OT: Moving to PEI - Am I being idealistic?

[storybookstory]

Hi!

I'm hoping someone from PEI, especially who lives in Summerside or Charlottetown, can give me a realistic idea of what it would be like to live in PEI.

Here's the story:

My aunt lived in Summerside for many years in the 70's, in a beautiful house on Fitzroy Street, and it was always my dream to live in Summerside. (I'm grew up and currently reside in Connecticut). She now lives in Charlottetown, along with two cousins of mine.

My husband and two children have been to visit several times, and we just love it there. The first time I came back to the Island after having not been there for about 15 years, we drove off the ferry (came through N.S. that time) and I had this overwhelming feeling of being "home". My husband has always said he feels more comfortable walking in downtown Charlottetown than anywhere else we've been. Politically our views are much more in line with Canadians than Americans.

We always said that the only thing keeping us here were our good jobs we had. Well, our job situation has changed somewhat, and it would be a good time to make a move if we were going to do it. My husband has a degree in Engineering so are best hope would be with one of the aerospace companies in Summerside. I have a degree in research, so I have a better shot at UPEI. DH also has some experience in research so UPEI might work for both of us. We have two schoolaged children. Financially we are in pretty good shape for housing, but obviously we would still need to work.

I know we can't just pack our bags and show up - I've done extensive research on the immigration process. I have a hope that if DH did garner some interest from one of the aerospace companies that they might help us get there faster.

But I'm mostly interested in what life is like in PEI. I only have my cousin's experience to go by, so I would like to hear from others (they are about 15 yrs older than me). I picture that the pace of life is slower, the people are friendlier, and that the people are not seduced by the 'consumerism' that engulfs us all down here. Ideally I would love to live in the old Summerside neighborhoods (Fitzroy/Summer/Spring Street etc.) where people walk in the evenings and talk to each other and get together for activities other than just drinking and showing off their stuff. Is this WAY too idealistic? I know gas and food is expensive there, but what else is there to think about?

Islanders with school aged kids, please tell me about your lives!! What sort of activities do the kids do? How are the schools?

Is there another forum or website that Islanders go to to chat ? I read the headlines of the Guardian online several times a week and enjoy reading the comments people leave on the news items.

Thanks for any info - I'd really appreciate any feedback!

Sally

 

[TraceyDisney2008]

I can't help you with moving there but I get the same feeling everytime I visit my family. I hope it works out for you.

I have Cousins who live in Summerside and they love it and won't consider moving off the Island.

 

[DisneyFreak06]

Hi!

I am an Islander, but I don't have children. I find that a lot of people are very friendly, but like anywhere, there will be people who will consider you an 'outsider' or 'from away'. Most people will tease you about that. I will be honest and say that I LOVE PEI and I want to come back here to raise children, but I love to travel and see other places, I'd be willing to live somewhere else for a while, but I'd want to come back here to raise children.

I have 13 neices and nephews, and all but 2 live here. For the most part, they enjoy what most kids do, hanging out with friends and playing video games! Sports are a big thing here too for most children, hockey, soccer, baseball. There are many other school teams as well.

As far as schools go, I am a teacher, so I may be biased! Some schools have better reputations than others, but for the most part, I believe that we have good schools where teachers (at least 99.9% of them) want to be there and want to help the children. Yes, we have bullies too, and they are sneaky and don't show that side of themselves in front of the teachers...


As far as between Summerside and Charlottetown goes, many people commute between one city and the other for their jobs. I taught in Summerside for 2 years while living in Charlottetown. I didn't like it because in the winter the roads can get pretty bad, but not every day. Others really enjoy it. Depending on where in either city you live it can take anywhere from 40-60 minutes to get to where you would work. I found it tiring, but I know that many people in bigger cities commute for much longer and it does not bother them.

We are just as commercialized as the rest of North America, and when you live here, you will probably feel just as busy. I do believe though that it will be slower than in a major city.

I also must tell you that people will still be drinking a lot and showing off their stuff. We've got the Smiths and the Jones here too! We have lots of different theaters (and dinner theaters) and shows and such, especially in the summer.

Once people got to know you, and in a lot of communities it shouldn't take long if you are open to it, you will be stopped on the street or at the post office or wherever, and people will talk to you. If you already know how it feels to be here short term, you have a general idea, but it will not be the same to live here year round. It will still be wonderful, hopefully, for you though!

Good luck with your decisions and if you have any specific questions, please let me know and I'll see what I can do.

 

[Marcy Mouse]

I was born and raised in PEI. I grew up and went to school in Charlottetown. I moved to Toronto, Ontario about 6 years ago. I can definitly say that Ontario is very different then home. I guess the main thing I miss is family and friends. You go from knowing everybody (ie when you go anywhere you run into people you know) to never seeing anyone.

I am in my early 30's and have a son who is 14. We are in the process of moving home because I want my son to go to high school back home and I want him to have the island way of life.

We we moved away 6 years ago we always said given the chance we would move back in heartbeat. Now that we have this opportunity I am so excited.

I'll give you the pros and cons as I see them.

Seasons - there is only two. Winter and almost summer. I say that because the winters feel very long and the summer is way to short. That being said the summers offer lots to do. If you like golf or beaches you will be in heaven. Winters - there is a small ski hill and many snowmobile trails. You will find that winter brings a lot of kitchen parties. People get together often in the kitchen and have a few drinks, card playing etc. One of my favorite times in the winter is when there is a big nor-easter storm comming and you know that you will be storm stayed for a day or two, family gets together and we are all snowed in togehter. Boardgames, movies, and just getting to or having to spend time with mom, dad, sisters and brothers was a welcomed gift. As a bonus when we get one of these big storms everything shuts down. You aren't expected to risk life and limb to make it into work. For me it was always fun.

Schools - I attended shool from grade 1 to UPEI. I can only compare it to my son's experience here in Ontario. As far as the school work there are standards across the board and was is taught is pretty similar. In PEI there is an option for all to take French. The students are fully immersed and will be fully bi-lingual by grade 12. The big difference exsists in the social aspect in the sense that you will know most of the parents of the friends that your children make. You will know where they live and more importantly know a bit about the lifestyle they lead. Basically if your child is friends with "Joe Smith" and for some reason one of "Joe Smiths" parents is unfit you will know about it. This also works two fold. When you kids are teens, speaking from experience, people will constantly report to you. If they do anything right or wrong it is usally seen by someone and reported back.

Social - People are friendly and there are many groups to join. As the previous poster said there are those that like to impress. However, I never found it to be an in your face type of thing. Also, as far as kids go there doesn't seem to be a strong seperation between those that have and those that do not. It is not pointed out that because kid A lives in a big fancy house he should not be friends with kid b who lives in appartment with a single parent. When you are out and about you will run into people all the time. Just last week we were home for a weeks vacation and when we went to Wal-mart to pick up a few things I ran into at least 6 or 7 people that I know. This can be good or bad if you are in a rush. Shopping can take a lot longer then one might expect.

Scenery - Summer it is beautiful and Winter is white. There are a lot of quiet places on PEI. There are many places to walk. You have been there so you know that!

Traffic- fantastic if I compare it to Toronto. However, you may get stuck behind the occasional tractor.

Amentities - The island offers everything you need. In recent years we have got most of the main ones. It is true that somethings are more expensive however housing is quite a bit less when compared to the rest of Canada.

I hope this helps. If you have any direct quetions feel free to ask.

Marcy

 

[DisneyFreak06]

However, you may get stuck behind the occasional tractor.

SO TRUE! Especially when you're driving on a hilly side road with not many chances to pass! Oh you're making me want to take a drive out to Cavendish! LOL

 

[storybookstory]

Thanks for the answers so far - they are really helpful!

1. Winter - how does it compare to winter in Toronto, or other parts of Canada? Isn't a long winter just part of being Canadian (not counting BC of course).

2. "Amentities - The island offers everything you need. In recent years we have got most of the main ones. It is true that somethings are more expensive however housing is quite a bit less when compared to the rest of Canada."

What do you mean, exactly? What has come in recent years? I understand there is a new hospital in Summerside - anything else? Are there any good bookstores on the island (other than the one big chain one in Charlottetown on University Ave.)? Where do you go to buy furniture?

3. Does anyone have any first hand knowledge of the aerospace or biotech companies on the island?

Thanks again!!

Sally

 

[DisneyFreak06]

Thanks for the answers so far - they are really helpful!

1. Winter - how does it compare to winter in Toronto, or other parts of Canada? Isn't a long winter just part of being Canadian (not counting BC of course).

2. "Amentities - The island offers everything you need. In recent years we have got most of the main ones. It is true that somethings are more expensive however housing is quite a bit less when compared to the rest of Canada."

What do you mean, exactly? What has come in recent years? I understand there is a new hospital in Summerside - anything else? Are there any good bookstores on the island (other than the one big chain one in Charlottetown on University Ave.)? Where do you go to buy furniture?

3. Does anyone have any first hand knowledge of the aerospace or biotech companies on the island?

Thanks again!!

Sally

Winter is the same as elsewhere, as far as I know, again not including BC. We don't get too many days of -40 though. We can get lots of snow. We'll have a few years of good winters, and then a year or two of lots of snow. (Good winters to the kids and the snowmobilers!) Depending on where you live/work the problem would be that it takes a while for some roads to get plowed out and then some roads only get sand and no salt. I've heard of people leaving their car at different places and then snowshoeing to their car to get to work. Now, they didn't live in Charlottetown or Summerside though, they were 'up west'... (May as well get used to some of the Island terminology )

Amenities: We're getting more and more stores and restaurants that we used to have to go off Island to find. Unfortunately, no Disney Store, and the closest is now Halifax since the Moncton one closed. Sorry, I guess that means the decision is made! No moving to PEI now! I havne't bought much furniture, but we do have a few different furniture stores, I won't get into the names of them here, partly because I would have to look them up! I tend to shop at Indigo because it is so huge! (And expensive ) There are a few different locally owned used bookstores around. There are also a few other bookstores around too, some locally owned I guess.

No knowledge of the Aerospace Industry, sorry. Only that there used to be ads on tv and even at the movie theatre all the time, and they had a mother of one of my former students on the ad. I used to get a kick out of that. (Little things amuse me I guess!)

Marcy might be able to help you out some more.

 

[storybookstory]

Well, I buy alot of my stuff online anyway - I'm a big ebayer and amazon.com person. Are there any good consignment shops (for clothes and/or furniture) on PEI?

Sally

 

[storybookstory]

I am in my early 30's and have a son who is 14. We are in the process of moving home because I want my son to go to high school back home and I want him to have the island way of life.



Marcy

Thanks Marcy -

What is the "island way of life"? What do you want him to get out of PEI that he wouldn't get in Toronto?

Do you worry about closing opportunities for him being on the Island? I do worry about that with my kids. They are still small, but my daughter wants to be (and will probably be) a teacher and my son will be a scientist of some sort (meteorology is the current favorite). The one thing that concerns me is that I don't see Calculus offered at the high school in Summerside (and I don't think Charlottetown either). Are there advanced placement courses for higher levels of math or science available through the colleges?

And a ski slope? Didn't know about that - where is that??

Thanks --

Sally

 

[OntFamily]

Thanks for the answers so far - they are really helpful!

1. Winter - how does it compare to winter in Toronto, or other parts of Canada? Isn't a long winter just part of being Canadian (not counting BC of course).

Sally

Having lived in both the Maritimes and Toronto, I can say without a doubt the winters in Toronto are much easier than the Maritimes. Winters are usually shorter in Toronto, with not nearly as much snow. Toronto averages 133cm of snow per year, while Charlottetown averages 312.

I'm not trashing the Maritimes, but the winters are long.

 

[christiane]

I have only been a summer resident of PEI but have a little insight. Now, our summer home is in a small beach community not a larger town, so what I say might not apply to you.

The smaller towns & villages often are still quite parochial, along Protestant & Catholic lines. Socializing often stays within church affiliations. Families go waaaaay back on PEI & are tight clans. Also, as others mentioned, you will always be someone "from away" --you will be accepted & be treated well but you will not be entirely considered an Islander. From what I've been told the social differences are more noticeable in the winter, when the tourists have gone.

We are a family of skiers so we couldn't really live on the Island full-time, but if it had even a small piece of the mountain range we have near our winter home, we would move there in a heartbeat. Being able to drive to each corner of the province & return home the same day, seeing beautiful, scenic landscapes is priceless. The beaches are gorgeous & unspoiled. The pace of life is slower & traffic jams usually consist of 4 cars at a stop light at one time. Just watch out for potatoes falling from the trucks during harvest!!

As an engineer, your husband would qualify for a TN Visa (NAFTA) which is renewable yearly by his employer. You may or may not be legally entitled to work, depending on your own qualifications for a visa or landed status. The family would qualify for provincial health insurance after 90 days. You mentioned that your politics seem more Canadian than American, but I would say that PEI is probably one of the more conservative provinces politically & socially.

My children do not go to school in PEI, but from what I have been told the school system is very good.

The only other thing I would mention is the employment prospects can be limited for young people. The economy is still strongly agriculture- & tourism- based and there are limited sectors in other areas (such as financial, manufacturing etc). With a small population, there are usually fewer options even for those in professional & academic sectors because for example, there just aren't that many schools & hospitals on the Island. The prospects for your child finding a position in a chosen profession on the Island could be limited. Not to say that it can't happen, just that it may not be as easy as in a more populated province.

Best wishes in your decision...

Christiane.

 

[storybookstory]

Thank you so much Christiane for your thoughtful reply.

Many of the things you mention, especially the job sector, do weigh on my mind. I have a master's degree in statistic and research so I would look to UPEI or one of the biotech companies for part-time work. Hopefully my education and work experience would allow me a work visa as well. It seems that the province is really trying to support the development of a research industry on the island, so hopefully that will continue.

As for my children, there is no guarantee they would want to stay nearby no matter where we live, so it's tough to make a decision based on that. Hopefully we will be able to give them enough education so they will have choices in what profession they want and where they want to do it. I just think the culture in PEI is much more in line with what I would want them to grow up with than what I see where I am now.

I have heard my cousins (who are fairly liberal) complain about the conservatism of the island. But it seems that the province does practice environmental friendly policies. Here these are given lip service but not regularly lived by (hence the number of Hummers and SUVs and McMansions in general I see around here).

Anyway - I do wonder how much we would be accepted. We aren't church goers - do you think that would be a detriment to our social life there?

Thanks -

Sally

 

[christiane]

Sally,

I think you will be well accepted on the Island, especially in Summerside & Charlottetown. It won't matter that you don't attend church, I guess I meant that it might be easier to find a social network through church there --but that is more true in the smaller towns. With children in school & sports, it's always easier to meet people than it is when you are single or a couple so I think you will be fine. Of course, you will meet people in your neighbourhood & through work also.

My impression of the conservatism on PEI is more of the "family values" & economic type, not the extremes you may find in some parts of the US. Evangelicism, libertarianism, pro-gun, anti-gays, hawks --I haven't encountered these on the Island. Environmentalists are prominent on the Island but the agriculture lobby is quite strong so things like pesticide bans etc sometimes are difficult to pass. Maybe one of the full-time Island residents could comment on this more than I can.

Here is list of NAFTA professions: http://www.canadavisalaw.com/0-ref-files/nafta_professionals.pdf. "Research assistants" with bachelor degrees and Mathematicians (including Statisticians) are both mentioned as admissible, so you are covered there. You will need a firm job offer though before you immigrate to qualify for these Visas. I mentioned the TN, but that might be the American version --the Canadian one might have a different name. You may also qualify under other programs.

We live on PEI for 1-3 months at a time during most years. My children are in heaven there. They have lots of friends & freedom there. I think your children will fit in fine and really enjoy it. Everyone thinks of hockey in Canada, but soccer & baseball are popular too. As parents we know things can happen anywhere, but there is very little crime on the Island and I think you can let "kids be kids" there and not be overly worried about things.

Christiane.

 

[storybookstory]

Thank you so much for all that info - it's very reassuring!

We will definitely be giving it some more thought ---


Sally

 

[B&B Mom]

Hi there.....another Islander here. Born and raised here and love it. I might as well add another prospective too.

I am a mom to DD12 and DS10. Our experiences with the school system have been positive. Great teachers(for the most part) and administrators that are available personally to deal with concerns. Academically there are many options for students especially at the high school level. Getting involved with your Home & School Association is a great way to find out what's going on in your school and a wonderful way to meet people. UPEI is a wonderfully University and is continually expanding to meet the needs of it's students. Also, there is The Atlantic Veterinary College. It is a top notch facility with many students coming from all over the world to study here.

Socially...another great way to to get connected with others is through "Community School" programs. These are once a week classes for adults young and old and usually 1-2 hours. They offer courses in various subjects like learn to play guitar, crafts, woodworking, car care and maintenance, yoga, travel, painting, etc. They are very affordable($20??)and run for the fall or winter season depending on location.

My children are quite active in community sports(hockey, baseball, and soccer) and this has been a wonderful way for all of us to meet new people and become more connected to our community.


As far as employment prospects there are opportunities out there, but it can be difficult to work your way in....sometimes knowing someone is the best way in! Those with specialized skills can have an advantage as sometimes the candidates here just don't have the requirements. Good employers here on the Island are both Provincial and Federal Gov't. Both have very good web sites that you can search for current opportunities. You're right about the bioscience/technology industry. Right now there is a huge push on to develop this sector and the Prov Gov is driving this.

I must say I love PEI. The few disadvantages there are about being removed from the bustling city life is exactly what makes it the place for me.

Hopefully some of this info will be helpful. Please ask away if you have any other questions.


Good Luck!

 

[storybookstory]

Hi there.....another Islander here. Born and raised here and love it. I might as well add another prospective too.

I am a mom to DD12 and DS10. Our experiences with the school system have been positive. Great teachers(for the most part) and administrators that are available personally to deal with concerns. Academically there are many options for students especially at the high school level. Getting involved with your Home & School Association is a great way to find out what's going on in your school and a wonderful way to meet people. UPEI is a wonderfully University and is continually expanding to meet the needs of it's students. Also, there is The Atlantic Veterinary College. It is a top notch facility with many students coming from all over the world to study here.

Wow - I didn't know that about the veterinary college. I had read that they recently built a new research facility there, which sparked my interest. My aunt lives about 3 blocks from there, and we have biked the Confederation Trail near there, so I have a bit of familiarity with the campus. By the way, I am so impressed with how reasonable the cost of university is in Canada. It's amazing, compared to the states. When you can go to a great school like McGill for $16K compared to something close to $50K for an exclusive school here, it's something huge to think about. Another check mark in the positive column.

It's great to hear you have had a positive experience with the schools - that aspect is going to be key to a happy transition if we decide to make this move.

I must say I love PEI. The few disadvantages there are about being removed from the bustling city life is exactly what makes it the place for me.

Hopefully some of this info will be helpful. Please ask away if you have any other questions.


Good Luck!

Sounds wonderful - thanks for taking the time to answer!!

Sally

 

[vy2cga]

Living in PEI is like no where else in the world. We just should be more appreciative of that fact. Real estate prices are skyrocketing to match prices of the mainland. We have compulsatory recycling/compost/waste watch laws. We are a close drive to anywhere on the Island. We live in the middle and commute in opposite directions. A traffic jam is being behind a potato truck or an old man with a hat. We have a shortage of doctors and newcomers and people whose previous doctors are now here often have long waits in emergency rooms to fill routine prescriptions We are really family and community minded. We let our kids play outside. We play soccer, live at the rink, take music lessons. We have, for the most part, great schools and teachers. Although, it is true some courses such as calculus are limited. Restuarants are getting better, more of a fast-food place. Winters are long and using the local airport can be very expensive. Meaning driving to mainland or US airports for Disney is becoming common. However, those summer months make us soon forget the winter as beautiful beaches are minutes away. We want the "in" items but everyone just does their own thing and it is getting much more acceptable to skip church. Hope this helps.

 

[maddiel]

Well, I buy alot of my stuff online anyway - I'm a big ebayer and amazon.com person. Are there any good consignment shops (for clothes and/or furniture) on PEI?

Sally

eBay and Amazon might not be as reasonable options from Canada as they are from somewhere in the US. Free shipping promotions are extremely rare and shipping charges are considerably higher (not to mention possible duty and the evil "brokerage charges") Only a subset of Amazon products are available to be shipped to Canada and some eBayers do not sell outside of the US.

I wouldn't think it would be a deal breaker in itself, but it does contribute to the higher cost of living.

M.

 

[deanie]

. Winter - how does it compare to winter in Toronto, or other parts of Canada? Isn't a long winter just part of being Canadian (not counting BC of course).

Just curious - what is different about winter in BC (since I have lived in BC all my life)? Is it generally considered warmer here or less snow? I thought that our winters were just average Cdn winters!! Of course, our ski hills are fabulous!!

 

[storybookstory]

.

Just curious - what is different about winter in BC (since I have lived in BC all my life)? Is it generally considered warmer here or less snow? I thought that our winters were just average Cdn winters!! Of course, our ski hills are fabulous!!

Ah, I may be mistaken - I just always thought that BC was a much warmer climate (like the west coast of the US) and experienced warmer winters and cooler summers than the general area.