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'{{Otheruses4|the [[Canada|Canadian]] province|the sub-[[Antarctica|Antarctic]] islands|Prince Edward Islands|the polymer PEI|Polyethylenimine}} {{Infobox Province or territory of Canada |Name = ffffddrgggsgtfr |AlternateName = ''Île-du-Prince-Édouard'' |Fullname = Province of Prince Edward Island |EntityAdjective = Province |Flag = Flag of Prince Edward Island.svg |CoatOfArms = Coat of Arms of Prince Edward Island.png |Map = PEI, Canada.svg |Label_map = no |Motto = {{lang-la|Parva sub ingenti}}<small><br/>(''The small protected by the great'')</small> |OfficialLang = [[English language|English]] (''[[de facto]]'') |Demonym = Prince Edward Islander, Islander |Flower = [[Pink Lady's Slipper]] |Tree = [[Northern Red Oak|Red Oak]] |Bird = [[Blue Jay]] |Capital = [[Charlottetown]] |LargestCity = Charlottetown |LargestMetro = Charlottetown |Premier = [[Robert Ghiz]] |PremierParty = [[Prince Edward Island Liberal Party|Liberal]] |Viceroy = [[Barbara Oliver Hagerman]] |ViceroyType = Lieutenant-Governor |PostalAbbreviation = PE |PostalCodePrefix = [[List of C Postal Codes of Canada|C]] |AreaRank = 13th |TotalArea_km2 = 5683.56 |LandArea_km2 = 5683.91 |WaterArea_km2 = 0 |PercentWater = 0 |PopulationRank = 10th |Population = 140,402 (est.)<ref>{{cite web | author= Statistics Canada|publisher= |title= Canada's population estimates 2009-26-03 |accessdate=2009-07-04 |url=http://www.statcan.gc.ca/daily-quotidien/090326/t090326a2-eng.htm}}</ref> |PopulationYear = 2009 |DensityRank = 1st |Density_km2 = 23.9 |GDP_year = 2006 |GDP_total = C$4.32&nbsp;billion<ref>[http://www40.statcan.ca/l01/cst01/econ15.htm Gross domestic product, expenditure-based, by province and territory]</ref> |GDP_rank = 10th |GDP_per_capita = C$31,278 |GDP_per_capita_rank = 13th |AdmittanceOrder = 7th |AdmittanceDate = July 1, 1873 |TimeZone = [[Coordinated Universal Time|UTC]]-4 |HouseSeats = 4 |SenateSeats = 4 |ISOCode = CA-PE |Website = www.gov.pe.ca }} [[Image:PrinceEdwardIsland map 1874.jpg|thumb|240px|Prince Edward Island map 1765]] '''Prince Edward Island''' ('''PEI''' or '''P.E.I.'''; {{lang-fr|Île-du-Prince-Édouard}}, [[Scottish Gaelic]]: ''Eilean a' Phrionnsa'') is a [[Canada|Canadian]] [[Provinces and territories of Canada|province]] consisting of an [[island]] of the same name, as well as [[List of islands of Prince Edward Island|other islands]]. The [[maritimes|maritime province]] is the smallest in the nation in both land area and population (excluding the territories). The island has a few other names: "Garden of the Gulf" referring to the pastoral scenery and lush agricultural lands throughout the province; and "Birthplace of Confederation", referring to the [[Charlottetown Conference]] in 1864. According to the 2009 estimates, Prince Edward Island has 122 000 residents. It is located in a rectangle defined roughly by [[46th parallel north|46°]]–[[47th parallel north|47°N]], and [[62nd meridian west|62°]]–64°30′W and at {{km2 to mi2|5683.91|abbr=yes|precision=2|wiki=yes}} in size,<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www12.statcan.ca/english/census06/data/profiles/community/Details/Page.cfm?Lang=E&Geo1=PR&Code1=11&Geo2=PR&Code2=01&Data=Count&SearchText=Prince%20Edward%20Island&SearchType=Begins&SearchPR=01&B1=All&GeoLevel=&GeoCode=11 |title=2006 Census population and dwelling counts|author=Statistics Canada |authorlink=Statistics Canada |year=2007 |month=March |accessdate=2007-03-13}}</ref> it is the [[List of islands by area|104th largest island in the world]], and [[List of Canadian islands by area|Canada's 23rd largest island]]. The island was named for [[Prince Edward, Duke of Kent and Strathearn]] (1767–1820), the fourth son of [[George III of the United Kingdom|King George III]] and the father of [[Victoria of the United Kingdom|Queen Victoria]]. ==Geography== {{Main|Geography of Prince Edward Island}} {{Refimprovesect|date=April 2008}} [[Image:peiredcliff.JPG||left|thumb|[[Sandstone]] cliffs at [[North Cape, Prince Edward Island|North Cape]] enshrouded in fog]] Prince Edward Island is located in the [[Gulf of St. Lawrence]] west of [[Cape Breton Island]], north of the [[Nova Scotia peninsula]], and east of [[New Brunswick]]. Its southern shore bounds the [[Northumberland Strait]]. The island has two urban areas. The largest surrounds Charlottetown Harbour, situated centrally on the island's southern shore, and consists of the capital city [[Charlottetown]], and suburban towns [[Cornwall, Prince Edward Island|Cornwall]] and [[Stratford, Prince Edward Island|Stratford]] and a developing [[urban fringe]]. A much smaller urban area surrounds Summerside Harbour, situated on the southern shore {{km to mi|40|abbr=yes|precision=0|wiki=yes}} west of Charlottetown Harbour, and consists primarily of the city of [[Summerside, Prince Edward Island|Summerside]]. As with all natural harbours on the island, Charlottetown and Summerside harbours are created by [[ria]]s. [[Image:Day256jgreenwichd.JPG|thumb|A wood [[boardwalk]] in [[Prince Edward Island National Park]] in [[Greenwich, Prince Edward Island|Greenwich]]]] The island's landscape is [[pastoral]]: rolling hills, woods, reddish white sand beaches, ocean coves and the famous red soil have given Prince Edward Island a reputation as a province of outstanding natural beauty. The provincial government has enacted laws that attempt to preserve the landscape through regulation, although the lack of consistent enforcement and absence of province-wide [[zoning]] and [[land-use]] planning has resulted in some aesthetically displeasing development in recent years. The island's lush landscape has had a strong bearing on its economy and its culture. Author [[Lucy Maud Montgomery]] drew inspiration from the land during the late [[Victorian Era]] for the setting of her classic novel ''[[Anne of Green Gables]]''. Today, many of the same qualities that Montgomery and others found in the island are enjoyed by tourists who visit during all seasons. They enjoy a variety of leisure activities, including [[beaches]], various [[golf course]]s, [[eco-tourism]] adventures, and simply touring the countryside and enjoying cultural events in local communities around the island. [[Image:Landscape of PEI.jpg|thumb|left|Rolling hills characterise a significant portion of the island's landscape.]] The smaller rural communities as well as the towns and villages throughout the province proudly retain a slower-paced, old-world flavour, something that factors heavily into Prince Edward Island's popularity as a destination for relaxation. The economy of most rural communities on the island is based on [[small-scale agriculture]], given that the size of farm properties is small when compared with other areas in Canada. There is an increasing amount of industrial farming as older farm properties are consolidated and modernised. [[File:prince edward island cavendish red cliffs.JPG|thumb|The coast of Prince Edward Island around Cavendish]] The coastline consists of a combination of long [[beach]]es, dunes, red [[sandstone]] cliffs, salt water [[marsh]]es and numerous [[Headlands and bays|bays]] and [[harbor|harbours]]. The beaches, dunes and sandstone cliffs consist of sedimentary rock and other material with a high iron concentration which [[oxidation|oxidises]] upon exposure to the air. The geological properties of a white silica sand found at [[Basin Head, Prince Edward Island|Basin Head]] are unique in the province; the sand grains cause a scrubbing noise as they rub against each other when walked on, aptly named the singing sands. Large [[sand dune|dune]] fields on the north shore can be found on [[barrier island]]s at the entrances to various bays and harbours. The magnificent sand dunes at [[Greenwich, Prince Edward Island|Greenwich]] are of particular significance. The shifting, parabolic dune system is home to a variety of birds and rare plants and is also a site of significant [[archeological]] interest. ===Climate=== Winters are moderately cold, with clashes of cold Arctic air and milder Atlantic air causing frequent temperature swings. From December to April, P.E.I. typically has many storms (which may produce rain as well as snow) and blizzards. Springtime temperatures typically remain cool until the sea ice has melted, usually in late April or early May. Summers are moderately warm, but rarely uncomfortable, with the daily maximum temperature only occasionally reaching as high as 30°C. Autumn is a rather pleasant season, as the moderating Gulf waters delay the onset of frost, although storm activity does increase over that of summer. There is ample precipitation throughout the year, although it is heaviest in the late autumn and early winter and mid spring. ==History== {{Main|History of Prince Edward Island}} Prince Edward Island was originally inhabited by the [[Mi'kmaq]] people. They named the Island "Epekwitk", the pronunciation of which was changed to "[[Abegweit]]" by the Europeans, meaning ''Land Cradled on the Waves.''<ref name="infopei">[http://www.gov.pe.ca/infopei/index.php3?number=41617&lang=E Info:PEI Quick Facts], 2008-07-14. Retrieved on 2009-03-18.</ref> They believed that the island was formed by the Great Spirit placing on the Blue Waters some dark red crescent-shaped clay. [[Jacques Cartier]] discovered the island in 1534.<ref name="infopei"/> As part of the [[French colony]] of [[Acadia]], the island was called "Île Saint-Jean". Roughly one thousand [[Acadians]] lived on the island. However, many fled to the island from mainland Nova Scotia during the British-ordered [[Great Upheaval|expulsion]] in 1755. Many more were forcibly deported in 1758 when British soldiers-- under the command of [[Andrew Rollo, 5th Lord Rollo|Colonel Andrew Rollo]] -- were ordered by General [[Jeffery Amherst]] to capture the island. [[Kingdom of Great Britain|Great Britain]] obtained the island from [[France]] under the terms of the ''[[Treaty of Paris (1763)|Treaty of Paris]]'' in 1763 which settled the [[Seven Years' War]], calling the colony '''St. John's Island''' (also the '''Island of St. John's'''). The first British governor of St. John's Island, [[Walter Patterson]], was appointed in 1769. Assuming office in 1770, he had a controversial career during which the initial attempts to populate and develop the island under a [[feudal system]] were slowed by land title disputes and factional conflict. In an attempt to attract settlers from Ireland, in one of his first acts (1770) Patterson led the island's colonial assembly to rename the island "New Ireland," but the British Government promptly vetoed this as exceeding the authority vested in the colonial government; only the Privy Council in London could change the name of a colony.<ref>Brendan O'Grady, ''Exiles and Islanders: The Irish Settlers of Prince Edward Island'', p. 15)</ref> Charlottetown was raided in 1775 by a pair of American-employed privateers during the [[American Revolutionary War]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.gov.pe.ca/infopei/index.php3?number=12183&lang=E| author=PEI Provincial Government| title= Historical Milestones | accessdate=2007-08-17}}</ref> During and after the [[American Revolutionary War]] from 1776–1783, the colony's efforts to attract exiled [[United Empire boboboboboboboboobobobobob '''bobob'''Loyalists|Loyalist refugees]] from the rebellious American colonies met with some success. Walter Patterson's brother, John Patterson, one of the original grantees of land on the island, was a temporarily-exiled Loyalist and led efforts to persuade others to come. The 1787 dismissal of Governor Patterson and his recall to London in 1789 dampened his brother's efforts, leading John to focus on his interests in the United States (one of John's sons, Commodore [[Daniel Patterson]], became a noted [[United States Navy]] hero, and John's grandsons, Rear Admiral [[Thomas H. Patterson]] and Lt. [[Carlile Pollock Patterson]] USN, achieved success). [[Edmund Fanning (colonial administrator)|Edmund Fanning]], also a Loyalist exiled by the Revolution, took over as the second governor, serving until about 1806. His tenure was more successful than Walter Patterson's. On November 29, 1798, during Fanning's administration, Great Britain granted approval to change the poopy poops name from St. John's Island to Prince Edward Island to distinguish it from similar names in the Atlantic, such as the cities of [[Saint John, New Brunswick|Saint John]] and [[St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador|St. John's]]. The colony's new name honoured the fourth son of [[George III of the United Kingdom|King George III]], [[Prince Edward Augustus, Duke of Kent|Prince Edward Augustus, the Duke of Kent]] (1767–1820), who was in charge of all British military forces on the continent as [[Commander-in-Chief, North America]] and was headquartered in [[City of Halifax|Halifax]]. Prince Edward was also the father of [[Victoria of the United Kingdom|Queen Victoria]]. During the 19th century, the colony of Prince Edward Island began to attract "adventurous Victorian families looking for elegance on the sea. Prince Edward Island became a fashionable retreat in the nineteenth century for British nobility".<ref>[http://collections.ic.gc.ca/westpei/samuel_holland.htm PEI history] Government of Canada</ref> The island is known in [[Scottish Gaelic]] as ''Eilean a’ Phrionnsa'' (lit. "the Island of the Prince", the local form of the longer 'Eilean a' Phrionnsa Iomhair') or ''Eilean Eòin'' for some Gaelic speakers in Nova Scotia though not on PEI (lit. "John's Island" in reference to the island's former name of St. John's Island: the English translation of Île Saint Jean); in [[Míkmaq language|Míkmaq]] as ''Abegweit'' or ''Epikwetk'' roughly translated "land cradled in the waves". ===Joining Canada=== In September 1864, Prince Edward Island hosted the [[Charlottetown Conference]], which was the first meeting in the process leading to the Articles of [[Canadian Confederation|Confederation]] and the creation of Canada in 1867. Prince Edward Island did not find the terms of union favourable and balked at joining in 1867, choosing to remain a colony of the [[United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland]]. In the late 1860s, the colony examined various options, including the possibility of becoming a discrete dominion unto itself, as well as entertaining delegations from the [[United States]], who were interested in Prince Edward Island joining the United States of America.{{Fact|date=April 2008}} In 1871, the colony began construction of a [[Prince Edward Island Railway|railway]] and, frustrated by Great Britain's Colonial Office, began negotiations with the United States.{{Fact|date=June 2009}} In 1873, [[Prime Minister of Canada|Prime Minister]] Sir [[John A. Macdonald]], anxious to thwart American expansionism and facing the distraction of the [[Pacific Scandal]], negotiated for Prince Edward Island to join Canada. The Federal Government of Canada assumed the colony's extensive railway debts and agreed to finance a buy-out of the last of the colony's absentee landlords to free the island of leasehold tenure and from any new migrants entering the island. Prince Edward Island entered Confederation on 1 July 1873.{{Fact|date=June 2009}} [[Image:Confbrdige.jpg|thumb|left|Confederation Bridge, PEI and NB]] As a result of having hosted the inaugural meeting of Confederation, the [[Charlottetown Conference]], Prince Edward Island presents itself as the "Birthplace of Confederation" with several buildings, a [[Northumberland Ferries Limited|ferry]] vessel, and the [[Confederation Bridge]] using the term "confederation" in many ways. The most prominent building in the province with this name is the [[Confederation Centre of the Arts]], presented as a gift to Prince Edward Islanders by the 10 provincial governments and the Federal Government upon the centenary of the Charlottetown Conference, where it stands in Charlottetown as a national monument to the "Fathers of Confederation".{{Fact|date=June 2009}} ==Demographics== {{Main|Demographics of Prince Edward Island}} According to the 2001 Canadian Census,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www40.statcan.ca/l01/cst01/demo26c.htm|title=Population of Canada's Provinces|author=Statistics Canada|authorlink=Statistics Canada|year=2002|accessdate=2007-04-03}}</ref> the largest ethnic group consists of people of [[Scottish people|Scottish]] descent (38.0%), followed by [[English people|English]] (28.7%), [[Irish people|Irish]] (27.9%), [[French people|French]] (21.3%), [[German people|German]] (4.0%), and [[Dutch people|Dutch]] (3.1%) descent. Almost half of all respondents also identified their ethnicity as "Canadian." {| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align:right;" |+''' Population of Prince Edward Island since 1851 |- style="background:#ccc;" ! Year !! Population !! Mean annual !! 5-year !! 10-year !! Rank* |- !colspan="2"| &nbsp; !!colspan="3"| Percentage change !! |- |1851 || 62,678 || – || – || – || rowspan="4" style="text-align:center;"| <big>5</big></tr> |1861 || 80,857 || 2.6 || – || 29.0</tr> |1871 || 94,021 || 1.5 || – || 16.3</tr> |1881 || 108,891 || 1.5 || – || 15.8</tr> |1891 || 109,078 || 0.017 || – || 0.2 || style="text-align:center;"| 6</tr> |1901 || 103,259 || −0.55 || – || −5.3 || style="text-align:center;"| 7</tr> |1911 || 93,728 || −0.96 || – || −9.2 || rowspan="4" style="text-align:center;"| <big>9</big></tr> |1921 || 88,615 || −0.56 || – || −5.4</tr> |1931 || 88,038 || −0.065 || – || −0.7</tr> |1941 || 95,047 || 0.77 || – || 8.0</tr> |1951 || 98,429 || 0.35 || – || 3.6 || rowspan="12" style="text-align:center;"| <big>10</big></tr> |1956 || 99,285 || 0.17 || 0.9 || –</tr> |1961 || 104,629 || 1.1 || 5.4 || 6.3</tr> |1966 || 108,535 || 0.74 || 3.7 || 9.3</tr> |1971 || 111,635 || 0.56 || 2.9 || 6.7</tr> |1976 || 118,225 || 1.2 || 5.9 || 8.9</tr> |1981 || 122,506 || 0.7 || 3.6 || 9.7</tr> |1986 || 126,640 || 0.67 || 3.4 || 7.1</tr> |1991 || 129,765 || 0.49 || 2.5 || 5.9</tr> |1996 || 134,557 || 0.73 || 3.7 || 6.3</tr> |2001 || 135,294 || 0.11 || 0.5 || 4.2</tr> |2006 || 135,851 || NA || 0.4 || NA</tr> |} {{smaller|* among provinces.<br/>† Preliminary 2006 census estimate.}}<br/> ''Source: [[Statistics Canada]]''<ref>[http://www40.statcan.ca/l01/cst01/demo62c.htm PEI population trend] (Statistics Canada).</ref><ref>[http://www40.statcan.ca/l01/cst01/demo62d.htm Population urban and rural, by province and territory] (Statistics Canada, 2005).</ref> ===Language=== The [[Canada 2006 Census|2006 Canadian census]] showed a population of 135,851. Of the 133,570 singular responses to the census question concerning 'mother tongue' the most commonly reported languages were: {| class="wikitable" |- " ! ! ! ! |- |1. |English |125,260 |93.8% |- |2. |French |5,345 |4.0% |- |3. |Dutch |865 |0.6% |- |4. |German |275 |0.2% |- |5. |Spanish |220 |0.2% |- |6. |Chinese |190 |0.1% |- |7. |Arabic |150 |0.1% |- |8. |Hungarian |120 |0.1% |- |9. |Mi'kmaq |90 |0.1% |- |10. |Japanese |80 |0.1% |- |11. |Polish |70 |0.1% |- |12. |Korean |65 |~ |} In addition, there were also 105 responses of both English and a 'non-official language'; 25 of both French and a 'non-official language'; 495 of both English and French; 10 of English, French, and a 'non-official language'; and about 1,640 people who either did not respond to the question, or reported multiple non-official languages, or else gave some other unenumerated response. (Figures shown are for the number of single language responses and the percentage of total single-language responses.)<ref>[http://www12.statcan.ca/english/census06/data/topics/RetrieveProductTable.cfm?ALEVEL=3&APATH=3&CATNO=&DETAIL=0&DIM=&DS=99&FL=0&FREE=0&GAL=0&GC=99&GK=NA&GRP=1&IPS=&METH=0&ORDER=1&PID=89201&PTYPE=88971&RL=0&S=1&ShowAll=No&StartRow=1&SUB=701&Temporal=2006&Theme=70&VID=0&VNAMEE=&VNAMEF=&GID=837934 Detailed Mother Tongue (186), Knowledge of Official Languages (5), Age Groups (17A) and Sex (3) (2006 Census)]</ref> ===Religion=== The largest denominations by number of adherents according to the 2001 census were the [[Roman Catholic Church]] with 63,240 (47 %); the [[United Church of Canada]] with 26,570 (20 %); and the [[Anglican Church of Canada]] with 6,525 (5 %).<ref>[http://www12.statcan.ca/english/census01/products/highlight/Religion/Page.cfm?Lang=E&Geo=PR&View=1a&Code=11&Table=1&StartRec=1&Sort=2&B1=11&B2=All Religions in Canada<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref> ==Economy== [[Image:prince edward island fish.jpg|thumb|Fisheries form one of the major industries of Prince Edward Island.]] The provincial economy is dominated by the seasonal industries of agriculture, tourism, and the [[fishery]]. The province is limited in terms of heavy industry and manufacturing. Although commercial deposits of minerals have not been found, exploration for [[natural gas]] beneath the eastern end of the province has resulted in the discovery of an undisclosed quantity of gas. Agriculture remains the dominant industry in the provincial economy, as it has since colonial times. During the twentieth century, potatoes replaced mixed farming as the leading [[cash crop]], accounting for one-third of provincial farm income. The province currently accounts for a third of Canada's total potato production, producing approximately 1.3 billion kilograms annually.<ref name="PEIPotato">[http://www.peipotato.org/why_pei.asp PEI Potato]{{dead link|url=http://www.peipotato.org/why_pei.asp|date=September 2009}}, potato production figures.</ref> Comparatively, the state of [[Idaho]] produces approximately 6.2 billion kilograms annually, with a population approximately 9.5 times greater.<ref>[http://cahenews.wsu.edu/releases/99spuds.html Idaho Potator Production]{{dead link|url=http://cahenews.wsu.edu/releases/99spuds.html|date=September 2009}}</ref> The province is a major producer of seed potatoes, exporting to more than twenty countries around the world.<ref name="PEIPotato"/> As a legacy of the island's colonial history, the provincial government enforces extremely strict rules for non-resident land ownership. Residents and corporations are limited to maximum holdings of 400 and 1,200 hectares respectively. There are also restrictions on non-resident ownership of shorelines. Many of the province's coastal communities rely upon shellfish harvesting, particularly [[lobster fishing]]<ref>[http://www.peionline.com/lobsterfishery.php?sid= Lobster Fishing] (PEIonline)</ref> as well as [[oyster]] fishing and [[mussel]] farming. The provincial government provides consumer protection in the form of regulation for certain items, ranging from apartment rent increases to petroleum products including [[Gasoline|gas]], [[diesel fuel|diesel]], [[propane]] and [[heating oil]]. These are all regulated through the [[Island Regulatory and Appeals Commisssion|Island Regulatory and Appeals Commission]] (IRAC).<ref>[http://www.irac.pe.ca/ Island Regulatory and Appeals Commission] (PEI Government).</ref> IRAC is authorised to limit the number of companies who are permitted to sell petroleum products. The sale of carbonated beverages such as [[beer]] and [[soft drink]]s in non-refillable containers, such as aluminum cans or plastic bottles, was banned in 1976 as an environmental measure in response to public concerns over litter. Beer and soft drink companies opted to use refillable glass bottles for their products which were redeemable at stores and bottle depots. The introduction of recycling programs for cans and plastic bottles in neighbouring provinces in recent years (also using a redemption system) has seen the provincial government introduce legislation to reverse this ban with the restriction lifted on May 3, 2008.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.gov.pe.ca/infopei/onelisting.php3?number=43924| author=Government of PEI| title= PEI Bans the Can | accessdate=2007-04-03}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.cbc.ca/canada/prince-edward-island/story/2007/04/26/canban-legislature.html| author=CBC| title= End to can ban receives full support of legislature | accessdate=2007-04-27}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.gov.pe.ca/news/getrelease.php3?number=5670 | author=Government of PEI| title= Government to lift "can-ban" May 3 beverage container management system encourages returns and recycling | accessdate=2008-04-26}}</ref> Prince Edward Island has Canada's highest provincial retail [[sales tax]] rate, currently (2008) established at 10%. The tax is applied to almost all goods and services except some clothing, food and home heating fuel. The tax is also applied to the Federal [[Goods and Services Tax (Canada)|Goods and Services Tax]]. At present, approximately fifteen percent of all [[electricity]] consumed on the island is generated from [[renewable energy]] (largely [[wind turbine]]s); the provincial government has set renewable energy targets as high as 30-50% for electricity consumed by 2015. Until wind generation, the province relied entirely on electricity imports on a submarine cable from New Brunswick. A thermal oil-fired generating station in Charlottetown is also available. Persons employed on Prince Edward Island earn a minimum wage of $8.00/hour as of October 1, 2008.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.gov.pe.ca/cca/index.php3?number=49717| author=Government of PEI| title= Minimum Wage Order | accessdate=2008-05-01}}</ref> ==Transportation== Prince Edward Island's transportation network has traditionally revolved around its seaports of Charlottetown, Summerside, Borden, [[Georgetown, Prince Edward Island|Georgetown]], and Souris — all linked to its railway system, and airports (Charlottetown and Summerside) for communication with mainland North America. The railway system was abandoned by [[Canadian National|CN]] in 1989 in favour of an agreement with the federal government to improve major highways. Until 1997, the province was linked by two passenger-vehicle [[ferry]] services to the mainland: one, provided by [[Marine Atlantic]], operated year-round between [[Borden-Carleton, Prince Edward Island|Borden]] and [[Cape Tormentine, New Brunswick]]; the other, provided by [[Northumberland Ferries Limited]], operates seasonally between [[Wood Islands, Prince Edward Island|Wood Islands]] and [[Caribou, Nova Scotia]]. A third ferry service provided by [[Coopérative de transport maritime et aérien|CTMA]] operates seasonally between [[Souris, Prince Edward Island|Souris]] and [[Cap-aux-Meules, Quebec]], in the [[Magdalen Islands]]. On June 1, 1997, the [[Confederation Bridge]] opened, connecting Borden-Carleton to [[Cape Tormentine, New Brunswick|Cape Tormentine]], New Brunswick. The longest bridge over ice covered waters in the world,<ref>[http://www.confederationbridge.com/en/about_the_bridge/ The Confederation Bridge]{{dead link|url=http://www.confederationbridge.com/en/about_the_bridge/|date=September 2009}} (official website).</ref> it replaced the Marine Atlantic ferry service. Since then, the Confederation Bridge's assured transportation link to the mainland has altered the province's tourism and agricultural and fisheries export economies. The province has very strict laws regarding use of road-side signs. [[Billboard (advertising)|Billboard]]s and the use of portable signs are banned. There are standard direction information signs on all roads in the province for various businesses and attractions in the immediate area. Some municipalities' [[by-law]]s also restrict the types of permanent signs that may be installed on private property. ==Government== {{Main|Government of Prince Edward Island|Politics of Prince Edward Island}} [[Image:Province house.jpg|thumb|Province House, PEI]] Prince Edward Island has a high level of political representation, with four [[Canadian House of Commons|Members of Parliament]], four [[Canadian Senate|Senators]], 27 [[Legislative Assembly of Prince Edward Island|Members of the Legislative Assembly]] and two cities, seven towns and sixty incorporated rural communities yielding over five hundred municipal councilors and mayors. This gives a total of 566 elected officials for a population (as of 2006) of 135,851. ==Communities== {{See also|List of communities in Prince Edward Island}} [[Image:PEI-basemap.png|right|500px]] {| class="wikitable" style="text-align:right;" |+ Ten largest municipalities by population |- style="background:#ccc;" ! Municipality !! 2001 !! 1996</tr> |align="left"| [[Charlottetown]] || 32,245^a || 32,531</tr> |align="left"| [[Summerside, Prince Edward Island|Summerside]] || 14,654^b || 15,525</tr> |align="left"| [[Stratford, Prince Edward Island|Stratford]] || 7,083 || 2,180</tr> |align="left"| [[Montague, Prince Edward Island|Montague]] || 1,945 || 1,995</tr> |align="left"| [[Lot 1, Prince Edward Island|Lot 1]]^c || 1,900 || 1,936</tr> |align="left"| [[Lot 65, Prince Edward Island|Lot 65]] || 1,829 || 1,595</tr> |align="left"| [[Lot 19, Prince Edward Island|Lot 19]] || 1,775 || 1,759</tr> |align="left"| [[Lot 2, Prince Edward Island|Lot 2]]^d || 1,720 || 1,766</tr> |- |colspan="3" style="text-align:left; font-size:90%;"| ^a Agglomerated population: 58,358.<br />^b Agglomerated population: 16,200.<br/>^c Tignish and surrounding area.<br/>^d St. Louis/Elmsdale area. |} ==Education== Prince Edward Island is home to one university, the [[University of Prince Edward Island]] (UPEI), located in [[Charlottetown]]. The university was created by the Island legislature to replace Prince of Wales College and St. Dunstan's University. UPEI is also home to the [[Atlantic Veterinary College]], which offers the region's only veterinary medicine program. [[Holland College]] is the provincial [[community college]], with campuses across the province, including specialised facilities such as the Atlantic Police Academy, Marine Training Centre, and the Culinary Institute of Canada. Prince Edward Island's public school system has two Anglophone school districts, [[Eastern School District|Eastern]] and [[Western School Board|Western]], as well as a Francophone district, the [[Commission scolaire de langue française]]. The Anglophone districts have a total of 10 secondary schools and 54 intermediate and elementary schools while the Francophone district has 6 schools covering all grades. Prince Edward Island, along with most rural regions in North America, is experiencing an accelerated rate of youth emigration. The provincial government has projected that public school enrollment will decline by 40% during the 2010s. ==Health care== The province has seven hospitals: *Community Hospital in [[O'Leary]] *Kings County Memorial Hospital in [[Montague, Prince Edward Island|Montague]] *Prince County Hospital in [[Summerside, Prince Edward Island|Summerside]]. *[[Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Prince Edward Island|Queen Elizabeth Hospital]] in [[Charlottetown]] *Souris Hospital in [[Souris]] *Stewart Memorial Hospital in [[Tyne Valley]] *Western Hospital, in [[Alberton, Prince Edward Island|Alberton]] The [[Hillsborough Hospital]] in Charlottetown is the province's only psychiatric hospital. In recent decades, the province has shown statistically significant and abnormally high rates of diagnosed rare cancers. Health officials, [[ecologists]] and environmental [[activists]] point to the use of [[pesticides]] for industrial [[potato]] farming as a primary [[contaminant]].<ref>{{cite news| url= http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20061206.wxcancerenviro06/BNStory/cancer/Atlantic/| author= The Globe and Mail|authorlink= The Globe and Mail|title=Pesticides are what's killing our kids|year= 06| month=December|accessdate=2007-04-03}}</ref> ==Culture== {{Main|Music of Prince Edward Island}} The island's cultural traditions of art, music and creative writing are all supported through the public education system. There is an annual arts festival, the [[Charlottetown Festival]], hosted each year at the [[Confederation Centre of the Arts]]. Lucy Maud Montgomery who was born in Clifton (now New London) in 1874 wrote some twenty novels. Her first Anne book was published in 1908. The musical play ''[[Anne of Green Gables - The Musical|Anne of Green Gables]]'' has run every year at the Charlottetown festival for more than four decades. The sequel, ''[[Anne & Gilbert]]'', premiered in the Playhouse in [[Victoria, Prince Edward Island|Victoria]] in 2005. [[Elmer Blaney Harris]] founded an artist colony at [[Fortune Bridge, Prince Edward Island|Fortune Bridge]] and set his famous play ''[[Johnny Belinda (1948 film)|Johnny Belinda]]'' on the island. Prince Edward Island's documented music history begins in the 19th century with religious music, some written by local pump and block maker, and organ-importer, Watson Duchemin. Several big bands including the Sons of Temperance Band and the Charlottetown Brass Band, were active. Today, Acadian, Celtic and rock music prevail, with exponents including [[Gene MacLellan]], [[Lennie Gallant]] and [[Two Hours Traffic]]. The celebrated singer-songwriter [[Stompin' Tom Connors]] spent his formative years in [[Skinners Pond, Prince Edward Island|Skinners Pond]]. [[Robert Harris (painter)|Robert Harris]] was a well-known artist. ==Sport== *In 2009, Prince Edward Island will host the Jeux Du Canada Summer Games. *Prince Edward Island competes in the bi-annual [[International Island Games Association|Island Games]]. *[[P.E.I. Rocket|Prince Edward Island Rocket]] play in the [[Quebec Major Junior Hockey League]]. ==Gallery== <gallery> Image:Newglasgowpano2.jpg|Panorama of the banks of the River Clyde in [[New Glasgow, Prince Edward Island|New Glasgow]] Image:prince edward island sandstone arch.jpg|Sandstone arch Image:prince edward island zz.jpg File:panmure island lighthouse.JPG|Lighthouse on Panmure Island </gallery> ==See also== <!--{{Main|Outline of Prince Edward Island}}--> {{commonscat|Prince Edward Island}} *[[Counties of Prince Edward Island]] *[[Higher education in Prince Edward Island]] *[[Island Regulatory and Appeals Commission]] *[[Legislative Assembly of Prince Edward Island]] *[[List of airports in Prince Edward Island]] *[[List of cities in Canada]] *[[List of Prince Edward Island premiers]] *[[List of Prince Edward Island lieutenant-governors]] *[[List of communities in Prince Edward Island]] *[[List of Canadian provincial and territorial symbols]] *[[Petroleum Pricing in Prince Edward Island]] *[[Politics of Prince Edward Island]] *[[Scouting on Prince Edward Island]] ==Notes== {{reflist|2}} ==References== <div class="references-small"> *{{cite book |title= The Island Acadians, 1720–1980|last= Arsenault|first= Georges|year= 1989|publisher= Ragweed Press|location= [[Charlottetown]]|isbn= 9780920304815|oclc= 42887917}} *{{cite book |title= Exploring Island History: A Guide to the Historical Resources of Prince Edward Island|last= Baglole|first= Harry|year= 1977|publisher= Ragweed Press|location= [[Belfast, Prince Edward Island|Belfast, P.E.I.]]|isbn= 092030401X|oclc= 4114534}} *{{cite book |title= Canada's Smallest Province: A History of Prince Edward Island|last= Bolger|first= Francis|year= 1973|publisher= Prince Edward Island 1973 Centennial Commission|location= [[Charlottetown]]|oclc= 1031515}} Also under {{OCLC|223434609}} *{{cite book |title= Prince Edward Island : an (un)authorized history|last= Beck|first= E Boyde|coauthors= Burden, P John|year= 1996|publisher= Acorn Press|location= [[Charlottetown]]|isbn= 9780969860617|oclc= 36817364}} *{{cite book |title= Land, settlement, and politics on eighteenth-century Prince Edward Island|last= Bumsted|first= JM|year= 1987|publisher= [[McGill-Queen's University Press]]|location= [[Kingston, Ontario|Kingston, ON]]|isbn= 9780773505667|oclc= 17199722|url= http://books.google.com/books?id=nxXRjL-d6ewC|accessdate= 2009-09-16}} *{{cite book |title= Three Centuries and the Island. A Historical Geography of Settlement and Agriculture in Prince Edward Island, Canada|last= Clark|first= Andrew Hill|year= 1959|publisher= [[University of Toronto Press]]|location= [[Toronto]]|oclc= 203962}} A very broad look at the historical geography of P.E.I. *{{cite book |title= Drive Dull Care Away: Folksongs from Prince Edward Island|last= Ives|first= Edward D|year= 1999|publisher= Institute of Island Studies|location= [[Charlottetown]]|isbn= 9780919013346|oclc= 123276052|url= http://books.google.com/books?id=WNNwgB4d7PgC|accessdate= 2009-09-16}} *{{cite book |title= Church politics and education in Canada : the P.E.I. experience|last= MacKinnon|first= Frank|year= 1995|publisher= Detselig Enterprises|location= [[Calgary]]|isbn= 9781550591040|oclc= 35292426}} *{{cite book |title= The Life of the Party: A History of the Liberal Party in Prince Edward Island|last= MacKinnon|first= Wayne|year= 1973|publisher= [[Prince Edward Island Liberal Party]]|location= [[Summerside, Prince Edward Island|Summerside, P.E.I.]]}} *{{cite book |title= A people's history of Prince Edward Island|last= Sharpe|first= Errol|year= 1976|publisher= Steel Rail|location= [[Toronto]]|isbn= 0887910033|oclc= 2893908|url= }} *{{cite book |title= The Garden transformed: Prince Edward Island, 1945-1980|last= Smitheram|first= Verner|coauthors= Milne, David; Dasgupta, Satadal|year= 1982|publisher= Ragweed Press|location= [[Charlottetown]]|isbn= 9780920304105|oclc= 9469420}} *{{cite book |title= Responsible Government in Prince Edward Island: A Triumph of Self-Government under the Crown|last= Livingston|first= Walter Ross|year= 1931|publisher= [[University of Iowa Press]]|location= [[Iowa City, Iowa|Iowa City, IA]]|oclc= 1678512|url= http://www.questia.com/PM.qst?a=o&d=29232556|accessdate= 2009-09-16}} *{{cite book |title= The Island and Confederation: the end of an era|last= Weale|first= David|coauthors= Baglole, Harry|year= 1973|publisher= Williams and Crue|location= [[Summerside, Prince Edward Island|Summerside, P.E.I.]]|oclc= 1340051}} </div> ==External links== *[http://www.gov.pe.ca/ The Government of Prince Edward Island Government official website] *{{dmoz|Regional/North_America/Canada/Prince_Edward_Island}} *[http://www.gov.pe.ca/visitorsguide/ The Government Prince Edward Island Visitor's Guide] *[http://www.hollandc.pe.ca/APA/index.htm Atlantic Police Academy]{{dead link|url=http://www.hollandc.pe.ca/APA/index.htm|date=September 2009}} *[http://archives.cbc.ca/IDD-1-73-906/politics_economy/elections_pei/ CBC Digital Archives - PEI Elections: Liberal landslides and Tory tides] *[http://www.collegeofpiping.com/ College of Piping and Celtic Performing Arts of Canada] *[http://www.confederationbridge.com/ Confederation Bridge] *[http://www.hollandc.pe.ca/CIC/index.htm Culinary Institute of Canada]{{dead link|url=http://www.hollandc.pe.ca/CIC/index.htm|date=September 2009}} *[http://www.hollandc.pe.ca/Marine/ Marine Training Centre] *[http://www.peiinfo.com/ PEI info] *[http://terraserver.com/imagery/image_gx.asp?cpx=-63.23822990760269&cpy=46.261846463386895&res=400&provider_id=340&t=pan&dat= Satellite image of Prince Edward Island]{{dead link|date=September 2009}} (interactive) *[http://www.iwmc.pe.ca/ The official website about the Island Waste Management Corporation] *[http://www.upei.ca/ University of Prince Edward Island] *[http://www.maritimetourism.ca/ Maritime Tourism] <br/>{{Subdivisions of Prince Edward Island}} {{Provinces and territories of Canada}} {{coord|46|20|N|63|30|W|region:CA_type:isle|display=title}} [[Category:Prince Edward Island| ]] [[Category:Provinces and territories of Canada]] [[Category:Islands of Prince Edward Island]] [[Category:Former British colonies]] [[Category:British North America]] [[Category:States and territories established in 1873]] [[af:Prins-Edward-Eiland]] [[ar:الأمير إدوارد (جزيرة)]] [[arc:ܓܙܪܬܐ ܕܐܡܝܪܐ ܐܕܘܐܪܕ]] [[az:Şahzadə Eduard Adası]] [[zh-min-nan:Edward Ông-chú Tó]] [[bs:Ostrvo Princa Edwarda]] [[br:Enez ar Priñs Edward]] [[bg:Остров Принц Едуард (провинция)]] [[ca:Illa del Príncep Eduard]] [[cs:Ostrov prince Edwarda]] [[cy:Prince Edward Island]] [[da:Prince Edward Island]] [[de:Prince Edward Island]] [[et:Prints Edwardi saar]] [[el:Νήσος του Πρίγκηπα Εδουάρδου]] [[es:Isla del Príncipe Eduardo]] [[eo:Insulo de Princo Eduardo]] [[eu:Eduardo Printzearen Uhartea]] [[fa:جزیره پرنس ادوارد]] [[fr:Île-du-Prince-Édouard]] [[fy:Prins Edwardeilân]] [[gv:Ellan y Phrinse Edard]] [[gd:Eilean a' Phrionnsa]] [[gl:Illa do Príncipe Eduardo]] [[ko:프린스에드워드아일랜드 주]] [[io:Prince Edward Island]] [[id:Pulau Pangeran Edward]] [[os:Принц Эдуарды сакъадах]] [[it:Isola del Principe Edoardo]] [[he:אי הנסיך אדוארד]] [[pam:Prince Edward Island]] [[ka:პრინც-ედუარდის კუნძული]] [[kw:Ynys an Pryns Edward]] [[sw:Prince Edward Island]] [[la:Insula Principis Eduardi]] [[lv:Prinča Edvarda sala]] [[lt:Princo Edvardo sala]] [[lij:Isoa do Prinçipe Edoardo]] [[hu:Prince Edward-sziget]] [[mk:Островот на Принц Едвард]] [[mr:प्रिन्स एडवर्ड आयलंड]] [[ms:Pulau Prince Edward]] [[mn:Принс Эдвардын Арал]] [[nl:Prins Edwardeiland (Canada)]] [[ja:プリンスエドワードアイランド州]] [[no:Prince Edward Island]] [[nn:Prince Edward Island]] [[pnb:پرنس ایڈورڈ آئیلینڈ]] [[pms:Ìsola dël Prinsi Edoard]] [[pl:Wyspa Księcia Edwarda]] [[pt:Ilha do Príncipe Eduardo]] [[ro:Prince Edward Island]] [[ru:Остров Принца Эдуарда]] [[simple:Prince Edward Island]] [[sk:Ostrov princa Eduarda]] [[sl:Otok princa Edvarda]] [[sr:Острво Принца Едварда]] [[sh:Otok Princa Edwarda]] [[fi:Prinssi Edwardin saari]] [[sv:Prince Edward Island]] [[tl:Pulong Prinsipe Edwardo]] [[ta:இளவரசர்นซ์เอ็ดเวิร์ดไอแลนด์]] [[tr:Prens Edward Adası]] [[uk:Острів Принца Едварда]] [[ur:پرنس ایڈورڈ آئ لینڈ]] [[vi:Đảo Hoàng tử Edward]] [[vo:Prince Edward Island]] [[fiu-vro:Prints Edwardi saar]] [[war:Prince Edward Island]] [[zh-yue:愛德華太子島]] [[bat-smg:Prėnca Edvarda sala]] [[zh:愛德華王子島]]'