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CHARLOTTETOWN — Dennis King, Prince Edward Island’s Progressive Conservative premier, has announced he will step down Friday. Here is a look at the 33rd premier of the Island.
Age: 53
Early years: King was born Nov. 1, 1971, in Georgetown, P.E.I., to Catherine (Cattie) Rachel Stevens and Lionel MacKenzie King.
Education: He graduated from Montague Regional High School in 1990, and after studying journalism in Ontario, he returned to P.E.I.
Career: Before starting his own public relations company in 2013, King was a newspaper reporter and later served in several communications roles, including as communications director to former P.E.I. premier Pat Binns and to the Mi’kmaq Confederacy of Prince Edward Island. He did not hold a seat when he was chosen Progressive Conservative leader in February 2019, but two months later he led the party to victory in a provincial election. His Tories were re-elected with a majority in April 2023.
Family: King married Jana Hemphill in 1999. They have three children — Jacob, Camdyn and Callum — and live in Brookfield, P.E.I.
Quote: “With the pandemic and all of the stuff that we’ve all been through together, it takes its toll. There were days where, like many Islanders, I found it hard to get out of bed because I was tired and stressed and not feeling worthy of these things and going through many mental health challenges …. I think I’m a vastly different person now than I was when I started. I hardly recognize who that person was in 2018 when I announced my run for the Progressive Conservative leadership.”
— King announcing his resignation on Feb. 20, 2025.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Feb. 20, 2025.
The Canadian Press
