Summerside, Prince Edward Island

Coordinates: 46°24′N 63°47′W / 46.400°N 63.783°W / 46.400; -63.783 (Summerside)
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Summerside
City
City of Summerside
Summerside City Hall
Summerside City Hall
Official logo of Summerside
Motto: 
Small city. Big opportunity.
Summerside is located in Prince Edward Island
Summerside
Summerside
Coordinates: 46°23′36″N 63°47′25″W / 46.39333°N 63.79028°W / 46.39333; -63.79028
CountryCanada
ProvincePrince Edward Island
CountyPrince County
Founded1800s
IncorporatedApril 1, 1877 (town)
 April 1, 1995 (city)
Government
 • MayorDan Kutcher
 • Governing bodySummerside City Council
Area
[1]
 • City28.49 km2 (11.00 sq mi)
 • Metro
92.43 km2 (35.69 sq mi)
Elevation
Sea level to 29 m (0 to 95.1 ft)
Population
 (2016)[1]
 • City14,829
 • Density520/km2 (1,300/sq mi)
 • Metro
16,587
 • Metro density180/km2 (460/sq mi)
Time zoneUTC-4 (Atlantic (AST))
 • Summer (DST)UTC-3 (ADT)
Canadian Postal code
C1N
Telephone Exchange
  • 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 Map11L5 Summerside
GNBC CodeBADSZ
Websitewww.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.

History[edit]

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[edit]

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 International Fox Museum.[7]

Government[edit]

The Summerside City Council is governed by a mayor and eight councillors who represent geographic areas called wards. The current mayor is Dan Kutcher.[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[edit]

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[edit]

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;

  • Summerside Waterfront Campus
  • Marine Training Centre
  • Atlantic Police Academy

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

Demographics[edit]

Federal census population history of Summerside (post-amalgamation)
YearPop.±%
199113,636—    
199614,525+6.5%
200114,654+0.9%
200614,500−1.1%
201114,751+1.7%
201614,829+0.5%
202116,001+7.9%
Source: Statistics Canada
[11][12][13][14][15][16]
Federal census population history of Summerside (pre-amalgamation)
YearPop.±%
18711,917—    
18812,853+48.8%
18912,882+1.0%
19012,875−0.2%
19112,678−6.9%
19213,228+20.5%
19313,759+16.4%
19415,034+33.9%
19516,547+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%
19917,474−6.8%
Source: Statistics Canada
[17][18][19][20][21][22][23][24]

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 7.8% from its 2016 population of 14,839. With a land area of 28.21 km2 (10.89 sq mi), it had a population density of 567.2/km2 (1,469.1/sq mi) in 2021.[16]

Panethnic groups in the City of Summerside (2001−2021)
Panethnic group 2021[25] 2016[26] 2011[27] 2006[28] 2001[29]
Pop. % Pop. % Pop. % Pop. % Pop. %
European[a] 13,830 88.97% 13,735 94.85% 13,840 96.11% 13,895 97.37% 14,065 98.18%
South Asian 480 3.09% 25 0.17% 65 0.45% 15 0.11% 0 0%
Southeast Asian[b] 455 2.93% 230 1.59% 85 0.59% 10 0.07% 30 0.21%
Indigenous 325 2.09% 220 1.52% 170 1.18% 130 0.91% 115 0.8%
East Asian[c] 210 1.35% 120 0.83% 115 0.8% 25 0.18% 20 0.14%
African 125 0.8% 90 0.62% 0 0% 120 0.84% 75 0.52%
Middle Eastern[d] 80 0.51% 20 0.14% 0 0% 10 0.07% 30 0.21%
Latin American 20 0.13% 50 0.35% 60 0.42% 0 0% 0 0%
Other/multiracial[e] 30 0.19% 10 0.07% 0 0% 60 0.42% 0 0%
Total responses 15,545 97.15% 14,480 97.58% 14,400 97.62% 14,270 98.41% 14,325 97.75%
Total population 16,001 100% 14,839 100% 14,751 100% 14,500 100% 14,654 100%
Note: Totals greater than 100% due to multiple origin responses

Energy[edit]

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.[30]

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.[31]

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.[32]

Medical services[edit]

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[edit]

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.[33] The coldest temperature ever recorded was −32.2 °C (−26 °F) on 12 January 1930.[34]

Climate data for Summerside Airport, 1981–2010 normals, extremes 1929–present[f]
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Record high °C (°F) 12.8
(55.0) 		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) −3.2
(26.2) 		−2.5
(27.5) 		1.1
(34.0) 		6.9
(44.4) 		14.2
(57.6) 		19.4
(66.9) 		23.8
(74.8) 		22.9
(73.2) 		18.2
(64.8) 		12.1
(53.8) 		5.8
(42.4) 		−0.1
(31.8) 		9.9
(49.8)
Daily mean °C (°F) −7.7
(18.1) 		−6.9
(19.6) 		−2.9
(26.8) 		3.0
(37.4) 		9.5
(49.1) 		14.7
(58.5) 		19.2
(66.6) 		18.6
(65.5) 		14.1
(57.4) 		8.4
(47.1) 		2.6
(36.7) 		−3.8
(25.2) 		5.7
(42.3)
Mean daily minimum °C (°F) −12.1
(10.2) 		−11.2
(11.8) 		−6.8
(19.8) 		−1.0
(30.2) 		4.9
(40.8) 		10.0
(50.0) 		14.6
(58.3) 		14.3
(57.7) 		10.0
(50.0) 		4.6
(40.3) 		−0.7
(30.7) 		−7.5
(18.5) 		1.6
(34.9)
Record low °C (°F) −32.2
(−26.0) 		−30.0
(−22.0) 		−28.9
(−20.0) 		−13.4
(7.9) 		−5.0
(23.0) 		−0.6
(30.9) 		5.0
(41.0) 		4.4
(39.9) 		−0.6
(30.9) 		−6.7
(19.9) 		−15.6
(3.9) 		−25.6
(−14.1) 		−32.2
(−26.0)
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) 17.4 13.6 14.9 15.1 15.4 14.1 12.4 13.2 13.5 14.4 16.8 17.3 177.9
Average rainy days (≥ 0.2 mm) 5.5 5.3 6.9 11.6 15.4 14.1 12.4 13.2 13.5 14.3 13.6 7.1 132.9
Average snowy days (≥ 0.2 cm) 14.6 10.9 10.4 5.8 0.93 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.80 5.3 13.1 61.8
Mean monthly sunshine hours 108.9 118.3 139.9 155.6 202.4 231.7 255.7 234.4 174.4 130.4 86.8 80.9 1,919.3
Percent possible sunshine 38.9 40.7 38.0 38.7 43.6 49.1 53.5 53.3 46.2 38.5 30.6 30.1 41.7
Source: Environment Canada[35][36][37][34][38][39][40][33]

Attractions[edit]

Credit Union Place, a sports and community centre

The Summerside Raceway[41] is a standardbred harness racing track which is believed to be the oldest operating racing track in Canada, having opened in 1886.[42] It is adjacent to Credit Union Place,[43] 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[44] the Silver Fox Curling & Yacht Club,[45] the Summerside Golf & Country Club,[46] the PEI Sports Hall of Fame[47] and Spinnakers' Landing.[48]

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.[49] The former railway station, designed by architect Charles Benjamin Chappell[50] and built in 1927, was designated a National Historic Site of Canada in 2007.[51]

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[edit]

Notable sporting events held by Summerside include:

Notable people[edit]

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[edit]

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 city[edit]

See also[edit]

Notes[edit]

  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[edit]

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Summerside, Prince Edward Island.
Wikivoyage has a travel guide for Summerside.
  1. ^ a b "Census Profile, 2016 Census: Summerside, City [Census subdivision], Prince Edward Island and Summerside [Census agglomeration] Prince Edward Island". Statistics Canada. 8 February 2017. Retrieved October 11, 2019.
  2. ^ "History of Summerside". Culture Summerside. Retrieved 2023-11-08.
  3. ^ a b "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 October 11, 2019.
  8. ^ "Mayor and Council". City of Summerside. Retrieved October 11, 2019.
  9. ^ "Police Services". City of Summerside. Retrieved October 11, 2019.
  10. ^ "New School Board".
  11. ^ "96 Census: A National Overview - Population and Dwelling Counts" (PDF). Statistics Canada. April 1997. Retrieved February 2, 2022.
  12. ^ "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.
  13. ^ "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.
  14. ^ "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.
  15. ^ "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.
  16. ^ a b "Population and dwelling counts: Canada, provinces and territories, and census subdivisions (municipalities), Prince Edward Island". Statistics Canada. February 9, 2022. Retrieved March 3, 2022.
  17. ^ 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.
  18. ^ Sixth Census of Canada, 1921 (PDF). Volume 1—Population. Ottawa: Dominion Bureau of Statistics. December 21, 1923. Retrieved February 2, 2022.
  19. ^ "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.
  20. ^ "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.
  21. ^ "1976 Census of Canada: Population - Geographic Distributions" (PDF). Statistics Canada. June 1977. Retrieved February 2, 2022.
  22. ^ "1981 Census of Canada: Census subdivisions in decreasing population order" (PDF). Statistics Canada. May 1992. Retrieved February 2, 2021.
  23. ^ "1986 Census: Population - Census Divisions and Census Subdivisions" (PDF). Statistics Canada. September 1987. Retrieved February 2, 2022.
  24. ^ "91 Census: Census Divisions and Census Subdivisions - Population and Dwelling Counts" (PDF). Statistics Canada. April 1992. Retrieved February 2, 2022.
  25. ^ Government of Canada, Statistics Canada (2022-10-26). "Census Profile, 2021 Census of Population". www12.statcan.gc.ca. Retrieved 2023-10-09.
  26. ^ Government of Canada, Statistics Canada (2021-10-27). "Census Profile, 2016 Census". www12.statcan.gc.ca. Retrieved 2023-10-09.
  27. ^ Government of Canada, Statistics Canada (2015-11-27). "NHS Profile". www12.statcan.gc.ca. Retrieved 2023-10-09.
  28. ^ Government of Canada, Statistics Canada (2019-08-20). "2006 Community Profiles". www12.statcan.gc.ca. Retrieved 2023-10-09.
  29. ^ Government of Canada, Statistics Canada (2019-07-02). "2001 Community Profiles". www12.statcan.gc.ca. Retrieved 2023-10-09.
  30. ^ 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
  31. ^ "Summerside commits to wind energy". CBC News. 14 September 2006.
  32. ^ 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.
  33. ^ a b "Daily Data Report for July 2013". Canadian Climate Data. Environment Canada. Retrieved 26 June 2016.
  34. ^ a b "Daily Data Report for January 1930". Canadian Climate Data. Environment Canada. 2011-10-31. Retrieved 26 June 2016.
  35. ^ "Sumerside A". Canadian Climate Normals 1981–2010. Environment Canada. 2013-09-25. Retrieved 23 July 2019.
  36. ^ "Sunshine Data". Canadian Climate Normals 1971–2000. Environment Canada. 2011-01-19. Retrieved 26 June 2016.
  37. ^ "Summerside CDA". Canadian Climate Data. Environment Canada. 2011-10-31. Retrieved 26 June 2016.
  38. ^ "Daily Data Report for November 2008". Canadian Climate Data. Environment Canada. Retrieved 26 June 2016.
  39. ^ "Daily Data Report for September 2010". Canadian Climate Data. Environment Canada. Retrieved 26 June 2016.
  40. ^ "Daily Data Report for March 2012". Canadian Climate Data. Environment Canada. Retrieved 26 June 2016.
  41. ^ Summerside Raceway Archived 2009-12-28 at the Wayback Machine
  42. ^ "History of Summerside Raceway". Retrieved 27 January 2014.
  43. ^ Credit Union Place
  44. ^ College of Piping and Celtic Performing Arts
  45. ^ Silver Fox Curling & Yacht Club
  46. ^ Summerside Golf & Country Club
  47. ^ PEI Sports Hall of Fame
  48. ^ Spinnakers' Landing
  49. ^ Former Summerside Post Office. Canadian Register of Historic Places. Retrieved 25 September 2011.
  50. ^ Canada, Province of Prince Edward Island. "Historic Properties Online: Charles B. Chappell". www.gov.pe.ca. Retrieved 2016-09-05.
  51. ^ "192 Water Street". www.gov.pe.ca. Province of Prince Edward Island. Retrieved September 5, 2016.
  52. ^ "U18 Men's Softball World Cup". WBSC. World Baseball Softball Confederation (WBSC). Retrieved 30 July 2023.
  53. ^ "Canada Games Heads Back to the Island: PEI welcomes the Canada Games in 2009". Canada Games. Canada Games Council. Retrieved 30 July 2023.
  54. ^ "Summerside's Noah Dobson cracks New York Islanders' lineup". CBC News. October 1, 2019. Retrieved July 26, 2020.
  55. ^ "US chieftain role for Provost". March 3, 2010. Archived from the original on January 1, 2017. Retrieved January 4, 2017. Retrieved 31 Dec 2016

External links[edit]

46°24′N 63°47′W / 46.400°N 63.783°W / 46.400; -63.783 (Summerside)

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