Immigration | Can I move to Prince Edward Island?

Dear Miss Powell,

I’m contemplating moving to Canada but I need my beach on weekends to relax. Is Prince Edward Island a good place to move to?

J.J.

Dear J.J.,

I have tears in my eyes. I can already picture you arriving with your beach towel, swimsuit and sunscreen, ready for a relaxing Saturday in February.

So, J.J., we need to talk.

Sand, yes. Sunbathing, sometimes.

Prince Edward Island (PEI) has beautiful beaches, red sandstone cliffs and some of Canada’s warmest seawater. But “warm” in Canada and “warm” in Jamaica are two different things.

Swimming season is mainly July and August. By October, the wind could take you by surprise. By January, the beach may be covered in snow and ice. You can still walk along the shore, but in a winter coat, not a swimsuit. The Atlantic Ocean does not care how much you miss Negril.

The island wants workers

Let’s get serious. PEI selects immigrants based on what they can contribute to its labour market.

For 2026, the PEI Provincial Nominee Program has been prioritising skilled workers in healthcare, trades, manufacturing, childcare and other industries facing labour shortages. Opportunities may exist for nurses, personal support workers, early childhood educators, electricians, welders and carpenters.

Candidates already working in PEI may have an advantage. Graduates of the University of Prince Edward Island, Holland College and Collège de l’Île have also received priority consideration in past rounds.

The Atlantic Immigration Program offers another pathway. You generally need a qualifying job offer from a designated employer and provincial endorsement, and you must meet the programme’s eligibility requirements.

Your education, work experience, language proficiency and employment prospects will determine your options.

Plan your move around the job

If you have qualifications and experience in an occupation PEI needs, consider consulting an immigration lawyer before applying. Find out whether your credentials require assessment, which approved language test you need, and what other requirements apply.

If you can, I strongly recommend that you visit PEI before deciding, preferably in winter. An August holiday tells you about the beach. A February visit tells you about your life.

PEI could be a wonderful home if you enjoy smaller communities, coastal living and good seafood. You could settle there permanently and still enjoy the beach. Just remember that the beach keeps short hours.

Plan your move around employment, enjoy the summer when it comes, and please, don’t send me a photograph of yourself on a frozen beach in February, asking where everybody gone.

Deidre S. Powell is a lawyer, mediator and author in Canada, and a member of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators (MCIArb). Contact her at www.deidrepowell.com or WhatsApp 613-695-8777.