Pastor says she was 'plate shamed' for having N.S. licence plates

An Island residentsays she's disappointed after discovering a nasty note on the windshield of her car and shethinks it was left there by someone who didn't like her licence plates.

Miriam Leslie'scar has licence plates from Nova Scotia.

She said was visiting friends near Lloyd Inman Memorial Park inCanoe Cove with her husband and two daughters last week. She said they had been enjoyingthe scenery, but that quickly changedwhen they returned to their car and found a note tucked under the windshield wiper.

"Go the bleep back to the mainland," Leslie said, reading what was written on the note.

"I'm presuming that they assumed that we were visiting, that we didn't live here on the Island. We've lived here for almost a year," Leslie said.

Leslie said she and her husband are pastors atthe Charlottetown Community Church and work for the Salvation Army on P.E.I.

She said she thinks this was a case of what she called "plate shaming."

'I worried a little bit'

Leslie said her car is leased through the Salvation Army office in Halifax and that's the reason behind the out-of-province plates.

She said thecar is marked with a Salvation Army parking pass with the red shield hanging on the rearview mirror.

"Honestly, it's something I worried a little bit about because I've heard about this kind of thing and I have a little, not a lot of anxiety, but we're doing the staycation thing this summer so Ido worry a little bit that it may happen againas we travel the Island but hopefully not."

Leslie said she understands the stress the pandemic has caused andshe would have liked to talk with the person who left it to explain her situation.

Travel restriction stress

On Tuesday, Chief Public Health Officer Dr. Heather Morrison addressed concerns aboutout-of-province licence plates during herafternoon briefing.

She said there are a variety of reasons people could be driving on P.E.I. and reminded the public of those who are essential workers,new residents or those visiting for compassionate reasons.

"It's tied into making sure we're doing the best things we can and practicing these public health measures without always beingconcerned about the licence plate on somebody's car," Morrison said.

Leslie did not report the incident to authorities but said she is somewhat worried this may happen again as she and her family travel throughout the Island.

"The thing that keeps coming back to us is what Dr. Morrison says:to be patient and to be kind," said Leslie.

"You can't assume that because you see an out-of-province licence plate, there could be a million different stories."

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