This blog was create as the result of a discussion that happened on Twitter earlier today between a number of folks who love PEI; many of whom are part of the PEI Tweetup community. This includes people who were born on the Island, people who visit the Island and people who have become an “Islander by Choice or Circumstance”. The main discussion centred around the issue that people who are not born on PEI sometimes feel isolated once they move to PEI. It can be difficult to make connections on the Island; despite the “friendliness” that exists. Within the PEI Twitter community there is much interest about what we can collectively do to help people who move to PEI become more connected and feel a better sense of “belonging”.
We don’t yet know where all of this will go…but please feel free to comment and stay tuned….it seems like there is a lot more to come!
IBC Alliance - Where Everyone's an Islander 
For an ISB this sounds great. I’ve lived here since 1977 and you’re right people are very friendly. Other than the family I gave birth to, my husband John and I don’t have any relatives here. We moved here as a young couple who wanted to live in a rural area where he could work as a phys ed teacher. I quickly became aware of several new PFA’s in our community so I gathered them up and planned events: block suppers, murder mystery dinners, themed dances at our house with dance cards, etc. As with anything the years have flown by and people have gotten too busy it seems to reciprocate the energy to entertain and the fun gradually ceases. It says on my Tweeteneur profile that I now consider myself to be an Islander: house and orchard on eight acres of land, four Island-born sons, but most importantly that my post mistress has replaced the question “Are you going home for Christmas?” to “Are you staying home?” The truth is that it’s the major holidays, Christmas especially, that I feel, for lack of better words, lonesome. Every ‘real Islander’ is inundated with family while my offspring have mostly moved on to create their own lives off Island. So now that all the boo-hoo-ing is done lets plan something fun for pity’s sake. I will say though if it’s going to be in Charlottetown someone needs to adopt me so I won’t have the long ruin-the-evenings-fun drive home. Let me know what I can do!! Thanks for reading. It was very cathartic :o) Debbie
Debbie’s reference to a ‘dance card’ reminded me of how Islanders described the social circumstances of the Island. It isn’t that Islanders are unfriendly, or that they don’t want to be your friend, it’s simply that their dance card is full and you have to wait for someone to move or die before you can be invited into the inner circle.
That said, there are still a core element on the Island who refuse to accept anything an IBC says or does simply because they are ‘from away’. The irony of that is that most IBCs I know are passionate about strengthening the community bonds that make PEI the place that it is while building a robust, strong, and resilient economy. Sure, we want sushi and Pad Thai, but we also want to preserve the heritage and culture that drew us to this place.
Of all the friends that I have made in PEI, most of them are IBCs. As for family, I actually have more family that live near me now that I have ever had in my entire life. Sure, my direct family all live back in Ontario, but I have a cousin who recently moved here, a 2nd cousin twice removed who has lived her since the 50s, and just learned that my in-laws are moving to the Island in January.
PEI is a charming place to live — I only wish that ‘native’ Islanders would understand that were you were born is nothing compared with where you choose to live when it comes to the passion we exhibit in building and strengthening our communities.
My mother and her extended family are Islanders as far back as we’ve cared to look. My father moved to PEI for university and never looked back. I grew-up on PEI but most of my childhood friends were first generation Islanders or French-Canadian immigrants I met while attending François-Buote. My schooling, our homestead located in a community where my mother did not have many pre-established relationships, and the lack of children my age in the community, resulted with me relating more to my dad and my French friends than I do to my mother and her family connection to the Island. With exception of the “blood clause” that most Islanders seem to hold so dear, I personally identify as a IBC myself, due to my childhood experiences and my years away from PEI, living in Ontario.
Though it was really my time away from PEI that solidified my identity as an IBC. I moved back within three years of leaving and I managed to bring my Ontarian girlfriend with me, mainly because I missed the Island; the landscape, the sense of community, and the general serenity of life cradled on the waves. Not that I think PEI is perfect, but it is close to my heart. Even if I don’t feel like I will ever fit in with “true” Islanders, I *want* to be here and I *want* to do my best to make PEI a great place to live, for future generations, be they born and raised here or attracted from elsewhere by our charming home province.
Thanks for sharing your thoughts here! Clearly there are lots of things that are unique about the culture of living on PEI. So many interesting points to note…
IBC’s do truly care about the Island and feel that there is much that they can offer to make it even better. That said, there is a strong desire to preserve the heritage of the Island.
There are so many wonderful things about PEI…the sense of community, the amazing beauty that is the Island, and the sense of knowing that it is a great place to live.
Even Islanders question if they are true Islanders sometimes….wow!!!
Please do keep sharing your thoughts with all of us. These comments are so helpful to all who visit.
Hi,
I want to congratulate you on taking the initiative to create a blog on this topic.
As a native islander who has always enjoyed the joys of my Hidden Island Paradise, there is just no thoughts about ever living long term anywhere but on P.E.I.
There are IBC’s and CFA’s but has anyone ever considered that there are IBB’s
Well my cousin Daphne who now lives in New Jersey thinks that there is.
http://hiddenislandparadise.blogspot.com/2010/07/islander-by-blood.html
If you have something to share then hop over to my blog and let me know what you think. Thanks!
Smiles 🙂
Gary
Thanks Gary! Your comments inspired a new post this morning…you can check it out here…
Glad you stopped by….
Jane