EPTEK FABRIC MAGIC

Fabric Artist Ann-Blair White demonstrated her art in the Eptek Arts and Culture centre Wednesday as part of the centre’s Celebration of Crafts exhibit.

Signals crossed

Change looming for over-the-air television

Ryan Quigley

Journal Pioneer

On Aug. 31 major television stations in the country will cease transmitting analog signals and begin the new digital era.

For those using antennas, such as dipole (rabbit ears) and outdoor antennas, to receive over-the-air TV without a digital tuner, you will need a digital set top box. Two stores in Summerside priced the boxes at $79 at Enman’s Audio Video Unlimited and $89 at the Source.

The transition however won’t affect everyone. The digital signal is only being set up in cities mandated by the Canadian Radio and Television Commission, such as Charlottetown, and though the Charlottetown signal will transmit to most parts of the Island, some parts of the Eastern and Western tips will be left unchanged. The Department of Canadian Heritage is urging people to contact them or check the website to see if they will be effected.

The change will not affect cable and satellite users who will have no obligation to make any changes to their service.

The difference in sound quality and picture was a major factor in the decision by the CRTC and Canadian Heritage, said Valarie Plaskacz Manager of Distribution and Access policy at Canadian Heritage.

“The other benefit to the switch is it will free up the air-waves that were being used by these analog channels and they will be repurposed. It will be used by public safety users, firemen and police departments, to improve their communications capabilities.”

Though it is higher quality television, Plaskacz said not all the feedback has been positive about the mandatory change.

“We’re getting mixed reactions,” she said. “A lot of people are just anxious and this just can’t come fast enough. They’re really looking forward to the improved quality and sound that comes with digital TV. Other people are not happy to have to be buying new equipment.”

The date was set by the CRTC in 2007 to have mandatory markets such as Charlottetown, to change their broadcasts. The over-the-air change has been happening in different countries around the world, including the United States in 2009.

However, unlike the U.S., the government will not be offering credits or coupons to those having to purchase the set top boxes.

“Looking at it all the CRTC… they did not deem a program was necessary for Canada,” she said. “Typically the Canadian government has never paid for people’s television equipment.”

Celebrating in Style

Celebrating in Style

Acadian Festival announces events and theme

Ryan Quigley

Journal Pioneer

The 109^th Evangeline Agricultural Exhibition and Acadian Festival announced its theme, In Acadie, We Celebrate in Style, at a press conference at the Evangeline Expo centre Tuesday night.

President of this year’s festivities, Jeannette Blaquiere, was on hand to make the announcement, as well as a few others for the festival held September 1-4. Josée Arsenault and Patrick Arsenault were announced to be portraying the town’s infamous lovers, Evangeline and Gabriel, who are separated by the Acadian Expulsion.

New competitions in this years Festival include A Minute To Win It, based on the popular TV game show where contestants compete in competitions with only a minute to complete it, Mr. and Mrs. Festival, given to a couple who completes challenges given to them, and the Evangeline Cup Horse Race.

This year also sees a new act from Quebec 1001 Tours de M. Drôle, a duo of performers who mix juggling, comedy and magic. As well, the Arsenault family from New Brunswick will perform and so will local musical acts, Input, Danny and the Boys and Réveil.

This year’s Festin acadien avec homard, part of the Island wide food festival Fall Flavors will have celebrity chef Corbin Tomaszeski, from the food network T.V. show Restaurant Makeover, in attendance.

The festival’s opening ceremonies will take place in the new Evangeline Recreational Centre.

Blaquiere said she hopes the new activities in the added to the Festival will attract new people.

“We’re trying to make it a better festival each year, so I hope this will help.”

She said the theme came from how Acadians celebrate.

“It means the Acadians, when we celebrate something we usually do a big thing about it. It’s a lot of celebration, music, dancing, food, activities. A lot of things to enjoy,” she said. “(Attendees) can expect to have a lot of fun I hope. We have a lot to offer them.”

Blaquiere said they were happy with the festival’s pick for Evangeline and Gabriel.

“We always like to have young people do Evangeline and Gabriel because in the legend the characters are young people,” she said. “We’re happy this year a young couple accepted.”

Vessel Docks

CAPTION: Two members of the HMCS Summerside on board the ship Friday afternoon at the Summerside Harbour.  The naval vessel docked at 8 a.m. Friday morning. PHOTO QUIGLEY/ JOURNAL PIONEER

Basil meets HMCS Summerside

CAPTION: Mayor Basil Stewart, centre, Captain Lt.-Cmdr. Luc Tremblay, right, and his crew on the HMCS Summerside a welcome to the city of Summerside with George Dalton, left, Friday afternoon at the Harbour. PHOTO QUIGLEY/ JOURNAL PIONEER

Police Academy

Police Academy 40

Members of first Atlantic Police Academy Class celebrate 40^th Reunion

Ryan Quigley

Journal Pioneer

For most classes, a 40-year reunion would be a very special event. But for the Atlantic Police Academy’s first ever class, it’s just another get together with old friends.

20 years ago the class had their first successful reunion. They all had so much fun exchanging stories of the path life had taken them on and the good times they had in the historic class, they decided once every 20-years wasn’t enough.

Since then the class has reunited every five years to renew their friendships. This year RCMP veteran Mark Finniss will be hosting at his home in Summerside.

The 40^th reunion won’t be any bigger then the rest.

“It’s just going to be a little gathering, just a typical Maritime house party,” said Finniss.

Not all 15 members will be at the reunion this year, some of which extend all the way out to Vancouver, B.C., but Finniss said they’re usual well attended.

“It’s always special when we get together. Is this one any different from the last? Probably not. We all just keep saying we don’t know if we’re going to be here for the next one or not.”

For the 40^th reunion, the members donated 15 Blue Cadet Hostas plants to the academy to be planted outside the building.

Time passed fast for Mayor Basil Stewart, one of the classmates and former police officer in the Summerside Police Service. He said he couldn’t believe 40 years have passed already.

“I’m still trying to figure out where the 40 years have gone,” he said. “There’ll probably be a few gray hairs and I know with myself a couple of chins,” he laughed.

As fast as it has went for some of the classmates, it’s also been a long time. Finniss said their former instructor, Mack MacDonald knows of only their class that has a reunion every five years.

“It’s a great way to keep in together. You have to remember when we started off it was all new and we were kind of guinea pigs,” he said. “I think when you look back and take a look at the numbers that have gone through the establishment today? I think we must have done something right.”

Stewart agreed being the first class with such a small class size helped grow a bond between the students.

“I remember (MacDonald) saying, ‘If this police academy is going to work it’ll be up to you guys, you 15 cadets,’” he said. “I always think back to what he said and everybody did their best at the time.”

Like a lot students in college or university, Finniss was living without his parents for the first time. His favourite thing from that first year?

“The friendships that were made that year were the most important thing,” he said. “It’s the same type of memories you would get the first year you would go to university. You meet new people, make new friends, experience new things.”

Momma, I'm coming home

CAPTION: Theresa McGaughey-Gallant holds up a picture of the HMCS Summerside she was given Thursday afternoon in her Summerside home.

Coming Home

HMCS Summerside’s mother will be happy to see vessel

Ryan Quigley

Journal Pioneer

SUMMMERSIDE-The HMCS Summerside docks at the Summerside harbour Friday, and for the mother of the ship it’s a reunion that has been too long in the making.

Theresa McGaughey-Gallant has waited about four years since the last visit of the naval vessel and the 77-year old Summerside woman couldn’t be any happier.

“It’s just like one of my own coming home,” said Gallant.

The long time Summerside Legion member was chosen in 1998, due in part to volunteer work she was involved in like the Kidney foundation, to be the ship’s mother, something she says still feels surreal.

“You know, I’m from Searletown, I’m not a great big-shot,” she said. “I’m not a big shot in the world, I’m just Theresa.”

“A person has to be very honoured,” she added.

 Since then she has greeted the 55 metre long military vessel every time it comes in, feeling as if the crew are part of her family.

“They’re my children, all of them. Every year when they change I have a few more extra ones. I have quite a family,” she laughed.

The HMCS Summerside’s visit is a public relations visit for the Royal Canadian Navy. The visits, what they like to call a namesakes visit, are for the public to get to know their Navy and for those serving on the vessel to become familiar with the community the ship is named after.

The HMCS Moncton and Goosebay are also taking part in their own namesake visits and will be docking in Summerside harbour as a rendezvous point with the HMCS Summerside before going north to participate in a training exercise called Operation Nanook.

For Gallant, they are more then just a public relations visit.

She remembers a special moment from one of the visits.

“When they were leaving they lined their crew all up and before they left everyone gave me a big hug,” she said. “That meant a lot.”

This year is no different to Gallant, who plans on going to the ship to meet the crew.

“I have not met the (new) Captain, but I met all the other ones and they were all new to me,” she said. “I’m anxious to get down and see them.”

She has enjoyed each and every visit and can’t say she has a favourite crew.

“I can’t pick one out and leave the others, so I just use them all as my big family.”

As happy as she’ll be to see them come, like every other time Gallant knows she’ll be sad to see them go.

“There’s tears when you see them going,” she said. “It’s just like a family’s going away.”