
Welcome home to Prince Edward County! A unique island-vibe community where rural roots and creative pursuits come together, The County is a place of tranquility, inspiration, hospitality and fun. Sometimes a visit just isn’t enough – The County has a way of capturing the hearts and imaginations of visitors through our strong agricultural roots, thriving arts & cultural community, outstanding natural beauty surrounded by Lake Ontario, fresh farm-to-table cuisine and Ontario’s fastest growing wine and craft beer region. It all comes together to offer a unique and unmatched quality of life. The County is both simple and sophisticated. Experience the rural pace, the creative possibilities and entrepreneurial opportunities. Consider yourself officially invited to be a part of it. Here are 25 Things to know about building a new life in The County.
25 Things to know about building a new life in The County:
1. Making Connections
Moving to a new place means new friends and connections. Meeting people in The County can be relatively easy: there are regular networking events, groups for entrepreneurs, a newcomers club at the library, recreational sports teams and the usual service clubs. Even just a visit to the post office or neighbourhood coffee shop will introduce you to residents.
The County is a community, and there’s pride in being neighbourly and working together to help out neighbours and friends. Whether your passion is helping the young or old, trees or turtles, you’ll find a cause needing your energy and enthusiasm. Growth in migration to The County means, in addition to long-time residents who can help fill in the history, you’ll find a lot of people who’ve only recently arrived. They’re usually eager to provide a warm welcome and a word of advice from their own experience of putting down new roots.
2. Explore an Island Playground
Into birding? How about sailing? Maybe curling is more your thing,
or a leisurely bicycle ride down the back roads.
The County is fortunate to boast a mixture of prosperous agricultural lands, rural and environmentally-protected landscapes, varied and stunning shorelines, and an array of quaint towns and villages. It’s these elements, taken together, that define The County’s desirable quality of life and quality of place. What is most valuable, and worth protecting, will always lead back to our roots, set deep into the physical elements that shape this Island.
The County includes 700+ kilometres of shoreline, 180 acres of parkland, plus the Millennium Trail, which spans from Carrying Place to Picton, offering a level path for skiing, walking, biking, snowshoeing, snowmobiling and ATV riding. In addition to beaches, baseball fields, tennis / pickleball courts, boat and paddle launches and a skate park, residents can enjoy programs at The Recreation Outreach Centre (ROC) and The Prince Edward Fitness and Aquatic Centre (PEFAC).
3. Take in a Show
Part of what gives The County its unique vibe is its rich vein of creativity. Follow the muse where it leads you – you’ll find workshops to help build skills, often led by a community of makers and creators eager to collaborate. Explore studios and galleries on the self-guided Arts Trail, PEC Studio Tour or Rednersville Road Art Tour. Find art shows at The Makers Hand, Art in The County and Busy Hands. Find fellow artists at the Prince Edward County Arts Council or seek out workshops at the Baxter Arts Centre.
There are plenty of live performances, concerts, galleries, theatre companies, classical, country and jazz music festivals, plus the historic Regent Theatre, a small town gem that’s a great place to catch a live show, documentary, art film or the latest blockbuster. On the theatre stage, there’s both comedy and drama to be seen, often featuring productions penned by local playwrights.
The County Stage Company and Shatterbox Theatre offer live performances, with Comedy Country bringing sketch comedy and improv to the stage.
4. Step into Local Heritage
What is now called Prince Edward County is the traditional lands of the
Anishnabe, Huron-Wendat and Haudenosaunee peoples, and many Indigenous and Métis people still live in The County today. A great way to learn more about Indigenous history of the area is to explore the permanent exhibit at Macaulay Heritage Park.
Loyalist Parkway, which cuts across The County from Carrying Place to the Glenora Ferry, is named for settlers loyal to the British Crown, who were expelled from America following the war of independence. History is everywhere here, from rivers that once carried fur traders, to inlets synonymous with rum-running.
The County is second only to Williamsburg, Virginia when it comes to colonial architecture in North America and our five museums help bring it to life. The County Museums highlight different themes related to the heritage of the community – much like individual chapters of Prince Edward County’s story.
5. Caring Community
A hallmark of rural living is neighbours looking out for neighbours. Get rooted in the community by pitching in with community organizations who need your skills and talents – whether it’s a few hours to help deliver food baskets or a seat at the Board table.
Here, there are community organizations to help seniors age in place and find supportive social circles; to help animals in need of new homes; to help students find their stride and reach their potential. No matter your interest, there’s sure to be a way to pitch in.
- Communities Building Youth Futures
- County Food Hub
- Food to Share
- Community Living Prince Edward
- Prince Edward Learning Centre (PELC)
- Children’s Aid Society
- County Kids Read
- The ROC Youth Outreach Centre
- Alternatives For Women
- The County Foundation
- South Shore Joint Initiative
- Friends of South Shore
- Prince Edward County Field Naturalists
- Loyalist Humane Society
- PEC Lions Club
- Rotary Club of Picton
- Rotary Club of Wellington
- PEC Trails
6. Climate Change and Conservation
The South Shore is designated and globally recognized as an Important Bird & Biodiversity Area, encompassing a 30-km stretch of shoreline supporting migrating birds, bats, butterflies and several rare plants.
The Prince Edward Point Bird Observatory are the caretakers of this beautiful space and are part of a network of bird-banding stations across Canada, helping to monitor some of the 290 species whose migratory route includes the South Shore.
Conservation areas highlight the area’s wetlands, woodlands, watercourses, steep slopes and escarpment features, inland lakes and shorelines – and the quirky Birdhouse City at the entrance to Macaulay Mountain celebrates local history.
The County is committed to keeping the island green, with comprehensive waste services, including weekly pick-up of recycling, garbage and compostable materials, as well as occasional e-waste and hazardous waste pop-ups. Curbside garbage bags must be at the curb by 7 am with a bag tag attached and clearly visible.
Check garbage and recycling schedules for details.
7. Local News and Weather
What’s good for the grapes is good for any gathering. The County can be very dry in the summer months – green thumbs will want to invest in rain barrels. The County’s proximity to Lake Ontario usually means milder winters and warm spring temperatures. If you’re not enjoying the weather, just wait five minutes. The lake can also produce localized microclimates, and it’s not uncommon for one end of The County to have sunshine while the other is experiencing rain or snow. Be sure to line up a snow plow operator in the fall, to keep driveways and walkways clear in the winter months.
The County has three traditional community newspapers – the Picton Gazette, Wellington Times and County Weekly News – and Countylive.ca, an online news site devoted entirely to happenings in The County. 99.3 FM, a volunteer-run community radio station featuring local voices, plays an eclectic music list and frequent promotion of local events. It’s rare in today’s media landscape to have such a wealth of hyper-local outlets, whose focus on the people and places around The County helps promote a feeling of connectedness.
Sign up for municipal updates at thecounty.ca.
8. Diversity
Rural communities can feel… very homogenous.
The past decade has brought an influx of new residents to Prince Edward County, people of all ages and backgrounds craving connection, community and neighbourliness and they’re finding ways to bring their own culture and history into the mix.
A first stop when searching for community is All Welcome Here, an anti-racist organization that strives to link people to help build a critical rural network. Across the bridge in Belleville, Belleville International helps connect students studying in Canada – particularly at Loyalist College – with services, events and workshops to help navigate new systems, settle into the community and find a feeling of home.
The County has a proud tradition of celebrating the gay and lesbian community, with several businesses “Rainbow Registered” to indicate that owners and staff have undertaken training to make their workspaces, stores, restaurants or establishments more welcoming and inclusive. The community also aims to help youth exploring their gender identity or sexual orientation feel safe to do so, with programming and supports for families and youth.
9. Family Fun
Prince Edward County has lots of options for family fun – whether it’s cheap and cheerful walks along the shoreline, free playgroups, organized sports teams, hands-on workshops or after-school programs, there’s plenty to keep families busy. With agriculture a vital part of our community, families are encouraged to help their kids explore the animal husbandry and food preparation skills that 4-H and Junior Farmers can help develop.
- 4-H Club of Prince Edward County
- Junior Farmers
- PEC Parents
- Swimming, Babysitting Courses at Prince Edward Fitness & Aquatic Club
- Public Ice Skating
- Children’s Baseball League
- Prince Edward County Soccer Association
- Curling
- Horseback riding at Harper Run Stables or Tanglewood Stables
- Learn to Sail program at PEC Yacht Club
- County Clippers youth basketball
- County School of Dance
- The ROC
- Baxter Arts Centre
- Reaching for Rainbows girls youth group
- LGBTQ+ drop-in
- The HUB Playgroups
The County works hard – but it plays hard too. The calendar is loaded with festivals and celebrations, no matter the time of year. Welcome spring with Maple Madness and Maple in the County, the annual PEPtBO birding festival or Countylicious.
Kick off summer with the lavender festival, a Comedy Country show or see a County Stage Company performance. Light up the season’s shorter days with the Firelight Lantern Festival. Flashback February celebrates our past and helps history come alive. No matter the season, there’s a date devoted to appreciating the best of The County’s food, beverage and creative scene
11. Farm to Table
rom lavender to honey, pumpkins to mushrooms, it’s all grown close to home in The County. Some 470+ farms keep more than half of The County’s land base under agricultural production. Farm-fresh produce is a point of pride and stocking up at a roadside stall is your chance to meet the farmer behind the feast. Take a bite from a place whose flavours say: this was grown here.
The County is also home to some incredibly talented chefs and cooks, designing menus that strive to use the best the land (and lake) have to offer. Nosh your way through The County at pop-ups, food trucks, kitchen takeovers and special promotions like Countylicious. Our spirit of creative collaboration keeps inspiring farmers, producers and cooks to push the flavour profile further.
The County’s limestone bedrock is what gives the soil the minerality needed to produce world-class wines. From citrusy chardonnay grapes to winning pinot noirs, The County’s 40+ wineries are bottling up a bit of sunshine every season, experimenting with all the region can offer.
Barley was once a mainstay of County fields, making up half of all crops in the late 1800s. Today, hops have returned, fueled by a resurgence in craft brewing. More than a dozen small batch breweries are open across The County producing lager styles with local ingredients, seasonal favourites and everything from stouts to sours. Fellow brewers are complementing the craft scene with hard ciders pressed from some of Canada’s oldest orchards.
13. Shopping

Picton, Bloomfield and Wellington are the main centres of Prince Edward County, with Main Streets packed with shopping options. While “big box” stores are only a short drive away, there’s so much between boutique and bargain that can be found locally. Designer or consignment clothing, shoes, games, antique treasures, hardware and renovation supplies, toys, books, outdoor gear, frozen foods, you name it, The County has it or makes it.
14. Real Estate
Like most places within driving distance of bigger cities, The County has felt the effects of a hot housing market. Affordable housing projects are in the pipeline, alongside housing developments with condos, townhouses, semi-detached and fully detached houses in Carrying Place, Consecon, Cressy, Waupoos, Picton and Wellington. These development projects are expected to add 8,000 units to the housing stock by 2035.
No matter where you land, you’re never more than a three-hour drive from a major city – even if you feel a world away.
15. Schools
There are five public elementary schools in The County, one high school and one Catholic elementary school, as well as a Christian academy. Students can be enrolled in French immersion. Albert College, a renowned private school with day and boarding options, sits just across the Bay of Quinte in Belleville. Loyalist College in Belleville and St. Lawrence College in Kingston offer renowned technical education, while Queen’s University in Kingston routinely places in the top spots in the annual ‘Canada’s Best Universities’ rankings.
Adult and continuing education can be found at the Loyola Learning Centre and the Prince Edward Learning Centre.
16. Child Care & Day Camps
The HUB is the licensed child care facility in Prince Edward County, providing quality licensed child care and early learning through programs and services that focus on children from infants to 13 years old. In addition to providing full and half day rates, there are also before and after school programs.
There are two locations: one in Picton and one in Rednersville.
Licensed and unlicensed home-based child care is also available.
In summer months, as well as March Break, there are several options for day camps. In Picton, The ROC also provides programming and drop-in space for kids and teens.
17. Broadband and Internet Service

The County is working together with upper levels of government, the private sector and community partners to improve internet service throughout the municipality. A number of initiatives are currently underway to expand 5G internet service.
The Ontario government announced in August 2022 that it is bringing high-speed internet access to underserved and unserved homes and businesses in Prince Edward County. The announcement is part of the Ontario government’s effort to deliver high speed internet access across the province by 2025. Following a two-stage competitive process led by the Ontario government, Rogers Communications signed an agreement with the province to bring high-speed wired internet access to homes and businesses in Prince Edward County.
18. Employment & Entrepreneurship

The County’s local economy is largely characterized by small businesses employing fewer than 10 people. Employment in The County is concentrated in the hospitality/tourism sectors, with trades, health care and professional services in high demand. As The County grows, so do opportunities, with a rising number of professional posts focusing on community development, fundraising and program delivery.
The County is actively recruiting health care workers and construction/tradespeople and many County-based businesses are actively seeking year-round and seasonal hospitality workers.
Working remotely? Find community and a quiet space at County Co-Working. Or join the PEC Remote Worker Facebook group.
Many people move to The County with a business idea in mind; others develop an idea as they discover a niche or needs within the community. Hustle has always been part of The County’s DNA. Here, you’ll find a community of like-minded individuals eager to support and collaborate.
19. Small Business Supports
Prince Edward County Economic Development
Karen Palmer
kpalmer@pecounty.on.ca
613.242.6476
Confidential Small Business Counsellor Sandy Abbott
sabbott.agency@gmail.com
613.476.4240.
Career Edge
www.careeredge.on.ca/
1.866.859.9222 or 613.476.6456
Hastings Prince Edward Public Health
hpepublichealth.ca/
1.800.267.2803
Bloomfield & Area Business Association
bloomfieldontario.ca
info@bloomfieldontario.ca
PEC Chamber of Commerce
pecchamber.com
contactus@pecchamber.ca
613.476.2421
Picton Business Improvement Area
www.experiencepicton.com/
info@experiencepicton.com
613.922.4998
Wellington & District Business Association
discoverwellington.ca/
20. Workforce

Workforce challenges have become the new normal around the world and Prince Edward County is no exception – the pandemic touched off a wave of regional upskilling, but there are still gaps in health care, education, trades/construction and hospitality. Many farms and wineries in the area rely on seasonal migrant workers to meet their employee needs.
The County Workforce Partnership was formed to help develop training to meet employer needs. In addition to working with employers to develop and fund sector-specific programs and supports, the CWP presents a “Work Local Week” every March to help employees get interview-ready, employers staff up and introduce entrepreneurs to new ideas, innovations, supports and more.
Career Edge offers one-on-one job matching resources and can help with resume and interview preparation. They can also help with job ads, career fairs and employee recruitment
21. Healthcare Services
At the time of publication, there were 24 family physicians in Prince Edward County, as well as a small hospital with excellent emergency care, plus numerous health-related services, including dental, optometry, chiropractors and massage therapists. Specialists are more common in Belleville or Quinte West, while specialized care can be found at Belleville General Hospital. Kingston is home to a cardiac centre, Hotel Dieu and Kingston General Hospital, a teaching facility connected to Queen’s University.
The County encourages active living to help seniors stay in the community, facilitating transitions to greater levels of care as needs progress. Service groups such as Meals on Wheels, Escorted Transport and Caregiver Support and Respite Care help families manage and keep seniors living independently as long as they’re able.
For four-legged family members, The County has two animal clinics and a 24-hour emergency pet hospital in Rossmore.
22. Immigration Services

The County strives to welcome newcomers from near and far. Moving to The County from another country can be supported by the Quinte Local Immigration Partnership (QLIP), which offers programming and support to help recent arrivals with education, health services, language training and employment so you can more readily begin your new life in Canada.
23. Transportation Connections

The County is accessible by planes, trains and automobiles. A daily ferry also brings passengers directly to Picton. In the heart of the triangle formed by Toronto, Ottawa and Montreal, The County is a short hop down the 401. While there are taxis and Uride, a ride sharing app, access to a vehicle when living in a rural community is a practical necessity.
There are growing rural public transit options, including County Transit, which provides both fixed route services for everyone and on-demand service for those aged 55+.
It’s possible to connect to larger hubs in the region, through VIA service out of Belleville or using bus services like Red Arrow, which is expected to add a Belleville stop in 2023.
24. Places of Worship
A sense of community can be found at many of The County’s places of worship. A wide range of religious denominations are represented here, including Anglican, Baptist, Roman Catholic, Christadelphian, Christian Reformed, Fellowship, Free Methodist, Jehovah’s Witness, Pentecostal, Presbyterian, Salvation Army and United. There is also a mosque in nearby Quinte West (Trenton) and a synagogue and masjid in Belleville.
25. Local Government
he County is a single-tier municipality committed to supporting residents by providing a wide variety of services. The Community Services, Programs & Initiatives Department provides a one-window approach to community and economic development. The municipality also provides building & planning services to residents interested in developing, altering or renovating their properties. Learn more about The County’s municipal services by exploring TheCounty.ca.