TIMELINE

1500's - 1700's

• (1534) Jacques Cartier of France reached the Island
• (1603) Named Ile Saint-Jean by Samuel de Champlain
• (1720) First continuous French settlement established at Port La Joie
• (1755) Acadians settled French colony, Ile Saint-Jean, after British-ordered explusion of Nova Scotia
• (1758) British seized control of Ile Saint-Jean, French setlers deported
• (1763) Ile Saint-Jean annexed to Nova Scotia
• (1764 - 1766) Survey divided land into three counties, each 500,000 acres, counties divided into 100,000 acre parishes
• (1769) Established as separate colony, Charlottetown became capital
• (1798) Great Britain renamed colony to Prince Edward Island

1800's

• (1803) Scottish immigrants settled on Island
• (1813 - 1815) Numerous settlements attacked by plagues of mice
• (1816) Volcanic eruption in Pacific lowered temperatures, harvest yields (Year without Summer)
• (1851) Responsible government granted to colony, first elected administration took office
• (1864) Colonial conference held in Charlottetown
• (1868) Best year for shipbuilding - 120 vessels launched from Island shipyards
• (1873) Prince Edward Island entered confederation
• (1880's) Shipbuilding indsutry collapsed, thousands of islanders migrated to find work

1900's

• (1908) Automobiles banned from Island roads
• (1917) All roads opened to auto traffic
• (1922) Women won right to vote and hold provincial office
• (1924) Driving on the right side of the road went into effect
• (1950) Alberta, B.C., Manitoba, Ontario, Saskatchewan and P.E.I. signed agreement to build Trans-Canada highway
• (1971) Trans-Canada highway completed
• (1993) Catherine Callbeck elected first female premier of province
• (1996) Progressive Conservative Party won elections
• (1997) Confederation bridge opened, linked Prince Edward Island to New Brunwick

2000's

• (2004) RCMP investigated threatening letters sent to Charlottetown government buildings
• (2005) Same-sex marriage legislation passed
• (2007) Liberal Party won elections
• (2008) Canada, P.E.I. signed new immigration agreement to process applications quicker for skilled international workers
• (2009) Fire at electricity substation left 55,000 without power