Prince Edward Island Day at Atlantic Canada House in Vancouver attracted many visitors to Granville Island for a taste of Prince Edward Island food products. The food tasting menu, prepared by chefs and culinary students from the four Atlantic Culinary schools, created lots of interest as people were lined up before the doors opened for the first food tasting at 11:30 a.m.
“The number of people that came to get in line on PEI Day was outstanding,” said Premier Robert Ghiz. “The lineups were some of the longest the staff had seen since the pavilion opened. PEI is known for our quality food products, and people came from all over to have the opportunity for a mouth watering taste of PEI’s seafood and agri-products.”
Some of the samples served on PEI Day included PEI potatoes, Island Blue Mussels, Malpeque oysters, Island lobsters and cheese. Randy Risling from the Toronto Star, a self-described connoisseur of mussels, called the PEI mussels “the best he’s ever had.”
PEI Day was the sixth day the Atlantic Canada House pavilion had been opened and PEI Day drew one of the largest crowds to date.
“The three food samplings a day have been a very popular feature at Atlantic Canada House,” said Kevin Boyce, Culinary Project Manager at Atlantic Canada House. “The chefs and students we’ve brought out with us have been preparing the food samples and have been doing an incredible job. The comments have been all very positive and we couldn’t be happier about the response we are getting here in Vancouver.”
During PEI Day, visitors had an opportunity to experience all things PEI, including local entertainment, an Anne of Green Gables photo booth, a golf mini-putt green, images and video of Prince Edward Island, and an opportunity to meet PEI gold medalist Dave “Eli” MacEachern and Olympians Kara Grant and Jared Connaughton. In addition, a limited number of PEI potatoes, Anne of Green Gables Chocolates, and the 2010 Visitor’s Guide were handed out as take-away gifts for visitors on Prince Edward Island Day.
The day ended with Lennie Gallant and the Confederation Centre Young Company performing live at the Victory Ceremony, where Canadian speed skater Christine Nesbitt received her Olympic Gold Medal and Canadian short-track speed skater Marianne St-Gelais was presented with an Olympic Silver Medal. Island group, the Grass Mountain Hobos, also performed to a packed room of Olympic Athletes at the Canada Olympic House. PEI Day was also celebrated at home with events held in various communities across the province, including festivities in Charlottetown and Summerside.