This particular province consists of a number of islands and is the smallest province both in terms of population and land mass. It has fewer than 150,000 residents and most of these are English speaking although other languages heard include French and Dutch. There are small communities of expats, mainly from Europe. The majority of people live in Charlottetown, although there are other smaller towns to choose from such as Georgetown, Cornwall and Summerside. The province has good educational facilities and there are language schools for those who do not have English as a first language. There is an organisation that is designed to help newcomers settle into the province and a link to this can be found on the website of the government of the province.

The climate by both the Arctic and the Atlantic, so winters can be very cold, but temperatures do fluctuate. There is a stormy season from December to April, although rainfall tends to be steady throughout the year.

Prince Edward Island – Employment

The main industries in Prince Edward Island are fishing and agriculture. These are seasonal industries and may offer opportunities for casual work but there are very few long term prospects, unless the expat is in a position to start their own business. There are a number of industries which offer opportunities for expats. These include ICT, energy and aerospace industries. All of these are developing steadily on the island and growing each year.

As with all provinces and territories, there is a shortage of skilled workers in some fields such as teaching, construction and medicine. Even if you have good qualifications, it may be necessary for an expat to undergo further training or examinations in order to reach the standards required by the Prince Edward Island government. The website of the government offers further advice on this, as well as pointing prospective workers towards employment agencies and other forms of assistance.

Prince Edward Island – Property

Most of the urban areas on Prince Edward Island are fairly small although there are two cities – Summerside and Charlottetown. Charlottetown is the capital of the province and offers a high standard of living for the residents. The city has a very low crime rate and is known for being an excellent place in which to raise a family. The Downtown area of the city is a mainly commercial area although there are some apartment buildings. These properties are normally taken by those who live and work in the area and many are rented.

Around the Downtown area there are a number of residential suburbs. These have shopping facilities and good schools and many of the homes are detached family homes with good sized gardens. Property prices in the city are low when compared with the Canadian average and do not vary much across the city. All areas have easy access to good schools and leisure facilities and travelling around the city is easy due to its compact size.

The city of Summerside has several neighbourhoods which are ideal for those with families who want to settle in the region. St Eleanors is a neighbourhood that is situated in the northwest area of the town. The area used to be a farming community until the Second World War, when it became an air force base. The area was developed and became a suburb of Summerside in 1995. Homes in the area are mainly detached family homes and prices are quite low when compared with other parts of the country. Most homes have gardens and the area has the shopping and leisure facilities needed for everyday life.

Other areas of the town have a range of properties available, from apartments to detached family homes and prices do not vary much across the town. Most areas have at least basic shopping facilities and the small size of the city of Summerside means that residents do not have far to travel for leisure facilities and restaurants.

Summerside has a number of schools, most of which teach through the medium of English, although there is one school which uses French as its main language. The schools are easily accessible from most parts of the town and there are also colleges for higher education.