Everyday Life
Housing
Your employer must ensure that you have access to affordable, appropriate accommodation, or they should provide you with appropriate accommodate that is affordable. If you live in housing that was provided by your employer, the employer may deduct the rental fee from your paycheque, and this amount must be outlined in your contract. The cost of your rent should be similar to comparable accommodations in the area. Further, your employer cannot deduct other costs for household items or supplies (i.e., furniture, kitchen utensils). Your accommodation could be private or shared. It is common to have shared accommodation with your coworkers. If you feel that your housing is over-crowded, with many people in a single rental unit, you should contact one of the resources listed under Housing Resources.
If you have arranged for your own housing, independent of your employer, you may have protections under the Rental of Residential Property Act. It may be a good idea to read Renting on PEI, a publication from Community Legal Information. You can also phone the Office of the Director of Residential Rental Property if you have questions.
If your employer has provided your accommodation, you may still have some protections by the Rental of Residential Property Act. If you are fired or quit your job, your employer is not allowed to evict you from your housing right away. If you have problems with your housing, you can contact the Office of the Director of Residential Rental Property. You can also contact the Tenant Support Centre, Cooper Institute, PEI Association for Newcomers to Canada, or call the Temporary Foreign Workers Association hotline.
Community Resources
Settlement Services
Settlement services offer newcomers to Canada help through language training, job search assistance, referrals, housing help, and social support. These services are provided free of charge. The settlement agency in PEI is called the PEI Association for Newcomers to Canada (PEIANC). There are workers who speak many different languages. Settlement specialists at the PEIANC provide services for migrant workers. PEIANC also maintains an online guide for newcomers to Canada with numerous topics on everyday life in PEI, in several languages.
Faith Communities
Joining a faith or community group can help you meet people in your community and feel more at home in Canada. Many municipalities and school boards have listings of community groups you can join. List of Faith Communities
Public Libraries
Many towns and villages in PEI have a public library. Public Libraries are places where you can access computers with internet, and borrow books, CDs, or DVDs. Some materials are available in languages other than English and French, and some libraries have Rosetta Stone, a computer program for learning English, as well as English-as-an-Additional-Language courses.
The services of the Provincial Library are free, but you need to have a membership card for most services. Their website has a membership guide which is translated into several languages. As a temporary resident, you can get a library card, if you have a mailing address in PEI. The staff will ask you to provide a piece of mail that was sent to you at your address in PEI as proof of address. If you do not want to become a member of the library, you can still sign up as a guest and use the computer for up to 14 days.
To find a library in your area, go to the provincial website, or call the main office. PEI Public Libraries
Transportation
T3 Transit
Charlottetown and Summerside: Trius Transit is the public Bus system that operates within these cities. In Charlottetown, the bus also travels to Cornwall and Stratford.
County Line Express: The County Line Express is a bus that runs between Charlottetown and Summerside, with stops in between.
More information about the bus system can be found on their website.
Maritime Bus
Travel out of the province to locations in New Brunswick and Nova Scotia. Book on the Maritime Bus website.
Greyhound Bus
Travel to provinces beyond Nova Scotia and New Brunswick. Book with Greyhound Bus online or by phone. Greyhound Bus can be accessed from Nova Scotia and New Brunswick.
Via Rail (Train)
From Moncton, New Brunswick you can also take the train to other provinces. Explore the Via Rail website or book a train ticket by phone.
Cycling
Riding a bicycle is an option for travelling short distances. In PEI, bicycles are considered vehicles. This means that you must follow the traffic laws. If you decide to bicycle, consider these tips on bicycle laws and safety:
- Wear a helmet.
- Fit a light to the front and back of your bicycle.
- Use hand signals to indicate where you are going.
- Ride on the right-hand side of the road
- Do not ride on sidewalks
- Where possible, stay at least one metre from the curb or from parked cars.
- Keep your distance from trucks and other large vehicles that might not be able to see you.
- Wear light or bright colours and use lights and reflective gear at night.
- Use a bell or a horn.
Ridesharing
The best and safest option for ridesharing is to rideshare with a friend or person you trust. If you know someone who has a car and will be travelling to or from PEI, you could plan to get a ride with them, and they may ask for some payment to help cover fuel. There are also online ridesharing platforms that can be used:
- Poparide is a website that will require you to sign in and pay online, but you get more information about the driver.
- Kjiji is a free website that lets you email people to buy and sell. They have rideshare listings.
