“It is wonderful to see our Island youth experiencing first-hand the history and culture of Prince Edward Island,” said Minister Roach. “The Island Narratives Program is a wonderful opportunity for youth to gain a greater insight into Island communities and share that knowledge with others.”

The Island Narratives Program is a one year initiative of the Community Access Program Youth Initiative (CAP YI) administrated through Innovation PEI. Over the year 60 Youth Interns compiled historical data from 14 Island communities through interviews, audio footage, photographs and artifacts. With help from the University of Prince Edward Island a new website www.islandnarrativesprogram.com has been created to showcase Island history including information on the Prince Edward Island railway, stories from Canadian veterans, Island hockey history and much more.

“The Island Narratives Program provided an opportunity for communities, Island wide to preserve a part of their history in a digital format for present and future generations,” says Judy Coffin, Project Supervisor with the Island Narratives Program. “The research, interview, writing process and web development was a valuable experience for all the youth that have been employed through this initiative and provided an opportunity for personal growth for all involved.”

Over the next two months, special events will be held to celebrate the unique history and heritage of the communities featured in the project. The public is invited to join in celebrating Prince Edward Island’s history and people. For a complete list of community celebrations visit, www.peicaps.org.

The CAP Youth Initiative provides unique employment opportunities for Island youth. Participants have excellent opportunities to strengthen their skill set as well as receive new work-related experiences.