Tourism PEI and bestselling Canadian author Carley Fortune have opened a new chapter in Island tourism with handcrafted bench installations at two of Prince Edward Island’s best-known coastal sites. The seating pieces, placed at Basin Head Provincial Park and Point Prim Lighthouse, are intended to act as story markers that encourage visitors to linger and view the landscape through the lens of Fortune’s novel This Summer Will Be Different.
Bringing fiction into place
Rather than mere park furniture, the benches are part of a broader effort to tie literature and place. Tourism PEI says the installations offer a way for readers and visitors to “step inside the pages” of Fortune’s work and to experience the Island settings that helped shape the novel. Officials describe the pieces as locally crafted and as invitations to pause and reflect while taking in the scenery.
The first two benches are already in place at the named sites, with Tourism PEI signalling additional unveilings in the months ahead at other locations featured in This Summer Will Be Different. The initiative is being promoted as a growing literary trail across western Prince Edward Island that will link story and setting while encouraging exploration of the province’s communities and coastlines.
What officials are saying
"We're delighted to welcome Carley Fortune back to Prince Edward Island as we unveil these beautiful locally crafted benches. Her novel has sparked tremendous interest in the places and experiences that make our Island special, and these installations give both residents and visitors a chance to connect with the story while exploring some of PEI's most iconic destinations. We look forward to expanding this literary trail with additional locations in western Prince Edward Island in the months ahead."
- Minister of Fisheries, Rural Development and Tourism Ernie Hudson
The author also commented on the project, saying it was an honour to see the novel woven into the Island landscape. Tourism PEI directs those interested in the full list of featured PEI locations and trip ideas to TourismPEI.com.
How the trail will grow
Tourism PEI has framed the benches as both practical and promotional: comfortable places to rest and vantage points that highlight the geography that framed Fortune’s writing. The province’s tourism body said more benches will be rolled out in coming months at additional locations from the book, creating a trail across western Prince Edward Island.
- Current installations: Basin Head Provincial Park and Point Prim Lighthouse.
- Planned rollouts: additional sites in western PEI to be announced.
- Information and trip planning: available at TourismPEI.com.
Local impact and visitor experience
For Islanders and tourists alike, the benches represent a low-cost, high-visibility way to connect cultural storytelling with physical places. Literary tourism — when readers travel to destinations associated with books and authors — can increase visitation to lesser-known sites and encourage longer stays, especially during the shoulder seasons. For visitors already drawn to Basin Head and Point Prim for their scenic and historical appeal, the benches offer an additional reason to pause, photograph and share the experience.
At Basin Head, known for its sandy beaches and the Fisheries museum nearby, and at the red-and-white Point Prim Lighthouse, the benches aim to complement existing attractions rather than replace them. Tourism PEI emphasises the installations are locally crafted, aligning with broader efforts to support Island artisans and small businesses.
| Location | Status |
|---|---|
| Basin Head Provincial Park | Bench installed |
| Point Prim Lighthouse | Bench installed |
| Other locations in western PEI | Planned rollouts (dates to be announced) |
Planning a visit
Tourism PEI suggests interested visitors consult its website for details on all PEI locations featured in This Summer Will Be Different and for trip ideas. The agency is positioning the trail as a way to discover new corners of the Island and to experience familiar places in a fresh context.
As the initiative expands, Islanders and travellers can expect further announcements with specifics on additional bench locations and any related programming.
The collaboration highlights the growing interplay between culture and tourism on the Island, where landscape and story often intersect to shape visitors’ experiences.
