SAFE Summerside Alliance Ltd. is a volunteer non-profit organization that promotes progressive, innovative Active Transportation policies. SAFE is committed to creating safe and accessible streets for all active transportation users within the City of Summerside and surrounding areas. We will collaborate with local municipal governments, businesses, and community members to develop strategies to reduce the barriers to active transportation while advocating for specific safe routes/pathways in Summerside and Area. [Jump to Current Members / Supporters]
[Jump to Board of Directors and Committees]
If you have any opinions or suggestions, we would love to hear them.
Streets Are For Everyone
Our name is both a slogan and the essence of our organization: "Streets Are For Everyone" serves as an essential reminder that streets need to be safe and accessible to everyone (including people of all ages, genders, races, abilities, incomes, and sexualities), and that all forms of transportation need to be considered in street planning and design.
This core belief aligns with one of the goals of the PEI Active Transportation Network Plan (2022) -- to shift transportation priorities: "prioritize active transportation users and re-frame cultural hierarchies which have traditionally favored private single-occupant vehicles " (page 11).
Chronological Activity To Date
August 16, 2022 -- Ken Trenholm was interviewed by CBC Island Morning on the need for a protected AT Pathway along Pope Road instead of Greenwood Drive. This interview inspired many people to reach out to Ken and share his thoughts that something needs to be done. Soon, consultation of local AT users and supporters would begin collaborating on the development of a Draft AT Network Plan to present to the City of Summerside.
September 6, 2022 -- First in-person meeting of like-minded people.
September 17, 2022 -- SAFE holds its inaugural Annual Learn to Ride a Two-Wheeler Event. 22 children and families participated. To create a lifetime memory of the moment a child learned to ride a two-wheeler, we create a Video of the Day.
September 18, 2022 -- SAFE sends a letter to the City of Summerside in response to storm drains being installed directly on the Greenwood Drive AT Pathway
September 20, 2022 -- SAFE presents in City Council Chambers for the first time (video). We expressed the concerns, and a solution, to the storm drains being installed directly on the Greenwood Drive AT Pathway. In the morning, we were interviewed by CBC Island Morning on this issue. Dan Steele and Ken Trenholm presented to Council.
October 15, 2022 -- SAFE launches its Draft AT Network Plan during a Walk/Ride Event to Support Active Transportation. Over 40 people participated and check out this video to highlight the first-coming-together for an event of SAFE membership and active transportation supporters in Summerside.
October 26-27, 2022 -- SAFE holds two Open Houses for the general public/community to come together, learn about the Plan, and provide suggestions as part of this consultation process before the Plan is finalized and submitted to the city.
October 27, 2022 -- SAFE Summerside discussed by two candidates in the 2022 Mayoral Debate.
October 29, 2022 -- SAFE presented a funding stream to the City (commit $1M and receive $10M in new AT infrastructure next year). On November 13, 2022, we provided SAFE Summerside's recommendations on the priorities for that $10M. The opportunity to "pool" the resources of two different funding sources created an opportunity for Summerside never seen before! On December 23, 2022, as we prepared a revised document to illustrate our priorities to include Cycling Without Age, we reached out to the Province and learned all of the funds were exhausted, and they were no longer accepting applications.
October 31, 2022 -- SAFE sends a letter to the Director of Capital Projects for the Province, advocating for protective AT Corridors similar to Charlottetown. A second letter is sent a month later to Summerside MLAs, the Premier, and the Official Opposition.
November 7, 2022 -- SAFE asked all candidates in the City of Summerside election their official statements on active transportation and whether they support the city developing an official AT Plan if elected.
November 20, 2022 -- SAFE was interviewed for a Holland College Journalism Student's Final Project. The feature was on Dan Steele and him telling his story. Dan has been instrumental in shaping SAFE's recommendations for access for people with disabilities. Dan is diagnosed with Parkinson's Disease, and his only form of transportation is his adaptive recumbent trike.
December 2, 2022 -- SAFE holds its inaugural "I Light Sside" event as part of the Summerside Santa Claus Parade.
December 6, 2022 -- SAFE makes a breakfast in-person presentation for funding as part of the Rotary Club of Summerside Community Need Assessment (we later amended our request for 6 Trishaws).
December 15, 2022 -- CBC reaches out to SAFE and interviews us regarding our fundraising efforts to offer the Cycling Without Age Program with six Trishaws in three locations in Summerside in 2023.
January 1, 2023 -- SAFE presents the first-of-its-kind Pedestrian/Cyclist Collision with Motor Vehicles Map and Data. Thanks to the City Police for providing 2019-2022 data.
January 5, 2023 -- SAFE and its membership provided over 20 letters during the Provincial Government Operating Budget Consulation (use the search term "active transportation"), stating: "We believe the PEI Active Transportation Fund is underfunded, and would like to see the $5M budget doubled and doubling the $1M in eligible expenses per year. The best way to show commitment to becoming Net-Zero emissions by 2040 is to continue the PEI AT Fund past the 2024-25 expiring date for the program." As part of the Provincial Conservatives Campaign promise in the 2023 election, they stated they would double AT funding for one year.
January 6, 2023 -- SAFE is colour front page (above the fold) featured in this edition of the Journal Pioneer.
January 10, 2023 -- Ten volunteers are registered to become pilots for the Cycling Without Age program.
January 21, 2023 -- SAFE approved as an official Cycling Without Age affiliate.
February 15, 2023 -- PEI Cupcakes is confirmed as a partner in fundraising for the Cycling Without Age program.
February 19, 2023 -- SAFE submitted a video presentation to the City of Summerside after hearing that although Pope Road was applied for through the PEI AT Fund, there would be other priorities in the City Budget and would not be included in the 2023-24 budget.
March 20, 2023 -- SAFE presented our All Ages and All Abilities Active Transportation Network Plan to City Council at the Committee of the Whole Meeting. Here is the video of our presentation. In the morning, SAFE was interviewed on Spud FM.
April 3, 2023 -- SAFE asked each provincial government candidate their views on increasing and doubling the PEI AT Fund and creating protected AT Corridors similar to Charlottetown and Area.
April 4, 2023 -- City Council voted unanimously to support this motion: "To accept the report as presented by Ken Trenholm and SAFE Summerside and to direct the CAO to work with Ken Trenholm and SAFE Summerside to bring forward an Official Active Transportation Network Plan for the City of Summerside for Council's review, consideration, and potential adoption".
April 29, 2023 -- SAFE offers its inaugural monthly free Bicycle Repair clinic hosted at the Summerside Free Store
May 29, 2023 -- SAFE asked all candidates in Ward 3 By-Election "If elected, what do you see as your role as a City Councillor with respect to active transportation in the City?"
June 10, 2023 -- SAFE holds its inaugural Saturday Morning Slow Ride.
June 13, 2023 -- SAFE begins offering Tuesday night Women's Only Rides on the Confederation Trail.
June 24-25, 2023 -- Three members of SAFE become trained HopOn Instructors. HopOn is a games-based cycling program that teaches school-aged children the joy of cycling safely.
July 7, 2023 -- Peter Collins' and SAFE's first DIY video drops: Tires - Home Bicycle Repair.
September 15, 2023 -- SAFE is interviewed by CBC Island Morning on the Learn to Ride event happening on the next day.
September 16, 2023 -- SAFE holds its Second Annual Learn to Ride a Two-Wheeler Event. To create a lifetime memory of the moment a child learned to ride a two-wheeler, we create a Video of the Day.
September 29, 2023 -- City Staff responded to SAFE stating they had reviewed the SAFE AT Plan, and City Staff (1) asked questions and made considerations on the Plan and (2) asked SAFE for recommendations on intersections dangerous for AT users.
October 1, 2023 -- SAFE's partnership with Peter Collins and the Summerside Free Store concludes its first season, having saved 113 bicycles from the landfill and given away 113 free bicycles as part of the Recycle Bicycle Program.
October 26, 2023 -- SAFE hosts two public meetings to discuss SAFE's recommendations, ask for public input and suggestions on intersections they feel are dangerous, and come up with ideas and solutions together. The meetings provided pivotal community consultation, resulting in some key recommendations that SAFE will incorporate into their final recommendations to the City.
November 5, 2023 -- SAFE submitted a video presentation requesting that City of Summerside re-consider the creation of a bidirectional AT Pathway on the new East-West Housing Corridor. SAFE is recommending a unidirectional.
November 7, 2023 -- The City of Summerside Deputy CAO/Director of Community Services states at the Committee of the Whole meeting: "We requested that SAFE Summerside present to us a prioritization of the network. It's a fairly bold and expansive plan. It's certainly a great plan, one that we dove into pretty deeply from a staff perspective and provided some feedback back to SAFE. The reality, it will take a number of years to get a lot of that work done. So, for us, prioritization of the plan, and getting the routes done was a critical piece of that...Our hope is to have a Network Plan in place by the New Year."
November 11, 2023 -- SAFE partners with the Rotary Club, which applies to the PEI AT Fund to fund three additional Trishaws. The fundraising efforts of three Trishaws were confirmed, with one each for Community Connections, Wedgewood, and Summerset. PEI AT Fund application includes one additional Trishaw at each location. Approx funding proposal breakdown: PEI AT Fund (50%), Rotary (40%), Community Connections (3.3%), and Wedgewood Manor (3.3%), Summerset Manor (3.3%).
November 13, 2023 -- SAFE met with the Parkview Senior Citizens Club and then with the Boys and Girls Club Staff (on November 28) to hear about their street safety issues and to include their recommendations in our response to the City.
November 20, 2023 -- La Voix Acadienne reached out to SAFE for an interview. A story entitled, "La ville de Summerside veut être à la pointe du transport actif" or "The City of Summerside wants to be at the Forefront of Active Transportation" appeared in the November, 20 edition.
November 28, 2023 -- SAFE submits a 15-page letter of recommendations as part of the PEI Government Confederation Trail Public Consultation process. At the heart of this issue is the possibility of the inclusion of ATVs on portions of the Confederation Trail. SAFE Summerside does not support this option, and read the letter for these and more recommendations.
December 1, 2023 -- We hold our first Bill Schurman Memorial "I Light Sside" event at the Summerside Santa Claus Parade. You can check out Peter Collins' Behind The Scenes video too.
December 1, 2023 -- SAFE applies to the PEI AT Fund for activities that include creating an Annotated AT Bibliography and a Bike Valet service in Summerside, as well as improvements to the Learn to Ride Program. A working example of our proposed Annotated Active Transportation Bibliography is published online.
December 4, 2023 -- SAFE becomes a licensed not-for-profit organization (registration number: 20749)
December 7, 2023 -- SAFE submits two documents to the City of Summerside: (1) SAFE'S Response to City Staff and (2) An Active Transportation Retrofit for Intersections that Pose a Risk to AT Users. These documents were in response to the City Staff asking follow-up questions on September 29 on our March All Ages and All Abilities Active Transportation Plan.
December 16, 2023 -- SAFE's database of Intersections with Concerning Sightlines is published online.
December 17, 2023 -- SAFE's proposed AT Network is now published on a Google Map. We now can share and update recommendations/changes more easily. Thanks to Nate Williams for creating this map!
December 27, 2023 -- SAFE applied to the City of Summerside Community Support Program:
- Recycle Bicycle Program (direct funding request)
- Rave-On Bicycle Event (direct funding request)
- Off-Set Operational Costs SAFE (direct funding request)
- Historical City Minutes and other docs, 2010 to present (in-kind staff hours)
- Collision Data Collection, 2010 to present (in-kind staff hours)
January 18, 2024 -- SAFE sends a 2024-25 budget suggestion to the Director of Finance, City of Summerside, as part of the public budget consultation process.
February 2, 2024 -- SAFE responds to the draft AT Network Map presented by City Staff to Council, following the January 9, 2024, Committee of the Whole Meeting. We discussed several gaps in the proposed Network Map and the fact that a Network Map and a Network Plan are two distinct documents, urging the City to create a Network Plan.
February 15, 2024 -- SAFE develops a draft Community Active School Transport (CAST) Workplan and invites local stakeholders to sit down and discuss. Unfortunately, no meeting occurred based on SAFE receiving only one response from local stakeholders, and that response being that while they support safe AT travel with the schools, they simply are not able to put any more demands on the school/teachers at this time. SAFE believes so many people are overwhelmed with their workload, the thought of taking anything else on is just so overwhelming for many people right now. SAFE is evaluating our options regarding a Community Active School Transport program at this time.
March 15, 2024 -- SAFE sends an email to the Mayor and City Councillors, asking (1) for their individual rationale for not supporting the collection of data on collisions between pedestrians/cyclists and motor vehicles in the city in this year's budget as per SAFE's Community Support Program application and (2) if each of would re-consider this decision before the Council vote on the Budget. On March 27, the Mayor responded on behalf of Council, offering a meeting to discuss the potential of data collection. We communicated that we would be interested in meeting to discuss.
March 25, 2024 -- SaltWire reached out to SAFE for a comment on the City of Summerside Budget's outlining of funding for the Pope Road AT Pathway (Greenwood to Central). SAFE was supportive of this step as part of a larger AT network. SAFE also shared lessons learned from Greenwood Drive -- but these lessons were not shared in the newspaper article. The article also stated that SAFE President Ken Trenholm "always wanted to cycle down Pope Road with his children" but that the quote provided was that the 15 children who bicycle with Ken as part of his active transportation summer program have avoided Pope Road because of safety concerns, and now is excited to bicycle with these children on Pope Road. Read the full article here.
April 2, 2024 -- CBC Island Morning interviewed SAFE Summerside regarding our request to be provided with collision data from the City of Summerside. The City of Summerside Staff was also interviewed for their response.
April 3, 2024 -- Two members of SAFE become trained facilitators in Recreation PEI's WalkSafe program. The program aims to teach pedestrian safety skills and knowledge to students in grades 1 through 4 in public schools in PEI.
April 10, 2024 -- We sent a short two-page letter of appreciation to the City for working towards a Complete Street document as well as looking into the issue of asphalt vs concrete sidewalks.
October 19, 2024 -- After being elected as a City Councillor for Ward 5, Ken Trenholm resigns as President as it would be a conflict of interest. You can read his letter here.
Supporters / Members of SAFE Summerside
We are a new group (the first meeting was held on September 6, 2022), and membership is free (always will be free). We have 100+ registered supporters/members, 200+ followers on Facebook (60% local), 4,000+ followers on Twitter (majority global), and a new Instagram account with 100+ local followers.
Here is an interactive chart of our Members / Supporters. Immediately after a Member joins, this chart is updated (best viewed on desktop or laptop):
[Follow this link for more info on Members / Supporters use of AT, barriers, solutions, and much more. ]
Our Members / Supporters use the following modes of active transportation: walking, running, cycling, recumbent bike/trike, scootering, in-line skating, and wheelchairs. For some of our members, a bicycle is their only form of transportation, or a wheelchair is their only mode of AT.
Follow this link to become a Supporter/Member.
SAFE EXECUTIVE & VOLUNTEERS
SAFE BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Jennifer Gallant, Co-President
Don Reid, Co-President
Dr. Richard Wedge, Secretary/Treasurer
Dr. Doug Carmody, Director
Logan Dawson, Director
Stephane Besson, Director
Marianne Lafleur, Director
EVENTS and PROGRAMS COMMITTEE
Dr. Doug Carmody, Secretary
Logan Dawson
Peter Collins
Brianna Rideout
Jennifer Gallant
Dr. Richard Wedge
Marianne Lafleur
GOVERNANCE COMMITTEE
Dr. Richard Wedge
Dr. Doug Carmody
CYCLING WITHOUT AGE VOLUNTEER PILOTS
- Debra Clark
- Dr. Doug Carmody
- Ken Fenton
- Alice Leger Guergis
- Mayor Dan Kutcher
- Daniel Meister
- Leandro Passarini
- Don Reid
- Brianna Rideout
- Jason Smits
- Ken Trenholm
WalkSafe (To School) Program Facilitators (Recreation PEI)
- Doug Carmody (2024)
- Ken Trenholm (2024)
HopOn Cycling Instructors (Cycling PEI)
- Brianna Rideout (2023)
- Peter Collins (2023)
- Ken Trenholm (2023)
The I'll-Help-Wherever-I-Am-Needed Team:
- Amanda Birt (Summerside)
- Amanda Dawe (Summerside)
- Scott Drummond (Summerside)
- Brett Empringham (Summerside)
- Ken Fenton (Summerside)
- James Ford (Summerside)
- Susan Frellick-Perry (Summerside)
- Jennifer Gallant (Wellington)
- Shareene Graham (Summerside)
- Joanne Hardwick (Summerside)
- Simon Hashie (Summerside)
- J Lawrence Lecky (North Bedeque)
- Lokki Ma (Summerside)
- Nick Maros (Summerside)
- Rob McCraight (Summerside)
- Lori Ann MacLean (Summerside)
- Lori Pridham (Summerside)
- Rebecca Schaefer (Summerside)
- Jason Smits (Summerside)
- Austin Trenholm (Summerside)
Event Volunteer Team:
- Angie Arsenault (Elmsdale)
- Michelle Askew (Summerside, former Human Resources Coordinator, City of Summerside)
- Lisa Bernard (Summerside)
- Leona Bernard (Summerside)
- Brye Caissie (Summerside)
- Gerard Greenan (Summerside, former Attorney General and Minister of Education, MLA Summerside-St. Eleanors, 2007-2015)
- Steve Howard (Summerside)
- Peter MacFarlane (Kensington, Cycling PEI, CAN-BIKE graduate)
- Shelagh McGinn (Summerside)
- Heather Mills (Summerside)
- Stephane Bessen (Summerside)
- Dawne Stewart (Summerside)
- Laurie Tirone (Summerside)
- Melanie Ramsay-Mugridge (Summerside)
- [unnamed volunteers by personal request]
Supporter Team:
- Bob Ashley (Summerside, former CAO for the City of Summerside, Oct 2013-Jan 2020)
- Craig Avery (Summerside)
- Paula Biggar (Ellerslie, 3-time elected former MLA, District 23, Minister of Transportation, Infrastructure, Energy & Status of Women)
- Jordan Bober (Georgetown, Executive Director - Cycling PEI)
- Ian Brisbin (Hamilton, ON - PEI summer resident)
- Julia Campbell (Summerside)
- Laura Cairns (New Annan)
- Emily Chappell (Summerside)
- Maureen Chappell (Traveller's Rest)
- Debra Clark (Summerside)
- Lori Ferrish (Summerside)
- Ashley Fraser (Summerside)
- Curtis Fudge (Mont-Carmel)
- Deborah Frederick (Nyack, New York, USA)
- Donna Gallant (Summerside)
- Linda Gallant (Miscouche)
- Dave Gaudet (Summerside)
- Season Gallant (Summerside)
- Trish Girard (Summerside)
- Vincent Geneston (Summerside)
- Dan Kutcher (Summerside, Mayor for the City of Summerside)
- Erin Johnston (Summerside)
- Kathy Laughlin (Summerside)
- Elaine Lebel (Summerside)
- Laurie LeClair (Summerside)
- Noelle Lecky (Summerside)
- Cynthia Lee (Summerside)
- Jess MacKenzie (Lady Fane)
- Mike MacKinnon (Summerside)
- Gina Markov (Tyne Valley)
- Julian and Gurbir Martin (Wellington)
- Sid McNeill (Summerside)
- Lisa Nutley (Summerside)
- Kathy McDonald (Summerside)
- Abby McIntrye (Summerside)
- Christie Phillips (Summerside)
- Wendy Waite-Snow (Summerside)
- Wendy Murray (Miscouche)
- Tracie Perrie (Summerside)
- Donna Power (Summerside)
- Sarah Rainsberger (Summerside)
- Bill Schurman (Summerside, previously 20+ years as a Director with the City of Summerside)
- Aspen Sheilds (Summerside)
- Nelson Snow (St. Felix)
- Cory Thomas (Summerside, former City Councillor, Ward 8 Wilmot, twice elected)
- Elizabeth Trenholm (Summerside)
- Donna Walsh (Summerside)
- Wallace Wong (Charlottetown)
- [unnamed supporters by personal request]