Latest news with #IslanderDay
Straits Times
14-06-2025
- General
- Straits Times
‘I lived on Pulau Samulun, now Jurong Shipyard': Musician remembers life before reclamation
SINGAPORE - Jurong Island, home to energy and chemicals firms with their glittering network of complexes, is not always remembered as such. For musician Mohd Nazir Dolah, it is a lost cluster of islands where the 74-year-old was raised in harmony with a sea teeming with life. Much of his childhood was spent diving in the azure waters off Pulau Samulun and Pulau Merimau, where he lived, with goggles fashioned from wood and rubber bands by his father, and sailing around on a small boat known as the kolek. Pulau Samulun was turned into Jurong Shipyard, while Pulau Merimau is one of 14 islands reclaimed by the government for its vision of a regional chemical hub. With the sea in his backyard, Mr Nazir said in Malay: 'Since I was six, I was eager to swim in the sea whenever I had the chance.' As Singapore's offshore islands were developed by the Government, Mr Nazir was among scores of villagers who were re-located to the mainland. On June 14, they gathered at a festival, named Hari Orang Pulau (Islander Day), at West Coast Park to celebrate their heritage and history through workshops, performances and talks. At the day-long event by ground-up initiative Orang Laut SG, researchers urged attendees who once lived on the islands to record their stories, noting the dwindling community harbouring these memories. The sea was more than a playground for the islanders, recounted Mr Nazir . It was a cornucopia of fish, crabs and shrimp that his family depended on for a living. 'I loved to eat raw prawns when they fall off the net. My father didn't get mad at me,' he said with a smile. 'They were very sweet, very tasty.' The clear waters off the reclaimed island of Pulau Samulun were particularly plentiful with catch, he added. 'My mother would say, 'We're not rich, but we're happy'.' By the time he turned 13, the village chief told the villagers that the Government wanted to take the island, offering each family a house and a few thousand dollars in compensation, he said. There was even an offer from Malaysia to move to Pahang, where they would get a plot of land to grown palms. Some islanders contacted a lawyer as they felt the money was insufficient, while others simply did not want to move. But his family followed the village chief's instructions, and moved to Pulau Merlimau, where his father worked for JTC as a surveyor. It was there that Mr Nazir started to pursue his dream of appearing on radio and television with his family band that specialised in ghazal, a genre of traditional Malay music. The band was so popular that they would travel by boat to Pulau Bukom, Pulau Sudong and other islands in the south to perform for weddings and competitions. But life on Pulau Merlimau came to a swift end. At the age of 20, Mr Nazir and his family moved to the mainland when Pulau Merlimau was reclaimed for the creation of Jurong Island. When asked how he felt now that the islands of his youth were gone, he said: 'It's just memories now.' After moving to the mainland Singapore, Mr Nazir would tell others that he is from Jurong Shipyard, because hailing from the islands was seen as a source of shame. The leader of the family band Orkes Melayu Mutiara said: 'It was sad that people looked down on us for being island people, but we couldn't run away from that reality.' His mindset changed only recently, through a movement by descendants of islanders, like Orang Laut SG founder Firdaus Sani, and his daughter Irma Yanti, who view their roots as a badge of pride. Said Ms Irma, 43, a vocalist for the band: 'For me, even though I have never been (on the island) before, I feel that we have this sense of history because of my father.' On June 14, Mr Nasir, his daughter and the rest of the band would help revive another tradition from the islands here by leading the Joget Dangkung. The communal dance was once a staple at weddings in Singapore's Southern Islands and continues to be practiced in Indonesia's Riau archipelago. These days, when asked where he is from, Mr Nazir has a different answer: 'I lived on Pulau Samulun, now Jurong Shipyard.' He told ST: 'Now I am proud. 'Now we have a day for island people, so everyone knows where we come from.' Additional reporting by Hadyu Rahim and Amirul Karim Join ST's WhatsApp Channel and get the latest news and must-reads.
CBC
18-02-2025
- Sport
- CBC
Charlottetown Islanders player's injury during fight a 'worst nightmare,' says QMJHL commissioner
Social Sharing A Prince Edward Island hockey player is recovering after a scary incident on the ice during a home game against the Acadie-Bathurst Titan on Monday. Charlottetown Islanders forward Ross Campbell, who's from Souris, fell to the ice and started shaking during a fight early in the third period of the Islander Day matchup at the Eastlink Centre. Neither he nor the other player involved, who also fell to the ice, was wearing a helmet at the time. Campbell lay prone for almost 10 minutes before being placed on a stretcher. He could be seen giving a faint wave to the crowd as he was carried off the ice. Late Monday, the Charlottetown Islanders said Campbell had been treated at Queen Elizabeth Hospital and later released. "We thank the staff members who responded so quickly to the incident at this afternoon's game. The Charlottetown Islanders will not be releasing any further statements on the situation," the team said in a social media post. Campbell, 18, leads the Islanders in goals this season, and was just named the Quebec Maritimes Junior Hockey League's player of the week after notching five goals and three assists in two games. "It's difficult when you see a teammate get carried off on a stretcher. Easy to understand why our focus was gone toward the end [of the game]," Islanders head coach Jim Hulton told team reporter Cam Kinley after Monday afternoon's game. "But I think we just need a day off to kind of reset, take a deep breath here." 'It's a terrible moment' Fighting was banned in the QMJHL before the start of the 2023-24 season. Players can be ejected and suspended for engaging in a fight. Mario Cecchini, the league's commissioner, said incidents like Mondays are "shocking," but not a total surprise given the culture around fights in hockey that has persisted for decades. "Emotions sometimes will get the better of the players and this will happen, and when I see helmets flying off during the fights, that's what I always pray for — that nobody bangs his head on the ice, and yesterday it happened. It's a terrible moment," Cecchini told CBC News. "What goes through my mind mostly is that it's not necessary…. So to me, what happened last night is very close to the worst nightmare that I could have." WATCH | How the Charlottetown Islanders' Ross Campbell is giving back to his hometown: How this Charlottetown Islander is giving back to his hometown 13 days ago Duration 5:13 Ross Campbell is bringing Souris to Charlottetown on Friday. He's donating Islanders tickets to families in the Souris Minor Hockey Association and to Souris Regional School. The assistant captain tells CBC News: Compass host Louise Martin what inspired Ross Campbell Night. Cecchini said the amount of fighting in the QMJHL fell after the ban took effect. Last year, just over 30 fights occurred during the 600-plus game season, down from around 100 before the rule change. The ban hasn't meant fewer people coming to games, either — Cecchini said five of the league's six Maritime teams have actually seen a growth in attendance since the rules took effect. "I think we have struck a good balance right now," he said.
CBC
17-02-2025
- Entertainment
- CBC
What does it mean to be an Islander?
In honour of Islander Day, CBC P.E.I. hit the streets of Charlottetown to find out what it means to be an Islander. Here's what you had to say.
CBC
16-02-2025
- Climate
- CBC
Long-weekend storm could bring hazardous travel conditions, power outages to P.E.I.
Stephen Brun | CBC News | Posted: February 16, 2025 4:04 PM | Last Updated: Just now Weather warnings in effect across Prince Edward Island A Sunday storm is brewing, and it's also set to usher in Islander Day with a mixture of snow, ice pellets, freezing rain and wind across P.E.I. Environment Canada has issued weather warnings for all three of Prince Edward Island's counties starting early this evening and continuing into the holiday Monday. A snowfall warning is in effect for Prince County, while Queens and Kings counties are under a freezing rain warning during the overnight hours. That's in addition to a wind warning for Kings County where gusts are more likely to exceed 90 km/h tonight and into Monday. The heaviest snow and ice-pellet accumulation will likely fall over western P.E.I., with the latest information showing 10-to-20-plus centimetres possible this evening and overnight, said CBC P.E.I. meteorologist Jay Scotland. "My main concerns are for snowy/icy roads, poor visibility, and potential outages due to the combination of strong winds and freezing rain," Scotland said. "Regardless of what warning is in effect for your part of the Island, all three counties see the risk for snow, ice-pellets, freezing rain and strong winds from this storm." The Confederation Bridge's site-specific weather forecast warns that wind conditions beginning Sunday around 11 a.m. could result in travel restrictions until around 4 a.m. Monday. As of noon Sunday, two arrivals and two departures at Charlottetown Airport were cancelled, with a third evening departure delayed by about four hours. Snow will begin to fall early Sunday evening and become heavier through the evening hours. In addition to snowy roads, a 25-50 km/h easterly wind this evening will also impact visibility due to blowing and drifting snow, especially for exposed areas. Mixing with ice-pellets is also possible late this evening as the temperature begins to rise, said Scotland. Overnight, a strong 40-to-80-plus km/h southeasterly wind will develop, which will see the temperature begin to climb. "As warm air initially arrives at the upper levels, icy precipitation is my main concern while surface temperatures remain below freezing until early Monday morning," Scotland said. "Ice pellets and freezing rain will significantly impact travel conditions and outages are also possible due to the combination of snow, ice and strong winds." Wintry mix throughout Monday Freezing rain should transition to lighter rain showers or drizzle by Monday morning as the temperature nudges just above the freezing mark for most areas, before falling again. Surfaces could still be icy and additional power outages remain concern thanks to a 40-80 km/h southerly to southwesterly wind. Temperatures are expected to drop back below freezing by early Monday afternoon, which means wet surfaces will once again freeze up. Precipitation will be lighter and will transition back to flurries, although poor visibility and possible outages are likely for exposed areas due to a wind gusts of 50-to-80-plus km/h. By Monday evening, flurries and periods of light snow will continue with a persistent 50-to-80-plus km/h westerly wind that will continue to affect travel conditions through poor visibility and icy surfaces.
CBC
16-02-2025
- General
- CBC
Islander Day 2025: What's open and closed on P.E.I.
Social Sharing Monday, Feb. 17, is Islander Day, a provincial holiday in Prince Edward Island. All provincial and municipal offices are closed, as are most stores. Many federal government services will operate as normal, however, including Canada Post's mail delivery and post offices. Some bars, restaurants and local businesses will remain open, but others will be closed. If you are planning an outing, your best bet is to call ahead. All provincial and municipal government offices are closed. All schools, including UPEI and Holland College, are closed. Sobeys stores are closed. Atlantic Superstores are closed. Walmart stores are closed. All P.E.I. Liquor Control Commission stores are closed. All P.E.I. Cannabis stores are closed. Foodland in Charlottetown is closed. Co-op stores in the province are closed except the Souris location, which will be open from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Royalty Crossing Mall is closed. The Confederation Court Mall is closed. County Fair Mall in Summerside is closed. Garbage normally collected by Island Waste Management on Monday will be picked up on Saturday, Feb. 22. T3 Transit will not be providing service. P.E.I. public libraries are closed. Cooper's Food Market in Belfast will be open from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Islander's Convenience Store in Charlottetown will be open from 10 a.m. to midnight. Global Grocery in Charlottetown will be open from noon to 5 p.m. Pharmacies Murphy's Pharmacies in Summerside, East Royalty, Morell, Tyne Valley and Wellington are closed. The following Murphy's Pharmacies are open on Islander Day: Cornwall: Noon to 5 p.m. Kensington: 1-5 p.m. Stratford Kinlock: Noon to 5 p.m. Stratford Road: Noon to 5 p.m. Parkdale: 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Queen Street: Noon to 5 p.m. West Royalty: Noon to 5 p.m. All Shoppers locations will be open with the following hours: 403 University Ave., 8 a.m. to midnight 675 University Ave., 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. Confederation Court Mall, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Stratford, 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. Summerside, 8 a.m. to 9 p.m.
