Summerside, Prince Edward Island

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Summerside
City of Summerside
Summerside City Hall.jpg
Summerside City Hall
Summerside, Prince Edward Island logo.gif
Motto: 
Small city. Big opportunity.
Canada Prince Edward Island location map 2.svg
Red pog.svg
Summerside
Coordinates: 46°23′36″N63°47′25″W / 46.39333°N 63.79028°W / 46.39333; -63.79028
CountryCanada
Province Prince Edward Island
County Prince County
Founded1800s
Incorporated April 1, 1877 (town)
 April 1, 1995 (city)
Government
   Mayor Dan Kutcher
  Governing body Summerside City Council
Area
[1]
   City
28.21 km2 (10.89 sq mi)
  Metro
125.12 km2 (48.31 sq mi)
Elevation
Sea level to 29 m (0 to 95.1 ft)
Population
 (2021) [1]
   City
16,001
  Density570/km2 (1,500/sq mi)
   Metro
18,157
  Metro density150/km2 (380/sq mi)
Time zone UTC-4 (Atlantic (AST))
  Summer (DST) UTC-3 (ADT)
Canadian Postal code
C1N
Telephone Exchange
902
  • 303 315 358 374 381 432 436 438 439
  • 598 724 888 918 954 992
Total private dwellings5,981
Mean household income$38,688
NTS Map 11L5 Summerside
GNBC CodeBADSZ
Website www.city.summerside.pe.ca

Summerside is a Canadian city in Prince County, Prince Edward Island. It is the second largest city in the province and the primary service centre for the western part of the island.

Contents

History

Summerside was officially incorporated as a town on April 1, 1877. [2] On April 1, 1995, the Town of Summerside amalgamated with the incorporated communities of St. Eleanors and Wilmot. [3] At the same time, the amalgamated Summerside annexed portions of the Community of Sherbrooke and the Lot 17 township. [3] It was PEI's second incorporated city, after the provincial capital of Charlottetown.

Summerside is named for an inn owned by George Linkletter II, called Summer Side House. [4]

Economy

The largest single employer within the city is the Summerside Tax Centre, a Government of Canada agency which principally processes the Goods and Services Tax (GST).

The Slemon Park business park (formerly a military airbase, CFB Summerside) hosts a concentration of several aerospace and transportation companies in former military buildings; StandardAero (formerly Vector Aerospace/Atlantic Turbines) repairs and overhauls Gas Turbine aircraft engines, Testori Americas produces interiors for aircraft and mass transit surface vehicles, and Honeywell manufactures and repairs parts for aircraft.

Amalgamated Dairies Limited is based in Summerside, founded in 1953 by six dairies as a co-operative and owned by dairy producers. [5]

The outlying community of New Annan 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. Other outlying communities, such as Borden-Carleton have important employers for Summerside residents.

Since the closure of CFB 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. [6] CFB Summerside is now the location of the Summerside Airport.

The Summerside area was at one time home to the world's largest concentration of Tame Silver Fox farms. This is highlighted at the PEI Fox Museum in the Summerside Armoury, a heritage building acquired by the City of Summerside in 1996. [7]

Government

The Summerside City Council is governed by a mayor and eight councillors who represent geographic areas called wards. As of March 2025, Dan Kutcher is the mayor. [8]

The Summerside Police Department is responsible for law enforcement within the city. [9] The East Prince Detachment of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) is located in North Bedeque, southeast of the city, however its only responsibility is to patrol, with the Summerside Police Department, the provincial Route 1A and Route 2 highways which pass along the east and north sides of the city.

Politics

For elections to the Legislative Assembly of Prince Edward Island, Summerside is covered by Summerside-Wilmot and Summerside-South Drive.

For elections to the House of Commons of Canada, Summerside is covered by Egmont.

Education

Summerside has seven English public schools: four elementary, two junior high, and one senior high school. The English Language School Board [10] has an office in the city.

The city also has one French public school operated by the Commission scolaire de langue française.

Holland College, Prince Edward Island's community college system, maintains three facilities in Summerside;

The College of Piping and Celtic Performing Arts of Canada is also located in Summerside. [11]

Demographics

Federal census population history of Summerside (post-amalgamation)
YearPop.±%
1991 13,636    
1996 14,525+6.5%
2001 14,654+0.9%
2006 14,500−1.1%
2011 14,751+1.7%
2016 14,829+0.5%
2021 16,001+7.9%
Source: Statistics Canada
[12] [13] [14] [15] [16] [17]
Federal census population history of Summerside (pre-amalgamation)
YearPop.±%
1871 1,917    
18812,853+48.8%
18912,882+1.0%
19012,875−0.2%
1911 2,678−6.9%
1921 3,228+20.5%
1931 3,759+16.4%
1941 5,034+33.9%
1951 6,547+30.1%
19567,242+10.6%
19618,611+18.9%
196610,042+16.6%
19719,439−6.0%
19768,592−9.0%
19817,828−8.9%
19868,020+2.5%
1991 7,474−6.8%
Source: Statistics Canada
[18] [19] [20] [21] [22] [23] [24] [25]

In the 2021 Census of Population conducted by Statistics Canada, Summerside had a population of 16,001 living in 7,097 of its 7,393 total private dwellings, a change of

Panethnic groups in the City of Summerside (2001−2021)
Panethnic group2021 [26] 2016 [27] 2011 [28] 2006 [29] 2001 [30]
Pop. %Pop.%Pop.%Pop.%Pop.%
European [a] 13,83013,73513,84013,89514,065
South Asian 4802565150
Southeast Asian [b] 455230851030
Indigenous 325220170130115
East Asian [c] 2101201152520
African 12590012075
Middle Eastern [d] 802001030
Latin American 20506000
Other/multiracial [e] 30100600
Total responses15,54514,48014,40014,27014,325
Total population16,00114,83914,75114,50014,654
Note: Totals greater than 100% due to multiple origin responses

Energy

First blade installed on Summerside's first wind turbine Summerside's 1st wind turbine.jpg
First blade installed on Summerside's first wind turbine

The City of Summerside operates the only municipally-owned electric utility in Prince Edward Island. After buying Charlottetown Light & Power in 1918, Maritime Electric 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 had an inter-connection with the Maritime Electric transmission grid since 1961. [31]

Similar to Maritime Electric, Summerside Electric purchases the majority of its electricity from NB Power. In 2008, 76.5% of its power was acquired from NB Power. Although the Summerside Electric Commission has its own diesel engines 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 when the NB Power or Maritime Electric transmission grids that feed the city are interrupted. They also run their engines on the last day of every month, for maintenance reasons and they sell that power back to NB Power.

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 West Cape. [32]

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.[ dubious discuss ] 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.

The city is a supporter of clean electric vehicles. As of September 2013 there are over 10 electric car charging stations in the city with another 30 to be installed in the coming months. There are more charging stations per capita in Summerside than any other city in Canada. [33]

Medical services

The Prince County Hospital, located in the city's north end, is the main referral hospital in the western part of the province. Island Emergency Medical Services operates two Advanced Life Support Paramedic Ambulances 24/7 from its base downtown.

Climate

Summerside has a humid continental climate (Köppen climate classification Dfb) with warm but somewhat moderate summers. It has cold winters with heavy snowfall, with some maritime moderation compared to areas farther inland.

The highest temperature ever recorded in Summerside was 33.7 °C (92.7 °F) on 15 July 2013. [34] The coldest temperature ever recorded was −32.2 °C (−26 °F) on 12 January 1930. [35]

Climate data for Summerside Airport
WMO ID: 71702; coordinates 46°26′28″N63°50′17″W / 46.44111°N 63.83806°W / 46.44111; -63.83806 (Inukjuak Upper Air) ; elevation: 12.2 m (40 ft); 1991–2020 normals, extremes 1929–present [f]
MonthJanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecYear
Record high humidex 14.326.125.134.340.241.741.540.231.825.817.741.7
Record high °C (°F)13.8
(56.8)
12.8
(55.0)
25.2
(77.4)
23.9
(75.0)
32.0
(89.6)
32.2
(90.0)
33.7
(92.7)
33.3
(91.9)
33.2
(91.8)
26.1
(79.0)
21.2
(70.2)
15.6
(60.1)
33.7
(92.7)
Mean daily maximum °C (°F)−2.9
(26.8)
−2.6
(27.3)
1.2
(34.2)
7.3
(45.1)
14.3
(57.7)
19.7
(67.5)
24.1
(75.4)
23.8
(74.8)
19.4
(66.9)
13.0
(55.4)
6.7
(44.1)
0.9
(33.6)
10.4
(50.7)
Daily mean °C (°F)−7.1
(19.2)
−7.0
(19.4)
−2.7
(27.1)
3.3
(37.9)
9.6
(49.3)
15.1
(59.2)
19.6
(67.3)
19.2
(66.6)
14.9
(58.8)
9.1
(48.4)
3.3
(37.9)
−2.5
(27.5)
6.2
(43.2)
Mean daily minimum °C (°F)−11.3
(11.7)
−11.3
(11.7)
−6.6
(20.1)
−0.8
(30.6)
4.9
(40.8)
10.4
(50.7)
15.0
(59.0)
14.5
(58.1)
10.4
(50.7)
5.2
(41.4)
−0.1
(31.8)
−6.0
(21.2)
2.0
(35.6)
Record low °C (°F)−32.2
(−26.0)
−30.0
(−22.0)
−28.9
(−20.0)
−14.0
(6.8)
−5.0
(23.0)
−1.9
(28.6)
5.0
(41.0)
4.4
(39.9)
−0.8
(30.6)
−6.7
(19.9)
−16.0
(3.2)
−25.6
(−14.1)
−32.2
(−26.0)
Record low wind chill −47.8−44.9−33.9−24.2−11.3−1.60.00.00.0−11.4−24.6−39.5−47.8
Average precipitation mm (inches)96.2
(3.79)
74.9
(2.95)
79.4
(3.13)
84.2
(3.31)
97.7
(3.85)
91.3
(3.59)
74.1
(2.92)
92.7
(3.65)
96.7
(3.81)
87.7
(3.45)
97.7
(3.85)
100.3
(3.95)
1,072.9
(42.24)
Average rainfall mm (inches)25.2
(0.99)
24.9
(0.98)
34.6
(1.36)
61.3
(2.41)
94.9
(3.74)
91.3
(3.59)
74.1
(2.92)
92.7
(3.65)
96.8
(3.81)
87.0
(3.43)
77.2
(3.04)
49.2
(1.94)
809.1
(31.85)
Average snowfall cm (inches)78.5
(30.9)
53.4
(21.0)
47.4
(18.7)
22.2
(8.7)
3.2
(1.3)
0.0
(0.0)
0.0
(0.0)
0.0
(0.0)
0.0
(0.0)
0.7
(0.3)
19.1
(7.5)
53.5
(21.1)
277.9
(109.4)
Average precipitation days (≥ 0.2 mm)17.413.614.915.115.414.112.413.213.514.416.817.3177.9
Average rainy days (≥ 0.2 mm)5.55.36.911.615.414.112.413.213.514.313.67.1132.9
Average snowy days (≥ 0.2 cm)14.610.910.45.80.930.00.00.00.00.805.313.161.8
Average relative humidity (%) (at 1500 LST)74.771.869.165.963.364.964.764.664.666.772.576.568.3
Mean monthly sunshine hours 108.9118.3139.9155.6202.4231.7255.7234.4174.4130.486.880.91,919.3
Percentage possible sunshine 38.940.738.038.743.649.153.553.346.238.530.630.141.7
Source: Environment Canada [34] (rain/rain days, snow/snow days and precipitation/precipitation days 1981-2010, sun 1971–2000) [36] [37] [38] [35]

Attractions

Credit Union Place, a sports and community centre Credit Union Place entrance 2009.JPG
Credit Union Place, a sports and community centre

The Summerside Raceway [39] is a standardbred harness racing track which is believed to be the oldest operating racing track in Canada, having opened in 1886. [40] It is adjacent to Credit Union Place, [41] the largest indoor sports facility in the province with a large hockey arena seating 4000, a bowling alley, a 25-metre swimming pool and other fitness and meeting facilities. Other attractions include the Harbourfront Theatre, the College of Piping and Celtic Performing Arts [42] the Silver Fox Curling & Yacht Club, [43] the Summerside Golf & Country Club, [44] the PEI Sports Hall of Fame [45] and Spinnakers' Landing. [46]

The city has redeveloped several waterfront industrial sites, 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 waterfront boardwalk for residents and visitors.

The former post office on Summer Street was designated a National Historic Site of Canada in 1983. [47] The former railway station, designed by architect Charles Benjamin Chappell [48] and built in 1927, was designated a National Historic Site of Canada in 2007. [49]

The fish industry has also thrived recently and created a whole new division of tourism industry. According to 2016 demographics of the city, most of the tourism in recent years, is from families just wanting to go sail out on the ocean, and catch some fish to sell to a market, or bring home.

Sports

Notable sporting events held by Summerside include:

Notable people

Spinnaker's Landing Spinnakers' Landing, Harbour Dr, Summerside (471202) (9447935719).jpg
Spinnaker's Landing

Summerside was home for three years to the fictional Anne Shirley of the Anne of Green Gables series by Canadian author Lucy Maud Montgomery. Anne resides in the town while principal of Summerside High School, in the book Anne of Windy Poplars .

Media

Summerside has one radio station licensed to it, FM 102.1 CJRW-FM, which plays an adult contemporary format. CJRW is the only commercial radio station in the province whose studios are located outside of Charlottetown. Summerside is otherwise served by media based in Charlottetown. CBC Television has its Prince County bureau situated in Summerside.

Summerside's weekly newspaper is the Journal Pioneer . The province's French weekly newspaper, La Voix acadienne, is also based in the city.

Sister Cities

See also

Notes

  1. Statistic includes all persons that did not make up part of a visible minority or an indigenous identity.
  2. Statistic includes total responses of "Filipino" and "Southeast Asian" under visible minority section on census.
  3. Statistic includes total responses of "Chinese", "Korean", and "Japanese" under visible minority section on census.
  4. Statistic includes total responses of "West Asian" and "Arab" under visible minority section on census.
  5. Statistic includes total responses of "Visible minority, n.i.e." and "Multiple visible minorities" under visible minority section on census.
  6. Extreme high and low temperatures were recorded at Summerside CDA (June 1929 to April 1942) and Summerside Airport (May 1942 to present).

References

  1. 1 2 "Census Profile, 2021 Census: Summerside, City [Census subdivision], Prince Edward Island and Summerside [Census agglomeration] Prince Edward Island". Statistics Canada. November 15, 2023. Retrieved March 14, 2025.
  2. "History of Summerside". Culture Summerside. Retrieved 2023-11-08.
  3. 1 2 "Interim List of Changes to Municipal Boundaries, Status and Names: January 2, 1991 to January 1, 1996" (PDF). Statistics Canada. February 1997. p. 45. Retrieved October 28, 2018.
  4. "History to Present". Linkletter Farms. Retrieved October 11, 2019.
  5. "ADL". Foodbevg.com. Retrieved October 11, 2019.
  6. Invest in summerside.com
  7. "International Fox Museum / Armoury". Culture Summerside. Retrieved December 3, 2024.
  8. "City of Summerside, Senior Leadership, Mayor and Council". summerside.ca. Retrieved 19 March 2025.
  9. "Police Services". City of Summerside. Retrieved October 11, 2019.
  10. "New School Board".
  11. "The College of Piping & Celtic Performing Arts of Canada". Explore Summerside.
  12. "96 Census: A National Overview - Population and Dwelling Counts" (PDF). Statistics Canada. April 1997. Retrieved February 2, 2022.
  13. "Population and Dwelling Counts, for Canada, Provinces and Territories, and Census Subdivisions (Municipalities), 2001 and 1996 Censuses - 100% Data (Prince Edward Island)". Statistics Canada. August 15, 2012. Retrieved February 2, 2022.
  14. "Population and dwelling counts, for Canada, provinces and territories, and census subdivisions (municipalities), 2006 and 2001 censuses - 100% data (Prince Edward Island)". Statistics Canada. August 20, 2021. Retrieved February 2, 2022.
  15. "Population and dwelling counts, for Canada, provinces and territories, and census subdivisions (municipalities), 2011 and 2006 censuses (Prince Edward Island)". Statistics Canada. July 25, 2021. Retrieved February 2, 2022.
  16. "Population and dwelling counts, for Canada, provinces and territories, and census subdivisions (municipalities), 2016 and 2011 censuses – 100% data (Prince Edward Island)". Statistics Canada. February 8, 2017. Retrieved February 2, 2022.
  17. 1 2 "Population and dwelling counts: Canada, provinces and territories, and census subdivisions (municipalities), Prince Edward Island". Statistics Canada. February 9, 2022. Retrieved March 3, 2022.
  18. Dominion Bureau of Statistics (1944). Cudmore, S. A. (ed.). Eighth Census of Canada 1941 (Report). Vol. II: Population by Local Subdivisions. Edmond Cloutier, Printer to the King's Most Excellent Majesty. p. 55.
  19. Sixth Census of Canada, 1921 (PDF). Volume 1—Population. Ottawa: Dominion Bureau of Statistics. December 21, 1923. Retrieved February 2, 2022.
  20. "Table 6: Population by census subdivisions, 1901–1961". 1961 Census of Canada (PDF). Series 1.1: Historical, 1901–1961. Vol. I: Population. Ottawa: Dominion Bureau of Statistics. March 8, 1963. Retrieved February 2, 2022.
  21. "Table 2: Population of Census Subdivisions, 1921–1971". 1971 Census of Canada (PDF). Population. Vol. Census Subdivisions (Historical). Ottawa: Statistics Canada. July 1973. Retrieved February 2, 2022.
  22. "1976 Census of Canada: Population - Geographic Distributions" (PDF). Statistics Canada. June 1977. Retrieved February 2, 2022.
  23. "1981 Census of Canada: Census subdivisions in decreasing population order" (PDF). Statistics Canada. May 1992. Retrieved February 2, 2021.
  24. "1986 Census: Population - Census Divisions and Census Subdivisions" (PDF). Statistics Canada. September 1987. Retrieved February 2, 2022.
  25. "91 Census: Census Divisions and Census Subdivisions - Population and Dwelling Counts" (PDF). Statistics Canada. April 1992. Retrieved February 2, 2022.
  26. Government of Canada, Statistics Canada (2022-10-26). "Census Profile, 2021 Census of Population". www12.statcan.gc.ca. Retrieved 2023-10-09.
  27. Government of Canada, Statistics Canada (2021-10-27). "Census Profile, 2016 Census". www12.statcan.gc.ca. Retrieved 2023-10-09.
  28. Government of Canada, Statistics Canada (2015-11-27). "NHS Profile". www12.statcan.gc.ca. Retrieved 2023-10-09.
  29. Government of Canada, Statistics Canada (2019-08-20). "2006 Community Profiles". www12.statcan.gc.ca. Retrieved 2023-10-09.
  30. Government of Canada, Statistics Canada (2019-07-02). "2001 Community Profiles". www12.statcan.gc.ca. Retrieved 2023-10-09.
  31. Negru, John (1990), The electric century : an illustrated history of electricity in Canada : the Canadian Electrical Association, 1891–1991, Montreal: Canadian Electrical Association, p. 75, ISBN   2-9802153-0-9
  32. "Summerside commits to wind energy". CBC News. 14 September 2006.
  33. MacLean, Colin (September 13, 2013). "Summerside strikes deal to bring 40 new electric car charging stations to city". The Journal Pioneer. Transcontinental Media G.P. Archived from the original on March 4, 2016.
  34. 1 2 "Summerside Prince Edward Island". Canadian Climate Normals 1991–2020. Environment and Climate Change Canada. Archived from the original on July 22, 2024. Retrieved July 22, 2024.
  35. 1 2 "Daily Data Report for January 1930". Canadian Climate Data. Environment Canada. 2011-10-31. Retrieved 26 June 2016.
  36. "Sumerside A". Canadian Climate Normals 1981–2010. Environment Canada. Archived from the original on 2024-07-22. Retrieved 23 July 2019.
  37. "Sunshine Data". Canadian Climate Normals 1971–2000. Environment Canada. Archived from the original on 2024-07-22. Retrieved 26 June 2016.
  38. "Summerside CDA". Canadian Climate Data. Environment Canada. 2011-10-31. Retrieved 26 June 2016.
  39. Summerside Raceway Archived 2009-12-28 at the Wayback Machine
  40. "History of Summerside Raceway" . Retrieved 27 January 2014.
  41. Credit Union Place
  42. College of Piping and Celtic Performing Arts
  43. Silver Fox Curling & Yacht Club
  44. Summerside Golf & Country Club
  45. PEI Sports Hall of Fame
  46. Spinnakers' Landing
  47. Former Summerside Post Office . Canadian Register of Historic Places . Retrieved 25 September 2011.
  48. Canada, Province of Prince Edward Island. "Historic Properties Online: Charles B. Chappell". www.gov.pe.ca. Retrieved 2016-09-05.
  49. "192 Water Street". www.gov.pe.ca. Province of Prince Edward Island. Retrieved September 5, 2016.
  50. "U18 Men's Softball World Cup". WBSC. World Baseball Softball Confederation (WBSC). Retrieved 30 July 2023.
  51. "Canada Games Heads Back to the Island: PEI welcomes the Canada Games in 2009". Canada Games. Canada Games Council. Retrieved 30 July 2023.
  52. "Summerside's Noah Dobson cracks New York Islanders' lineup". CBC News. October 1, 2019. Retrieved July 26, 2020.
  53. "US chieftain role for Provost". March 3, 2010. Archived from the original on January 1, 2017. Retrieved January 4, 2017. Retrieved 31 Dec 2016

46°24′N63°47′W / 46.400°N 63.783°W / 46.400; -63.783 (Summerside)