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This is PEI

Your home, in less than 20 minutes a week. Host Mitch Cormier brings you the stories The Island is buzzing about. Every Thursday.

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Episodes

Why P.E.I. can’t stop after record housing starts

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.

Jul 31, 202513 min

A teacher's dying wish: Pam’s playground

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.

Jul 03, 20258 min

The enduring power of a red-headed orphan from P.E.I.

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.

Jun 19, 202519 min

How one P.E.I. community healed its doctor dilemma

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.

Jun 12, 202520 min

Why a P.E.I. bistro is filling its fryers with beef tallow

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.

Jun 05, 202520 min

Island in the Sun: Why P.E.I. needs a heat alert system

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.

May 29, 202519 min

Living on the front lines of climate change

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.

May 22, 202519 min

Can we breed a new kind of oyster on P.E.I.?

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.

May 15, 202514 min

P.E.I. Burger Love winner leaves it all on the grill on cooking show

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.

May 08, 202515 min

Can presumed consent improve organ donation?

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.

May 01, 202520 min

Could this new degree help get P.E.I. to net zero?

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.

Apr 24, 202514 min

Is Tourism P.E.I.’s deal with the NHL good for Islanders?

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.

Apr 17, 202514 min

Menopause is having a minute on PEI

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.

Apr 10, 202522 min

What more privatized health care could mean for Islanders

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.

Apr 03, 202520 min

How a P.E.I. farm equipment mechanic served his country as a spy

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.

Mar 27, 202530 min

What can we learn from P.E.I.’s COVID-19 response?

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.

Mar 20, 202518 min

A massive year for P.E.I. musicals

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.

Mar 13, 202521 min

How much land do Buddhist groups own on P.E.I.?

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.

Mar 06, 202523 min

Same Day, Different Premiers

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.

Feb 27, 202526 min

Welcome to P.E.I. where everything’s expensive

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.

Feb 20, 202518 min

The iconic Peter Pan burger is back

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.

Feb 13, 202524 min

How P.E.I. will respond to U.S. tariffs

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.

Feb 03, 202522 min

P.E.I. is getting a lot of new housing. Who will be able to afford it?

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.

Jan 30, 202520 min

Are we asking the right questions about lobster fishing?

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.

Jan 23, 202518 min

Having trouble keeping your New Year’s resolutions?

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.

Jan 16, 202519 min

Forever young: How the P.E.I. Symphony is aging backwards

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.

Jan 09, 202519 min
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