IN PHOTOS | A look back at Dennis King's tenure as P.E.I.'s 33rd premier
Devon Goodsell | CBC News | Posted: February 21, 2025 10:00 AM | Last Updated: February 21
King, 53, announced on Thursday that he was stepping down after nearly 6 years
Image | Dennis King
Caption: During a surprise news conference on Thursday, Feb. 10, Dennis King told the media and thus the people of Prince Edward Island that he had decided to leave politics after a long conversation with his family over the holidays. He said he did not intend to seek elected office ever again and specifically ruled out running federally. (CBC)
King, 53, said serving as the Island's premier was "a privilege and an honour of a lifetime," but acknowledged that the public nature of holding the job in P.E.I. is a challenge.
King's Progressive Conservative government weathered both challenges and unprecedented crises that included the COVID-19 pandemic, a ban on exporting P.E.I. potatoes to the U.S., post-tropical storms Dorian and Fiona, and more recently the threat of tariffs on all Canadian imports into the U.S.
Here's a look back at King's time in office through news photographs.
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Caption: Dennis King, second from the left, poses with NDP Leader Joe Byrne, Green Leader Peter Bevan-Baker and Liberal Leader Wade MacLauchlan at the provincial leaders debate on April 16, 2019. (Andrew Vaughan/CP Photos)
Image | PEI ELXN 20190423
Caption: Dennis King, with his wife Jana Hemphill at his side, celebrates after winning the provincial election on April 23, 2019. (Andrew Vaughan/CP Photo)
Image | PEI ELXN 20190423
Caption: Dennis King hugs a supporter on April 23, 2019, after his Progressive Conservatives earned enough seats to form a minority government. (Andrew Vaughan/CP Photos)
Image | King May 22
Caption: Dennis King became emotional on May 22, 2020, while addressing the criticism levelled at his government and P.E.I.'s chief public health officer over COVID-19 restrictions. At that point, he and Dr. Heather Morrison, as well as other officials, were giving daily briefings on the fast-changing situation. (Ken Linton/CBC)
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Caption: Dennis King walks down the steps of the Coles Building on May 26, 2020, after a special emergency session of the legislature during the COVID-19 pandemic. (Brian McInnis/CBC)
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Caption: Dennis King on Parliament Hill on Dec. 8, 2021. He was in Ottawa for a series of meetings with federal officials about a potato export ban affecting Island growers. (Adrian Wyld/CP Photo)
Image | Premier Dennis King
Caption: Outside the Parliament buildings after his Dec. 8, 2021, meeting with federal officials, P.E.I. Premier Dennis King takes time for a photo with Tate, the mascot of the P.E.I. Potato Board. (Mathieu Theriault/CBC)
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Caption: Dennis King gives a speech at a campaign rally in Charlottetown on April 1, 2023. (Darren Calabrese/CP Photos)
Image | PEI Premier Dennis King
Caption: Dennis King celebrates another term as premier and a majority government for his party at his election night headquarters in Charlottetown on April 3, 2023. (CP)
Image | PEI Premier Dennis King
Caption: Dennis King relaxes in his Charlottetown office the day after winning a second term as premier in April 2023. (Shane Hennessey/CBC)
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Caption: Dennis King had Prime Minister Justin Trudeau as an audience as he spoke at a Nov. 29, 2024 event in Mount Stewart. It was held to announce that P.E.I. was signing onto the federal school food program, although the province had already pioneered its own version. (Ron Ward/CP Photos)
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Caption: Dennis King, left, with Nova Scotia Premier Tim Houston and Ontario Premier Doug Ford, shares a lighter moment ahead of a first ministers meeting in Ottawa on Jan. 15, 2025. The meeting was called to brainstorm possible responses to U.S. President Donald Trump's threat to imposed tariffs of 25 per cent on all Canadian imports, which would include P.E.I. potatoes and seafood. (Justin Tang/CP Photo)
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