'Summerside' (2006 pop. 14,500
[1]) is a
Canadian city in
Prince County,
Prince Edward Island. It is the second largest city in the province and the principal municipality for the western part of the island. Summerside was officially incorporated as a town on
April 1,
1877 and reincorporated as a city on April 1,
1995.
Geography
Summerside's waterfront is situated on Summerside Harbour along the island's southern shore fronting the
Northumberland Strait. The city occupies 28.36 square kilometres on a 4 km wide
isthmus separating the Northumberland Strait from Malpeque Bay, a sub basin of the
Gulf of St. Lawrence; this is the narrowest part of Prince Edward Island.
History
The land occupied by the present city was settled by members of the
Mi'kmaq Nation for centuries. The first settlers of European descent would have been a limited number of
Acadians during the early
1700s. The community saw its first permanent European settlement in
1840 when a wharf was constructed and a road was built to
St. Eleanors, which was then the
shire town of
Prince County (after the failed settlement at
Princetown).
Joseph Pope soon built a shipyard at the wharf, and the town began to grow.
The arrival of the
Prince Edward Island Railway in
1872 saw Summerside became a seaport connecting Prince Edward Island with steamship service to mainland railway connections at
Shediac,
New Brunswick. The port grew into an important import/export facility for all manner of consumer goods, as well as the Island's agricultural exports such as
potatoes.
Shipbuilding went into decline by the early
20th century and Summerside transitioned to become a service centre for the trading of
fox pelts. The town grew during the
1940s after the
Royal Canadian Air Force built
RCAF Station Summerside on the outskirts of the town. The base (renamed
CFB Summerside in 1968) closed in
1991 and has been converted into a business park named Slemon Park. The federal, provincial, and municipal governments have undertaken community economic development initiatives in an effort to diversify the regional economy. The community's reincorporation in 1995 coincided with municipal amalgamation which saw the adjacent communities of
Wilmot,
St. Eleanors and
Sherbrooke merged with the larger town to form the new city.
Attractions
The
Summerside Raceway is a standard bred
harness racing track which is adjacent to the
Summerside Wellness Centre, a community sport and fitness facility. Other attractions include the
College of Piping and Celtic Performing Arts, the
Siver Fox Curling & Yacht Club, the
Summerside Golf & Country Club, the
PEI Sports Hall of Fame and
Spinnaker's Landing.
The city has recently incorporated 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 alogn the waterfront.
Economy
Large employers in the city include the Summerside tax centre, from which the
Canada Revenue Agency administers the
Goods and Services Tax (or GST).
Atlantic Turbines, which manufactures and repair parts for aircraft is an important employer in the Slemon Park business park. Slemon Park also includes other large employers including
Testori Americas and
Honeywell Engines and Systems. The neighbouring community of
New Annan is home to two large
Cavendish Farms frozen foods processing plants which is the province's largest private sector employer.
Summerside has been aggressive in courting new business opportunities and has created an Economic Development Office for the purpose of encouraging investment in the city. Visit
investinsummerside.com for more details.
Neighbourhoods
The city's neighborhoods vary from working class (especially in the outlying regions) to upscale and affluent (near the downtown area and parts of the suburban areas). A number of stately Victorian homes near downtown have been converted into bed-and-breakfast businesses. Summerside is well known throughout Canada for its splendid nineteenth century and early twentieth century residential architecture.
Medical Services
The city is home to the
Prince County Hospital, the second largest hospital in the province.
Education
Summerside's public schools include 4 elementary schools (
Elm Street,
Greenfield,
Parkside and
Athena Consolidated), 2 middle schools (
Summerside Intermediate and Athena Consolidated), and 1 high school (
Three Oaks).
Holland College maintains two campuses in Summerside, one in the downtown core which includes a marine training centre, and another in the Slemon Park business park which includes the Atlantic Police Academy.
Government
Basil Stewart, a former police officer, is the current
mayor of Summerside. He won his eighth consecutive term in
November,
2006 and has held the office for over 2 decades.
Trivia
Summerside is home to current NHLer
Steve Ott and former hockey player
John Chabot.
Summerside is also the birthplace of former NHL players
Gerald Gallant and
Errol Thompson, as well as former Columbus Blue Jackets GM/coach and current Tampa Bay Lightning co-owner
Doug McLean.
Summerside the hometown of current Canadian recording artist
Nathan Wiley.
Summerside was at one time the world headquarters of the Silver Fox industry. This is highlighted at the Silver Fox Museum.
External links
★
City of Summerside
★
Silver fox industry
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