A childhood fascination with a Canadian TV show set on Prince Edward Island resonated deeply with Patty Czajka while growing up in Detroit. Every Sunday, she would eagerly watch “Road to Avonlea” alongside her grandmother, particularly admiring actress Mag Ruffman in her role as Aunt Olivia in the 1990s series. When Czajka learned that Ruffman would be attending a fan convention centered on the show in P.E.I., she didn’t hesitate to purchase a ticket. “She was like my version of a Disney princess when I was young,” Czajka expressed with excitement at the convention.
Enthusiasts of “Road to Avonlea” gathered from various corners of the globe for the fully booked convention on the Island. The acclaimed Canadian series, which aired in over 100 countries, made its debut in 1990 and concluded after seven seasons in 1996. The show followed the story of young Sarah Stanley, played by the future Academy Award winner Sarah Polley, who is sent to live with her deceased mother’s relatives at the dawn of the 20th century, drawing inspiration from Lucy Maud Montgomery’s novels.
The convention, spanning three days, featured activities such as oyster and wine tastings, as well as panel discussions with the show’s cast and crew. Attendees also embarked on tours around the Island to visit filming locations of the show, Montgomery’s birthplace, gravesite, and the Cavendish house that served as the muse for her renowned work, “Anne of Green Gables.”
Edward Lemon, the assistant director of Fine Book Fairs, the organizing body behind the convention, reflected on the enduring appeal of the show. Lemon noted, “I think [the show] resonates with people who want to escape… They want to experience something that represents values like kindness and friendship and fellowship.” He expressed hopes that the show will continue to attract new audiences in the future, envisioning the possibility of hosting another successful convention in two decades.
For Ruffman, the convention was a poignant reminder of the profound connection fans have with the show. “The cast and the crew… that are here have been overwhelmed by the emotion and the connection that people have to the show,” she shared, emphasizing her enduring curiosity about the character of Olivia. Czajka, now revisiting the series with her three children, expressed delight in being able to share the show with her kids, highlighting its rarity in today’s television landscape. “It was worth an hour of your time, and that is very rare and very hard to find these days,” she remarked.