where to find them on this long wall of names.

    OCTOBER 6th, 2008

    Breakfast at Rotten Ronnies and we hit the road. The plan is to hit Boston tonight, find a hotel and get up early and pound the pavement. On the road we discover we're passing through Gettesyburg. There's no question we're stopping there.

    Patrick has a big canon. Take that you Confederates, that's how we roll in the North!



    This is the actual spot where Lincoln gave the Gettesyburg Address. Being at the Memorial last night and here today gives a nice symmetry to the trip.


    We drive on to Boston, stopping at a the Blue Colony Diner in Connecticut. We arrive in Boston late, driving past the brightly lit Fenway Park where a game is in session. We zip around the city a bit, and in trying to find a cheap hotel outside the city we discover we're not far from Salem. And we're off!


    OCTOBER 7th, 2008

    We have a hell of a time trying to find the place, expecting it to be some spooky cedar-shingled little warf town. Not so! We decide to skip the hotel as it's 2:30am and try sleeping in the car again, but with a bit more success than last time.


    Up early again we hoof it around Salem only to find out that nothing opens until 10am. I have to be on the Canadian side of the boarder by 6pm to get my books or well be staying the night in St. Stephen. None the less, Salem is too cool not to check out.

    At 10 we are in the Salem Witch Museum, which is cheesy as hell and all the better for it. We skip the "What is a Witch" tour at the end and check out the town. (Mike, you'd love it there).

    They have an awesome comic shop there, tons of goths folk and and amazing graveyard in the middle of town. I found a stone with "Little" on it.... Could it be that I'm decended from a clan of Salem Witches?

    Magnificent, twisted oak trees are everywhere.


    Statue outside of the Witch Museum.


    I was "Bewitched" in Salem. (ouch, sorry)

    We left later than planned and high tailed it for the boarder. We were just on the other side of the border at 5:45 and I was afraid we'd be held up crossing so I called Brenda at the Tourist building and got no answer! I tried again and finally the cleaning lady answered. She said she would hang there for me to get my books.

    I noticed crossing the bridge that the time zone changes! It was 6 on one side and 7 on the Canadian side; we were an hour late! Anyway, I got my books, thanked the lady 1000 times and went and had dinner at The Red Rooster.

    I'm really glad I took this trip. We drove nearly 3000 KM and saw a side of America I wouldn't have seen traveling by plane to and from my destination. I have a greater appreciation for the country and understand better where this deep sense of American pride comes from. Everyone we met was helpful, or at least what I call "Aggressively Friendly" (in a good way). Even the homeless were more polite than those I've encountered in Toronto. We only got the Evil Eye once and that was outside New York, so I take it with a grain of salt. What a great trip!!!

    Now the trick is to figure out what to do next year: SPX or Mocca....
  • Sun., September 28th, Off to SPX!

    SPX - The Expo

    This is my first time attending SPX and I'm really looking forward to it! If you're planning on attending, I'll be at table B13B.

    I still have some Angora Napkin Previews to give away and if everything goes smoothly I should have a few advance copies of the Chiaroscuro trade paper back for sale!

    I'm driving with my pal Pat down to the show, so hopefully I'll have a good collection of pictures and stories for the 'ol blog when I get back.

    Hope to see you there!

  • Thu., September 25th, "Hide Your LIfe Away" is now available!
    Meanwhile Studios is proud to present the release of Carol Little's novel "Hide Your Life Away"!


    The book was officially released on Tuesday, Sept 23rd and can be ordered through the handy Amazon link on the right side of this page. I hope to soon have a paypal link set up on my website so you can order direct and get a signed copy!

    We are having the book launch and party this Saturday night, starting at 7 PM at Vere Studio & Gallery in Summerside. Carol will be reading from her novel as well as selected poems with musical accompaniment by Patrick Brunet. For full details on the event check out Vere Studio website.

    "Hide Your Life Away" is available in bookstores across PEI and we hope soon to expand distribution throughout North America. If you simply must have a signed copy and can't wait until I find the time to update my web site just drop me an email and I'll send along info on how to get a signed copy.

    Happy reading!
  • Sat., September 13th, Angora Napkin update
    Alas, Angora Napkin is forcing me to ignore my poor blog and website but the Production Blog is starting to pick up speed! Lots of new and behind the scenes fun will be showing up there as we ramp up to full production.

    We also have a Facebook Fan page you can join:
    Angora Napkin on Facebook

    Fear not, I will return to this humble url as the girls allow me.

My Projects - Graphical Design from Cory G. - Cory G's graphics blog.
(Added: 12-Nov-2005 Hits: 236 Rating: 9.00 Votes: 1) Rate It

  • (no subject)
    Below are some of the projects I've been working on this semster, done in Freehand.
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    Outer brochure design for The Avant Gardener, a Bonsai Tree shop. Posted by Picasa
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    Inside brochure design Posted by Picasa
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    Magazine spread  Posted by Picasa
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    Brochure design for a Spencer Wells' presentation of The Journey of Man at the Delta Posted by Picasa

New Books at the PEI Provincial Library - A list of new titles added to the PEI Provincial library - updated every weekday.
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Paul Alan's Magic 93 Blog - This Blog from Magic 93 will keep everyone up to date on what's happening at Magic 93 in Charlottetown PEI. No RSS feed.
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PEI Poet Laureate Community Website - Saying he has a mandate to make poetry more accessible, P.E.I.'s poet laureate David Helwig has launched a website where Islanders can share their work.
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  • Wed., September 24th, March 5, 2009: Brian Bartlett

    Brian Bartlett — Nova Scotia poet and head of creative writing at Saint Mary’s University — March 5, 7:30, Confederation Centre Art Gallery

    Winter’s Tales is sponsored by the UPEI English Department, with co-hosting by Confederation Centre Art Gallery, and generous support from The Canada Council of the Arts.

    Admission to all readings is free, with a reception and book-signing following the reading.

  • Wed., September 24th, February 24, 2009: David Hickey

    David Hickey — PEI poet — February 24, 7:30, Confederation Centre Art Gallery

    Winter’s Tales is sponsored by the UPEI English Department, with co-hosting by Confederation Centre Art Gallery, and generous support from The Canada Council of the Arts.

    Admission to all readings is free, with a reception and book-signing following the reading.

  • Wed., September 24th, February 5, 2009: Ian Colford

    Ian Colford, Nova Scotian short fiction writer, & Libby Creelman, Newfoundland novelist — February 5, 7:30, Confederation Centre Art Gallery

    Winter’s Tales is sponsored by the UPEI English Department, with co-hosting by Confederation Centre Art Gallery, and generous support from The Canada Council of the Arts.

    Admission to all readings is free, with a reception and book-signing following the reading.

  • Wed., September 24th, Winter's Tales Author Readings 08/09

    Summary of readings

    Guy Gavriel Kay — internationally acclaimed fantasy fiction writer — September 25, 7:30, Confederation Centre Art Gallery

    Tim Thorne — Tasmanian poet and UPEI writer-in-residence for the annual PEI-Tasmanian writers’ exchange — October 23, 7:00, UPEI Faculty Lounge, Main Building

    Anne Simpson — award-winning poet and novelist from Nova Scotia — November 20, 7:30, Confederation Centre Art Gallery

    Ian Colford, Nova Scotian short fiction writer, & Libby Creelman, Newfoundland novelist — February 5, 7:30, Confederation Centre Art Gallery

    David Hickey — PEI poet — February 24, 7:30, Confederation Centre Art Gallery

    Brian Bartlett — Nova Scotia poet and head of creative writing at Saint Mary’s University — March 5, 7:30, Confederation Centre Art Gallery

    Winter’s Tales is sponsored by the UPEI English Department, with co-hosting by Confederation Centre Art Gallery, and generous support from The Canada Council of the Arts. The PEI-Tasmania writers’ exchange is co-sponsored by the UPEI Dean of Arts, English Department, Institute of Island Studies, and PEI Writers’ Guild. Admission to all readings is free, with a reception and book-signing following the reading.

  • Thu., September 11th, Sean Wiebe

    Harvest Rhyme

    Shining with sweat
    in trademark tan
    two chipmunks set
    the mood for an afternoon
    of play. How easily
    my children let fall
    their rakes and forget
    their duties.

    Lovers of no-hand
    dares, my lost labourers
    flip and spring across
    the grass, imitating
    a tree-trunk dance
    scurry left, quick-quick
    reverse, every move
    instinctually rehearsed.

    I cannot deny how
    their fall smiles
    blur into another time
    when barely tall enough
    to swing, I reeled in
    the sky, bringing back
    messages from the Gods.

PEI Writers' Guild - For Writers Living and Working on Prince Edward Island
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  • Sun., July 6th, Regina Public Library Seeks Writer-in-Residence
      Writer-in-Residence Call for Applications    Sept. 1, 2009 - June 30, 2010 Residency Regina Public Library invites applications from Canadian creative writers for the position of Writer-in-Residence. The successful candidate will work with the public through individual consultations, community/school visits, and group workshops or seminars. The Writer-in-Residence will devote 80% of his/her time to personal writing projects. The author [...]
  • Sun., July 6th, Tuesday Talks at the Acadian Museum
    LES CAUSERIES DU MARDI AU MUSÉE ACADIEN / TUESDAY TALKS AT THE ACADIAN MUSEUM Miscouche (Î.-P.-É / P.E.I.)       8 juillet / 8 July (En français / In French) « Les noces d’autrefois » Invités / Guests : Erma Arsenault, Yvonne Arsenault,  Joseph Gallant et Antoine Richard 15 juillet / 15 July (En anglais / In English) «Voices From the Acadian Deportation of 1758 [...]
  • Mon., May 19th, Book Launch - Deportation of Island Acadians
  • Mon., May 19th, Stone & Flesh: The Yoga of Lucid Writing - Tatamagouche Centre
      Stone and Flesh: The Yoga of Lucid Writing August 7 - 10; From Thursday, Aug. 7 at 7 p.m. to Sunday, Aug. 10 at 1 p.m. Being awake to “the dialogue of stone and flesh” can lead to lucid writing, a way of writing full of surprise, insight, and a little challenge. Through lucid writing, we attempt [...]
  • Mon., May 19th, Buffalo Runs Press Seeks Poetry Submissions
    Buffalo Runs Press seeks submissions for its inaugural poetry series.The Buffalo Runs 3poets series will be released as pocket-sized books featuring roughly eight to twelve pages of work from three poets from different regions in Canada. The featured poets will be asked to partake in some form of critical conversation with each other, either through [...]

peilocals - the very best in underground culture.
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Profile PEI - the Jeremy Larter Story - Satirical web serial about hapless wannabe-screenwriter Jeremy Larter. New episodes every Monday.
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  • Chindia 
    Jeremy runs into his old high schoole buddy, Scott Gallant, after a not-so-hot meeting with the unemployment officer.
  • Money Troubles 
    Jeremy runs into some financial difficulties
  • Duet 
    Jeremy and Kelly...in love for ever.
  • The Morning After 
    Loose Cannon - A good cop, bad cop film starring a trigger happy monkey and a straight-laced dolphin.
  • Fort McLennie  
    Jeremy and Graham pick up Lennie at the airport. Lennie is hot off the Fort McMurray Press and he's ready to rule the island.

Provincial Museum of Prince Edward Island - Information regarding the current state of the provincial museum system. The subject is a topic of public debate both in the Legislature and across the Island. We hope these posting will provide background material for the consultations being held by the Institute of Island Studies.
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  • Province commits to creation of central museum
    David Keenleyside, left, executive director of the P.E.I. Museum and Heritage Foundation, Philip Macdonald, vice-chair, and Heritage Minister Carolyn Bertram, announced Friday the province will commit to creating a centrally located provincial museum and will also work to develop a heritage strategy. Guardian photo

    by JIM DAY as published in The Guardian, 15th of Nov, 2008


    The future site for showcasing the province?s past appears likely destined to be in the Charlottetown area.
    Heritage Minister Carolyn Bertram pledged Friday her government?s commitment to creating a centrally located provincial museum facility.

    Further analysis will be done to peg the specific location, but the recommendation from a heritage report released Friday clearly seems to place the capital city as the prime candidate.

    Bertram said the location would be centrally located in a place with the highest potential for visitors to the site.

    ?We are not going to prejudge where it is going to be, that is part of the (upcoming) process,?? she said when asked if the site will inevitably end up in the capital city.

    Still, the crowd gathered inside the main theatre of Province House cheered Bertram?s promise to create a centrally located provincial museum facility.

    The previous Conservative government was ready for construction of a provincial artifactory in Murray River but the Liberal election victory in late May 2007 brought those plans to an abrupt halt.

    The proposed $4.9-million project to house and display some of the more than 80,000 items of historical significance now being stored in the West Royalty Industrial Park also included a retail and boutique attachment as a way to stimulate more summertime business in this quiet fishing village.

    But while the relocation bid was applauded by the P.E.I. Heritage Foundation, it drew the ire of other heritage buffs who insisted Murray River was too far off the beaten track and the province should be building a provincial museum instead in the capital city.

    Bertram hopes to see the museum open within ?the next few years?? but future analysis ? and capital budget approval ? is still needed to determine many factors for the promised facility. Among the unanswered questions is where will the museum be located, will it be housed in an existing building or will a new facility be constructed and what will be displayed in the facility.

    Bertram says it is important for the government to undertake proper planning for a new facility to ensure it meets the expectations and needs of Islanders.

    She also wants her government to support capital upgrades to the current seven provincial museums that dot the Island.

    The $60,000 report, called Charting A Course, also calls for government to develop a strategy to guide future planning for heritage. Bertram says government will work immediately to create a strategy.

    ?Within one year, we will have a series of heritage priorities and specific action areas identified to address various heritage needs,?? she said. ?The strategy will recognize that heritage goes beyond bricks and mortar ? heritage is a way of thinking about our Island community.??

    That philosophy sits well with Catherine Hennessey, a vocal advocate for the promotion and preservation of the Island?s heritage.

    ?I have a belief in a museum, but I have a deep belief that we can put a group of people together ? a staff ? that will help one end of this Island to the other interpreting and preserving our history,?? she said following Friday?s announcement. ?The call is out now for the community to support this wonderful first step.??

    More than 500 individuals and organizations came forward with their concerns and suggestions in helping the IRIS group prepare its report.

    Other recommendations in the report include:

    • - Making more effective use and enforcement of existing legislation, notably the Heritage Places Protection Act. Proclaiming the Archaeology Act and developing regulations.
    • - Strengthening and clarifying the mandates regarding administration and provincial heritage resources.
    • - Giving more prominence to heritage concerns within government as part of the decision-making process.
    • - Increasing support for community museums through the Community Museums Association
  • Protecting our heritage with a vengeance
    by CHARLES MCMILLAN - Commentary
    as published in The Guardian - Oct 23, 2008

    Every generation, Islanders take a refreshing look at policies and legislation affecting this province?s glorious history, heritage, and natural landscape. As the summer-fall season closes, and almost 1.5 million visitors leave the Island, it is appropriate to examine the province?s entire approach to culture and heritage, and how best to preserve and exploit the Island?s ?way of life?. The Ghiz government is now dealing with potential new directions for heritage policies, including a much-needed storage site for the Island?s collection.

    Hopefully, the issues will be dealt with on a non-partisan basis and address ideas and suggestions with a long-time horizon, perhaps up to 10 years or more.

    Successive governments, from the Conservative administrations of Walter Shaw, Angus MacLean and Pat Binns to Liberal administrations of Alex Campbell, Joe Ghiz, and now his son, Robert Ghiz, have cultivated policies towards the natural environment ? shorelines, parks, protected areas ? as well as heritage buildings, archeological sites, and provincial museums.
    Indeed, the entire province is really a national park, with plants, animals, birds and trees of immense beauty. Jacques Cartier, perhaps the first European to write down his thoughts on the Island, touring the entire north shore on July 1, 1534, referred to the climate, land, and landscape, ?the finest land one can see, and full of beautiful trees and meadows, the fairest that it may be possible to see.? George Brown, a celebrated Father of Confederation who also tried to wrestle with the Island?s transportation challenge when he returned to Charlottetown in 1865, called P.E.I. ?as pretty a country as you ever put your eye upon.?

    By my count, there are seven categories of the Island?s heritage landscape: lighthouses, churches, community and provincial museums, sites-in-waiting (e.g. the Julian Jaynes-Admiral Bayfield House in Keppoch), Parks Canada historic sites, natural historic sites (e.g. Greenwich, North Cape Peat Bog and archeological sites) and National Historic Sites.

    The IRIS Group, a consulting firm that produced a welcome study on heritage policy and justified the need for additional resources (money, staff and facilities), did not provide financial estimates, either on a low- or high-budget scenario. My guess of required funding for capital plus annual upkeep, ignoring the source of the money, is about $250,000 minimum for lighthouses ($10,000 operating per site), $3 million to $4 million for churches ($10,000-$25,000 operating for some 60 heritage churches), $50-100,000 for 16 community and provincial museums ($25,000 for operations), $500,000 for natural history sites, and $2 million per year for national historic sites.

    This capital budget, about $10 million in total, is not entirely about provincial funding. Or federal-provincial funding. Or about a separate line item in the provincial ministry of culture and heritage. Why? First, the Island?s heritage landscape is an enormous drawing card for provincial tourism (a $350-million industry) and the associated small business sector, including restaurants, hotels, bed and breakfast, and provincial tours.

    Second, as the poor, rural areas of Maine and New Brunswick readily indicate, decrepit buildings and farms isolate communities from economic vitality, including the capacity to attract business and associated land values.

    Third, while there is a natural economic magnet towards cities, especially Charlottetown where most government and professional (law, finance, academic) activity is located, the drawing card is the Island itself, including the rural lifestyle and heritage that truly create the Island way of life ? fresh air and water, thriving villages (e.g. Rustico or Montague), family values, and a real sense of community.

    Clearly, the government should devote more resources to the Island?s heritage, perhaps doubling the present expenditure of $2 million, and reducing the amount spent to attract new businesses (but also spending more on skills training) ? the Maritimes? sinful weakness.
    The government could also change the incentives to invest in heritage, such as the following. For churches, whose real estate is not taxable, introduce a regulation that encourages heritage preservation, or lose the tax advantages.

    For certain kinds of heritage buildings, provide public money on a cost-shared basis, say 25 per cent public (perhaps in kind, like roads, culverts, and bypasses) and 75 per cent raised privately, by individuals, volunteer groups, or communities. In certain areas, lighthouses, heritage signs, and outdoor interpretive signs allow the Island?s high school students to learn the tools of manual training to overcome the woeful shortage of trained workers.

    And finally, given some of the new subdivisions, force Maritime Electric to bury wires in the Island?s soft ground, with the goal of copying from Scandinavia the idea of underground wiring ? the heritage equivalent of the Campbell government getting rid of ugly billboards in 1973.
    Heritage is a public good. Once lost, it is difficult to get back. Thoughtful Islanders should protect our history and heritage with a vengeance.

    Charles McMillan, raised in Charlottetown, is an economist and professor of international business at York University in Toronto. He is author of Eminent Islanders.
  • Recommedations - Charting a Course: A Study of Heritage in Prince Edward Island Draft Report
    While Charting a Course: A Study of Heritage in Prince Edward Island
    Draft Report    , provides the context for all recommendations and should be consulted, this compilation is being posted to provide the recommendations as a list:

    Charting a Course: A Study of Heritage in Prince Edward Island
    Draft Report

    1. We recommend that responsibility for heritage remain in the Culture, Heritage and Libraries Division, that it be strengthened by giving it greater clarity and profile of mandate, that it be given sufficient resources to realize its mandate and provide leadership and expertise on heritage matters provincially.

    2. We recommend that heritage concerns be given greater consideration in the decision-making of the Province by:

    ? Tasking the Council of Deputy Ministers with the development of measures to give heritage concerns a higher profile in the decisions of the Province

    ? Making heritage impacts become more prominent in the Environmental Impact Assessment process

    ? Requesting that the Commissioner on Land and Local Governance (announced in the April 4, 2008 Speech From the Throne) develop mechanisms for the protection of heritage features in unincorporated areas as well as in communities that do not have official plans

    3. We recommend the development of a three-to five-year capital funding program to improve the condition of the buildings at the seven Provincial Museum sites and to invest in new, high-quality exhibitions at the sites. Further, a budget and plan should be established for ongoing operations and annual site maintenance for these Provincial sites.

    4. We recommend that the Government provide sufficient base-level funding to Provincial Museum sites to enable all of them to remain open a minimum of two months longer to accommodate school visits and the tourism shoulder seasons.

    5. We recommend that the provincial government increase support to the community museums by expanding the standards-based community museum operating grant program and administer this program in partnership with the Community Museums Association.

    6. We recommend that the Province make greater use of existing landscape protection legislation; include more public education, building local capacity and heritage expertise in related areas; and develop new mechanisms to encourage owners in heritage preservation, including better financial incentives such as tax accommodations, loans, grants, and outright compensation.

    7. We recommend that the powers of the Heritage Places Protection Act be used more effectively to promote and regulate the protection of heritage property, especially in the designation of places, and coordination of the Act with enhanced planning and development control legislation.

    8. We recommend the appointment of at least one full-time Heritage Officer within the Department of Communities, Cultural Affairs and Labour.

    9. We recommend, in light of the pending discontinuance of federal government funding, that a plan be developed for future management of the Historic Places Initiative.

    10. We recommend the following actions regarding administration for archaeology:

    ? Immediate proclamation of the Archaeology Act, preparation of the necessary regulations and the undertaking of adequate publicity and
    enforcement

    ? Reconsider the 150-year BP (Before Present) time limit as a qualifier for designating sites and artifacts, so that the natural and cultural historic importance of the site or source is the deciding factor

    ? Greater use by the Minister of the power to designate or temporarily designate archaeological sites in peril, and a reconsideration of the legislation to allow the Minister to extend the initial stop-order period if necessary

    ? Specification in the Regulations for Permit Applications that the applicant is obliged to carry out a conservation evaluation of the site prior to excavation, and to demonstrate that appropriate conservation support can be provided for excavated materials

    11. We recommend that the Government of PEI undertake a professionally-led study that:
    ? Identifies the functional requirements for a new Prince Edward Island Museum and Archives
    ? Projects the financial costs associated with building and operating a new Prince Edward Island Museum and Archives
    ? Assesses potential locations and recommends a preferred site for the Prince Edward Island Museum and Archives

    12. We recommend that changes be made to the existing crown corporation, renaming it the Prince Edward Island Museum and Archives (PMA); that the corporation be governed by a Board of Governors that includes the minister (or representative); that the board report to the minister; and that the corporation be given clear responsibility for management of endowment funds, governance of the provincial museum sites and management of tangible and intangible provincial collections of archival, natural, and cultural history materials.

    13. We recommend that the Board of Governors of the re-mandated corporation, drawn from the various communities of interest, should be a policy board and would be responsible for administering endowment funds, including those to be transferred from the PEIMHF. The Chief Executive Officer of the Prince Edward Island Museum and Archives should report to the minister through the Board.

    14. We recommend that the Government of PEI develop a human resources plan that gives priority to and sets out timelines for filling the need for additional capacity in the following areas: curatorial (natural history, archaeology, and architectural history), conservation (artifact and archival), archives, and education.

    15. We recommend an updated provincial museums and archives collections policy to meet professional standards and broaden cultural representation in collections; as well as an acquisitions policy to delineate collections mandates among the provincial heritage institutions with criteria to ensure each collects according to its mandate.

    16. We recommend that the Prince Edward Island Museum and Archives curatorial and conservation staff meet with Aboriginal representatives to determine how best to assist in building capacity for care of and access to Aboriginal collections, both in provincial collections and in their communities.

    17. We recommend that a provincial conservation policy be developed, and that assessments be prepared by conservators for each provincial museum site and the Public Archives to identify critical collections care needs. We further recommend that the Government provide the necessary support to address these needs.

    18. We recommend that purpose-built museum and archival storage facilities for the provincial collections be provided to replace existing storage. We further that recommend conservation facilities and equipment be provided as part of the new PMA.

    19. We recommend that the proposed new Prince Edward Island Museum and Archives take the lead to develop joint action with UPEI, to collect, preserve and make accessible to the public the intangible heritage of the Island, including the creation of a sound and film/video recordings archives.

    20. We recommend that the Province review and develop provincial cultural policies and programs in consultation with cultural communities to help promote PEI?s intangible culture by:

    ? Improving co-ordination among cultural programs, and including diverse cultural perspectives into mainstream projects, such as heritage sites, landscape and architectural conservation.

    ? Liaising with representatives of the two main Aboriginal organizations in PEI, the Mi?kmaq Confederacy of PEI and the Native
    Council of PEI, to ensure equitable representation of Aboriginal culture.

    ? Increasing support to community programs for recording and preserving intangible heritage in areas like traditional knowledge, arts, dance, music and languages of diverse Island cultural communities like Mi?kmaq, Francophone, Lebanese, Scottish, Irish and recent immigrants communities; and in consultation with cultural communities, explore the possibility of a government office for multi-cultural affairs and policies.

    ? Supporting cultural venues, such as those provided by the rural community halls, and Aboriginal and Francophone and other

    21. We recommend that natural heritage be more fully integrated into the seven sites of the existing provincial museum system, as well as the proposed new Prince Edward Island Museum and Archives

    The provincial natural heritage collection be expanded

    Natural heritage curatorial expertise be added as a priority as noted in the Human Resources section of this report.


    22. We recommend that the Province mandate the proposed Prince Edward Island Museum and Archives to conduct research necessary for exploring, interpreting and revising knowledge about Prince Edward Island and to tell a more complex version of the Island story. We also recommend that the PMA pursue opportunities to establish partnerships with individuals and institutions to conduct research that contributes to the objectives and programs of the PMA and other similar institutions.

    23. We recommend that the provincial government mandate a role for education in the new PMA, so that for the benefit of students and the wider community, contact is maximized between institutional educational representatives, Island schools and the community at large.

    24. We recommend that the Prince Edward Island Museum and Archives provide permanent and temporary exhibition space and support facilities for the provincial collections to meet the highest professional standards and practices in exhibition concepts and design.

    25. We recommend that an interpretive master plan be developed to identify the key natural and cultural themes that constitute the ?Island story?; and that protocols are established to ensure appropriate cultural representation and collaboration so that the story is inclusive.

    26. We recommend that the Prince Edward Island Museum and Archives expand its resources and services to serve the public interest in genealogical research by establishing a Family History Room, and by collaborating with non-governmental genealogical organizations to the same end.

    27. We recommend that the Prince Edward Island Museum and Archives, the Department of Tourism, and the heritage community work together to target the Island diaspora in promotion and programs.

    28. We recommend that the ?Island Studies? course mentioned in the Speech from the Throne (April 4, 2008) include environmental awareness and the importance of local citizenship and the global community. It should be offered in all high schools.

    29. We recommend that the Province encourage Holland College and similar educational centres to explore providing training in traditional trades in order to make such occupational options more available and to ensure succession in areas that are part of Island heritage.

    30. We recommend that the Province create a provincial heritage strategy; take immediate steps to address some of the most pressing needs recommended in this report; and prepare annual reports on the progress in implementing the new provincial heritage strategy during its first five years.

    Immediate (within eight months):

    ? Develop a heritage strategy to guide government action
    ? Make more effective use and enforcement of existing legislation (e.g., Heritage Places Protection Act to protect heritage places; proclaim the Archaeology Act and develop regulations)
    ? Strengthen and clarify the mandates regarding administration of provincial heritage resources
    ? Give more prominence to heritage concerns within government as part of the decision-making process
    ? Establish the Prince Edward Island Museum and Archives as a re-mandated and enhanced heritage crown corporation

    Short-term (one to two years):

    ? Build capacity throughout the system -- which involves developing a human resources plan, and hiring professional curators, archivists, conservators and an educator. These professionals will initiate programs within the existing infrastructure and plan future facilities, programs and policies
    ? Undertake a study for the proposed new PEI Museum and Archives facility to identify functional requirements and financial costs, and to recommend a preferred site
    ? Increase the operating funding to the seven provincial museum sites to expand their operating season and improve programming
    ? Increase support for community museums through the Community Museums Association
    ? Develop collections policies
    ? Develop mechanisms to protect natural and cultural landscape and built heritage through the use of economic instruments
    ? Develop an inclusive interpretive master plan integrating natural and cultural themes in consultation with cultural communities

    Medium-term (three to five years):

    ? Develop a capital funding program for the seven provincial museum sites
    ? Ensure the new PMA fulfills the natural heritage mandate of the Museum Act
    ? Move personnel and stored collections into the new Prince Edward Island Museum and Archives facility

    Long-term (six to ten years):

    ? Continue to build, conserve and manage collections, while developing exhibitions, programming and educational resources
    ? Maintain the physical infrastructure
  • The chairs enhance the square
    by KATIE MCINNIS
    Charlottetown
    as published by The Guardian Oct 14, 2008
    Editor:
    In response to the letter from Darlene Hughes about the chairs in King?s Square (?These chairs no bargain?, The Guardian, Oct. 4, 2008): these are accurate representations of chairs made by famous Charlottetown furniture maker, Mark Butcher, and as such, are works of art ? pieces of sculpture meant to enhance the cultural spirit of the city as well as honour an historical figure. They are a unique method of showing off the creativity of our city and much more appealing than a sculptured figure of the person.

    I live across from them and I love them. There are not meant to be comfortable seating and yet I often see people sitting on them. I have watched people posing beside them and taking pictures. Artistic taste is subjective, but these chairs, so wonderfully accurate in every detail, are beautiful. They enhance King?s Square and are worth every penny. I commend Kim Devine and city council for taking this project on and for all of the wonderful projects happening to enhance the visual appeal of downtown Charlottetown.
  • Bronze chairs adorn square as tribute to furniture make
    Agnes MacInnis sits of one of the five bronze chairs that are in Kings Square in Charlottetown. The City of Charlottetown spent just under $13,000 on the chairs, which honour a former city councillor and businessman from the 1800s. Guardian photo

    by DAVE STEWART
    The Guardian - published Oct 2, 2008

    Five large bronze chairs now adorn a historic square in Charlottetown as a tribute to a former city councillor and businessman.

    The city spent just under $13,000 for the chairs in Kings Square to honour Mark Butcher, who history buffs may remember as a big furniture maker in the 1800s.

    Butcher operated a factory on the corner of Kent and Hillsborough streets, now the site of the Maritime Christian College. [note this was later corrected - the building is owned by Central Christian Church and operates as a christian education centre.]

    Coun. Kim Devine, chair of heritage, said Butcher had a very strong presence around Kings Square and the idea arose to design bronze sculptures that honour some of the furniture Butcher was known to have created.

    ?Residents in the area were very interested,?? Devine said of talks that have gone back a year.
    ?Now we need a interpretive panel explaining who Mark is, what he did and why the chairs are in Kings Square.??

    In addition to chairs and other types of furniture, Butcher also designed caskets.

    The factory, which he bought in 1869, was destroyed by fire in 1887. The brick building, which replaced the Butcher factory, still stands today.

    Devine said in 1867, the factory employed 40 people. In 1874, 20 additional joiners and cabinetmakers were needed.

    One of his employees specialized in designing figureheads for ships while another was good at making coffins.

    In addition to Butcher?s retail store in Charlottetown, he also had branch businesses in Cardigan and Georgetown.

    ?I think this is a great way to promote city art and celebrate a talented artist in our history as well as beautifying one of our lovely city squares at the same time.??