Dennis King, leader of the Progressive Conservative Party of P.E.I., casts his vote in the provincial election in Hunter River, P.E.I on Monday, April 3, 2023. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darren Calabrese
CHARLOTTETOWN – A look at Dennis King of Prince Edward Island’s Progressive Conservatives, who led the party to a majority government Monday night.
Age: 51
Early years: King was born Nov. 1, 1971, in Georgetown, P.E.I., to Catherine (Cattie) Rachel Stevens and Lionel MacKenzie King; he has three brothers and four sisters.
Education: He graduated from Montague Regional High School in 1990, and after studying journalism in Ontario, he returned to P.E.I.
Career: King has worked for various media outlets, including as a reporter with P.E.I.’s The Eastern Graphic and The Guardian. Before starting his own public relations company in 2013, he served in several communications roles, including as communications director to former premier Pat Binns and to the Mi’kmaq Confederacy of Prince Edward Island.
Family: King married Jana Hemphill in 1999. They have three children – Jacob, Camdyn and Callum. The couple operate Storybrook Stables, a horse farm in Brookfield, P.E.I.
Quote: “I think we went with positivity. I felt the other parties were chasing us the whole time, following what we were doing, and they really could only zero in on complaints as opposed to offering a vision.” King said April 1, reflecting on his party’s campaign.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published April 3, 2023.
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This story was produced with the financial assistance of the Meta and Canadian Press News Fellowship.
