Capital: Charlottetown
Motto: Parva Sub Ingenti (The small under the protection of the great)
Flower: Lady's Slipper
Population (2008): 138,141
The Land
One of the four provinces in Atlantic Canada, Prince Edward Island (most commonly known as PEI) lies in the Gulf of St. Lawrence, separated from Nova Scotia and New Brunswick by the warm waters of the Northumberland Strait. Rich, fertile soil and a temperate climate make Prince Edward Island an ideal place for mixed farming. In particular PEI is world famous for its potatoes. Over half of the land is agricultural, earning PEI the nickname "the Garden Province." It is renowned for its iron-rich red soil, white sand dunes and over 800 kilometres of sandy beaches.
The People
Approximately 75 percent of "Islanders" are of British (mainly Scottish and Irish) origin. About 15 percent are of French origin, and five percent speak French. There are also a fair number of Dutch and German people particularily in rural areas. Of the population, 60 percent live in the rural districts, including 8 percent on farms. The island population is a mixture of young and older as many younger people appreciate the safety and sense of community that lends itself well to raising a family, and many empty-nesters are now moving back to the Island for the relaxed lifestyle.
 Economy
Historically the PEI economy has been almost exclusively driven by seasonal industries such as agriculture, tourism and fishing. Over the past decade and a half the economy has diverisfied greatly; with growth in service, technology and research sectors. With virtually no heavy industry on PEI the air is very clean. Most of the light industrial activity has to do with food processing, or aerospace specialized manufacturing.
Although PEI lobster is the best in the world along with Nova Scotia and New Brunswick, the season is shorter than in the other two provinces. There are also about 30 other fish and seafood species are caught, notably cultivated blue PEI mussels which are renowned by the best chefs worldwide, herring, bluefin tuna, and the popular Malpeque oysters which are the premium oyster to be shucked and eaten raw. Prince Edward island is known for its beauty, and over 800 km of beaches.
Tourism has become a major industry on the Island and the Confederation Bridge to the mainland has increased its accessability as a vacation destination. PEI has become a magnet for golf enthusiasts in recent years. Prince Edward Island has 10 of the top 100 rated golf courses in Canada according to the Globe and Mail, and nearly 5% of the top 350 courses in North America as rated by Golf Digest magazine - all less than 45 minutes of each other. PEI is the home site of Lucy Maude Montgomery, author of the 'Anne of Green Gables' and other books, and has become an international tourist phenomenon with people from all cultures coming to participate in cultural events and fairs.
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