Prince Edward Island

B

Furs

Fur farming began on Prince Edward Island in the 1880s, when two enterprising men, Charles Dalton and Robert Oulton, began to raise silver foxes. Silver fox fur immediately became popular and commanded high prices on the market. Fashion then changed, and the popularity of silver fox declined in the 1930s. Breeders turned to mink in the second half of the 20th century, while demand for fox revived in the late 1970s and early 1980s. Today the most valuable ranch-raised fur is mink, followed by fox.

C

Fisheries

Fishing has long been one of the island’s significant industries. The catch is not large, but the quality is excellent. Lobster is the most valuable catch, followed by other shellfish, including scallops and the world-famous oysters from Malpeque Bay. Redfish, mackerel, hake, tuna, flounder, herring, eels, crabs, and clams are also caught. A notable industry on the western coast of the island is the harvesting and processing of Irish moss, a red algae. Irish moss is processed into carrageenan, an emulsifying and stabilizing agent used in beer, ice cream, toothpaste, pie fillings, and other products.

D

Manufacturing

A lack of inexpensive sources of power, capital, and raw materials has kept manufacturing to a minimum on Prince Edward Island. Long distances to large markets add to the difficulties. In 2004 manufacturing generated 12 percent of the province’s GDP. Major products include processed fish and seafood, dairy products, fertilizer, printed materials, boats, and wood products. Electricity output is minimal, and about 90 percent of the province’s requirements must be imported.

E

Tourism

Prince Edward Island is a popular vacation resort, known for the rustic charm of its quiet villages, its white sandy beaches bathed by the warm waters of the Gulf of St. Lawrence, and its excellent opportunities for trout fishing, deep-sea and tuna fishing, and other sports. In addition, a wide range of festivals celebrate the province’s culture and history. Visitors drawn by these attractions have made tourism one of the island’s leading sources of income despite the relatively short summer tourist season. Improved roads, a new bridge linking the island to the mainland, and the expansion of recreational facilities have also stimulated tourism.

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On the northern shore is Prince Edward Island National Park, the only national park in the province. The park contains sand dunes, salt marshes, and red sandstone cliffs, and is also the site of Green Gables, one of the finest golf courses in Canada. A fairway passes the national historic site commemorating Lucy Maud Montgomery, author of the classic Anne of Green Gables (1908) and other books set on the island. There are dozens of provincial parks on the island, many of which offer hiking trails and opportunities for viewing wildlife. The Confederation Trail, developed on abandoned railroad lines and encompassing 280 km (175 mi) of gently rolling terrain, is popular with hikers and bicyclists.

Charlottetown, the cultural center of Prince Edward Island, is home to many attractions, including theater companies, art galleries, and museums chronicling the island’s fishing and fur-raising industries. The Confederation Centre of the Arts, opened in 1964 to commemorate a meeting of Canada’s fathers of Confederation in 1864, houses several theaters, an art gallery and museum, a library, and restaurants. Founders’ Hall, an interactive museum opened on Charlottetown’s waterfront in 2001, offers an historical interpretation of the events leading to Confederation. Charlottetown is also a renowned center for horse racing.

F

Transportation

Until recently, transportation to and from Prince Edward Island was relatively expensive. Passengers and freight usually moved by ferry across Northumberland Strait as well as by air. This changed in June 1997 with the opening of the Confederation Bridge, which joined the island to the mainland by highway. The 12.9-km (8.02-mi) bridge, from Borden-Carleton on the central south side of the island to Cape Jourimain in New Brunswick, was built to withstand harsh wind and weather conditions, including ice floes that surge through Northumberland Strait every spring. The bridge, which takes just 12 minutes to cross, has helped boost the island’s tourist traffic.

The island has about 4,900 km (about 3,000 mi) of roads, almost all of which are paved. Airports in Charlottetown and Summerside have regularly scheduled service to the mainland. Seasonal ferry service is available between Wood Islands, Prince Edward Island, and Caribou, Nova Scotia, and between the Magdalene Islands, Québec, and Souris, Prince Edward Island. Rail service on the island was reduced in the 1980s, and in 1990 the last remaining rail lines were closed.

IV

The People of Prince Edward Island

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