"We wanted to end the year with a look back, but also focus on the excitement of the turn of the century," noted Ann Stanley, Producer of Island Focus. "In addition to focussing on the new year in our host location, we will also take a look at some of the activities taking place across the Province to commemorate the Millennium."

Island Focus (formally Focus on Resources) returned to the air this season with a new focus and mandate. The program has strengthened its public education mandate to include profiles of programs and services that affect Islanders. "The new format provides government with opportunities to communicate interesting stories about Islanders to Islanders, as well as highlight the programs and services that are available throughout government," commented Mrs. Stanley. "In this new season, we have used our public education theme to reach out to the community and educate them about all government departments' activities."

Island Focus airs on Cable 10 on a different day at a new time this season — Wednesdays at 8:00 pm, immediately prior to the broadcast of question period. This week the program features stories on Y2K and the Health System; French Immersion Program; Belvedere Partnership; Privatized Welcome Centres; Community Development Bureau; Basin Head Development; and the Millennium Committee.

In an effort to better inform the audience about the program and the upcoming season, a new website (www.gov.pe.ca/focus) has been set up. The site features information on each week's line-up; biographies on the on-air personalities; and the ability to actually view segments that have appeared on the program.

Another new element has been added to the program this season — a trivia contest. Each week viewers are given the opportunity to win an Island Focus travel mug just by watching the program. In addition to the segments that air each week, the program features interesting facts about various aspects of Island life relating to that week's theme. At the end of the program, the Focus Trivia question relates either to one of the segments or the Focus Facts. Viewers are then asked to send in their answers for a chance to win the mug. Each week's trivia question and the name of past winners is featured on the website.

This year's host is Gerry Birt who returns after a one-year absence and Whit Carter is back as News Anchor. The program was the winner of the 1997 Galaxi Award for Excellence in Programming and was a national award nomination for two years in a row (1998, 1999) for best community cable program at the Yorkton Short Film and Video Festival.