Confederation Bridge © Vincent K. Chan
Lauded as the birthplace of the Canadian Confederation and often
referred to as the 'Garden of the Gulf', Prince Edward Island (PEI)
is situated on the east coast of Canada and is by far the country's
smallest province. Next to agriculture, tourism is the province's
largest industry and visitors flock to visit the home of Anne of
Green Gables, the novel by LM Montgomery, which was inspired by
the island's landscape and people. One of the world's longest
continuous multi-span bridges, the Confederation Bridge, connects
PEI to the mainland at New Brunswick. Stretching over shimmering
ocean, it is a spectacular point of arrival, although many still
prefer to reach PEI by ferry, which allows for a more leisurely
approach.
With its distinctive red soil and diverse landscape, Prince
Edward Island is a beautiful and captivating place. The island's
original inhabitants were the Mi'kmaq, who called it Abegweit;
poetically translated as 'Cradle on the Waves', though literally
meaning 'lying down flat,' reflecting the island's shape. European
discovery occurred in 1534, but no colony was established until
French occupation in 1719 of what was then called Île
Saint-Jean. Previously expelled from British-run Nova Scotia, the
island's French Acadian colony was again displaced when the British
seized possession in the mid-1700s, renaming it St John's Island,
then later Prince Edward Island. Very little settlement occurred
until land was auctioned off to British nobility and settlers were
then recruited by landowners to clear forest under a controversial
feudal system. Remnants of this fascinating First Nations, Acadian
and British history can still be found and islanders are fiercely
proud of their heritage and extensive genealogies.
In 1864, PEI's charming and compact capital city, Charlottetown
played host to the Charlottetown Conference, where the notion of a
united Confederation of Canada was born. Interestingly PEI itself
rejected the terms of union and only joined much later. Nowadays,
Charlottetown proudly lays claim to its heritage as the birthplace
of the Confederation and some of its top attractions include
Founders Hall, the Confederation Centre of the Arts, and Province
House (the second oldest active Canadian legislature) with its
fully restored Confederation Chamber. The city also has plenty of
other attractions and visitors can enjoy a stroll along the
historic waterfront boardwalks, shop or dine at Peake's Wharf, or
enjoy a walking tour with historic re-enactment group, the
Confederation Players.
There is plenty to do on the rest of the island, from deep-sea
fishing and windsurfing to golf, skiing and cycling. For those a
little less active, there are scenic drives, intriguing museums to
visit, and plenty of fine dining. A particular delicacy is the
island's famous shellfish, celebrated at the International
Shellfish Festival in the Charlottetown Waterfront each
September.
Rolling farmland contrasts with sand dunes and sandstone cliffs,
while sandy beaches compete with evergreen forests and saltwater
marshes - there is always something new to explore. Although locals
refer to those not born and bred on PEI as being 'from away', they
are always happy to welcome visitors to their picturesque province
with a smile.
