At a Glance
Area
5,656 square km / 2,184 square miles
Area Code
902 - This area code must be dialed for long distance calls into or within Prince Edward Island.
Capital City
Charlottetown
Climate
Prince Edward Island has four distinct seasons. Summer temperatures range up to 30° Celsius (88°F), average daytime highs are closer to 22.5°C (73°F). Light constant breezes and low humidity are also characteristic. Winters are crisp and clean with temperatures ranging from –3 to – 11 (11 to 26°F).
Emergencies
In the event of an emergency, dial 911 for immediate police, fire, and medical assistance.
Environment and Recycling
Currently, non-returnable bottles for carbonated beverages are not sold in the Province. Deposits on returnable carbonated bottles are high to encourage recycling. Large billboards are not permitted along roadways. Instead, a Government sponsored signage program limits the number and size of commercial signs throughout the rural countryside. The annual Spring Roadside Clean Up Program brings out hundreds of volunteers annually to pick litter from roadside ditches.
Languages
Both of Canada’s official languages — English and French — are spoken on Prince Edward Island. Native Mi’kmaq can also be heard in some parts of the province.
Major Cities
Charlottetown
Summerside
Major Industries
Agriculture, tourism, fisheries, and manufacturing
Police
Officers of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) patrol Prince Edward Island’s highways and are responsible for other provincial police duties. There are also Municipal forces within two communities.
Sunday Shopping
Retail businesses are not open on Sunday;
however, many tourism-related businesses
may be open.
Toll Roads
There are no toll roads on Prince Edward Island.
Transportation
Ferry service from Wood Island, PEI to Caribou, Nova Scotia runs for 8 months of the year (May 01 to December 20) - weather and ice permitting. The 12.9 km (9 mile) Confederation Bridge joins Borden-Carleton, Prince Edward Island and Cape Jourimain, New Brunswick and is the longest bridge over ice covered waters in the world. Opened on May 31, 1997, the bridge is 11 m wide and carries two lanes of traffic 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. The normal travelling speed is 80 km/h and it takes approximately 10 minutes to cross the Bridge. A round trip bridge toll is paid on exiting Prince Edward Island
Facts & Stats
• Prince Edward Island has two major cities (Charlottetown and Summerside) and seven towns.
• PEI is 224km (140 mi) long and from 6-64 km (4-40 mi) wide.
• First round of golf was played in 1902.
• It took 3.5 years to construct the Confederation Bridge which opened in 1997.
• The highest point above sea level is 496ft (152m).
• The Islands soil is red due to the high level of iron oxide.
• Almost 50% of the island is farmland.
• The closest distance between PEI and NB is 13 km (8 mi).
• Prince Edward Island is located in the Gulf of St. Lawrence on Canada''s east coast.
• PEI is separated from mainland Canada, New Brunswick and Nova Scotia, by the Northumberland Strait.
• No place in the province is more than 16 km (10 mi) from the sea.
• The Island is formed from sedimentary bed rock of soft, red sandstone which produces the rich, red soil. The redness of the soil is due to the high iron-oxide (rust) content.
• Charlottetown was named after Queen Charlotte, consort of King George III.
• Lucy Maud Montgomery, one of Canada''s most famous authors, was born in PEI.
• The musical Anne of Green Gables opened in 1965 at the Confederation Centre of the Arts. Anne of Green Gables was published in 1908.
• The Island was discovered by Jacques Cartier in 1534.
• The Island's first residents were the Mi'kmaq.
• The Mi'Kmaq called this beautiful Island Epekwitk, meaning resting on the waves. Europeans later changed the pronunciation of the name to Abegweit.
• The Island renamed itself "Prince Edward", in honour of Edward, Duke of Kent (father of Queen Victoria) in 1799.
• The Charlottetown Conference of September 1, 1864, one of Canada's most historical events, was held to discuss a Canadian union.
• PEI joined Confederation in 1873 and is the smallest province in Canada.
