Prince Edward Island

Prince Edward Island is an island province of Canada. It is the smallest province by land area and population, but it has the highest population density in Canada. The island has several nicknames: "Garden of the Gulf", "Birthplace of Confederation" and "Cradle of Confederation". Its capital and largest city is Charlottetown. It is one of the three Maritime provinces and one of the four Atlantic provinces.

Historically, the island has been part of the Mi'kmaw homeland, Mi'kma'ki. In 1604, it was colonized by the French as part of the colony of Acadia. It was later given to the British after the Seven Years' War in 1763 and became part of the colony of Nova Scotia. In 1769, it became its own British colony and was named Prince Edward Island (PEI) in 1798. PEI hosted the Charlottetown Conference in 1864 to discuss a union of the Maritime provinces, which later led to Canadian Confederation on July 1, 1867. Prince Edward Island joined Canada as its seventh province on July 1, 1873.

Farming is very important to the island's economy. It grows many potatoes. Other key industries include fisheries, tourism, aerospace, biotechnology, information technology and renewable energy. Prince Edward Island is located in the Gulf of St. Lawrence, about ten kilometres across the Northumberland Strait from both Nova Scotia and New Brunswick. It is about 200 kilometres north of Halifax and 600 kilometres east of Quebec City. It has a land area of 5,686.03 square kilometres, and is the only Canadian province that is made up entirely of islands.

Etymology

The island is called Abegweit or Epekwitk in the Mi’kmaw language, meaning "land cradled on the waves." French settlers called it Île Saint-Jean, or "St. John's Island." In 1798, it was renamed after Prince Edward, Duke of Kent and Strathearn, the father of Queen Victoria. Some people in Scottish Gaelic call it Eilean a’ Phrionnsa, meaning "the Island of the Prince."

Geography

Main article: Geography of Prince Edward Island

Satellite picture of Prince Edward Island

Prince Edward Island is located in the Gulf of St. Lawrence, west of Cape Breton Island, north of the Nova Scotia peninsula, and northeast of New Brunswick. Its southern edge touches the Northumberland Strait. The island is very crowded, with many people living in a small area.

Climate

The island has a maritime climate, shaped by the warm waters of the surrounding Gulf of St. Lawrence. This makes its weather milder than in nearby places like New Brunswick and Nova Scotia. The weather changes often, with no single type lasting very long.

Because the Gulf of Saint Lawrence freezes over, the island's climate is similar to a continental climate as opposed to an oceanic climate.

In summer, daytime temperatures usually reach about 23 °C (73 °F), but sometimes they can get as warm as 30 °C (86 °F). In winter, daytime temperatures average around −3.3 °C (26 °F). The island gets about 855 millimetres (33.7 in) of rain each year and around 2.85 metres (9.4 ft) of snow. Winters are long but not as cold as places farther inland, with frequent changes between cold and mild air causing temperature swings and many storms.

Geology

Long ago, between 250 and 300 million years back, rivers carried sand and mud into the area that is now the Gulf of St. Lawrence, forming layers that became the island's base rocks. When big glaciers melted about 15,000 years ago, they left behind bits of rock and soil. As the land rose up after the heavy ice left, the island rose higher above the water.

Water supply

Prince Edward Island gets all its drinking water from underground sources. The city of Charlottetown uses water from thirteen wells to supply its people. The island’s water is checked often to make sure it is safe to drink.

Flora and fauna

Prince Edward Island once had animals like moose, bear, caribou, and wolves. These animals are no longer there because of hunting and changes to their homes. Today, you can see red foxes, coyotes, blue jays, and robins on the island. Skunks and raccoons, which are not originally from the island, are also common there.

Some animals on the island need extra protection, such as piping plovers, American eels, bobolinks, little brown bats, and beach pinweed. In 2008, a new type of fungus was discovered in a freshwater creek on the island. North Atlantic right whales, one of the rarest whale species, have been seen more often near Prince Edward Island in recent years.

History

Main article: History of Prince Edward Island

Map of Prince Edward Island and French settlements c. 1744

Further information: Monarchy in Prince Edward Island § History

Mi'kmaw district

Main article: Mi'kma'ki

Further information: First Nations in Canada

Map of the island with lot boundaries in 1775. The island was divided into lots in 1767.

The Mi'kmaq are the original people of what is now Prince Edward Island, calling their land Mi'kma'ki. They had their own way of governing, with leaders and a council of women. Stories tell of a hero named Glooscap who helped create the island. The Mi'kmaq lived in peace with nearby groups and were part of a larger group called the Wabanaki Confederacy.

French colony

Delegates of the Charlottetown Conference in 1864. Although PEI hosted a conference, it did not join the Confederation until 1873.

In 1534, a sailor named Jacques Cartier was the first European to see the island. In 1604, France claimed the area and named it Île Saint-Jean. The Mi'kmaq welcomed the French as friends. During the 1700s, there were fights between French and British forces. After the British took over, many French people, called Acadians, had to leave.

British colony

The British named the island St. John's Island and later changed it to Prince Edward Island in 1798. The island became a separate colony in 1769. Many people from Scotland moved there. In 1853, the island tried to buy the land from owners but could not afford it.

Confederation

In 1864, Prince Edward Island hosted a meeting that helped start Canada. However, the island did not join Canada right away. In 1873, after talks, Prince Edward Island became part of Canada. Today, it is known as the "Birthplace of Confederation" and has many places to remember this history, like the Confederation Centre of the Arts.

Demographics

Main article: Demographics of Prince Edward Island

Population density of Prince Edward Island (c. 2016) with county borders shown.

Prince Edward Island has many different kinds of people. Most families come from places like Scotland, England, Ireland, and France. Some families are from other places, like Chinese Canadians.

People mainly speak English and French on the island. Many families have spoken these languages for a long time.

Dominant self-identified ethnic origin of the population of Prince Edward Island

Main article: Demographics of Prince Edward Island § Ethnic Origins

Main article: Demographics of Prince Edward Island § Languages

Historical populations
Year	Pop.	±%
1851	62,678	—
1861	80,857	+29.0%
1871	94,021	+16.3%
1881	108,891	+15.8%
1891	109,078	+0.2%
1901	103,259	−5.3%
1911	93,728	−9.2%
1921	88,615	−5.5%
1931	88,038	−0.7%
1941	95,047	+8.0%
1951	98,429	+3.6%
1956	99,285	+0.9%
1961	104,629	+5.4%
1966	108,535	+3.7%
1971	111,635	+2.9%
1976	118,225	+5.9%
1981	122,506	+3.6%
1986	126,640	+3.4%
1991	129,765	+2.5%
1996	134,557	+3.7%
2001	135,294	+0.5%
2006	135,851	+0.4%
2011	140,204	+3.2%
2016	142,907	+1.9%
2021	154,331	+8.0%
Source: Statistics Canada

Rank	Language	Number	Percent
1.	English	128,005	94.9%
2.	French	4,865	3.5%
3.	Mandarin	2,165	1.6%
4.	Arabic	575	0.4%
5.	Dutch	465	0.3%
6.	Tagalog	365	0.3%
7.	German	320	0.2%
8.	Spanish	305	0.2%
9.	Chinese languages, not otherwise specified	295	0.2%
10.	Cantonese	210	0.2%
11.	Nepali	200	0.1%
12.	Persian (Farsi)	175	0.1%
13.	Russian	140	0.1%
14.	Korean	120

Education

Prince Edward Island has two school districts. One is for English-speaking students called the Public Schools Branch, and the other is for French-speaking students called the Commission scolaire de langue française. The English district has 10 high schools and 54 other schools. The French district has 6 schools for all grades. About 22% of students learn in French.

The island has three public colleges and universities. The University of Prince Edward Island is the only public university. It is located in Charlottetown. The university also has the Atlantic Veterinary College, where students can study to become veterinarians.

Government and politics

Main articles: Government of Prince Edward Island and Politics of Prince Edward Island

Prince Edward Island has its own government that takes care of important things like health, schools, and jobs. The main city, Charlottetown, is where the government works.

The island is a part of Canada’s government. A king represents the country, and a local leader called the Lieutenant Governor does most of the work. The real leader, called the Premier, is chosen by people who vote. There are 27 elected members who help make decisions for the island.

Administrative divisions

Prince Edward Island is split into three counties. These help organize the island for counting people and information.

Municipalities

Different kinds of towns and cities are on the island. Rules about how new towns can be made were updated in 2017.

Ten largest communities by population
Community	2011	2001
Charlottetown	32,545^a	32,455
Summerside	15,654^b	14,433
Stratford	8,043	6,314
Cornwall	5,375	4,412
Montague	2,034^c	1,095
Kensington	1,445	1,379
Souris	1,162	1,238
Alberton	1,081	975
Tignish	998	846
Georgetown	678	680
^aCensus agglomeration population: 58,358. ^bCensus agglomeration population: 16,200. ^cCensus agglomeration population: 6,011.

Health care and sanitation

Transportation

Prince Edward Island has seaports in Charlottetown, Summerside, Borden, Georgetown, and Souris. These ports connect to a railway system and two main airports in Charlottetown and Summerside for travel to mainland North America. The Prince Edward Island Railway stopped in 1989, and highways were improved instead.

Before May 1997, ferry services linked the island to the mainland. One ferry ran year-round between Borden and Cape Tormentine, New Brunswick. Another ferry ran between Wood Islands and Caribou, Nova Scotia during certain seasons. A third ferry runs year-round between Souris and Cap-aux-Meules, Quebec. In May 1997, the Confederation Bridge opened, connecting Borden-Carleton to Cape Jourimain, New Brunswick. This bridge replaced the need for one of the ferry services.

The island has many roads, more than any other Canadian province. There are strict rules about signs along the roads, and billboards are not allowed. The Charlottetown Airport and the Summerside Airport serve travelers. There is also a long trail for biking and hiking called the Confederation Trail, which follows an old railway line.

Culture

Prince Edward Island has a rich culture in art, music, and writing. Schools help support these traditions, and there is a big arts festival called the Charlottetown Festival at the Confederation Centre of the Arts.

A famous writer from the island is Lucy Maud Montgomery, who wrote Anne of Green Gables. The story is very popular, and there is a musical play that performs every year at the Charlottetown Festival. The real house from the book can be visited in Cavendish.

The island also has many music traditions, including Celtic, folk, and rock. Well-known musicians from Prince Edward Island include Gene MacLellan, Catherine MacLellan, and Stompin' Tom Connors. The island holds several festivals, such as the Island Fringe Festival and the Cavendish Beach Music Festival.

Prince Edward Island has teams for ice hockey and basketball, and it has hosted the Canada Games three times. The UPEI Panthers and Holland Hurricanes are college teams that play in local sports leagues.