Representing the Confederation Bridge

Abstract

On May 31st 1997, the Confederation Bridge opened. Much like an aqueduct, it allowed for the flow of people and goods on an unprecedented scale to Prince Edward Island. The “Bridge”, built and operated as a Public-Private Partnership (P3), was initiated by a 1988 Prince Edward Island plebiscite to allowed a “fixed link” to replace the ferry stipulated at the time of the province’s entry into Confederation. By examining the public discourse surrounding the naming, building, and operating of the “Bridge”, this thesis highlights debates concerning ‘Islandness,’ ‘Canadian Identity,’ and the ‘Environment’ while exploring the role of the media in representing the “Bridge.” The thesis is written as a “creative dialogue,” in which the researcher interacts with the sources, discussing topics from his own cultural perspective as a ‘Status Indian.’ Ultimately, the thesis suggests that while much of the public discussion has focused on PEI’s relationship to the “mainland”, the Mi’gmaq perspective has been almost totally disregarded.