Summerside, Prince Edward Island
Encyclopedia
Summerside is a Canadian
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
city in Prince County
Prince County, Prince Edward Island
Prince County, is located in western Prince Edward Island, Canada. The county's defining geographic feature is Malpeque Bay, a sub-basin of the Gulf of St...
, Prince Edward Island
Prince Edward Island
Prince Edward Island is a Canadian province consisting of an island of the same name, as well as other islands. The maritime province is the smallest in the nation in both land area and population...
. It is the second largest city in the province and the principal municipality for the western part of the island.
History
| Census | Population |
|---|---|
| 1871 | 2,000 |
| 1881 | 2,853 |
| 1891 | 2,883 |
| 1901 | 2,875 |
| 1911 | 2,678 |
| 1921 | 3,228 |
| 1931 | 3,759 |
| 1941 | 5,034 |
| 1951 | 6,547 |
| 1961 | 8,611 |
| 1971 | 9,439 |
| 1981 | 7,828 |
| 1991 | 7,474 |
| 2001 | 14,654 |
| 2006 | 14,500 |
Summerside was officially incorporated as a town on April 1, 1877, and reincorporated as a city on April 1, 1995.
Economy
The largest single employer within the city is the Canada Revenue AgencyCanada Revenue Agency
The Canada Revenue Agency is a federal agency that administers tax laws for the Government of Canada and for most provinces and territories, international trade legislation, and various social and economic benefit and incentive programs delivered through the tax system...
, which administers the Goods and Services Tax
Goods and Services Tax (Canada)
The Goods and Services Tax is a multi-level value added tax introduced in Canada on January 1, 1991, by then Prime Minister Brian Mulroney and his finance minister Michael Wilson. The GST replaced a hidden 13.5% Manufacturers' Sales Tax ; Mulroney claimed the GST was implemented because the MST...
(GST) from its Summerside Tax Centre.
The Slemon Park business park (formerly CFB Summerside
CFB Summerside
Canadian Forces Base Summerside was an air force base located in St. Eleanors, Prince Edward Island, Canada, now part of the city of Summerside.-RCAF Station Summerside:...
) hosts a concentration of several aerospace and transportation companies in former military buildings; Vector Aerospace Engine Services Atlantic (formerly Atlantic Turbines) repairs and overhauls Gas Turbine aircraft engines, Testori Americas produces interiors for aircraft and mass transit surface vehicles, and Honeywell
Honeywell
Honeywell International, Inc. is a major conglomerate company that produces a variety of consumer products, engineering services, and aerospace systems for a wide variety of customers, from private consumers to major corporations and governments....
manufactures and repairs parts for aircraft.
The outlying community of New Annan
New Annan, Prince Edward Island
New Annan is a outlying community within the city of Summerside, Prince Edward Island, Canada. It is named after Annan, Dumfries-shire, Scotland....
is home to the operations of Cavendish Farms, Prince Edward Island's largest private sector employer. Cavendish Farms maintains two large frozen foods processing plants in New Annan. The outlying community of Borden-Carleton
Borden-Carleton, Prince Edward Island
Borden-Carleton is a Canadian village located on the south shore of Prince Edward Island, fronting on the Northumberland Strait.The village was created through a merger on April 12, 1995 of the original port town of Borden and the farming community of Carleton...
has several important employers for Summerside residents, including McCain Foods Limited
McCain Foods Limited
McCain Foods Limited is a privately owned company established in 1957 by four brothers—Harrison McCain, Wallace McCain, Robert McCain, and Andrew McCain—in Florenceville, New Brunswick, Canada...
which operates a frozen foods processing plant.
Since the closure of CFB Summerside
CFB Summerside
Canadian Forces Base Summerside was an air force base located in St. Eleanors, Prince Edward Island, Canada, now part of the city of Summerside.-RCAF Station Summerside:...
in 1990, the city has been aggressive in courting new business opportunities and has created an Economic Development Office for the purpose of encouraging investment in the city.
The Summerside area was at one time home to the world's largest concentration of Tame Silver Fox
Tame Silver Fox
The domesticated silver fox is a domesticated form of the silver morph of the red fox. As a result of selective breeding, the new foxes became not only tamer, but more dog-like as well....
farms. This is highlighted at the Silver Fox Museum.
Government
The city is governed by a mayor and 8 councillors who represent geographic areas called wards. The current mayor is Basil StewartBasil Stewart
Basil Stewart is a Canadian politician who has served as the mayor of Summerside, Prince Edward Island since 1985. He also currently serves as the president of the Canadian Federation of Municipalities...
, a former police officer, who won his ninth consecutive term in November 2010 and has held the office for over two decades. Stewart is a past president of the Federation of Canadian Municipalities
Federation of Canadian Municipalities
The Federation of Canadian Municipalities is a civic advocacy group representing many Canadian municipalities. It is an organization with no formal power but significant ability to influence debate and policy, as it is main national lobby group of mayors, councillors and other elected municipal...
.
The Summerside Police Department has approximately 35 officers responsible for law enforcement within the city. The East Prince Detachment of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police
Royal Canadian Mounted Police
The Royal Canadian Mounted Police , literally ‘Royal Gendarmerie of Canada’; colloquially known as The Mounties, and internally as ‘The Force’) is the national police force of Canada, and one of the most recognized of its kind in the world. It is unique in the world as a national, federal,...
(RCMP) is located in North Bedeque, southeast of the city, and shares responsibility with Summerside PD for patrolling provincial Route 1A and Route 2 which pass along the east and north sides of the city.
Education
Summerside has 7 English public schools: 4 elementary, 2 junior high, and 1 senior high school. The Western School BoardWestern School Board
The Western School Board is a Canadian school district in Prince Edward Island.It is an Anglophone district operating 21 public schools in Prince County. It maintains offices in Summerside and Elmsdale....
is headquartered in the city.
The city also has 1 French public school operated by the Commission scolaire de langue française
Commission scolaire de langue française
The Commission scolaire de langue française is a Canadian school district in Prince Edward Island.The Commission scolaire de langue française is a Francophone district operating 6 public schools across the province.Current enrollment is approximately 673 students and ? teachers...
.
Holland College
Holland College
Holland College is the provincial community college for the Canadian province of Prince Edward Island. It is named after British Army engineer and surveyor Captain Samuel Holland...
, Prince Edward Island's community college
Community college
A community college is a type of educational institution. The term can have different meanings in different countries.-Australia:Community colleges carry on the tradition of adult education, which was established in Australia around mid 19th century when evening classes were held to help adults...
system, maintains several facilities in Summerside;
- East Prince Centre
- Marine Training Centre
- Aerospace Centre
- Atlantic Police Academy
- Motive Power Centre
Energy
The city of Summerside is the only place in Prince Edward Island to run an independent electric utility. After buying Charlottetown Light & Power in 1918, Maritime ElectricMaritime Electric
Maritime Electric is the supplier of electricity in Prince Edward Island, Canada. Maritime Electric is a public utility regulated by the Island Regulatory and Appeals Commission under the Electric Power Act and the Renewable Energy Act...
consolidated electric distribution on the island. The company offered to take over the operations in Summerside, but backed down after citizens rejected various offers. The Summerside distribution grid has been linked to the Maritime Electric network since 1961.
Traditionally the majority of its electricity is purchased from the neighboring provincial electric utility, NB Power
NB Power
NB Power , formerly known as New Brunswick Power Corporation and New Brunswick Electric Power Commission is the primary and former monopoly electrical utility in the Canadian province of New Brunswick...
. In 2008, 76.5% of its power was acquired from NB Power
NB Power
NB Power , formerly known as New Brunswick Power Corporation and New Brunswick Electric Power Commission is the primary and former monopoly electrical utility in the Canadian province of New Brunswick...
. Although the Summerside Electric Commission has its own diesel turbine at the Harvard Street Generating Station which can operate for several days independently of NB Power's supply, it is only used in exceptional circumstances such as power disruptions with New Brunswick or parts of the Maritime Electric power system that feed the city.
In 2007 the city signed a 20 year agreement with a private wind energy company to supply about 23% of its electricity from a private wind farm in Western PEI.
Construction started on a city owned wind farm in 2009 comprising four wind turbines, each capable of producing 3 megawatts of electricity. The wind farm became fully operational in late 2009 and was immediately tied into the city's power. This is Canada's first municipally owned and operated wind farm. On an average day the wind farm produces about 25% of the electricity for the entire city. At times when electricity usage in the city is low and the winds are high the wind farm has potential to produce more power than the city consumes.
Medical services
The Prince County HospitalPrince County Hospital
Prince County Hospital is an acute care hospital located in Summerside, Prince Edward Island.The Prince County Hospital has a capacity of 102 beds and provides the following services:* surgery* internal medicine* obstetrics* pediatrics* psychiatry...
, located in the city's north end, is the main referral hospital in the western part of the province.
Climate
Attractions
The Summerside Raceway is a standardbred harness racingHarness racing
Harness racing is a form of horse racing in which the horses race at a specific gait . They usually pull a two-wheeled cart called a sulky, although racing under saddle is also conducted in Europe.-Breeds:...
track which is adjacent to the Credit Union Place, the largest indoor sports facility in the province with a large hockey arena seating 4000 and fitness facility. Other attractions include the College of Piping and Celtic Performing Arts the Silver Fox Curling & Yacht Club, the Summerside Golf & Country Club, the PEI Sports Hall of Fame and Spinnaker's Landing.
The city has redeveloped several waterfront industrial sites that were abandoned by the railway and marine terminal during the 1990s into new parkland. A major reconstruction of the west end seawall has resulted in a new boardwalk for residents and visitors along the waterfront.
The former post office on Summer Street was designated a National Historic Site of Canada in 1983.
In fall 2011, the Summerside Storm
Summerside Storm
The Summerside Storm is a charter member of the National Basketball League of Canada which began play for its inaugural 2011-12 season. Based in Summerside, Prince Edward Island, the Storm plays its home games at the Consolidated Credit Union Place....
will begin play as a member of the National Basketball League of Canada
National Basketball League of Canada
The National Basketball League of Canada is a Canadian professional men's basketball league founded in 2011. For the first season, three teams formerly of the Premier Basketball League have joined, with four expansion teams officially joining to form the NBL's "Original Seven".-Current:These are...
.
Notable residents
- Steve OttSteve OttSteve Ott is a Canadian professional ice hockey player, an alternate captain of the Dallas Stars of the National Hockey League .-Playing career:...
- NHL Player - Darryl BoyceDarryl BoyceDarryl Boyce is a Canadian ice hockey player for the Toronto Maple Leafs organization of the National Hockey League.-Playing career:...
- NHL Player - John Chabot - Former NHL Player
- Gerard GallantGerard GallantGerard "Turk" Gallant is a Canadian ice hockey coach and former NHL player.Gallant was drafted by the Detroit Red Wings in the 1981 NHL Entry Draft, sixth round, one-hundred seventh overall....
- Former NHL Player - Errol Thompson - Former NHL Player
- Doug MacLeanDoug MacLeanDouglas MacLean, is a Canadian sportscaster and former ice hockey coach and general manager...
- Former NHL head coach - Forbes KennedyForbes KennedyForbes Taylor Kennedy is a retired Canadian professional ice hockey player. In 603 career NHL games Kennedy recorded 70 goals and 108 assists for 178 points and 988 penalty minutes....
- Former NHL Player - Nathan WileyNathan WileyNathan Wiley is a musician and singer from Summerside, Prince Edward Island, Canada. His music is generally a blend of modern rock and blues.-History:...
- Canadian Recording Artist - Tanya DavisTanya DavisTanya Davis is a Canadian singer-songwriter and poet, based in Halifax, Nova Scotia. Her style is marked primarily by spoken word poetry set to music.-Background:...
- Canadian Recording Artist - Catherine MacLellanCatherine MacLellanCatherine MacLellan is a Canadian folk singer-songwriter, currently based in Halifax, Nova Scotia. The daughter of Canadian songwriter Gene MacLellan, she was born and raised in Summerside, Prince Edward Island....
- Canadian Recording Artist - Al TuckAl TuckAl Tuck , is a Canadian songwriter and folksinger, originally from Prince Edward Island. He has spent much of his career based out of Halifax, Nova Scotia.-Biography:...
- Canadian Recording Artist - Heather MoyseHeather MoyseHeather Moyse is a Canadian athlete, representing Canada in international competition as a bobsledder and rugby union player, and competing at the Canadian intercollegiate level in rugby, soccer and track and field.-Awards:...
- Canadian Women's Bobsleigh Team, Vancouver 2010 gold medallist (2-woman)
Summerside was home for three years to the fictional Anne Shirley
Anne Shirley
Anne Shirley is a fictional character introduced in the 1908 novel Anne of Green Gables by Lucy Maud Montgomery. Montgomery wrote in her journal that the idea for Anne's story came from relatives who, planning to adopt an orphaned boy, received a girl instead...
of the Anne of Green Gables
Anne of Green Gables
Anne of Green Gables is a bestselling novel by Canadian author Lucy Maud Montgomery published in 1908. Set in 1878, it was written as fiction for readers of all ages, but in recent decades has been considered a children's book...
series by Canadian author Lucy Maud Montgomery.
Media
Summerside has one radio station licensedCity of license
A city of license or community of license, in American and Canadian broadcasting, is the community that a radio station or television station is officially licensed to serve by that country's broadcast regulator....
to it, FM 102.1 CJRW-FM
CJRW-FM
CJRW-FM is a Canadian radio station broadcasting in Summerside, Prince Edward Island. CJRW is a Maritime Broadcasting System radio station that plays classic hits. It is the only commercial radio station in the province of Prince Edward Island that is not licensed to Charlottetown.-History:The...
, which plays a classic hits
Classic hits
Classic hits is a radio format which generally includes rock and pop music from 1964 to 1989. The term is sometimes erroneously used as a synonym for the adult hits format, but is more accurately characterized as a contemporary style of the oldies format...
format. CJRW is the only commercial radio station in the province whose studios are located outside of Charlottetown
Charlottetown
Charlottetown is a Canadian city. It is both the largest city on and the provincial capital of Prince Edward Island, and the county seat of Queens County. Named after Queen Charlotte, the wife of George III, Charlottetown was first incorporated as a town in 1855 and designated as a city in 1885...
. Summerside is otherwise served by media based in Charlottetown. CBC Television
CBC Television
CBC Television is a Canadian television network owned by the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation, the national public broadcaster.Although the CBC is supported by public funding, the television network supplements this funding with commercial advertising revenue, in contrast to CBC Radio which are...
has its Prince County bureau situated in Summerside.
Summerside's daily newspaper is The Journal Pioneer. The province's French weekly newspaper, La Voix acadienne, has its offices in Summerside.