STRATFORD, P.E.I. - The Guardian and Eastlink Community TV are teaming up to bring Islanders municipal election results on Monday for the first time ever on broadcast television.
Wayne Thibodeau, managing editor of The Guardian, will anchor the broadcast beginning at 7 p.m. when the polls close.
Thibodeau will be joined by a panel that includes outgoing Charlottetown Mayor Clifford Lee, Communities Minister Richard Brown, members of the Charlottetown Youth Retention Advisory Board and the UPEI Student Union. There will also be live hits from Guardian reporters who will be with the Charlottetown mayoral candidates as well as those in Stratford and Cornwall.
In addition, The Guardian will have live results on its website Monday night at www.theguardian.pe.ca, as well as complete coverage and an interview with the new mayor of Charlottetown in Wednesday’s print edition.
Thibodeau said there’s a lot on the line in this election, especially in Charlottetown.
“In previous elections where we had a strong incumbent, we had a pretty good idea of what the results were going to be,’’ Thibodeau said of Lee’s 15-year reign as mayor. “This is the first time going into an election campaign in 15 years that we really don’t know what the outcome is going to be, so we expect a dramatic evening of politics to unfold.’’
Not only has Lee spent the past 15 years as mayor, he was a councillor before that. In total, the outgoing mayor has spent more than 30 years in council chambers.
“To have that wealth of knowledge as part of the broadcast is key. We also have a political panel that will be able to provide that in-depth analysis.’’
Need to know
- Tune into channel 10 or 610 for The Guardian’s broadcast of Monday’s municipal election live on Eastlink Community TV.
- The broadcast starts at 7 p.m. and goes until the results are final.
- Live election results will also be available on The Guardian’s website at www.theguardian.pe.ca and on the Journal Pioneer’s website at www.journalpioneer.com
Zac Murphy, a member of Charlottetown’s youth retention advisory board, will be part of that analysis.
“Hopefully, we’ll be able to provide viewers with a little bit of knowledge,’’ Murphy said. “It’ll be interesting to see the results on Monday night with five candidates running for mayor.’’
Lee said it will feel odd being part of the broadcast team when he has spent the past three decades pacing at home as the results came in.
“No question, it’s bittersweet,’’ Lee said. “It’s 30 years in City Hall coming to an end soon. I’ve really enjoyed the 30 years, but it’s going to be difficult to walk out the door at the end of the day. But, it’s the right thing to do at the right time.’’
Normally, Lee would be knocking on doors ahead of the election. On Friday, he was prepping for Monday’s broadcast at Eastlink studios in Stratford.
“It’s been a different election year . . . for sure.’’
Bruce MacLean, manager of Eastlink Community TV programming, said partnering with The Guardian gave the broadcaster a unique opportunity.
“We’ve noticed that the other media weren’t able to cover it and we have the great advantage of going extended time so if the results run longer, we can run longer,’’ MacLean said.
The Guardian’s Decision ’18 Election Night Live! will stay on the air on Eastlink Community TV until the final results are in.
