The Pelee Project

One Woman's Escape from Urban Madness

In the summer of 2000, Jane falls hopelessly in love with an island she never knew existed, even though it is a mere three hours from her home. She imagines a life there, far from mounting bills, to-do lists, domestic strife, needy friends and family, and a long-distance commute to her stressful job. Pelee Island haunts her dreams, and before the year is out she has put her home up for sale, and moved there with her young daughter. But under a thick blanket of snow, Canada's most southerly inhabited point looks different and behaves differently than it does during the height of summer. Amusing faux pas and anecdotes pepper this sweet memoir about living among a wary, blunt community of islanders who were hibernating contentedly until Jane arrived.