Undoubtedly one of the most spectacularly beautiful provinces in Canada, Prince Edward Island is one of Canada’s three Maritime Provinces and consists of the main island and 231 smaller, mostly uninhabited islands. The main island is located in the Gulf of St. Lawrence, 200 km north of Halifax, Nova Scotia, and 600 km east of Québec City. It has a landmass of 5,660 km² and a population of a little more than 150,000, making it the smallest, and least populated province.However, it is the most densely populated. The island only has two significant urban areas; the capital city of Charlottetown and its suburbs, and the harbour of Summer side.
Health Care
There are hospitals and clinics where you can get medical help ,but it will be wise if you apply for a family doctor. Immediately after settling, call the PEI Health Department at 1-902-838-0916 and ask to be put on the waiting list for a family doctor.
Register for your PEI Health Insurance Card by calling the PEI Health Department, as you may be able to receive free healthcare. You can also get an application for PEI Health Insurance at local drugstore, clinics and immigrant serving organizations.
PEI Health Insurance does not cover all medical related expenses. It is best to obtain secondary health insurance from a private company. To do so, contact a local insurance company.
Weather
The climate is sub-arctic maritime, with moderately cold winters, and warm, wet summers. Winter storms and blizzards are common, and rainfall is abundant throughout spring, summer, and fall, making Prince Edward Island ideal for agriculture.
This Canadian city enjoys very warm summers where temperatures go up to 30 degrees Celsius. However, it gets very chilly in winter ,the temperature dropping to -20 to -30 degree Celsius. It is very important to ensure that you are prepared for the cold weather. Invest in warm winter clothing, including sweaters, winter jackets, boots, hats, scarves, and gloves or mittens. If you do not dress warmly in the winter you will risk becoming ill or getting frostbite.
Education
Outside of the public primary and secondary school system, there are few tertiary institutions on Prince Edward Island. There is 1 university, 1 Bible College, and 1 Community College, all considered excellent in their relative fields.
Career/Jobs
In order to be employed in the PEI province, the first step is to apply for your Social Insurance Number (SIN) as soon as you arrive. Ensure your credentials are assessed with the Canadian Centre for International Credentials. In order to obtain a trade certification, begin by contacting Red Seal, a nation-wide trade certification organization. Register with the appropriate territorial regulatory organization for your profession. If required, register for language classes to improve your English or French language skills. After completing these steps you’ll be prepared to begin working in PEI.
Note: If your English language skills require improvement, the government may pay for lessons through the Language Instruction for New Canadians program (LINC).
You can gather more information and have your language skills assessed at the PEI Association for Newcomers to Canada office. ESL courses for adults are also available.
Housing
There are multiple housing options across Canada. If you have not visited your new city prior to immigrating, it may be best to rent an apartment on a temporary basis when you first arrive, and/or hire a real estate agent to guide you through the housing process and provide you with knowledgeable advice on the best areas for you and your family.
Many families prefer to live in suburbs where housing is more affordable as housing is generally more expensive in cities. Suburbs often provide all facilities such as safe neighbourhoods, schools, shopping centres and healthcare, all within close proximity to the amenities of the city.
It is important that you take your family, your place of work, neighbourhood and finances into account before deciding on a place to live.
Cost of living
Residents of Prince Edward Island enjoy a comfy life, with relatively low costs of living, housing, and heating costs. Though the average income for a household is around $41,500, which is below the Canadian average, Prince Edward Island is a beautiful place to live and raise a family with house pricing starting below $150,000.
Economy
Aside from some tourism, Prince Edward Island is responsible for supplying most of the country’s potato crops, which tells us that agriculture forms a major part of its economy. The island has remained a sparsely populated, mostly agricultural province, with a small fishery. The island provides many interesting job opportunities for immigrants, from fishery to agriculture, to tourism and leisure. As a whole, it is a very welcoming and diverse place.
Its economy attributes a mix of conventional resources like agriculture, fisheries and tourism. These industries have undergone momentous modernization in recent years, even as new industries have started to appear in the province, including aerospace, bioscience, renewable energy, information technology, and video game development.