I am a proud supporter of THRIVE Prince Edward County - a wonderful community-led development of a collaborative vision for the future of Prince Edward County. For more information on this initiative, please visit www.thrivepec.ca

It’s the artists, artisans, farmers, chefs, bakers, vintners, brewers, cidermakers, distillers, servers, musicians, actors, writers, nurses, doctors, mechanics, retailers, grocery store clerks, entrepreneurs, business owners, volunteers - I could go on - and their collective passion that makes this region thrive. 

By Susan Smythe-Bishop

It’s also how they inspire others - including me!

My name is Susan Smythe-Bishop. I’m an artist and  former entertainment PR executive from Toronto, and my husband Tim and I bought our first home here over 16 years ago. We moved here permanently almost eight years ago, and there has been no looking back.

Initially, it was the beauty of Prince Edward County that attracted us to the region, but it didn't take long for us to realize that it is actually the people who make this place so special. I've never experienced a sense of community like this before - it is absolutely remarkable.

For the past nine years, I literally have drawn inspiration from many of the truly wonderful humans who live here and who contribute to the fabric of the community in a myriad of meaningful ways - their actions and behavior fuel my creativity exponentially. And I feel like I've just begun...

What makes Prince Edward County so remarkable?

It's not the abundance of gorgeous vistas, beautiful farms, stunning beaches, panoramic views of wide-open green spaces, farmers markets, critically acclaimed farm-to-table restaurants, award-winning wineries, breweries, cideries, unique products, fine arts, world-class performing arts, gorgeous hotels and hundreds of charming B&Bs that dot the countryside - although all of THAT is beyond incredible. To me...

It’s their dreams, stories, creativity, the risks they take, their hustle and their resilience.

It’s their incredible leadership, intelligence, humour, compassion and how deeply they care for and about our community. It’s how they serve.

And it’s our dear friends, old and new, and the tremendous and infectious pride they all take in this community.

I can confidently express from my own experience living here that

It's The People who make Prince Edward County the astonishing place that it is, and I will always be so grateful for them ❤️

Thank you for stopping by. If you would like to see some of my illustrations (to date, there are MANY more coming!) and to learn about some of these amazing individuals, you can click HERE.