Life on PEI
Prince Edward Island is a place where the best of all worlds is at your fingertips. Canada鈥檚 smallest province is beautiful and stimulating, a setting that鈥檚 conducive to a great university experience. Affordable, safe, culturally vibrant, and steeped in history 鈥� PEI has it all.
The essentials
UPEI is located in the city of Charlottetown. Historic streets, parks, buildings, shops, theatres, pubs, and art galleries provide a cozy setting for PEI鈥檚 only university. PEI is rich in heritage, culture, and a quality of life that is second to none. Located on Canada's east coast, the Island is famous for its stunning beaches, pastoral landscapes, cozy towns, and a dynamic cultural community.
Live and play
Have it all. Live in an environment that offers great educational institutions, top-quality health care, affordable housing, little traffic, low crime rates, friendly neighbours 鈥� a place where YOU can make a difference.
The Island enjoys a rich arts culture with its restaurants and pubs teeming with live music, professional (think the world-famous Anne of Green Gables 鈥� The Musical鈩�) and community theatre around every corner, and a host of festivals year-round. Some successful highlights include the Festival of the Lights, Jazz and Blues Fest, and Rollo Bay Fiddle Fest in the summer, and the renowned Jack Frost Children's Festival in winter. For year-round fun, one can always explore the Charlottetown Farmers鈥� Market, a dynamic hub showcasing the work of Island artisans and agriculturalists.
At 224 kilometres long and 6鈥�64 kilometres wide, PEI is Canada's smallest province, but that means you are never more than 15 kilometres away from great swimming and relaxing at the Island's world-class beaches. A wealth of outdoor activities are accessible across the Island with celebrated golf courses, scenic walking, skiing, and biking trails 鈥� such as the Confederation Trail that spans the Island 鈥� affordable and close.
Work
PEI is a welcoming place that enjoys a strong sense of belonging and history. The population is fairly evenly distributed between urban and rural dwellers. With some of the lowest housing costs in the country, the Island holds an excellent reputation for safety, and a friendly 鈥渒now-your-neighbour鈥� environment. With the economic mainstays of agriculture, tourism, and fishing, the province is focusing on growth in fast-growing IT, information technology, forestry, aerospace development, and bioscience sectors. PEI has a strong base of companies and institutions in research and development, with close connections and co-operation with UPEI. The Island offers a lifestyle that is a healthy balance of work, family, and fun.
Travel to and from
It is easy to travel on and off the Island by car, bus, ferry, or plane. PEI is linked to New Brunswick by the Confederation Bridge, a 9-mile/13-kilometre landmark that is quick and convenient. 鈥淭he Bridge,鈥� as it is affectionately known, is open 24 hours a day and takes 10 to 15 minutes to cross. Tolls are only collected when you leave PEI. Large car ferries also link Wood Islands, in eastern PEI, to Caribou, Nova Scotia, from early May to mid-December, a trip that takes about 75 minutes. Air Canada offers direct flights from the Charlottetown airport (a 10-minute drive from UPEI) to Halifax, Toronto, and Montr茅al. WestJet and Air Canada also offer direct flights to Toronto.
