Surprisingly Fun Prince Edward Island Facts You Probably Didn’t Know!

Uncover fascinating Prince Edward Island facts in our comprehensive guide! From its rich history to unique cultural highlights, delve into the intriguing details of this charming Canadian province. Discover PEI’s captivating stories and lesser-known insights in our detailed exploration.

Tucked off the coast of New Brunswick and Nova Scotia in the magical waters of the Gulf of St. Lawrence lies one of Canada’s most unique provinces.

With jaw-dropping landscapes that include bright red sandy beaches, lush farmlands adorned with patchworks of vibrant green fields, and 1,100 kilometres of stunning coastal vistas, Prince Edward Island is a province that can inspire any storyteller.

Prince Edward Island is, quite literally, where Canada was born. Since the island was first settled by Europeans in 1784, the province has inspired Canadian culture. Join us as we explore some of the most fascinating and fun Prince Edward Islands facts that will have you seeing the country’s smallest province with new eyes.

Fun Prince Edward Island Facts

These Prince Edward Island fun facts are packed with fascinating examples of why this tiny province is so incredibly amazing. Whether you’re visiting PEI for the scenic vistas, to walk in the footsteps of Anne of Green Gables, or just fascinated by the facts of PEI, you’ll find all sorts of details here you may never have realized.

Prince Edward Island Geography Facts

• The province of PEI is tiny. It’s just 224 km long and varies between 6 to 64 km in width.
• Prince Edward is the only province or territory in Canada with no land borders.
• Prince Edward Island has the smallest population of any Canadian province, yet it’s the most densely populated of all of the provinces in Canada.
• The 12.9 kilometre-long Confederation Bridge, which connects Prince Edward Island To New Brunswick is the world’s longest bridge spanning ice-covered water. It is one of Canada’s top engineering achievements of the 20th century.
• The province of Prince Edward Island actually consists of 231 different islands. Prince Edward Island itself is the largest.
• With 1,100 kilometres of coastline, in PEI you are never more than a 15-minute drive from the beach.
• The highest point of Prince Edward Island is just 142 metres above sea level, making it the flattest province in Canada.
• There are only two cities in Prince Edward Island, Charlottetown and Summerside. There are seven incorporated towns.

PEI Culture Facts

• Prince Edward Island was named in honour of Prince Edward, Duke of Kent. The fourth son of King George III got its name from Prince Edward, Duke of Kent, the fourth son of King George III, and the father of Queen Victoria. The most interesting part is that the island got its name from a person who never set foot on it and that Prince Edward self-advocated this name for the Island. Don’t take this wrong!
• The official bird of Prince Edward Island is the Blue Jay. The bird was chosen as part of a province-wide vote in 1976.
• The official animal of Prince Edward Island is the Red Fox. These beautiful animals can be found throughout the province and have learned to thrive among farms and towns.
• Surrounded by the waters of the Gulf of St. Lawrence, seafood is a staple on Prince Edward Island. In fact, this province has TWO lobster fishing seasons. The spring season runs from May to June while the fall season runs from mid-August to mid-October.
• The lion on top of the Prince Edward Island provincial flag is an English heraldic lion, which can also be found on the coat of arms.
• More than one-fifth of all of the potatoes grown in Canada come from Prince Edward Island.
• The Anne of Green Gables Musical first debuted in Charlottetown in 1965 and now holds a Guinness World Record as the longest-running annual musical.
• Billboards are banned on the side of highways in PEI.

Facts About Prince Edward Island People

• Prince Edward Island is the birthplace of famed author Lucy Maud Montgomery. Montgomery used PEI as the inspiration for her acclaimed novel series “Anne of Green Gables,” about an orphaned red-hair girl dubbed “the most lovable child in fiction” by Mark Twain.
• Charlottetown is the capital of Prince Edward Island. It is home to 52,390 people and is the 59th largest city in Canada.
• Contrary to popular belief, folk legend ‘Stompin’ Tom Connors was not born on Prince Edward Island. But he did call the island home. The Stompin’ Tom Centre in Skinner’s Pond was named in his honour and holds daily live performances.

Fun Facts About The History of Prince Edward Island

• Charlottetown is where the Fathers of Confederation met in 1864 to unify British colonies that would later become Canada.
• The first inhabitants of Prince Edward Island were a pre-historic Indigenous culture that settled here nearly 12,000 years ago. This population arrived when PEI was still connected to the mainland. Subsequent cultures emerged including the Mi’kmaq, who named PEI “Epekwitk,” which means “Lying in the Water.”
• French explorer Jacques Cartier is believed to be the first European to arrive on Prince Edward Island. He first set foot on PEI in 1534.
• The original European name for Prince Edward Island was “Saint John Island (Île Saint-Jean).” It was given the name by the French in 1713. The British captured the island in 1745 but it was returned back to the French in 1748 and then reclaimed by Britain again in 1763.
• Although the Confederacy was formed in Charlottetown in 1867, Prince Edward Island only became Canada’s seventh province in 1873.

Facts About Food On Prince Edward Island

• PEI is considered to be the bluefin tuna capital of the world. If you visit the fishing town, you can wander the lanes and see the tails of each of these massive fish that have been caught.
• Potatoe Fudge is one of the most unique treats in the province.
• Mother’s Day almost always coincides with the start of the lobster fishing season. So Mother’s Day dinner is often lobster.
• Prince Edward Island produces more than 40 million pounds of mussels per year, accounting for 80% of Canadian mussel production.

Facts About Travel in Prince Edward Island

• More than 1.6 million tourists visit Prince Edward Island every year.
• PEI has the second-longest multi-purpose trail in the world. Crossing the province from tip to tip, the Confederation Trail is second only to the Trans-Canada Trail. This series connects pedestrian, cycling, and hiking trails throughout the province.
• Prince Edward Island National Park is the ONLY National Park in the province. PEI is the only province in Canada to have just one National Park. Saskatchewan is second with two.
• There are more than 30 golf courses on Prince Edward Island that cater to everyone from beginners to professionals. Many people consider the province to be the “Golf Capital of Canada.”
• Some of the most popular places to visit in Prince Edward Island are the Anne of Green Gables Museum, Green Gables Heritage Place, and Lucy Maud Montgomery’s birthplace.
• There are more than 90 sandy beaches spread along the coast of Prince Edward Island. Many of these feature the island’s signature red sand.
• The Island Walk is a 700-kilometre trail on PEI that is modeled after the Camino in Spain. It has 32 different sections.
• You can drive from one end of PEI to the other in about 3 hours if you don’t make any stops (But you’ll want to because there are many great places to explore).
• PEI has the highest concentration of lighthouses in North America. Of the 63 lighthouses, 9 are open to the public (seasonally).
• Cows Creamery is considered by many to be Canada’s best ice cream. It’s rated among the World’s Top Ten Places for Ice Cream by Tauck World Discover. There’s even a branch of Cows Creamery in Beijing! 
• Myriad View Artisan Distillery produces Canada’s only legal moonshine (it has an alcohol content of 75%!!).
• The island has a functioning lighthouse that you can spend the night in.

Let These Prince Edward Island Fun Facts Inspire You To Visit The Province

These Prince Edward Island facts are a great way to get to know this incredible province. Whether you’ve been to PEI before or you’re planning your first trip, the beauty, attractions, and people of the province will win your heart.

Do you have a favourite attraction or restaurant in Canada? Head over to the We Explore Canada Facebook Community and join the conversation! You’ll find an amazing group of people passionate about travel in Canada who love to share their local secrets.

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