Dan Kutcher - Summerside

How many canaries are left in the coal mine?

Like many of you, I read Dr. Austin’s Facebook post and accompanying letters to Provincial Government and Health PEI officials.

I spoke with Dr. Austin today to thank her and her family for their contributions to our city — and for speaking up.

Dr. Austin is my family doctor. She is my family’s doctor. She delivered my daughter and has cared for all of us. She is also a friend and a pillar of our community. Dr. Austin is, in my opinion, the epitome of all that a community can ask for in a family doctor, and in a person. I am sad that she is leaving, but thankful for all she has given to our family and our city.

None of the concerns outlined in Dr. Austin’s letters should be news to anyone who received them. It’s time to stop pretending that news like this is a surprise. It’s not.

I fear we have all been numbed by a health-care system that is simply not working. Numbed into thinking there is an easy fix if the chairs are shuffled around, or the bricks and mortar dry faster. Numbed into thinking that if we keep trying to treat the symptoms and put on another bandage, the disease will go away. Numbed into thinking that some of our strengths — access to politicians, personal relationships, geography, and size — aren’t also some of our weaknesses.

Providing appropriate and timely health care is the full responsibility of the Provincial Government. But what happens in our hospitals and health centres has a big impact on our city and the well-being of the people we share it with. So here I am, stepping outside my lane to speak out again.

As Mayor of a city whose residents stood up to save our hospital a couple of years ago — and as a guy who is married to a doctor, brother to one, brother-in-law to another, all in our little city — I have a unique front-row seat.

Dr. Austin did something many doctors don’t do — she lifted the veil. I hope her courage — and the courage shown recently by the PEI College of Family Physicians and MSPEI — changes the discourse to one of openness, respect, and transparency. The system that we all need to work, and we all want to work, can only get better if people work together.

It’s time to open up, encourage criticism and advice, get past the politics, distribute decision-making to where it is needed, and work together shoulder to shoulder with the people — the nurses, doctors, allied health professionals, custodians, administrative staff — the team holding it together every single day.

I don’t know what the solutions are, but people on the ground do. Until we all accept that everything isn’t all right — but that we can make it better — the only important KPI will be the number of canaries at the bottom of the cage.

Thank you, Heather. I wish you and your family all the very best.

Please see the attached open letter to patients.

Welcome.

Super excited to have Music Week Awards Gala back in Sside after 21 years! So many fantastic musicians and artists in our City, and people are taking notice!

Music PEI and the City of Summerside are thrilled to announce that several events during Music PEI Week 2026 will take place in our city — highlighted by the 25th Annual Music PEI Awards Gala at the Harbourfront Theatre on March 7.

This marks the first time in 21 years that the prestigious Awards Gala will been hosted in Summerside!

🔗Full Release: Sside.ca/2026-Music-PEI-Awards-Announcement

| | Music PEI

I just got home from Evergreen Village. On my way out I passed two smiling kids on bikes dodging water filled potholes. Their parents are probably trying to figure out how to break the news about their home.

Official Statement regarding Evergreen Village:

“Evergreen Village is privately owned and operated, and the City is not involved in the ownership, management, or decision-making related to the property. The park’s internal infrastructure, including water and sewer lines and snow removal, are privately owned by Clifford McQuaid, who has allowed the infrastructure to deteriorate to the point that he now claims is beyond repair.

What is happening to the 57 households and their families at Evergreen Village is awful. Mr. McQuaid, has been engaged in predatory, manipulative and hurtful tactics to squeeze the Provincial government for as much money as he can while making the Province have to step in to rescue the park and residents.

Myself, City Council, Minister Ramsay, MLA Hilton MacLellan and two Provincial Housing Ministers have been engaged on this file continuously over the past year. We have met with residents and Mr. McQuaid to try to find a positive resolution to the situation he has created.

I spoke today with Minister Ramsay who confirmed that the Provincial government offered Mr. McQuaid a reasonable price to transfer the park to a not-for-profit agency supported by the Province. Mr. McQuaid refused.

While ultimately this is a private property and dispute, Evergreen residents live in the City of Summerside. They are our neighbors, teachers, veterans, families and friends. Over the past year they have requested that Mayor and Council take whatever action we can on several items to support Evergreen Residents and we have met each request - financial support for legal services, access and assessments of Mr. McQuaid’s infrastructure, ensuring adequate access emergency access and providing support on any and all land use options. The City has also initiated the work needed to establish a new bylaw to try and force predatory landlords to provide more support for vulnerable tenants.

I understand that the residents have also initiated an action with IRAC, and the City has not received any formal application or request for involvement related to this process, but would be happy to provide anything that could support the residents.

While this matter is between the property owner and residents, the City remains concerned for the wellbeing of those impacted and continues to monitor the situation and call out those who should be, do whatever we can within our power and support the residents right to fight for their homes.

This is happening tonight. I hope you can join us, because your experience, perspective and ideas matter. There is no sugar coating the interconnected issues of crime, addictions, mental health services and housing. Across Canada communities are facing new challenges with limited resources. While we have made strides policing support and housing - we can and must do better. We also need the Provincial and Federal governments to do better too, and build off what they have done.

Tonight is a piece of our puzzle in Summerside, where this committee and our city are tasked with creating a safer city today, and for tomorrow. The work we, as a community do, is part of a bigger puzzle still.
We can't solve our biggest challenges alone. And we can't ignore them and wish them away, or be satisfied that we have done all we can. We can all be relentless in our pursuit to always do better, and that's how we get big things done.

We also don't find solutions in isolation. Our committee is strong and experienced, but they have been mandates to listen with intent and engage meaningfully with residents. Tonight is part of this process. It is another piece of our puzzle. I hope you can join us, and if not, share your concerns, perspective and solutions. Tell us what we can do, and ask yourself what you can do. We are in this together.

Congratulations Mayor Spencer!

Looking forward to working with you and your amazing community in the Town of Kensington - Prince Edward Island

Congratulations to Mayor Jeff Spencer

The Kensington Police Service would like to extend our sincere congratulations to Jeff Spencer on becoming the Mayor of Kensington.

We look forward to working together to continue building a safe, strong, and connected community.

Welcome, Mayor Spencer!

If you or someone you know is interested, please apply. Also if you can't or don't have the time, there will be meaningful opportunity for public engagement and feedback on this project - we build our community together. Thanks to Councillor Carrie Adams for her leadership on this so far and in months ahead.

ACTION PLAN FOR SAFER NEIGHBORHOODS 🏡

We are 𝐜𝐮𝐫𝐫𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐥𝐲 𝐚𝐜𝐜𝐞𝐩𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐚𝐩𝐩𝐥𝐢𝐜𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬 from now until April 30th for two (2) community member positions on our Action Plan for Safer Neighborhoods Committee! 📣

👉 If you or someone you know might be a perfect fit to sit on this Committee, fill out the application form here: Sside.ca/Safer-Neighborhoods-Volunteer

| Summerside Police Service

Small things can make a big difference.

As part of the 2025-2026 Capital Budget, the City of Summerside is making important investments in our parks and recreation spaces to ensure they are safe, accessible, and enjoyable for everyone in our community. Here's what’s on deck:

✅ Remediation of the Boardwalk – $355,000

✅ New Playground Equipment, including Installation of an Accessible Swing – $95,000

✅ Handrails at Credit Union Place – $25,000

These investments are part of our ongoing commitment to enhancing the quality of life in Summerside.

Our investments: sside.ca/Annual-Budget

Canada Day 2025 In Sside is going to be awesome! Call out for vendors etc here.
🇨🇦

REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS 📝

The City of Summerside is now accepting applications for its Canada Day Celebrations for the following services:

▪️Video Production Services
▪️Vendors, Performers, Media Accreditation.

Learn more ➡️ bit.ly/Summerside-Tenders