I have to disagree with both of them. In the ten months I have been here, I feel I have been very much welcomed, and certainly taken in by the people I've met. My first weekend here by myself, I was at a training course for my new job. When I got home there were two messages on my phone: One from Brenda, inviting me to supper as it was just the beginning of lobster season and would I like to come over for lobster! The second message was from Daralen, another 'old' neighbour from Five Houses Road, offering to drive me to Brenda's as they were also going for supper. This one incident spoke volumes to me about the people I had met so far. I had met Brenda a couple of times, and Lloyd had gotten to know Bernie, but they really didn't know me at all. But it turned out to be a really fun night, perhaps a little too much alcohol, but fun just the same. Since that time, Brenda and I have spent a great deal of time together, getting to know each other. We have a lot in common and it seems every week, we find something else we share the same opinion on. I commented to her the other night that if it wasn't for her, this past year would have been very lonely. I really realized that this weekend when she and Bernie were away and I had no one to play with! I'm sure I would have gotten along okay had we not met, but it would not have been nearly as much fun, so thank you Brenda. Brenda's family has also been so supportive. I know that if I needed something I just have to call Bernie and he would help me out. I would never do that, unless I really needed it , like the car won't move cause the brakes have seized, or the battery is dead and it needs to be boosted (although Brenda did try it first). Even Ethan and Will were a big help when we moved. They came over and helped unload the truck (if they ever hear the term 'craft room'again it will make them cringe). Now I've gotten to know Meghan (1) a little and she likes to cook, so that is fun as well. I've only met Caitlyn briefly but look forward to hearing all about her adventures in Korea when she returns.
This family has been very generous with their time and welcomed me with open arms. I've also been invited to functions at the home of one of my co-workers, so I don't feel at all like an outsider. I remember last summer hearing about some people 'from away' who felt they were not accepted by their community. I think every situation is only what you make of it. If I were to sit out there on top of my hill, and wait for the world to come to me, I would be waiting a long time. These people are very hard working, busy people and some stranger from Ontario is the last thing they want or need to worry about. But if I involve myself in my community, I will become part of it. I suppose there is an up side to having moved around a lot as a child. It gives you a better flexibility when it comes to meeting new people.
I've been taking quilting classes and one of the women in my class, is actually from Owen Sound, so we had something to talk about right away. She is retired and moved here after her husband passed away. She has invited me to come out to the quilting guild, which apparently has about 80 members. So, no, I don't feel lonely at all.
Hence the problem. I have issue with people who come here and think they are superior because they come from, usually, Ontario. Sometimes I'm embarrassed to admit that's where I'm from. Take the story that was in the paper last week.
She swore, she kicked, she made a fuss.
It was one of the worst meltdowns a staff member of Charlottetown Airport says he's ever seen – and it came from a federally elected representative.
Junior cabinet minister Helena Guergis has apologized for her behaviour at the island's airport last week, saying she regrets that she “spoke emotionally” to Air Canada staff.
The minister of state for the status of women said she was rushing to catch a flight a week ago Friday and sputtered some regrettable things to airport staff. The Conservative MP for Simcoe-Grey admitted her behaviour was “not appropriate.”
Despite the apology, the staff member says he and others remain livid about the way they were treated.
“Everybody was … trying to get her out, trying to help her. But she took it upon herself to think everyone was trying to block her at every move,” he said. “She was very unprofessional, very unorganized, very rude.”
According to the staffer, Ms. Guergis and her assistant showed up 15 minutes before her scheduled Air Canada Jazz flight to Montreal around 5:30 p.m., already nagging employees to hurry up.
“She was yelling at the Jazz agent to hurry up and that [he was] wasting her time and that she had to get going because she wanted to get home [to her husband] because it's her ‘effing birthday,'” the employee said.
They were told they could not tote their oversized bags as carry-on and would have to check them. The pair approached the gate and began banging trying to break through.
“A staffer went to the gates to tell her to just hang on because she was literally banging and kicking on the glass at the security doors,” he said.
When they reached security, she ran through the metal detectors, he said, setting off the bells.
“She took her boots off and she threw them” at a security official, he said, berating them the whole time.
Then she was waved over by another staffer, a single mother, he said.
She said ‘I'm going to be stuck in this shithole because of you,'” he said.
After clearing security, the two had to wait at the security gate for an Air Canada staffer who had left to search for Ms. Guergis and her aide.
“They started kicking and banging on the glass at the gate trying to get out,” he said.
The pair were finally allowed on the plane, the staffer said, which had since been delayed so Ms. Guergis could board.
“There was 40 some-odd other people that she should also be apologizing to,” he said.
Ms. Guergis's apology came just after Liberal MP Wayne Easter received a letter Thursday detailing a dramatic series of events much like the one relayed by this staffer, who says he did not write the letter and hasn't seen it.
The employee said Ms. Guergis called some staffers to apologize, but didn't contact everyone.
“It was certainly not my intention to create any additional stress for airport or Air Canada employees who already have a very difficult job,” she said in the apology. She went on to say her father was born in Summerside, PEI, and relatives live on the island and that she tries to visit every year.
Colleagues on the Hill were not impressed with the MP's behaviour, but satisfied with her retraction.
“If you're going to lose your temper, you do it behind closed doors, not in public,” said Peter Stoffer, the NDP MP for Sackville–Eastern Shore in Nova Scotia. “We're all human, we all screw up and make mistakes, but hopefully she learns from this.”
Ms. Guergis stood by her husband, former Tory MP Rahim Jaffer, when he was charged with cocaine possession and drunk driving charges in September, 2009. Last week, court heard that his case would be heading toward a plea bargain in early March.
There were hundreds of comments left on the Guardian site, including this comment from an Ontario man "*Lloyd Denny from Guelph, Ontario writes:* Poor little thing! Just having a little tantrum on her Birthday. I think she might need a change of medication. Obviously clean air, a slower pace, and PEI hospitality doesn't quite do it for her. Stay away until you can handle life's little stresses.
Ontario man accused of trying to run over city police officer
EDITORIAL STAFF
The Guardian
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A young Ontario man who recently moved to Kellys Cross is facing a number of charges, including allegedly trying to run over a police officer, following incidents in Cornwall and Charlottetown early Monday.
Sgt. Tom Clow, a spokesman for Charlottetown police, said officers were forced to pull a service revolver and pepper-spray the suspect before finally subduing him and making the arrest on Warburton Drive.
The suspect, 22-year-old Mike Cassie, appeared before a justice of the peace later Monday. He faces charges of resisting arrest, uttering threats and dangerous driving following the incident on Warburton Drive in Charlottetown at approximately 5 a.m.
RCMP are expected to lay separate charges of theft of gasoline and cigarettes against Cassie from an incident an hour earlier at the Petro-Can gas and convenience store in Cornwall.
Clow said a man driving a black Chevy car had pulled into the gas station where he got gas and cigarettes before abruptly leaving without paying. A surveillance camera at the service station provided police with a description of the vehicle which did not have licence plates or insurance.
An hour later, a car matching the description of the vehicle involved in the Cornwall incident was seen travelling southbound on North River Road in Charlottetown by city police. Police pulled the vehicle over, stopping in a driveway on Warburton Drive. The suspect had no connection with the residence, said Clow.
The driver refused to get out of the car and the lone officer then noticed the backup lights come on while engine revved. The officer pulled his gun and ordered the man to stop, show his hands and get out of the vehicle.
Clow said the vehicle then attempted to run down the officer who sidestepped out of the way. The vehicle instead struck the police cruiser. Clow said a man kept shouting at the police officer that he was going to kill him.
A second police car appeared on the scene and boxed in the suspect vehicle. The driver then tried to run into the officer again and this time struck the second police car. The first cruiser was also struck a second time, said Clow.
The two officers then struggled to get the suspect out of the car, using pepper spray before being able to handcuff him and take him into custody.
The suspect was first taken to the QEH for examination because he didn’t appear to be drunk or drug-impaired, said Clow. He was released and taken to the Provincial Correctional Institute.
Welcome to PEI, now go home!!! This is not the way to get islanders to accept you!
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