P.E.I. Pulse

P.E.I.'s climate is getting hotter, and the provincial government is creating a new system to try to keep vulnerable Islanders cool and healthy in the face of climate change. Mitch speaks to the Island's Chief Public Health Officer and someone who oversees these systems across the country.

Life on P.E.I. means being acutely aware of the threat of a changing climate. These three Islanders are talking about responding to climate change at the Charlottetown Forum at the Confederation Centre. Mitch gets a preview of the conversation. 

Last summer, a parasite infecting P.E.I. oysters sent a chill through the industry. One hatchery claims it's growing oyster seed resistant to the disease. But is it too good to be true? CBC reporter Nancy Russell visited the new hatchery.

P.E.I.'s reigning burger love winner took her creation to national TV a few weeks ago. Danielle Casario learned that making four burgers for TV was tougher than pumping out 300 a day at her restaurant — but has no regrets about competing on the show.Thanks to Corus Entertainment for the use of audio on today's episode.

P.E.I. is considering presumed consent for organ donation. Nova Scotia is the only province where everyone is considered an organ donor unless you opt-out. Mitch explores if education over legislation is a better way to have more Islanders donating organs and tissue.

UPEI's newest degree aims to teach students how to improve environmental sustainability across various sectors. Mitch speaks to Marva Sweeney-Nixon, one of the people who helped design the Cleantech program to find out how she did it and why it's necessary.

The government of P.E.I. could spend up to $8 million over three years being the National Hockey League's official travel destination. Mitch asks a sports marketing expert if a provincial government should be playing at that level or stick with the beer league. 

Mitch meets two women who aren't afraid to talk about menopause in public. They're also working to build community and safe spaces on PEI to navigate the inevitability of hormonal change.  

The P.E.I. government says it plans to expand the private delivery of health care for Islanders. As long as you don't pay out of pocket, does it matter if the clinic you go to is privately run? We'll take a dive into that issue with CBC P.E.I. legislative reporter Kerry Campbell.

Charlottetown's Cliff Stewart swore an oath, and he kept it. Until the laws changed and he could share his story of living in the shadows as a war-era spy. As CBC's Laura Chapin retires after a long career, this week we're sharing her documentary, A Man Most Ordinary, that originally aired in 2009.

Five years later, we reflect on a COVID anniversary with two people who worked to keep Islanders safe and healthy: Dr. Heather Morrison, P.E.I.'s Chief Public Health Officer, and Dr. Michael Gardam, the former CEO of Health P.E.I. 

Two musicals that were created on P.E.I. are heading to Toronto with Mirvish Productions: Inside American Pie and Tell Tale Harbour. Mitch sits down with the creators of both shows to talk about how we got here — and why this is a banner year for P.E.I. theatre. Music from Tell Tale Harbour is courtesy of the Confederation Centre of the Arts.

There have long been accusations that two Buddhist groups control more land than they're allowed to on P.E.I. The government is now investigating the land holdings. Reporter Kerry Campbell talks about the rumours and rhetoric.

Last Thursday was a wild day in P.E.I. politics. In less than 24 hours, one premier stepped down and a new one was sworn in. We chat with the former and the current premier about what went down.

For newcomers on P.E.I., the rising cost of living can be particularly hard to deal with. Reporter Steve Bruce finds out how people are making it work — and what more could be done to help. 

One of Charlottetown's best burgers is back — from the Peter Pan drive-in that stood on University Avenue for more than 40 years. The Blue Goose restaurant is adding the Peter Pan burger basket to the menu, and they're not the only ones reveling in the nostalgia. Mitch learns why a burger with its own identity is having a minute.

Housing expert Steve Pomeroy looks at the latest P.E.I. housing numbers, and explains some of the ways we got into this situation and how we might get out of it. 

P.E.I. depends on the U.S. market for much of what we grow and fish. Those markets could disappear overnight if the 25 per cent U.S. import tariffs are imposed on Tuesday. Mitch asks Premier Dennis King how P.E.I. can fire back, and some growers how they're feeling.

One way to take the pulse of housing in a community is to look at how many new units are under construction — also called housing starts. But when we look at that number, what are we not seeing? Mitch sits down with the mayors of Charlottetown and Summerside to talk about a record number of housing starts in 2024, and what else needs to be done. This is part one of a two-part series about housing on P.E.I.

In the closest U.S. state to P.E.I., new research into the lobster industry is going beyond price and stocks. Mitch checks in with three people at the University of Maine's School of Marine Sciences about why it's important to ask fishermen about their health and their communities.

Many of us make New Year's resolutions — and often that resolve only lasts a few weeks. Mitch speaks to a psychologist, a dietitian and a mental performance consultant about how to make your goals stick.

From a new young conductor to going viral on TikTok, this orchestra is hitting all the right notes when it comes to reaching new audiences. Mitch chats with some of the people who are keeping the symphony young. 

From our limited access to health care, to worries about how the U.S. will treat us under a new president. Premier Dennis King talks about the issues P.E.I. faced in 2024. 

Meet the Santa strike force that's bringing Christmas right to the door of hundreds of families that could use a hand. Mitch speaks to the founder and some of the volunteers.

You could call it P.E.I.'s fifth season: craft fair season brings a six-week storm of wooden elves, hand-knit mittens, and home-cooked goods to Islanders. Josefa Cameron weathered the season to learn about this unique part of Island life and meet the people creating the crafts. 

The Canadian Automobile Association recently donated a fully tricked-out electric cargo van to Charlottetown's Upper Room Food Bank. Mitch talks to both the food bank and the CAA about why this kind of donation matters. 

Non-stop rain on P.E.I. leaving you feeling blah? You're not alone. We talk about how to deal with the emotional toll of the changing season and shorter days with someone who deals with Seasonal Affective Disorder and a person who helps treat it.

It's a complicated health care world. Before giving up, you should know there's extra help. Meet P.E.I.'s patient navigators and find out they help make sense of a complicated and complex system. 

It's 4:45 in the morning and, as always, there are cars outside the Sherwood Medical Centre, filled with Islanders desperate to see a doctor. We talk to some patients who are having to get up in the middle of the night to get the care they need.

Community fridges on PEI are supposed to help hungry Islanders — but some volunteers are seeing cracks in this approach. We speak to food security experts about what's going on, and what can be done to help those in need.

P.E.I. limits who can own land, and how much. But are the rules being followed? Reporter Kerry Campbell discovered corporations with ties to the Irving family own more than four times what's allowed. This week, we dig into, whose land is this land? 

New name, same must-listen podcast. This is your connection to the stories P.E.I. is talking about. Hosted by proud Islander Mitch Cormier.

We venture out to answer how our counties got their names, but end up with a stickier geography lesson. Can Islanders come to a consensus? And who has the final say?

Islanders love their ice cream. To celebrate summer, we're talking about what makes us go nuts for dairy bars. And as it turns out... business is booming! 

We're going to school this week... community school. So what is it? Who can attend? And how has it lasted almost 60 years?

Eastern P.E.I. is home to a herd of bison, but how did they get here? Who takes care of them? And is it true people used to eat them? We share the tale.

P.E.I. could ban today's children from EVER buying cigarettes. Does that include vapes and nicotine pouches too? How would it even work? The CBC's Laura Meader walks us through the plan.

Wait a second, I thought we didn't have those!? But now some are saying there are poisonous brown recluse spiders on the Island, and this week, we get to the bottom of that mystery.

The mighty spud is synonymous with P.E.I., but now Alberta may be coming for our crown. What will it mean if the P.E.I. potato is no longer number one? Host Nicola MacLeod and This is Edmonton host Clare Bonnyman join forces.

With rising rents and a low vacancy rate, many Islanders feel rental housing within their budget is becoming harder to find. But do affordable units still exist? And who are they affordable for? We speak with renters, advocates and the province.

The P.E.I. accent is distinctive and unique, but have you ever wondered why we say ‘worsh' and not ‘wash' or ‘slippy' instead of ‘slippery'? The answers might surprise you. ‘Magine!

Sticker shock got you down? You're not alone. But where is the money from our purchases going? And does it make a difference if you buy local? Farmers, grocers and shoppers weigh in on P.E.I.'s food system.