2025 on P.E.I.: Looking back at the Island’s biggest news stories of the year
CBC
From three premiers in one year to demands for deeper accountability in the education system, a bone-dry August, and long-promised bridge and ferry toll cuts, 2025 delivered no shortage of news.
As the year winds down, we’re looking back at the stories that left their mark on Prince Edward Island.
After six years as premier, Dennis King shocked Islanders on Feb. 20 when he announced he was stepping down from the province's top job, and from his role as MLA for Brackley-Hunter River.
King became emotional when speaking about the toll that being premier took on his family, telling reporters he did not intend to ever seek elected office again.
He was named Canada’s ambassador to Ireland less than two weeks later.
In the wake of King’s resignation, Rob Lantz was chosen to step in as premier and interim leader of P.E.I.’s Progressive Conservative Party.
Lantz fueled months of will-he-or-won’t-he chatter about whether he would go after the permanent PC leadership, making contradictory remarks on a few occasions.
On Dec. 11, he officially announced his resignation to chase the leadership. That led to Bloyce Thompson being sworn in as the province’s 35th premier the following day — making him the Island’s third in one year.
As of Dec. 31, there are two contenders in the running for permanent leadership — Lantz and lawyer Mark Ledwell.
Cory Deagle was originally vying for the role, but ended his run in October to return to provincial cabinet as housing minister. That portfolio was left vacant after another PC MLA's resignation — Steven Myers stepped down in October.
The PCs will choose their next leader at a leadership convention on Feb. 7. It is widely expected that an election will be called shortly thereafter.
Matthew Alan Craswell pleaded guilty in April to charges related to child sex abuse images and sexually touching an elementary school student in a classroom at Stratford's Glen Stewart Primary School.
Craswell worked as a substitute teacher for the P.E.I. Public Schools Branch beginning in 2023 and as recently as spring 2024.
New information came to light in the months that followed Craswell's guilty plea, including that the Glen Stewart incident was not reported to police until the child pornography charges were first laid against Craswell months later.
The coming year will see some changes to existing tax measures, the abandonment of others and some help for personal support workers. But overall changes to the taxes individuals pay will be minor in 2026.
WARNING: This story contains references to missing and murdered Indigenous people. Resources can be found at the bottom of this story.
New year changes from federal, provincial and municipal governments are hitting Toronto this year, ranging from more Vitamin D in dairy products to new 407 ETR rates and recycling changes.
Out with the old, in with the new.
It's been a wild week of winter weather in the London region, with freezing rain, snow, high winds and temperature swings.
From Sydney to Paris to New York City and Toronto, crowds rang in the new year with exuberant celebrations filled with thunderous fireworks or light shows, while others took a more subdued approach.
Four-time Olympian Ellie Black and Mi’kmaw ethnologist Roger Lewis are among the latest Nova Scotian appointees to the Order of Canada.
Christmas is often a time of gathering and community for church communities, but one church on the outskirts of Fredericton found itself a victim of theft this holiday season.
A beloved Winnipeg comedian who was killed in a house fire was a "gentle giant" who had wanted to be a showman since he was a boy, his aunt says.
As the Town of Outlook continues to add up the cost of a recent incident that prompted fears about the safety of its water supply, the chief administrative officer suggests enhanced security measures are needed.
The motto for members of the Order of Canada stood out to Michelle Good when she got a letter in September, informing her she had been selected for the highest civilian honour.
Get your confetti and noisemakers ready and settle in to ring in 2026 with two back-to-back New Year's Eve specials on CBC.
A person has died after being caught and buried in an avalanche near Tumbler Ridge in northern B.C., according to Avalanche Canada.