PRINCE EDWARD ISLAND
GET TO KNOW PRINCE EDWARD ISLAND, CANADA
WHERE IS PRINCE EDWARD ISLAND LOCATED
Every Canadian province has its many charms, and Prince Edward Island, or P.E.I, as it’s also known, it’s no exception. A perfect combination of coastal and country landscape, this province has what you need if you want to live in a quiet, calmed place with the most beautiful surroundings. It’s Canada’s smallest province and it has three counties: Prince, Queens and Kings.
There are three Maritime Provinces in Canada and Prince Edward Island is one of them. P.E.I is in the Gulf of Saint Lawrence, specifically the province of Prince Edward Island is located to the west of Cape Breton Island, north of Nova Scotia Peninsula and east of New Brunswick. There are two urban areas in the island: Charlottetown, which is the capital city, its suburbs and summer side harbor.
PRINCE EDWARD ISLAND PROVINCIAL NOMINEE PROGRAMS
Prince Edward Island is the smallest province in Canada and it has one pathway to obtain a permanent resident status. Through the Prince Edward Island Provincial Nominee Programs:
Skilled Worker
Critical Worker
International Graduate
Entrepeneur-work permit
Atlantic Pilot Program
or PEI PNP candidates can apply if they comply with the conditions of one of the Federal Economic Immigration programs:
Federal Skilled Worker Program
Federal Skilled Trades Program
Canadian Experience Class
WHAT IS PRINCE EDWARD ISLAND P.E.I FAMOUS FOR
The headquarters of Canada’s most famous ice cream, Cows®, is there. They serve 32 varieties of premium quality ice cream.
The author Lucy Maud Montgomery, a P.E.I native, was inspired by the amazing landscapes of her land to set her classic novel Anne of Green Gables.
Prince Edward Island is home to the Wind Energy Institute of Canada.
There are many lighthouses in the province. They’re historical sites and are open to visit. Some of them even have museums, inns and restaurants.
The most common sports played on the Island are hockey, curling, golf, horse racing, baseball, soccer, rugby, football and basketball. People also play water sports during the summer.
Prince Edward Island is Canada’s Green Province.
It is ruled by a parliamentary government that meets at Province House, in Charlottetown.
The island got the name for Edward Augustus, Duke of Kent and commander of the British Forces in North America. He was also one of the sons of King George the III of Great Britain.
You’ll find many sandy beaches, woods and hills all over the territory. The land area of Prince Edward Island is 5,685.73 square kilometers; the majority of the island is 8 km away from the sea and no spot is more than 16 km from salt water. A paradise for sea lovers.
THE MOST IMPORTANT CITIES
The main city is Charlottetown, where you can find eleven National Historic Sites, part of Canadian patrimony. It was named after Queen consort Charlotte of Mecklenburg-Strelitz, the wife of King George the III of Great Britain and it’s located in the eponymous harbor. Charlottetown has also interesting places to see, like the wharf, walking trails and parks to enjoy in every season. You can also taste the delicious oysters (recognized as the best in the world), mussels and lobster served along with the famous Coleslaw salad. A whole gastronomic experience to remember.
PRINCE EDWARD ISLAND ECONOMY
The cost of living, housing and heating there is relatively low, the average income is about $41,500, below Canada’s standard. It’s a beautiful place to live and raise a family. The minimum wage in the province of Prince Edward Island is $12.25 per hour (Canadian Dollar)
THE WEATHER ON P.E.I
The island is made of rolling hills with an elevation of 142 meters above sea level, and it’s located in Queens County. The soil is on a sandstone base and it’s not very fertile due to high level of acidity. However, in more than half of the island fertile grounds can be found: there are red sands that are suitable for crops. The island is divided in urban and country areas.
The climate is moderate and determined by the ocean. There is a changeable weather all year long and the arrival of the seasons is delayed in comparison to continental Canada. There’s warmth in the fall and early winter, coming from the waters; but then it’s cool air in spring and summer. Average temperatures range from 6 °C, mean maximum temperature reaches 20° C and the minimum, in February, can get to −12 °C. Some snowfalls happen from November to April.
PRINCE EDWARD ISLAND EDUCATION
The province has a public school system that starts with Early Childhood Education until Grade 12. There are institutions and places that provide vocational, training and apprenticeship instruction for those who want to learn a trade of a craft. For the people who want to pursue post-secondary education, they can do it at the University of Prince Edward Island, a publicly funded university in the province. The Maritime Christian College, Holland College and its eleven campuses, the francophone Collège de L’Île, some private schools for career training and the Adult Learning Centre provide other paths for further higher education as well.
TOURISM IN PRINCE EDWARD ISLAND
Prince Edward Island is really one of the most beautiful provinces in Canada. Even if it is the smallest of all, there are many wonderful places to visit. It has 800 km of white sand beaches, red sandstone cliffs, and they all harbor a vast array of different beaches to relax, visit a historical place, swim, and so on. There are also National and Provincial Park beaches, both supervised and unsupervised, and each of them provides visitors with many funny things to do.
The beautiful landscapes Prince Edward Island has can serve as a frame for amazing walks in the hills and farm sites, long drives along the coastline, golfing (the golf courts are considered to be the best ones of the country), camping, taking a tour of the restaurants and tasting the wonderful, fresh seafood of the island (at the East Coastal Drive, the Wharf, Charlottetown, etc.).
The presence of the First Nations, Métis and Inuit people in the province, even if small, gives the visitors and residents a very important look into their lives and culture. There are several sites in which you can see and buy Indigenous art; you can also visit some museums and places in which you’ll learn some things about Canada’s original inhabitants.
If you’re looking for another kind of fun, Prince Edward Island has theaters, museums, bars, cafés and many festivals to attend along the year; each region has its very particular share of them, for all ages and tastes.
Interested in learning more about the opportunities Prince Edward Island has to offer you? Contact us and we will be very glad to help you with any inquiries you may have.
PRINNCE EDWARD ISLAND EMPLOYMENT
The main industries in PEI are agriculture, tourism and fishing, with a very significant increase in the industry of aerospace manufacturing and repair due to the presence of internationally known companies with partners around the world. The sales generated by aerospace excess $400 million a year. Agriculture is a very important sector, with a total area of 1.4 million acres and 594.000 acres suitable for agriculture use. P.E.I is the main producer of potatoes in Canada, the main source of farms income. Dairy products, beef, fruit, hogs, vegetables, oils seeds and so on are other products produced in the island. The minimum salary in the province of Prince Edward Island is $12.25 per hour (Canadian Dollar)
Along with the above mentioned industries, the bioscience sector has raised significantly in the province, especially with the BioCommons Research Park and its support; it results in more employment. Same has happened with fisheries and aquaculture products (Bluefin tuna, mackerel, spider crab, herring, mussels, etc.), they give over 9,500 jobs. Prince Edward Island produces more than 80 % of Canada’s mussels. Fisheries bring a high income to the economy.
There is also the Information Technology (IT) sector. With important research and developments in the field, it’s another important source of jobs for the province.
HEALTH CARE SYSTEM IN P.E.I
Canada has a universal and public healthcare system funded by the government. Prince Edward Island citizens and residents do not pay premiums or personal costs for receiving basic healthcare services. With a healthcare card, you have access to endless health services.