Believe and you will make a difference, Campbell says at dinner celebrating women in sport

Everybody has an important role to play, whether it’s as president of the company or the rookie on a team,
said Olympic gold medalist Cassie Campbell at the first annual women in sport dinner in Charlottetown March 13.
Campbell, captain of the Canadian women’s hockey team in the 2006 Olympics, spoke about her experiences as a
hockey player and gave many inspiring words to Holland College and UPEI female athletes.
Campbell told the crowd of about 200 she once went to a sport psychiatrist who told her everyone on a team
makes a difference, even if they’re not the main scorer.
“In order to make a difference, you have to believe you are making a contribution,” she said.
Her encouragement and inspiration didn’t end with her stories. It continued through videos she put together
of the Canadian women’s Olympic hockey team playing and winning the gold medal game.
This helped everyone understand how it felt standing on the blue line, being a Canadian woman, accepting
such a great victory, she said.
The women’s Canadian hockey team wasn’t always successful. In 1998, their first time in the Olympics, they
won silver, and in 2002 they lost to the U.S. eight times in a row. They only won the ninth and last game.
But that wasn’t their only challenge they faced that year, said Campbell.
There were also two injuries, and their own Canadian media were telling them in their last game against the
U.S. they weren’t going to win.
“We were challenged so much in that Olympic season that it didn’t matter what would happen in this game,” she
said.
When they finally won the gold medal in 2006, it didn’t come easy, said Campbell. The team went through a lot
of hard work and effort to get to the gold medal game.
To be successful, Campbell said her team had to be able to face challenges, to come out of their comfort zone,
to train hard and prepare, and to have fun.
“The more you have fun together, the more you trust each other, and the more ability you have to play your
role on the team.”
Of all the places Campbell travelled during her life as an athlete, from North America and beyond, Campbell
said there’s no place like P.E.I.
Although she is a retired athlete she loves giving back to her sport and to young athletes, and encouraged them
to do the same.
“Never let your memories be bigger than your dreams.”

Ocean 100: Behind the mic with Kerri Wynne

Many people think a radio broadcaster’s job is simple, but after spending the day with Kerri Wynne MacLeod, co-host of the morning show of Ocean 100, I learned the difference.
Behind the mics of Ocean 100 are very hard-working people, who encounter different challenges, stories, and people every day. I happened to be there on one of the more interesting days.
This was the day an Elvis Presley impersonator was coming to town, and he wanted to do an interview with Ocean 100.
Stepping out from a Cadillac in white platform shoes he came. His gold belt flashed against his sky blue long-sleeved suit, with flared pants and matching cape and silver circle studs from head to toe. As he entered the station with his head held high, he approached all the ladies as “little darlins” and “little ladies.”
MacLeod laughed, “I have to run to the bathroom before he comes, so I don’t go in my pants when he gets in here by laughing so hard!”
Strutting into the broadcasting room, “Elvis” walked right over to the mic and MacLeod, along with other staff members who were anxious to hear the interview, went on air and started. He did a few impressions, told us about his 10-year experience and world-wide traveling, and even did a little singing.
As he walked out of the room I noticed his large diamond ring, studded with a horseshoe. He winked as saying “nice to meet you little lady,” patted my shoulder, and kept on walking.
This was one of the few interesting things that happened during my exciting day at Ocean, but there were many more, and here’s how it started.
I took a big breath and reached out my hand to meet Kerri Wynne MacLeod, for the first time outside her office at 5:10 a.m. As her long blue necklace dangled against her sharp white coat, she welcomed me with a warm smile and a big hello and together we walked into her office.
Before working in radio, MacLeod graduated high school knowing she wanted to be a broadcaster. She worked with the Guardian for seven years, but when she left for maternity leave, she decided not to go back. She said she is glad for her choice because she loves radio.
“There is a little more entertainment in radio than in print.”
MacLeod said she loves the family atmosphere about her job. She said everybody gets along well, and it really helps that there is such a strong bond with all the co-workers.
Things like their “Ocean 100 and K-Rock Challengers” hockey team, which plays to fundraise different causes around the community, adds to the fun and strengthens the ties between the co-workers.
“You have to be doing something you love to be able to get up this early. To me, it really doesn’t get any better than this.”
I never thought I would get a chance to see a real radio station. There were many different cubicles, each with their own computer. Personalizing them were many colourful photos, pins, ribbons, drawings, and portraits, which gave the space a more home-like feel.
MacLeod first introduced me to Zack Bell, co-host of the K-Rock morning news, which is the ‘brother station’ to Ocean. Together MacLeod and Bell make a great team as they share daily news and topics of interest. They also share more than a few good laughs being side by side in their cubicles.
Work started right away, after the regular Tim Horton’s coffee of course, as MacLeod archived all her previous days work and checked out her source for news and weather that she would start with at 6 a.m. Calling the police between 5:30 and 6 to see if anything newsworthy happened during the night is also part of their morning routine.
I will never again have a problem trying to figure out what a lead story should be, as long as I follow MacLeod’s motto: “If it bleeds, it leads.”
I could already tell that MacLeod came a long way from her first radio station experience, a Newcap stand-alone station she ran with Kirk MacKinnon in May, 2005. It was in a tiny room, forcing MacLeod and MacKinnon shoulder to shoulder and jammed with very little breathing space. It didn’t help that the first day they had no power.
“Our first show we ever did and it was in pitch dark,” said wide-eyed MacLeod.
Thankfully that is not the case for today.
MacLeod found her three main stories for the day and immediately wrote them up. It only took about 20 minutes. From there she showed me how she got the stories she wrote from the local wire to the newscast with a quick click of a button where she read it live for the 6 a.m. news.
As soon as I walked into the ‘fishbowl’ where the radio broadcasting takes place, I was overwhelmed with excitement. The numerous timers for voice, commercials and clips and bright colours on the thin silver computer screens amazed me, and even more so the fact that MacLeod and the crew get to use such technology every day. The mics the size of big fists accompanied with similar sized headphones on each of the three desks was breathtaking.
Behind one of the mics was a face I didn’t know, but a voice I recognized instantly. It was Kirk MacKinnon, host of the morning news from 6-10 with MacLeod. Yet again I received nothing but a big smile and a very loud hello, which made me feel right at home.
Within seconds MacLeod had her headphones on and was speaking into the mic, reading the news she wrote just minutes before, off what is called a telecaster, which displays her stories as they move up the screen.
She finished her broadcast within five minutes and was back to her desk to rewrite the same stories so they sound fresh and new for the next broadcast, half an hour later. She did the same thing every half hour right up until 10 a.m., the last morning broadcast.
At about 6:45 MacKinnon started the ‘water cooler question,’ where he asks a question and listeners call in. If they get it right, they are eligible to win a prize. The question of the morning was, “Eighty-one percent of people do ‘this’ while driving.” The three of us had many laughs to some of the crazy answers, varying from picking your nose, changing your clothes, changing a diaper, and drooling, but there were a good number of people who answered correctly with ‘singing.’
We thought we heard it all, until one lady called in, very distraught.
It was Muriel on the phone and MacKinnon and MacLeod recognized her instantly, as she is a long time listener and caller.
“Hi Kirk, I’m at my parent-in-laws house, and they don’t have a radio, can you tell me the question?” she asked, her voice both shaky and loud.
After politely refusing to take homemade biscuits from Muriel, MacKinnon gave her the question. She answered it wrong so he hung up the phone and continued on with his morning show, thinking that was the end of chatting with Muriel that morning. Little did he know.
About half an hour later a woman knocked on the studio’s window. We could tell from the plastic bag filled with food that it was Muriel. She stood there smiling wide and waving.
MacKinnon and MacLeod let her in.
“Hi guys!” she yelled as she walked in to the broadcasting room, waving her hands, jumping up and down.
Her bright fuchsia shirt reflected off her golden coloured earrings, dangling almost to her shoulders. The wrinkles in her eyes hid behind her small-framed glasses.
Muriel saluted us, reached in her bag and held out two large plastic bags, containing scones and cheese biscuits.
“My homemade biscuits, just for you. You have to heat them up though, to make sure the cheese gets all gooey.”
The next 15 minutes were a blur of chatter and a stream of compliments directed at MacKinnon and MacLeod and Ocean 100.
MacKinnon and MacLeod smiled politely and thanked Muriel as she went on her way.
“C 100 does not make me sea sick, it rocks my boat!” she shouted.
She danced as she passed the station on her way home, shaking her body while impersonating a singer and twirling around. Waving one last time Muriel walked away.
The next couple of hours were very relaxed as MacKinnon and MacLeod chatted back and forth, took callers’ answers for the question, played a wide variety of songs, and did the news every half hour.
Humour is key in this radio station. There was never a time when I didn’t have a smile on my face and I found it hard trying not to giggle at MacKinnon and MacLeod’s conversation.
MacLeod told me about her winter experiences and said even in the worst of days they have to be here.
“We don’t get the day off,” she said. “There were days when I couldn’t even get my car out, but I got my mukluks on and trudged up here anyways.”
In between doing the news and commercials, we would get small breaks while a commercial or sets of songs were playing. This is when I got a chance to meet the rest of the staff, who don’t get there until hours after MacKinnon and MacLeod.
Everybody greeted me with a big smile, and treated me as if I was part of the family. I talked with Maureen Flanagan, who does news. She told me about how much she loves working at Ocean because there is always so much stuff going on.
“That’s definitely one thing I love about this job, there’s always a change.”
Thinking the clock was broken I checked my cellphone, but the clock wasn’t broken at all, it was really 10 a.m. already. I have all ready been there for six hours, which amazed me.
The fun I had made the time fly by. It was time for MacKinnon and MacLeod to wrap up their morning show, which they did an excellent job of. MacLeod had to go to a meeting so I also got my things together and prepared to leave with Bell to cover a press conference.
I couldn’t thank MacLeod enough for her kindness towards me. It was such a pleasure meeting her and MacKinnon and getting to spend the day with them both.
The day, which I thought was going to be very long, seemed so short in the end. Meeting everyone was such a great opportunity, and getting to see everything I did was so exciting.
MacLeod is a person who I was very glad to get the chance to meet. With her upbeat personality and hilarious sense of humour, it was a real joy spending the day with her.
Still singing the Ocean tune and replaying everything throughout the day in my head, I was overwhelmed with the day. The smiles, laughter, music and fun will be something I will always remember, and I can only hope to one day join a team like Ocean.

Waiting in line at Tim’s-Sept.20,2007

I walk through the doors of Tim Horton’s and the scent of freshly brewed coffee is overwhelming. The instrumental tune fills my ears but is quickly shut out by the chatter of customers waiting in line for their freshly baked goods.
The first man in line, who is about 20 years old or so, average in height and wears glasses, quickly orders a large double double and counts out the exact change of $1.58. I take my time waiting in line to order my tea and out of nowhere a chicken fajita hits me on the fore-head; I never liked those cardboard signs.
A young boy steps up to the counter head held high and ready to order. As if he’s done this a million times he says, without hesitation, “large double double, double cupped”.
The smell of coffee and sugar is overwhelming, more and more people are walking in and out of the fingerprint-covered door and I am slowly starting to get anxious to get my tea. The jingle of change and beeping cash registers keep my attention to the front counter, along with the aroma of cinnamon from the fresh cinnamon-raisin bagels that were just put on display.
In walks an older couple, the woman strutting as if she owns the place. She butts in the line-up and with her piercing voice peers over her glasses and orders a whole-wheat roll, cut, two butter on the side, “and that’s it.” She struggles to reach it as she can barely see over the cash register but she snatches it away and takes a seat next to her husband, who, slumped over in his seat, ball cap over his brows, one arm over the chair and leg extended, sits with a smile on his face.
A familiar scent rushes through my nostrils as the baker, dressed in all white and whistling a tune, balances a couple of trays in each hand, filled with a variety of donuts. The raspberry donuts never last long and without restraint the person next to me asks for one before they are even put out on display. The jam trickled down his chin as he devoured his last bite.
The next customer is quite the character. Blue jeans with a hole in one knee, sweat on his forehead and a cloth sticking out of his half torn pocket attached to his red plaid shirt. He asks for a glass of water, repeating himself as if he wasn’t heard the first time, and says repeatedly how hot it is outside, even though it is only about 15 degrees. The cleft lip catches my eye and I no longer wonder why he is so hard to make out when he talks. “Very hot outside, very hot. Very hot out”, he says as he wipes away the beads of sweat on his face and neck.
It’s finally my turn to order. “Small honey lemon tea, one milk please.” The lady behind the counter is quick but neat. Her small fingers grab a cup and her tiny arms reach up to grab a tea bag. I pay and thank her and in return I hear a very friendly “You’re welcome dear, have a good day!” Every day at Tim’s is quite the experience.

Psychologist offers new hope to smokers looking to quit-March.10,2008

Medication used to be the only option to help fight back nicotine cravings, but not anymore.
Dr. Feldstein, a Charlottetown psychologist, introduced quitting smoking through hypnosis to Prince Edward Island about 20 years ago. He’s treated thousands of clients since.
After working as a hypnotist in other areas for many years, Feldstein got requests to help people with nicotine cravings. His work was successful and it didn’t take long for the word to spread.
Many people were happy with the results, Feldstein said.
“It works very well for smoking. Very rarely does somebody come back to get their money back. You only have to come once and it works.”
Although few people asked for refunds, Feldstein said it’s hard to define what is successful because it is different for each person. Many have quit for a lifetime. He saw some quit for 15-20 years, and others have started again soon after they stopped.
It all depends on how well you want to do, he said.
Hypnosis stops your mind from craving nicotine, but if you decide to pick up a cigarette again, you will crave it again.
“People can take a cigarette and think they won’t go back to smoking, but they will. Especially young people. They think nothing will happen to them, but it will.”
Feldstein earned his PhD from his hometown at the City University of New York. Later, he got married and had three boys.
His sons were getting close to the age of drafting so to avoid having to get sent to war the family moved to P.E.I, a long-time favourite vacation place. After, they still call the Island home.
Hypnotism is something Feldstein picked up when he was an undergrad in university. He saw it as an important tool for every aspect of the job.
“Hypnosis is a tool you can use in many different situations. Anyone who is a psychologist who doesn’t know hypnotism is making a big mistake. It’s a very important tool. Just like how a doctor uses a stethoscope.”
And quitting smoking is not the only thing that can be done using hypnosis. Feldstein also helps people prepare for surgery, childbirth, and migraines.
“I also help with phobias and depressions. You have to know the source for all kinds of things to help recover, and hypnosis helps you find that source.”
Feldstein emphasized his work is not what most people see on a day-to-day basis.
“All my work is with patients with pain or problems. I’m not a showman.”
Feldstein now operates his own business and has about 30 clients. He does single and group sessions weekly.

Woman starts group for Osteoporosis on PEI-Nov.19,2008

After being diagnosed with Osteoporosis two years ago, Colleen Murray wanted to let others know how to handle and prevent it.
For the first time on P.E.I. the Island woman gave an information session about osteoporosis in Charlottetown, Nov. 15.
Murray is chair of the P.E.I. chapter of Osteoporosis and started the first ever support group for osteoporosis on the island.
She said it was a big surprise and shock when she found out she got it because it was so unexpected.
“I knew that I was going to get a heads up about being on the way to osteoporosis, but I never would have thought I actually had it. It’s pretty scary stuff.”
Osteoporosis is a softening of the bones that gradually increases and makes them more fragile. It is caused by the gradual loss of calcium, which helps make bones hard, and occurs most often in elderly women. The weakness in the bones caused by Osteoporosis can result in bone fractures and breaks, most commonly in the hip, wrist, and spine.
Murray started volunteering in June 2006 when she attended the June Osteoporosis Canada meeting. She talked to the head of the council, looking for the P.E.I. representative. When she found out there was none she volunteered and is now the first contact on P.E.I. for Osteoporosis Canada.
The first major event Murray put on was called Bone China Tea on Nov. 4. She said it was a lot of work but a big success.
“It spread awareness about our group much more and it let people knew just how serious osteoporosis can be.”
Murray said getting osteoporosis in her spine changed her life in small but serious ways. She said she has to be more careful when she doesn’t even realize it, like turning in a car to reverse, or lifting things.
“For me it was about being more cautious. We try to do things that we were always able to do, without realizing we can’t do it anymore.”
Murray said she changed her perspective on life, and will be more careful now than ever, in hopes that she won’t injure herself like many other people have.
Murray said the group not only offers information, but help for people in the community who are diagnosed.
“That’s why we volunteer, because we support each other.”

Paramedicine class is a hit-Feb 20, 2007

Although some people may not like the thoughts of blood, muscles, bone structure and body functions, working with the body is a job loved by a certain few, especially one Paramedicine student at Holland College.
Sarah MacIntosh, a 23-year-old Holland College student is in her first year of Paramedicine and she absolutely loves it. She said the adrenaline rush of helping people out keeps her interested in her work and excited to start a new day.
MacIntosh has always been interested in the health field and she thinks being a paramedic would be an interesting job. She said it would be great because it would allow her to keep on moving and she wouldn’t be stuck in the office all day.
“They get different calls all the time, which keeps it interesting.”
MacIntosh’s teacher, Matt MacLeod, said there are lots of job opportunities for paramedics nationally and regionally. Whether its being in an ambulance in the Maritimes or in an airplane as a flight paramedic, “the vast majority of work placements are very high.” In other words, most paramedic students find jobs after their training.
MacLeod has been a teacher at Holland College for five years and said even during that time period there have been many changes.
“The college has made large investments on having more staff and more personnel here so we can deliver a high-quality course.”
Some of the equipment that got facelifts and updates are the truck simulator, which is something like a real ambulance, and the high-fidelity patient simulator, costing between $50,000-$60,000.
People and equipment aren’t the only changes in the paramedicine course. Within the last eight years the paramedics learned different ways to assess and treat a patient to keep up with changes in technology and medicine.
Paramedicine industry has grown, and will not slow down, MacLeod said.
“It will continue to grow in large way as we encounter the impending health care crisis.”
One time when MacIntosh was doing volunteer hours at a marathon, a runner passed out.
It was exciting bringing him back to consciousness and being able to use her skills she used in the classroom in real life, she said.
“Your adrenaline gets rushed because this guy needs your help and you can help him.”
It’s worth the effort and it feels great knowing she can help people rather than sit back and watch, Macintosh said.
Before deciding to take Paramedicine, MacIntosh wanted to be a doctor, but decided to do this as a stepping-stone to see if she would like the area of work. She plans on doing this for a while. If she enjoys it, she will stick to it as an enjoyable career. If not she’ll move on and try her skills as a doctor.
No matter what she decides to do in the future, she loves her class and won’t regret taking it, MacIntosh said.
“We’re learning things that really matter, and things we can always use.”
Things like doing dynamic CPR and giving IV are all part of her daily routine.
Her future plans include traveling to places like Africa and other poor countries that don’t have many doctors. She would love to join the Global Paramedic Association, which could take her far in her career. She would love to help places in the Middle East where there is flooding and other natural disasters where they could use the extra medical help.

A basketball champ, on and off the court

The overwhelming pressure from hundreds of eyes watching your every move is just what some people need to excel.
This was the case for six-foot basketball player and AUS all star, Katherine Walters, from Charlottetown, who played five years with the UPEI Panthers.
Walters started playing basketball when she was in Grade 7, an awkward adolescent who never stepped on the court.
The then 5-11 soccer player was hesitant when a coach approached her and asked if she ever played basketball. She hadn’t but thought she might try.
Her parents’ influence was also a factor. They agreed it would be a positive way to spend her time after school.
The early morning workouts at Queen Charlotte were not the best part, and didn’t help Walter’s self-esteem about the sport.
“I was absolutely horrible,” she said.
Once she got more comfortable with the game, basketball soon became one of Walters’ favourite hobbies, and the hesitation that was once there changed to excitement and fascination.
She played throughout high school and immediately moved up to university.
“It was amazing playing in front of the community and my family and friends.”
Walters said she loved the team she played with as well, and they all got very close.
“In the end, we were just like sisters.”
One of Walters’ best games was also her first. It was in UNB for the AUS championships at the St. Mary’s gym. Accompanying her were her two best friends, Lindsay and Katie, who were also on the team. She said the three of them played so well together, and that game they were all having great karma.
“Katie was getting tons of three-pointers and Lindsay and I must have gotten 18 or 19 rebounds each. It was awesome,” she said with a big smile.
No matter where the team traveled, they always had a great time together, Walter’s said.
“We would just do ridiculous things, we could have fun wherever we were.”
In her fifth and final year, Walters won the AUS all-star award for being an outstanding post. Although it was an “awesome” feeling to get such recognition, she said the award should really go to the whole team, because without them, she wouldn’t have been able to do her job.
“I felt like an honoured individual, but it takes the whole team to win, not just one person.”
Now that Walters’ five years eligibility for university level is up, she has mixed emotions. She said she is relieved from the emotional and physical pressure, which drained her, but at the same time she was devastated to move away from the bonds she made with the team.
To replace the time basketball would usually take up, Walters did some recruiting for UPEI, which she said was exhausting. She got to travel all around Canada to look for star players, but she said the traveling killed her.
She is now the assistant coach for the Holland Hurricane’s. She said the transition from player to coach is a challenge because as a player you are always wondering why your coach tells you to do certain things, but you just have to learn to trust them.
“They’re there for you through thick and thin and everything they do is in their best interest.”
Walters said she didn’t realize that until she started coaching, and now she can’t wait to see the players do everything they are learning.
Kathy Murray, former UPEI player and current head coach of the Holland College women’s basketball team, said the hardest transition from player to coach is not being able to get on the floor and help the team.
“Whether it’s defense, making a screen, or blocking a shot, it’s hard because I can’t actually get on the floor and do something.”
In an assistant coach, Murray looks for commitment, communication, and basketball knowledge.
“I’m lucky I have an assistant coach who has already played high level basketball and doesn’t need training for many things.”
Although Walters is already highly knowledgeable about basketball, Murray hopes to pass down her ability to run a practice efficiently, including things like making subs and when to call time outs.
Murray coached the second Canada games and Holland College basketball for three years. She has also helped coach the P.E.I. high performance basketball camps. She hasn’t seen many female coaches, but hopes to see that change. She has already got three younger females involved in coaching, and hopes that more are interested.
“I think it’s important to have females coaching females.”
Walters is one of the people Murray got involved in coaching, but it may not last as long as Murray’s coaching career.
In the future Walters’ plans to get in shape again and possibly go pro in Europe.
“Sometimes I don’t feel like I’m done, I’m just at a stage in my life where I have to figure everything out,” she said.
She said a degree in business administration also looks like a possibility in her future.

Former Holland College student remembers great experiences

Holland College is the best secondary education institute on the Island, says a former Holland College student.
Shawn MacKenzie of Charlottetown took business administration at Holland College 12 years ago and said it was nothing but a positive experience.
He was grateful for the classmates and teachers he had and he was happy with his results and feelings towards the program, he said.
“At the end of the two years I felt that there was an accomplishment.”
MacKenzie is now co-owner of the business Kwik Kopy with his brother Troy MacKenzie He said without the skills he learned at Holland College he would “be walking into the job totally blind.”
He said particularly the business and accounting side of the training helped his career and it would even help him if he weren’t at this job.
MacKenzie is not the only student who is kept track of who went to Holland College. Sara Underwood, the alumni development officer at Holland College, keeps track of 24,000 alumni, and has current information for 14,000 of them.
Keeping track of the alumni has many benefits, such as scholarship opportunities for students who attend the college now. Many alumni set up scholarships for programs they graduated from, like Alanna Jankov, who set up one for the photography class after she graduated in 1988.
Keeping track of alumni also make organizing things like reunions much simpler. The administration provides a lot of help contacting the people. If somebody wants to have a reunion, they contact Underwood, who sends out e-mails to everybody who may attend.
But keeping track of 14,000 people is not easy. Underwood has many things, like Benchmark Magazine, to assist in keeping an eye on the graduated. At the end of each magazine, Benchmark has a section called Alumni Notes, where alumni share what they have done with their lives since graduating Holland College, starting as early as the 1970s.
There are also some Facebook groups where alumni can join and share what they have done with their lives, chat about reunions, updates, and any other activities they may be involved in. These groups are managed by the alumni themselves.
“We just don’t have the time or resources to manage these groups,” Underwood said.
But other resources have kept in touch with people like MacKenzie. Holland College was MacKenzie’s first choice because of the length of the program. He liked the idea of getting his education in two years rather than four. He also found the training more practical than any other school and relevant to what he wanted to learn.
MacKenzie loved the atmosphere of the college, how it felt more like a job than school. The feeling that it was up to him to complete his work and not have someone looking over his shoulder was great.
MacKenzie also loved the hands-on experience.
“That was one of the things I loved most. If I could get into my elbows in something, I’d love it, and that’s just what we did.”
During his time at Holland College, MacKenzie not only worked and studied, but joined in on the fun too. He played intramurals at lunch with his classmates and friends and remembers playing games like soccer.
“I enjoyed it very much, it is a good option for students.”
MacKenzie said he would recommend Holland College to everybody in a heartbeat because no matter what, something is learned.
“You don’t walk out of there knowing everything, but you walk out of there knowing something of everything.”

Safety of 15-passenger vans

The safety of the 15-passenger vans has been debated since the fatal accident in Bathurst and although many say they shouldn’t be on the road, some disagree.
The manager of Discount Van Rentals in Charlottetown, Geoff Thomas, said he doesn’t agree with the van ban because the vans they rent out are safe.
Thomas is also a coach. The vans are the cheapest and best way to transport students for sports and other activities, he said.
“As long as people follow the right guidelines, it’s safe.”
The vans are updated every year and drivers must have a class 4 licence to drive them, he said.
Still, Discount has been losing business since the vans were banned after seven high school basketball players died last month in New Brunswick. Most of the renters of vans here are high schools. It has been a big loss because there have been vans rented out three to four days a week, and multiple vans at a time, Thomas said.
“It’s definitely an impact.”
The athletic director of Morell Regional High School, Randy Cheverie, said the school district ordered a two-week ban on the 15-passenger vans after the accident and they are still reviewing what will happen next.
“It looks like it will be a while before they’re in use.”
Meanwhile, Morell has been using two seven-passenger vans instead.
Using two small mini vans instead of the one 15-passenger is actually less safe, Cheverie said.
“In my mind the only difference is there’s two drivers on the road instead of one, so you’re increasing your risk, not decreasing.”
And they are more expensive because they must provide gas for two vehicles, instead of just one, he said.
The 15-passenger vans Morell uses is replaced every year, Cheverie said, so they are always up to date and safe. There has never been a problem with them before.
The manager of student services and athletics of Holland College, Albert Roche, said they are allowed to use vans now, but the review is still being done. There are different factors, such as weather and time, which will help them decide what to do.
A major factor would be the comfort level of the driver, who is usually the coach. And they can stay overnight if the weather is too bad to drive, he said.
“Above and beyond, it’s safety first.”
Roche looked at the policies at other ACAA schools. There have been a variety of issues, such as weather and the driving distance. Van use will be talked about at the annual general meeting.
Since the Bathurst accident, they have looked at the policy and made sure using vans are still safe, Roche said. Holland College has been using buses ever since to be safe on the winter roads, and for the comfort of the athletes and coaches.
“We want to be able to provide sporting opportunities for as many people as possible, and wouldn’t want traveling to determine the way of playing or safety of the team.”

Student treks across world to attend Holland College

People do many things to reach their future goals, whether it is saving money, studying harder, working longer, or moving to a new place.
But few people would move half way around the world to a new place, alone, and at a young age.
Christina Sukie, an 18-year-old student from Nassau, Bahamas, decided to move to Charlottetown, P.E.I. to go to school at Holland College where she studies Journalism.
Sukie said Canada offers better education than in the United States, and there are higher standards here. Her English teachers suggested the move would be a smart one if she wanted to get a better education.
Sukie said the Island is strange, and a very big change from what she is used to. Everything from the change dispensers at the Wendy’s restaurant to the red brick buildings is different from her hometown in Bahamas.
"It’s a whole new place.”
The manager of international business development for the North America sector, Lornie Hughes, does the recruiting for Holland College from areas around North America, focusing mainly on places like Bermuda, Bahamas, and Barbados. He is the one who helped recruit Sukie.
Hughes came into contact with Sukie during a career fair in Bahamas. While searching for schools Sukie came across a Holland College representative, and told him about her sister, Asha, who was in her fourth year at UPEI. A month later, at a meeting at UPEI, the representative told Hughes about Sukie. Hughes immediately found Asha and had a lunch meeting about Sukie coming to P.E.I. The sisters got talking and Sukie’s ticket to the island was as good as bought.
Sukie is the first person Hughes recruited from North America, and he said she is very important to the College.
“She’s been very successful, and we use her in many promotional items.”
Hughes said it can be hard getting people to leave the warm climate of the Caribbean to the cold Canadian weather, so Holland College is taking more of a strategic approach into recruiting. They recruit into hospitality programs because a lot of North America is driven by tourism.
Sukie admitted she does find it hard to adjust to the weather. She went from being in a temperature of 70 degrees Fahrenheit to 35-40 degrees Fahrenheit.
"It is hard to adjust to the weather here, I was crying it was so cold."
Sukie quickly learned that in P.E.I. one must wrap up in layers in order to keep warm and fight the breeze.
"I was getting weird looks about my snow boots but I just kept on walking and said, ‘I don’t care what they think, my feet are warm!’"
The weather is not the only difference Sukie found between the Islands. The parties on P.E.I don’t compare to the huge dance parties with tons of entertainment like DJ booths, parades and cowbells in Nassau.
"I miss going out to the clubs," said Sukie. "At home there is food, a bar, and you don’t have to supply your own drinks. Here you have to bring all your own beer, I have never heard of that before."
The long move into a new room and empty apartment was hard for Sukie at first, but it was made easier when warm faces and big smiles welcomed her. She said the people on P.E.I. are very nice and accommodating, and very perky.
It also helps Sukie that her sister is on P.E.I. Although it is hard sometimes because of the sibling rivalry, in the end, she wouldn’t know what to do without her cooking skills and family chats.
Sukie’s goals are to finish the Journalism program at Holland College and then go to U.P.E.I for the two-plus-two program, where she will get her degree in print Journalism.
No matter what she does within the next few years, Sukie’s says her future includes P.E.I.
"I like the red brick buildings, and how you can see the little grannies walking down the street. It’s cute."