Why So Few Canadians Live On Prince Edward Island

[@imadeanaccountforthiscomme5998]

You missed the fact that it is canada's most densely populated province. Having been there, you actually feel it, it feels like England. The distance between the country towns and the equally but tighly spaced population is actually pretty unique at least in Canada! Edit: you guys are golden

[@davidfoust9767]

@@imadeanaccountforthiscomme5998 ok, but huge northern parts of other provinces are basically uninhabited. It is unusual that more people don't live there.

[@DavidM2002]

You beat me to it. This is a far more important population metric and this KZbinr just completely misses the obvious.

[@eb.3764]

doesn't feel like it at ALL considering how dead it gets in the winter.

[@hohohohorussiaputinsanta]

Don't worry 1m Indians coming a year to get PR. It will soon be province of India.

[@MrJayehawk]

@@hohohohorussiaputinsanta - you keep making this same comment over and over, like it's clever. It's not.

[@Michaelonyoutub]

I am from PEI, just wanted to mention a few things and add in some more information. First off, I have worked as a lifeguard on a beach here, our water in the summer are not cold at all. For about 2 months, July and August, our water are mostly above 20C, and for the beach I worked at, it was above 22C a lot of the time in those months, we even measure 26C one day, that is Gulf of Mexico temperatures. The water ends up holding a lot of heat and a lot of cold, which ends up causing our seasons to be shifted considerably. We barely get snow in November-December, but after that we have snow falling into April. By the end of May it is summer temps, but peak summer is definitely July-August. We then have warm September into October, before it cools halfway through October into November. For PEI joining Confederation, one thing not mentioned that was important, is that PEI also looked to the US as an option, looking for them to buy PEI from Britain and make PEI a state. As soon as John A. MacDonald the first prime minister of Canada heard that though, he quickly came back and offered PEI whatever it wanted to join Canada. That is the reason PEI got such a great deal, even though they faced potential ruin on their own. Also not listed in the video is that the deal also included a guaranteed connection to the mainland (this was the ferry service until the Confederation bridge was built in 1997) and PEI was guaranteed 4 MPs and 2 senators in parliament, which is significantly more than PEI deserve for its population As for the economy, in the 1800s, though more so before Confederation, the Maritimes were booming due to basically a monopoly on West Atlantic trade since America was banned from trading with the Caribbean by Britain. More wooden ships were built in the Maritimes than anywhere in the world besides Britain itself, and since many British sailors were sailing newer more lucrative routes to Asia and Africa, Maritimers stepped in to fill the void in the Atlantic. The end of America's ban and the rise of steel steamer ships lead to a decline of all Maritime provinces, but this was not help by Canada. Early Canada focused all of its investment in industry in Ontario and Quebec, and spent money on big projects like the transcontinental railroad, and settling the Prairies, this left not much investment for the Maritimes which only declines in early Canada. Still today there is not that much industry in the east, and the provincial economies are composed of a lot of resource extraction industries like farming, fishing, lumber, and mining, though the last couple decades there have been some moves to get new industries started.

[@kommisar_chiptune]

aye on the New brunswick side we've had close to that as well in Shediac

[@Mac3622]

Anywhere along the Northumberland Strait is good swimming. I live in NS and there is a really nice beach between Tatamagouche and Pictou that I went to as a kid

[@stankythecat6735]

@@Mac3622born in Halifax here … every so often the Gulf Stream will hit Nova Scotia and suddenly the ocean temp is 28 f

[@wendymarples8388]

This fellow also mentioned that it gets COLD there, too, with temperatures sometimes going below freezing. :D I'm thinking he's a little tender. :D

[@CristySFM1234]

What's the relative cost of living on the island? I have plans on moving out of America and Edward's island is definitely going on my list of potential locations

[@ronjackson3]

What do you mean, few people. PEI is the most densely populated province in Canada.

[@revinhatol]

Look around!

[@ronjackson3]

@@revinhatol I am not joking, we are the most densely populated province in Canada.

[@streetpigeoner1734]

@@ronjackson3 ye fr lol I’m from NB and can confirm it certainly doesn’t have a small population

[@makaveliliveson]

LMAOOOOO

[@revinhatol]

@@ronjackson3 The empty north.

[@vesseyfilms]

I'm 33 and have lived here my whole life, so I wanted to share some local insights on what it's like living here. Over the past 15 years, the place has modernized a lot. Growing up, we had to go to Moncton or Halifax for any decent shopping, but now there are more options (though still not amazing). Thankfully, online shopping with quick delivery has made things much easier. The summer weather here is incredible. In July and August, afternoon temperatures range from 23-33°C, but it cools down nicely in the evenings to around 16-22°C. The water in the summer is warm and has been getting even warmer, which makes our beaches unique in Canada. People can actually swim comfortably, and it's common to see folks just sitting in the ocean. The restaurant scene is really impressive. There are lots of high-quality options, and new spots are opening all the time. Another great feature here is the "Rails to Trails" system, which spans the island. It’s perfect for walks or bike rides, taking you through wooded areas and rolling hills, and it’s mostly flat, making it accessible for everyone. As for wildlife, it's pretty safe. The largest predator is the coyote, but most locals rarely see them. You might hear them if you live in a rural area, but that's about it. So, it’s very safe to enjoy the outdoors-no worries about bears, lions, or other large animals. Even driving at night is less stressful because there’s no risk of a deer jumping out in front of your car, unlike other provinces. It also makes the Rails for Trails system very safe to walk alone, without needing to worry about wildlife protection. One unique perk is that we get a lot of funding for our small population due to our full provincial status. This means we often end up with amenities and resources that similarly sized cities or towns elsewhere might not be able to afford.

[@allannantes8583]

That is called equalization payments.

[@anneveniot9002]

My sister lived there for three years and they could not find a family doctor. Our family is originally from New Brunswick, in the fifties moved to Ontario. Her and her husband wanted to retire there but were worried about the doctor situation. Just wanted to share and I enjoyed your comment.

[@100percentSNAFU]

No deer on the island? That's nice. I'm from rural NY state and pretty much every single person I know has hit a deer at least once. They are like what rats are to a city here, they are pests, they multiply like crazy, and they are everywhere. And not nearly as many people hunt them anymore to keep their population down.

[@colergg]

Your wasting your life here it’s hell on earth

[@cartermacewen3086]

My dad is from PEI and I’ve gone every summer since I was born. It’s a true Canadian paradise

[@hohohohorussiaputinsanta]

Don't worry 1m Indians coming a year to get PR. It will soon be province of India.

[@JB-yb4wn]

Really? Did your dad tell you about how extremely difficult it is to get a doctor here? The clinics are booked solid so good luck there, the waiting list to get a doctor is years long. The incompetents running the province have recently discovered that it would be a good idea to have a medical school, despite the fact that UPEI has been around as a university since 1869. During the hurricane a couple of years ago, Charlottetown took weeks to get the power back on because Maritime Electric, (a family compact, like the Irvings, Braggs and others), decided not to spend money on getting rid of trees overhanging their lines. They even want to charge higher rates to pay for their stupidity. While the power utility in Summerside, (owned by the city), got their power up in a few days. The difference being that the Summerside utility discovered that prevention, (trimming trees off the lines and not letting them grow), is better than the cure. The food scene here in Charlottetown is a joke with mediocre restaurants littering the place selling sub par meals for premium prices, (like they have to rip off people every second during the summer just to stay afloat). The best meal in town is actually the casino which has a so-so buffet for $25. Food prices are the same as in Vancouver, except that people in Vancouver make way more money than the locals here do. This guy really understates how bloody cold it can get here in the winter. We have had snowdrifts that make your front door unusable, (I had a garage door I could use that is attached to the house). We have also had temperatures hover around -40 celsius. Housing is a big issue as the absolute cretins running this petty pirate kingdom have neglected to prepare for the influx of retiring Canadians and immigrants, students and of course the locals. Though they knew that the population was expanding, they did very little to expand the infrastructure that was required to sustain the incoming population. Very difficult for the foreign students to find student housing with such a tight rental market. They really should be banning short-term rentals, but the family compacts, who own a lot of housing here, of course want to maximize their profits even if it means keeping the houses empty all winter. Of course housing prices are going up, (thank goodness, thinking of selling my house and getting the hell off this bucolic island). People didn't come here because there is no reason to come here. The only reason people are immigrating now is that PEI has such a lax and laughable immigration investment program where, for $150,000 you too can become a Canadian citizen by setting up a business. Many have these fake businesses set up for 2 years, get their money back with landed immigrant papers and piss off to Toronto, Calgary or Vancouver. In fact, most of these business immigrants (Chinese mostly from the PRC), don't even stay here and get an address at one of the hotels owned by their buddies. This was a major scandal a couple of years ago but nothing was really done about it (the hotel had 500 people addressing themselves there). Just a joke of a province.

[@dabomb199715]

Have you been there recently? It’s basically Upper Punjab. & these leaches have the audacity to protest for Visa extensions.

[@allannantes8583]

@@JB-yb4wnyes I heard all about that in the news. So it is still going on!! Another reason to get rid of this PM we currently have. He has ruined the Country.

[@JB-yb4wn]

@@hohohohorussiaputinsanta Honestly, it would be a big improvement.

[@jyrki21]

I visited PEI for the first time in 2023, and a total stranger shouted, from across the street, “enjoy Charlottetown!” I wasn’t doing anything obviously touristy. So yes, I guess everyone really does know each other.

[@colergg]

I wouldn’t recommend coming back stay far away from this place if you can it’s hell on earth

[@Vicctrous]

Yes we do !

[@colergg]

@@jyrki21 ya it’s so tiny and miserable everyone does know everyone still hell on earth though

[@theconnaisseur]

Just a few things to note: The city population data you used was from the 2016 census, Charlottetown and Stratford are considerably larger now And pei is the most densely populated province, so the main reason it has a small amount of people is because there’s almost no land

[@uhohhotdog]

That’s ridiculous. You don’t need to have infinite land to have more people. There’s these things called cities where they build upwards.

[@VEGAS-NERVE]

Ever heard of Manhattan? Yeah, PEI doesn't need any more land to attract more people.

[@khalpwno5666]

They'd actually have to build more places to live though and we are barely keeping up with the current immigration numbers. PEI has had like a 1% home/apartment vacancy rate for years!

[@pierre.dillon]

@@uhohhotdog PEI has a law that prevents high rise buildings. Building height a maximum of 3 storey, not exceeding. 35 ft. (10.7 m.). The primarily reasons are related to aesthetics, community character, historical preservation, environmental, and Infrastructure considerations. That said there are some exceptions. The tallest building on PEI is the Delta Hotels in Charlottetown, which is about 90 feet (approximately 27 meters) tall and has 7 stories. But they are far and few between.

[@uhohhotdog]

@@pierre.dillon that’s the problem everywhere. That’s why we have a housing crisis. No one wants to build anymore

[@christion949]

Im from PEI, you crossed off swimming as a summer thing but many, if not most people here spend a lot of time at the beaches in the water during the summer, the beaches near Charlottetown (especially brackley) can get pretty overcrowded from tourism and such. Going to the beach every summer is definitely one big highlight of living here, the water is usually pretty warm (over 20C)

[@colergg]

Nothing good ever comes from pei

[@Sandmansands55]

@@colerggok rage bait lol

[@coolbug900]

PEI is truly lovely, and it's hard to visit it without feeling like you're bringing home a piece of the island with you - all over your boots, pants, and bags, that distinctive red sand gets absolutely everywhere

[@ricksmith7631]

i think i still have a jar of that red sand and its been just over 30 years, crossing at borden, thats the first thing you notice, the red sand.

[@allannantes8583]

It sticks to you like paint because it has iron oxide in it.

[@colergg]

You need to be there more if you call it lovely, it’s hell on earth

[@fiddlejohn9305]

And PEI has a unique traditional fiddling style, distinct from Nova Scotia, the Ottawa Valley, Newfoundland, Quebec, Manitoba and Cape Breton which all have their own distinct styles.

[@brianarbenz1329]

The great Indie Rock band Alvvays is from PEI. Molly Rankin learned the province's traditional musical styles from her father.

[@RyanSheppard-tq4pg]

@@brianarbenz1329 music scene is really lacking actually compared to Nova Scotia and Newfoundland. There’s hardly a house band playing in Charlottetown.

[@colergg]

Pei has no style it’s hell on earth

[@the_kombinator]

I just went there - I wouldn't say it's dense, but you will be near structures almost all of the time. Also, stuff's expensive! Get gas before you cross the bridge. Also, it's $50 CAD to leave on that bridge! Locals do not get a discount!

[@helghast_7203]

The fee is probably to find the budget to maintain the bridge, in my opinion.

[@ricksmith7631]

PEI is a place to be discovered and enjoyed. As someone who spent nearly every summer there in my youth, the hospitality, the people and the beaches are a true national treasure. Most of my time was spent at Summerside and North Rustico with some charter deep sea fishing for mackerel. PEI is the place you go to to get away but you are never alone. And the best thing, go down to the docks and just breathe in the smell, it will stay with you for life.

[@Fissey_Gaming]

@@ricksmith7631 facts I’m from Alberta but my grandparents and most of the family on that side are form there so we spend every summer with them down there at rice point. Also bobs deep sea fishing is my personal favourite place in North Rustico for deep sea fishing they are by far the best imo

[@ricksmith7631]

@@Fissey_Gaming i remember Bobs very well. ive been to Rice Point a couple times, the nice thing is you could drive anywhere in one day and still have time to spare. Never went over the bridge and the crossing there was quick but one year we ran aground and had to wait. usually we would come back from Murray Harbour so we could get in some Nova Scotia on the trip.

[@coolkid2104]

@@ricksmith7631 I grew up in North Rustico, going to school there until Grade 9 and playing hockey and soccer with the local teams. Everyone in living here is so humble and friendly, I used to hate the summers because the amount of tourists arriving made it super busy, however now that I'm older I can truly appreciate what draws so many people here. I never got it when I was younger because I just thought "well this is what everywhere is like", but after having lived in other areas of Canada I have to say the Northumberland Strait is calling me back home and it is a place I would love to live out the rest of my life

[@Fissey_Gaming]

@@ricksmith7631 I’ve never been to south east pei I’ve always wanted to see Murray harbour and panamure island cause they have lots of seals. My grandparents cottage is literally right beside camp seggie and so is my great grandmas cottage. I love pei it’s awesome

[@Fissey_Gaming]

@@ricksmith7631 where did your family stay

[@rh9477]

Low population, you say? I’m having nunavut

[@johncasey1020]

I see what you did there.

[@hohohohorussiaputinsanta]

Don't worry 1m Indians coming a year to get PR. It will soon be province of India.

[@detramwings6969]

@@hohohohorussiaputinsanta We should rename brampton 'New New Delhi'

[@brianarbenz1329]

@@hohohohorussiaputinsanta Lots of people coming to Canada from another continent is an old tradition. It started in the 1490s.

[@christophertownsend3820]

​@@brianarbenz1329 ***Sad Viking noises***

[@aarontuplin]

I was born and raised there. Almost everyone leaves when they're finished with high school, at least for a few years. Outside of fishing and farming there's not a lot of Economic Opportunity there

[@donaldclifford5763]

Looks like the retirement industry is picking up there. And how about keyboard entrepreneurs and telecommuters?

[@aarontuplin]

@@donaldclifford5763 I have heard through some people I know that remote work is a thing there and from what I can recall most of the island has good internet

[@manifold1476]

says you, an obvious non farmer or fisher.

[@semajxocliw]

I'm Nova Scotian and anecdotally a surprisingly large amount of Nova Scotians seem to be descended from Prince Edward Islanders. Back in the late 19th and early 20th century there were a lot of very large farming families whose sons and daughters emigrate for work in the industrial world.

[@philpaine3068]

There's an old P.E.I. folk song in which an Islander sings about the tragic sadness of being exiled to a distant "foreign country" ---- New Brunswick.

[@BerigVintrange]

Visited PEI in 2019, attended the Congres Acadian, visited with my dear friend who lives in Hunter River, walked the dreamy beaches of North Rustico, stayed at the university of PEI in Charlottetown, my whole time there was just fantastic, hiked some on the Confederation Trail (former CNR line), rode the Maritime bus over the Confederation Bridge, it was all like a great dream, people were so friendly, best of all got to spend time with my dear friend who I met at Carleton University in Ottawa in the 80s. Hope to go back soon.

[@imadeanaccountforthiscomme5998]

You can totally swim there in the summer, ocean water as warm as virginia beach in summer!

[@xlxl9440]

And I'm assuming no SHARKS!! 😅😅😅

[@paul.hogan720]

@@xlxl9440 some of the biggest great white sharks ever recorded in human history are from that area.

[@davidgreenhow7811]

I went to Brackley Beach once and was surprised at how warm the water was.

[@katemaclennan521]

@@xlxl9440 oh we have sharks. Sharks are everywhere in the North Atlantic now.

[@parkerdonham6754]

Rubbish. The water's off pei are cold

[@LouisEmery]

6:14 you drew for the 1867 boundaries of Quebec and Ontario those of the present era. These provinces' boundaries in the early days enclosed only the southern parts, where the population centers were. (Well the population centers are still the same. The northern territories of Quebec and Ontario are mostly empty still)

[@William366Evans]

Need more people might be lucky to get more British over

[@johngore7744]

In 1873 the Canadian flag was the Red Ensign. We didn’t have the Maple Leaf until 1965. Cheers from Montreal

[@jacktaggart2489]

Canada, as a nation was established at Charlottetown, P.E.I. on July 1, 1867 (presently, Canada Day). Representatives from New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, P.E.I., Quebec and Ontario convened to form the Dominion of Canada. A very significant day in Canadian history.

[@allannantes8583]

The fathers of Confederation first met in Charlottetown in 1864. The birthplace of Canada however PEI held out until 1873 and then scored a great deal. Then Sir John A. MacDonald killed trade with the Yanks by putting on a tariff which killed the boom economy and made it a have not Province. It gets lots of equalization payments now.

[@craigwiester9177]

8:16 there is no rail bridge to PEI; neither is there any longer a railway on the island.

[@TheRichardSpearman]

Thanks; I wondered if somehow the rail network had been retained; I wonder when it closed?

[@myhandle527]

As someone that lives here. Yes it's nice, but it's very quiet which can be good and bad. But we're also one of if not the lowest paid in canada on average, have to pay to leave the province, everything cost more cause it's an island, have a crooked government, and housing costs are about double if not close to triple in the last 5 years. As an example a house in 2010 that was 80 k is now work 250k or more. Where min wage was 9 bucks an hour. To keep up wages would need to be around 27 an hour. But it's only 16. So house price triples and wage doesn't even double. We are getting more homeless and the goverment struggles with budgets. But somehow keeps finding money for intersection construction. 1 intersection has been redeveloped 3 times in the last 5 years. Costing 10s of millions over what it should of. Basically very poorly run place but quiet and good to raise kids and retire. Just don't expect any kind of big party scene or really large stores like costco, ikea. I find it very boring.

[@colergg]

For anyone reading this, it’s not like that at all it’s hell on earth

[@ddhqj2023]

@@colergg If you're an older, retired couple, it's fine, but I agree that if you're under 30......YAWN!

[@barenekid9695]

A friend grew up on PEI. He correctly describes it as a Windswept Sand bar in the Middle of the St Lawrence.

[@chad_b]

I'm born and raised in PEI. I love my tiny province

[@chrissmith3509]

Do you have a lot of caribou and antelope like the rest of Canada?

[@chad_b]

@@chrissmith3509 no we didn't. The biggest animals we have would probably be coyotes

[@wojtekjakub1810]

Been there and its a gorgeous tiny province. Really enjoyed the Anne Of Green Gables House.

[@colergg]

I hate it, hell on earth I say

[@drums3269]

As an American, I've been to PEI and it it beautiful. That seafood and ice-cream is amazing, and of course, Anne of Green Gables!

[@laurentbeaulieu4443]

Good presentation Geoff, I live on PEI and you are spot on. Thanks. Only one point, Montreal was until 1976 the metropolis of Canada and main business/ investment centre. Toronto was no where near that status in terms of immigration, nor Vancouver.

[@ZakhadWOW]

and then Rene' Levesque and his political assholes managed to get complete control and ram the language laws on everyone.. That caused a massive Anglophone migration to Toronto.

[@REACTIONFR]

The main issue with PEI is that their is NO highway so it's kinda complicated and very long to go from one town to the others..

[@grrrrrrr0]

Went to visit pei last summer, what a beautiful place and deeply kind people. Would love to go back soon

[@walterfletcher]

It should be noted that PEI has a population density of 27.2 people per square kilometer. Which would make it sparse by the standards of the United States but makes it the most densely populated Provence in Canada. So, the first sentence, "Prince Edward Island is Canada's smallest Provence," fully explains the two sufficient conditions for it to have such a low population; PEI is geographically small and Canadian.

[@juliaskipper2573]

And agricultural still. Which reduces population density. Unless you have cities that build up instead of out. Which we don't yet have here in Charlottetown, though perhaps slowly changing.

[@brianarbenz1329]

Asking why the smallest province has the smallest population is kind of a "duh!" question.

[@VEGAS-NERVE]

you're conclusion is wrong. The population is NOT small because of the land size. More people literally live on the Peninsula in Halifax (a single part of the HRM) than the entire province of PEI

[@walterfletcher]

@@VEGAS-NERVE You might want to check your sources on that. The Peninsula in Halifax has a population of 72k, PEI has a population of 154k.

[@VEGAS-NERVE]

@@walterfletcher sorry I meant to say ‘urban goes’ which goes beyond the peninsula, but still, same idea

[@billwhitman1326]

The reason the population is increasing is because of the confederation bridge. It’s now viewed as a good retirement haven and you don’t have to wait a long period for a ferry anymore.

[@GrahamLT]

@@billwhitman1326 yes, but that doesn't explain Geoff's comment on how PEI has grown more since 2021 than it did from the bridge build in 1997 to 2021. For that, you can thank the pandemic, remote work and the cost of living crisis causing masses to leave other provinces.

[@hohohohorussiaputinsanta]

Don't worry 1m Indians coming a year to get PR. It will soon be province of India.

[@blade797]

PEI has one of the shortest PR time periods of 6 months. The brown invaders have arrived

[@kyleanuar9090]

A lot of properties being sold to foreign buyers who don't contribute and instead trying to profit. PEI is losing its character fast.

[@nixcails]

​@@hohohohorussiaputinsantawhere did you get that from Trump news or Mulrooney?

[@geewelch]

I moved to the island from Ontario almost a decade ago and living here has been eye opening to what your true priorities should be - family and community. A truly unique place in the world let alone Canada

[@wendymarples8388]

I spent 3 weeks exploring PEI one June. I drove along a road to a harbour where oyster business was going on. While chatting to one of the ladies, I discovered that I had taught 2 of her cousins, had just been to Hawaii with the lady her mom had babysat for, I knew the person who had been babysat and was best friends with this lady, AND I'd taught both of HER kids. I'm from the FAR side of Canada in a town in BC! The German tourist I'd picked up to go exploring with me that day was ASTONISHED. We just laughed. It is such a Canadian thing to happen. Photos were taken and sent with no explanation given. :D LOVE PEI!

[@chaunceyfeatherstone6209]

Love stories like this!

[@brianarbenz1329]

If I go to PEI, I'll mention I know you!

[@eastfrisian_88]

We have a saying in German: "The world is a village!" and it's so true. Went to Amsterdam an met two Dutch guys who studied for a year at my tiny German University, went to Tunesia and one tunisian tourist guide grew up 4 km from my little village in Northwest Germany (and went to the same school) and I went diving in Egypt and the German diving school owner grew up 20 km from my living location in a village nearby the Northsea coast and asked if I have free space in my suitcase and if I could gave her sister some things (cosmetics etc.) who lives close by my location because a parcel delivery costs a fortune :D

[@mythigator7406]

"My name is Geoff and I'm going to talk about Prince Edward Island." That was me, forty-some years ago, giving a report in sixth grade. I found PEI interesting back then, and even more so now. Excellent video!! 👍👍👍👍

[@colergg]

It’s not interesting it’s hell on earth

[@markrichards6863]

PEI is gorgeous, not crowded and most surprising, the water is warm at the beach, in the summer. The sand is red in color.

[@100percentSNAFU]

I feel like everywhere that starts out gorgeous and not crowded eventually becomes not so nice and crowded because too many people move there and ruin it. Kinda like California. Or even the small town I live in upstate NY. It was really nice when I moved here, but since it's nice here and private, away from the cities and surrounding areas a bit, everyone who can afford it it has dropped anchor here and they are wrecking all the former natural landscapes with monolithic housing developments. Traffic has increased massively and with that also comes noise pollution. Hopefully you will be able to keep your island unspoiled. Had a chance to visit once when I was in Nova Scotia, but didn't get that far unfortunately. Next time I come to the Maritimes I want to make it a point to visit PEI.

[@colergg]

It’s really not more like hell on earth

[@recurse]

I think you're sort of asking the wrong question. PEI is the most densely populated province in Canada. Square kilometer for square kilometer, it's beating all the other provinces. It has a rapidly diversifying population and a rapidly changing identity. And high tech manufacturing is an increasingly important part of the economy. There is a thriving and cutting edge biotech cluster here on the Island - I work in vaccine manufacturing, for example. That is why we have had phenomenal growth this century and why we have a housing crisis today - all that stuff about "affordable housing" is legitimately funny, but not in a "ha ha" way, because it's becoming hard to afford to live here on a low income. People have been literally driven to the mainland by unavailable and unaffordable housing. I love it here and I've lived here most of my life, and I'm proud of what we've accomplished, but PEI is a rapidly evolving moving target and you're sort of shooting at where it was, not where it is.

[@PatG-xd8qn]

You can't compare statistics that aren't calculated in the same way. Other provinces have huge uninhabited areas, making the comparison meaningless. If you want to compare the population density of different provinces, you have to only look at the areas where people actually live. For example, the administrative region named Capitale-Nationale in Québec (which includes Québec city and the surrounding areas like Charlevoix) has a population density of 40 inhabitants per square kilometer. Meanwhile, the population density is 27 people per square km in PEI. Yet, the region of Capitale-Nationale is larger than PEI as a whole. The administrative region of Montréal has nearly 500 people per square kilometer! 150k people in a place as large as PEI is very little people relatively to how it is elsewhere in the world and even in Canada. Charlottetown is a very small city relatively to other places in Canada

[@recurse]

@PatG-xd8qn what does that even mean? Density isn't a statistic, it's a ratio, and it is calculated the same for every province. What's your point, exactly?

[@PatG-xd8qn]

@@recurse "Population density is not a statistic, it's a ratio" 🤦 A ratio is one of the 4 types of data in statistics. Population density is a type of statistical calculation. It's indeed a very simple calculation, but as we can see with your case interpreting that simple statistic isn't straightforward. Like every statistic, the number itself is meaningless if you don't understand which data was used to calculate the result that you're looking at. This being said, the point is that PEI is a rural province with a very low population density relatively to other regions of Canada. The population density of PEI is comparable to the Eastern Townships in Québec (32 people per square kilometer vs 27 for PEI), which is a very rural area of the province of Québec. You can't compare the population density of PEI with other provinces as a whole. If I keep Québec as an example, the region called "Nord-du-Québec" has an area of over 700k square kilometers, which is larger than Metropolitan France (552k square kilometers)! Yet, only 46 000 people live in the region Nord-du-Québec. Thus, this huge uninhabited area of Québec skews the population density of the province as a whole and makes the comparison between PEI and Québec as a whole completely meaningless. Didn't you learn statistics in high school? That's like the most basic math you can learn that's actually useful in life...

[@SamaOne]

I lived almost a year in Tignish, nord cape of PEI. As a french man it was amazing, the people the landscape, the history. I loved it.

[@colergg]

Hell on earth

[@Altobrun]

I need to get myself out to PEI. Visited every central-eastern province at least once and lived in a few of them (Ontario, Quebec, NS) but I've never been to PEI despite only ever hearing positive things. Love from Ontario

[@Crabbe__]

Onterion werido enough of you are here

[@Barnaclebeard]

Why is Ontario so mean to Ontario??

[@Radwar99]

I live in Quebec and I'm surprised you went to Nova Scotia without passing by P.E.I., that's what I did, I took the Confederation Bridge, stopped in Charlottetown for a short stop and then took the ferry into Nova Scotia.

[@Altobrun]

@@Radwar99 I lived in Nova Scotia as a student so was mostly concerned with just moving down. While I was down there I travelled the province pretty extensively, and went to Saint John, Fredericton, and Moncton, but unfortunately never managed to get out to PEI

[@markusmayer7956]

0:55: That math doesn't compute. A mile isn't almost triple the length of a kilometre. 1100 km = 683.508 mi, 425 mi = 683.971 km.

[@robbyf5522]

Coastlines are kind of impossible to measure, so I think they just got two different measurements

[@malakapousti7658]

We moved out this past Spring, a man can take eating Curry so many times Kolkata 2.0 ( btw what would be a diverse Province would be allowing EVERY COUNTRY access not just South East Asia.

[@DavidTonner]

Thanks!

[@craigputnam2978]

Good video Jeff, learned a lot. That connector bridge makes all the difference; population growth.

[@AaronOfMpls]

As did the rise of remote work during and after COVID, probably.

[@susandavison1134]

However, if you live here it's still $50+ to leave and if you have close family, or business on the mainland it is very expensive.. You are on house arrest, every day.

[@kelhapam]

My husband and I vacationed there this summer-our 8th visit. It’s one of our favorite places to go.

[@joannleichliter4308]

A friend of mine lived on PEI many years ago and was quite enamored of the place.

[@colergg]

That’s probably the worst decision your friend ever made

[@gerberjoanne266]

The only thing I know about PEI is the book "Anne of Green Gables," which I read as a child. I wouldn't mind visiting there someday.

[@verone272]

Read it again! All the books! They are so so so so so gooooood 🥹

[@stevewoodard527]

I'm Canadian and have been to every province but PEI. This video was very helpful to me. Thanks.

[@colergg]

Stay away it’s hell on earth

[@RJ-mz3co]

I stopped at PEI on a cruise. I listen to local radio stations when cruising to get a sense of the places. I heard what I thought was SPOT-FM but later realized that with the Canadian Raising accent, they really meant SPUD-FM!

[@algonquin91]

The Îles-de-la-Madeleine just north of PEI are also very interesting. They are a piece of Quebec in the Maritimes with an Acadian culture.

[@djexpo6655]

They also harvest oysters there! They were delicious.

[@sailorsenshi4504]

Ooh def want to visit now

[@jeanwarren3012]

@@algonquin91 They belong to France

[@nlpnt]

@@jeanwarren3012 You're thinking of St. Pierre and Miquelon off the coast of Newfoundland.

[@algonquin91]

@@jeanwarren3012 No, they belong to Quebec. St. Pierre et Miquelon (which are off the coast of Newfoundland) belong to France.

[@HAPPYPLANTGAL]

For its size the population looks just right, no one wants overcrowding.

[@andyl4565]

I'm Canadian from Vancouver, BC and didn't know this history of PEI. You did a great job and I hope you eventually look at all of the provinces.

[@geoffreywalter6953]

Thank you for a wonderful, informative, video. I love PEI. I try to go there once a year. PEI is one of Canada’s gems. I love the diverse scenery. The wonderful and friendly people. The amazing sea food. The relaxed way of life. And last but not least, their super tasting potatoes! Love you PEI.

[@kob8634]

Ok buddy, Spud Islander here... let's see how you do (most Islanders don't know any of this): 1) Most of Nova Scotia, espeically the Halifax area, has warmer winters than PEI -- only the Cape Breton highlands are colder than PEI. Even though the water is MUCH colder off Yarmouth (for example) than around PEI (especially on the Straight side) the air is quite a bit warmer on an average winter day because of the Gulf Stream which sends its air but not its water to the Nova Scotia coast. (see, things to think about, huh???) 2) PEI winters don't "go below freezing" in January and Februrary, it goes ***far*** below freezing. 3) Our groundwater *is* (almost) limitless -- we remove less than 4% of the annual recharge from the acquafer which is **much** bigger than the Island itself. 4) Why not more people? It's already **by far** Canada's most densely populated -- there are too many people here now! 5) In 1860-1880 PEI had one of the highest per capita incomes in the world due to north-south sea trade (1100 ships in the merchant marine at the zenith with a population of about 80,000 -- more than one ship per 100 people, just in commercial trade!) but by 1899 PEI was poor BECAUSE OF Sir John A's Tariff, "no truck or trade with a Yankee!!!" was the slogan and it **********DESTROYED PEI***********. ~Not even our premier~ knows this today! 6) You *almost* pronounced Newfoundland correctly. Don't worry, most Canadians get it wrong. If you pronounce it the same as you did but instead of saying "lnd" at the end say "land" which rhymes with "hand" and "stand" --> New fin land, not New found lnd, or New found land, or New fin lnd, but New finn land with a well pronounced short "a" in land. 7) In winter: PEI is colder than Newfoundland, PEI is much warmer than Labrador, Labrador is part of Newfoundland And Labrador (the official name) which, when taken as a whole, is colder than PEI 8) It's not Canadians that are expanding PEI's population -- the _vast_ majority of our recent population growth are not Canadian The number of things you got exactly correct are so numerous that you get about a 9.6/10 on this -- very well done. I actually learned something, I honestly thought PEI produced more potatoes than all other provinces combined but I can't even find a year in history where that was so, so that's new info to me. And here's a freebie: Cornwall has been PEI's fastest growing community for over ten years -- previous to that (for nearly thirty years) it was Stratford (or the components which amalgamated to become Stratford). Well done. When I'm outside Canada it's not often I can even say where I'm from without having to explain it. This'll help a little I'm sure.

[@100percentSNAFU]

Interesting stuff. I am American but make frequent visits to Canada. I live pretty close, like literally a few miles away from the border in NY state. Only got out to the Maritimes once and visited Halifax and Yarmouth and explored the western part of Nova Scotia a bit. Actually wanted to get up to PEI but didn't get the chance. Definitely next time, and I am planning a next time because I enjoyed the visit so much. Not a surprise about the cold waters around Yarmouth. When we drove from Halifax to Yarmouth in July the temp dropped from 90 degrees to 60 (fahrenheit, of course, I am American 😂), it was foggy and windy and cold and like a whole different climate there. Crazy amount of difference in a few hours drive.

[@joywebster2678]

Went there as a teen with family on vacation. loved it, wanted to retire there but then immigration hit it smothering retirement possibilities, and healthcare got arrested in growth. Wonderful place.

[@TrevorJC]

Looks like a wonderful place to live! I would love to visit PEI someday.

[@laurendeal2034]

As a Nova Scotian, PEI is not significantly more comfortable than mainland maritimes…. Due to the coastline and exposure to the ocean the weather is much less stable and predictable. Any given day could be scorching in the summer, whipping winds or sideways rain. I once visited to play rugby at the end of April and it was snowing. It also costs 52$ in tolls to leave the island via bridge and more for ferries, and the amenities like healthcare and specialists on the island are worse than the rest of the maritimes which were already worse than similar density other places in Canada…

[@trevorschwab619]

Yet PEI is still the darling of the maritimes. Halifax is cool and all but Nova Scotia is jealous of the culture.

[@LanielPhoto]

As a frequent visitor to PEI - I miss the Woodleigh Replicas the most.

[@cdnhank]

Was it not the best!! Loved that place 😀 🏰 🇬🇧

[@edwinwise6751]

My father was a guest professor at their university and fell in love with place . He was from a beautiful part of the Virginia coast

[@comeconcon569]

Canada has lots of uninhabited places where no one wants to live. that's why Canada's population isn't as big as the U.S. population. other than the death valley and deserts, the U.S. is rather habitable here, there and everywhere.

[@donaldclifford5763]

Population growth higher for Canada than US.

[@100percentSNAFU]

And the mountains as well. But yeah most of the U.S. is pretty liveable. The far north of Canada not so much, same with Alaska. Not a surprise the majority of Canada's population lives within 100 miles of the U.S. border. It's cold enough where I live (actually I'm a stones throw from the Canadian border) I can't imagine the far north.

[@MegaJellyNelly]

With global warming making Canada's frigid climate more bearable, and the U.S' south more unbearable, I think it will shift the definition of livable more and more

[@Nama-Montana]

I got more as a Canadian than most of our social classes. Well researched and well made …. Compliments to the PEI islanders comments here❤❤❤ great work.

[@PBGetson]

I was born on PEI, but moved to Whitehorse, in the Yukon Territory in '73. Thank you for the video.

[@donaldclifford5763]

Is Whitehorse experiencing much growth?

[@PBGetson]

@@donaldclifford5763 Too much growth. There's no industry or much employment, but the government is stuffing thousands of immigrants here.

[@donaldclifford5763]

@@PBGetson Legal immigrants, I hope? And does PEI have plans to promote tourism?

[@MegaJellyNelly]

​@@PBGetson they opened a university not too long ago, no? That's in itself a huge industry

[@nixcails]

It was my favourite place in North America. It felt distinct and I liked the small towns and absence of tall buildings or back in 1998 at least the low proliferation of fast food and corporate coffee places. It had a genuinely homely feel. As for the cold sea water I'll dispute that. It may be true in winter. But in High Summer it's the same as Cornwall (The UK nation) as the shallow waters warm quickly. It's definitely somewhere I would return to

[@sebbvell3426]

Can you make a video talking about Anticosti island?

[@johnmcafee4816]

Love your channel Please do a video on the Madeline islands ... A hidden beautiful gem north of pei ..French speaking and beautiful

[@johnmcafee4816]

Sic Les Îles-de-la-Madeleine

[@sailorsenshi4504]

Always wondered this. It looks like an ideal location.

[@tajf8641]

Awesome video great channel I learned a tone thank you 😊

[@EpicAzureOfficial]

I live and was born in PEI, its great here

[@brianferguson8728]

Couldn't help notice that much of your stock footage in this video is of Prince Edward County in Ontario, not Prince Edward Island. I can see where the confusion lies as Prince Edward County in the Bay of Quinte area of Ontario is also an Island. Good rule of thumb is, if there are not red cliffs and sand beaches in the clips, it's probably not PEI. Loved all the stats about our wonderful Island. Great job on the numbers.

[@ibmtpx24]

Still on my bucket list because of Ann of Green Gables.

[@TravelwithJennifer-x1z]

Your passion for exploring the world’s most picturesque places shines through

[@philais]

My family came into America through Prince Edward

[@normanbrent2306]

Muskoka boy here who Loves his 2nd Home in Pei😘 its a very Wonderful, peaceful place... Good for the Soul.

[@espnluver7525]

I understand Prince Edward Island is about the size of the US state of delaware

[@PrairiePeony]

I am considering moving there. My great grandfather moved from there to Massachusetts, USA. Prior to him my family ancestry goes back that I've discovered to early 1800's. There are family members their that I have yet to meet

[@LJ.613]

You absolutely can swim in PEI

[@karlweir3198]

I grew up going there every summer to our families cabin. Loved going there its a beautiful province and almost mived there last year

[@raymondmartin6737]

Going over the bridge to PEI, in 2004, from New Brunswick was quite an experience there. 😅

[@meabhmurphy9090]

One of my school friends did a university year abroad in Canada in PEI, always thought that it was a weird place to go but he seemed to like it.

[@manifold1476]

Yeah, we're all "weird" here. You would do better to *STAY AWAY!* ffs

[@chaunceyfeatherstone6209]

In 1978 I was 16. My Mom was born in New Brunswick and we had extended family there from both her parents' sides. That particular summer, we borrowed an Uncle's car and ferried over to PEI. I vaguely understood it was small and when I unfolded the map I was first presented with the westernmost county, Prince's. Opposite the fold, Queen's. I thought, let me guess, King's? I claim no psychic ability, yup, King's. And while in Prince's County I noticed a billboard advertising a drive-in theatre. No big deal, right? The drive-in was at the other end of the province -- in King's! The other end of the province! That's when I knew it was small.

[@Canleaf08]

I went from Moncton to Charlottetown recently. I was thinking: Maybe I can see some lighthouses, should not take that long. Unfo it would have taken me a few hours, I scheduled the last ferry for that day. You need more days in Canada’s smallest Province. It is worth a sight to see the Confederation Bridge and then you see farmland and nature. I felt there were a lot of dandelions.

[@DarleneUlvstal]

The increase in the population in recent years is not because "more Canadians are discovering the privince" it's due to the PEI government's plan to grow PEI to 200,000 by 2030 through immigration from other countries. What seemed like a good plan to stimulate economic growth has created a major crisis in this province. This growth has put an incredible strain on the infrastructure of the island, which clearly was not anticipated by those in power. It has caused a crisis in housing availability. The cost of rent here has gone through the roof, making it difficult for people to find a place to live. The government offers construction incentives to companies to build apartment buildings, but the rent is not affordable for many. Our medical infrastructure is on the verge of collapse. Almost a quarter of the population has no family Dr. There are few walk in clinics and wait times there and at the hospital emerge is obscene with emerge wait times as long as 18 hours or more. There is also pressure in the job sector as well, as jobs are now scarcer and the government provides subsidies for businesses to hire new immigrants, which removes job opportunities for locals. These are just a few of the problems this island is dealing with and that doesn't include the cultural changes that have happened and will continue to happen in generations to come. The idyllic close family feel of the island will change and may even disappear as has happened in so many places where government stimulated population growth has backfired and caused irrevocable change.

[@susandavison1134]

So very true.

[@allannantes8583]

@@susandavison1134Trudeau has got to go.

[@Sand_Bard]

the housing crisis started long before the boost to immigration policy, and is primarily driven by greedy corporate landlords is it is across Canada

[@loneprimate]

You can so swim in the gulf. We had a cottage in Nova Scotia on Northumberland Strait and the water was wonderfully comfortable from May to September... to the point that it was often _uncomfortably_ full of jellyfish.

[@verone272]

He said our sweet St-Laurent gulf was uncomfortable to human touch 😂 That’s misinformation

[@Michformer]

Anne of Green Gables, spuds, squeaky sand, Cows Creamery… PEI has lots to offer. :)

[@colergg]

No it doesn’t it’s hell on earth

[@Lisa_Peters]

PEI no longer has a railway system. The last passenger train on PEI was 1968 and the last freight train was 1989. Where the train tracks used to be is now part of the Confederation Trail system that criss-crosses the province.

[@coadymcgillivray3846]

Love your videos, I was quite surprised and excited when I seen you did a video of my home keep up the great work

[@sl08992]

PEI is the smallest province so it’s expected. Like your never more than 15km from a beach there so it’s a no brainer even though it’s the most densely populated province

[@user1115.]

I wonder why the smallest province by land area has the smallest population. Can anyone help me figure this out?

[@ronjackson3]

@@user1115. that’s a head scratcher!

[@hussainelb3930]

Actually in most countries the smallest subdivision mostly will had the largest population, maybe that's not the norm in North America but it is the most other countries

[@-not-nameless-]

No idea. It should have billions of people.

[@hohohohorussiaputinsanta]

Don't worry 1m Indians coming a year to get PR. It will soon be province of India.

[@varsoo1]

@@hussainelb3930 Thats because in most countries the smallest subdivision is the national capital, like the US and Germany and UK. Canada is unique in that it is the total opposite with the capital located in the largest province.

[@supertyfon1736]

I was in PEI for a concert in Cavendish, and along the way I saw many farms almost continuously. I don't see the island reaching more then 200,000 people due to it's tiny size it's a lot more crowded then what you were to believe PS 1,100 km is 683 miles.

[@myhandle527]

Pei gaimes about 20k residence in the last 5 years. Is under a major housing crisis right now and can't keep up with the population growth. 200k is not far off at this point

[@jonahmacphee5152]

What are you talking about? We are probably going to hit 200k within 3-5 years.

[@hollyword41]

20 degrees in July on average? I wish! Try 25+

[@cmccullough12C]

And add in the high humidity then we’re looking at 35+

[@manifold1476]

20 degrees in july? That's the WATER temperature.

[@allannantes8583]

One fact that was missed is PEI has some of the most beautiful women in all of Canada.

[@randymurray934]

The growth is not Canadians. It's foreign students going to UPEI to study.

[@colergg]

The whole island is hell on earth

[@michaelrmurphy2734]

I live in northern Nova Scotia after getting squeezed out of Halifax. I can see Prince Edward Island from my place! If I go down the hill here I could actually take a boat over to Charlottetown. The Maritimes are great!

[@GrahamLT]

Great video, Geoff. But I feel one important point was missed here, aside from the fact that PEI is the highest density province in population.... PEI is a summer colony vacation spot, akin to Martha's Vineyard, Nantucket, Cape Cod, etc, in the US. The population of PEI swells considerably in summer tourist season, perhaps multiple x times. I once read a comment saying this, but i cannot confirm its veracity. Regardless, the point is that the actual popularity and any-given-day population of the island is far greater than its meager 178K official number would suggest.

[@ryancraig2795]

The Gulf, especially the part between PEI and the mainland, can be quite comfortable for swimming. When I was a kid we had a cottage in Pugwash, NS, across from PEI. At low tide there was several tiers of sandbars which would warm up in the sun, making the water very comfortable for swimming after the tide came back in. Of course, I grew up swimming at Lawrencetown Beach outside Halifax, where the warmest I ever saw the water was 18C, and usually several degrees colder, so my standards for "comfortable" ocean swimming might not be the same as most.

[@revinhatol]

Compass: the CBC News for Prince Edward Island.

[@ysmaelroyo9316]

wow, it’s cool to see someone covering my home province🎉

[@bradleygaudet9151]

Can't wait to see this video. I love PEI!

[@id9991]

The population growth is temporary. Many young people are moving out of PEI to find jobs. The population growth is mainly from retirees and temporary immigrants because it is easier to get permanent residence from PEI. Once they get the PR, they move to Ontario or BC.

[@Joseph-ax999]

It sounds like PEI has a culture much like the American colonies, fiercely independent.

[@sparrowcottage-mypeitinyho2716]

My beautiful little home. I do indeed live in paradise. Oh and you can add at least 10C onto our summer weather.....30C+ in summer

[@TheBCBuddy]

World renowned theoretical physicist and cosmologist Lawrence Krauss recently moved to PEI from the USA. Welcome back home Lawrence!.

[@GristeyT]

Hi Geoff, great video. I did notice that the video at 11:07 shows drone footage of Prince Edward County, Ontario, not Prince Edward Island. Prince Edward County is an "island" off the shore of Lake Ontario. I only noticed this as I work there, but I wanted to let you know. Thank you for the entertaining channel and coverage of Canadian geography.