This is PEI

We visited the UPEI Campus in Charlottetown to talk to students and profs about what’s happening. Mitch speaks to international students Lian Camargo and Sushil Khatri, Indigenous Studies minor Grace McQuaid, dean of Indigenous Studies Angelina Weenie and instructor David Varis, and three people involved in the Clinical Simulation and Learning Centre at the new medical school.

After 50 years, Joan Blanchard is hanging up her whisk. She’s made thousands of mile-high lemon meringue pies for the New Glasgow Lobster Suppers. We catch up with Joan and also hear from the co-owner of the lobster suppers about how the pies gained such notoriety.  

P.E.I.’s Living Labs program gets researchers out onto farms to test out management practices and new technologies. As Mitch hears, the program is so successful, it’s become a model for other places.

This time around we meet the Santiago family from Summerside, who have hit the YouTube jackpot on their channel, Diary of 4.

This week Mitch chats with two digital creators learning the pleasure and pressure of being an online influencer.

A group of high school students went to a summer camp at UPEI to create the future of health care using artificial intelligence as the foundation. Mitch speaks to four of them about the ideas and models they came up with.

For this butcher in Clyde River, work keeps him young … at heart. Mervin MacPhee is 92, and part of a fourth-generation abattoir. From custom work at the butcher block to making deliveries, he has no plans to slow down.

There is so much to see on P.E.I. in the summertime, and one of the best ways to do it is to take a walk. Mitch talks to three local guides who offer distinct walking tours that explore Island history.  

The Island’s building boom is easy to see. New projects are everywhere as housing starts hit a new high in the province last year. Thinh Nguyen tells Mitch why even more new homes will have to be built every year to keep housing affordable. 

The founder of P.E.I.’s L.M. Montgomery Institute has been named to the Order of Canada — an honour she says is for the entire team at the institute and the MacNeill family, Montgomery’s descendants. 

P.E.I.’s DJ scene is expanding. Mitch speaks to two DJs, Javier Fernandez and Madhave, who moved here from other countries about the new sounds they brought with them.

When Pam Kelly died of cancer in 2022, her obituary asked for donations to the playground fund at the school where she taught. Now, her dream is a reality. Mitch visits Pam’s playground to learn about the legacy of the teacher who began it all. 

P.E.I. has long been a draw for fans of L.M. Montgomery and Anne of Green Gables. Now, online book influencers are bringing literary tours here — and Megan Follows, the actor who created an iconic version of Anne in the 1980s, is creating a documentary about the famous character.

Christmas cookies and fitness boot camps might just be the way to a health professional’s heart. Mitch learns how a tiny community in P.E.I. is leading the way in attracting health professionals to rural practice.

Pedro’s Island Eatery in North Rustico is switching from seed oil to beef tallow because the owners says it tastes better and is healthier for his customers. Mitch speaks with him and a registered dietitian to break down the hype around seed oils.  

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.