Fiona: Prince Edward Island Accounts of Canada’s Biggest Storm

2023 PUBLICATION OF THE YEAR HERITAGE AWARD by Museum and Heritage Prince Edward Island/Musee et patrimoine Ile-du-Prince-Edouard

On September 24th 2022, post-tropical cyclone Fiona made landfall as one of the most intense storms to ever hit the coastal shores of Prince Edward Island. Fiona left in her wake Islanders ravaged and disoriented, in an unprecedented outage that left 95% of customers without power. As Islanders struggled in the days and weeks that followed, what revealed itself was a community’s spirit that cannot be broken.

This collection in poetry, essay and photographs records Islanders’ experience of the storm, from Fiona’s first shocking moments post to the absolute wonder experienced as the lights came back on, home by home. It is a historical record of a weather event that will never be forgotten, and serves to capture the impact of climate change on Canada’s smallest province.

Royalties from the book’s sales will be donated to the Island Nature Trust.

＂In my years of witnessing damage from PEI weather events, Fiona has left me, and all Islanders, with unimaginable visions and memories of her wrath. I was awestruck, as I navigated my way around our neighbourhood, by the aroma of cracked and fallen timber, downed wires and poles, damaged buildings, and the whirr of generators. This book is an important record of Island weather history.＂ Kevin ＂Boomer＂ Gallant, CBC News