Everything that comes to and leaves Pelee Island does so at great cost. By ferry, plane or personal watercraft — everything consumed or wasted has to come and go somehow. The actual cost of wasting things on the island cannot be fully understood unless the cost of producing the thing […]
It is a common misconception that once the last ferry sails for the season in December that those living on Pelee Island year round are island-bound with no provisions or connection to the outside world until the ferry begins its daily treks across the lake again in the spring. For […]
The nearly century-old tradition of fall pheasant hunting returned to Pelee Island this fall. After a brief hiatus in 2020 due to COVID-19, the Township of Pelee committed to three Main Hunts and four Clean Up Hunts in October and November of 2021. Pheasants were introduced to the island by […]
Pelee Island is a place that defies expectations on varying levels. When people arrive on Pelee Island for the very first time in the fall, they don’t expect to see acres of farms, row upon row of grapes, and tractor trailers full with the season’s haul sleepily boarding the ferry […]
The Pelee Island Heritage Centre on Pelee Island has been closed to the public since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic in April 2020. The keeper of near and distant island history reopened its doors to visitors on August 9, 2021. The HC, as it is commonly called, sits directly […]
While unplugging may be part of what makes Pelee Island a real escape for visitors, lack of internet and, somedays, cell service leaves residents and business owners woefully behind in a digitally connected world. Most find short-term solutions through unlimited data plans but those plans can be costly, deliver throttled-down […]
When most people in Southwestern Ontario think of a remote or isolated community, they think of Northern Ontario. Pelee Island is the most southern community in Canada and also happens to be isolated, without year-round road or marine access. While it is specifically the isolation many people seek, the gaps […]
Residents, tourism operators, farming operations, cottagers and visitors are scrambling to book passage to and from the mainland terminal in Leamington due to extremely limited ferry capacity. A staffing issue at Owen Sound Transportation Company, on top of COVID-19 restrictions, are cited as the specific reasons for the service reduction. […]
Pelee Island is known for some unusual spaces and historical holdovers from yesteryear. Did you know that the Island also has an acoustically perfect natural limestone amphitheatre? Exposed natural limestone shale lines a defunct quarry and provides the backdrop for an eclectic art, music and spoken word series known as […]
The “everywhere” real estate boom is more of a rumble on Pelee Island but it is still being felt. To the people trying to escape cities, green their lives and find their own beach, a remote island looks pretty good. A shortage of available inventory has driven prices up everywhere. But […]
What most people in Windsor and Essex County have experienced through extended lockdowns is the general state of affairs on Pelee Island. No big box stores, gyms or nail salons are closed because none have ever been opened. There are no little leagues or soccer pitches to shut down. Obtaining […]
The Township of Pelee is one of 405 municipalities to receive a Municipal Modernization Grant as part of a $125 million roll out of funds from the Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing to help small and rural communities find opportunities to share resources and deliver services to taxpayers more […]
Host of CBC’s “Still Standing” Jonny Harris In the fall of 2019 Jonny Harris, along with his best friend Macy, full production crew, a team of writers and producers, arrived on Pelee Island to take a look at how the largest island in Lake Erie is “still standing.” Harris is […]
For many city dwellers stuck indoors and surrounded by concrete, spending time at parks, getting outside hiking and biking have been a welcome reprieve from the day to day. “Demand for backcountry campsites in Ontario’s provincial parks is up 29% from a year ago,” according to a recent Toronto Sun article. “We’re […]
The arts are being profoundly affected by COVID-19. Live performers, musicians and artisans have seen their live shows cancelled, and retail or gallery spaces close. While some sectors of the economy slowly re-open, artists will continue to struggle with uncertain futures. Pelee Island is fortunate to have had some prominent […]
While many beaches across the province may be experiencing higher than normal volumes of people looking to get outdoors, most beaches on Pelee Island remain quiet, natural and undisturbed. High water and wind direction certainly affect beach conditions on Pelee Island, and contribute to the ever-changing landscape on our shores. […]
The fourth and most recent extension of the closure of the Canada-U.S. border to non-essential travel has left the small community of Pelee Island in the middle of some heated debate among local and international taxpayers. With over a third of the island land owners residing stateside, most wonder when […]
On April 1, ferry service to Pelee Island resumed on schedule replacing the winter air service that residents rely on from December to March. COVID-19 has changed the way people travel afar, and right here in Windsor/ Essex/ Pelee Island too. The Pelee Islander began modified service with restricted access […]
Lake Erie’s North Shore has some pretty incredible views. Essex County’s picturesque cottage country includes wineries and farms with panoramic backdrops of Lake Erie. As summer begins, and many in Windsor/ Essex/ Pelee Island consider how best to make the most of the warm and sunny days ahead, the Great […]
On June 25, Pelee Island along with Windsor and most of Essex County moved to Stage 2 of Ontario’s reopening plan. Like Windsor, Pelee Island is a single-tier municipality with a mayor, deputy mayor and three councillors. Pelee Island and the eight other islands that constitute the township are not […]