By Angela Kryhul
As the sport hosting capital of Prince Edwad Island, competitions are woven into Charlottetown’s fabric. With sport hosting expertise, passionate volunteers and top-tier venues, the city regularly welcomes regional, national and international competitions.
“We’re small, but we’re mighty,” says Wayne Long, events development officer for the City of Charlottetown. “Our municipal council sees the value of being in the sport tourism sector and has given us the [human resources and financial commitments] in order to succeed—and that’s paying off in spades.”
FAST FACTS:
ACCOMMODATIONS: 1,562 hotel guestrooms and 973 short-term rentals
GETTING HERE: Direct flights from Toronto, Montreal and Ottawa (year-round) and seasonally from Edmonton and Calgary. By automobile, the 13-km Confederation Bridge is a quick and picturesque way to arrive or depart PEI.
GETTING AROUND: Private group shuttle, limo and van services are available. For ride sharing, Kari is a locally owned and operated service.
Notable Venues
The $36-million Simmons Sports Centre opened in late 2024 and features an NHL-sized rink with seating for 590 spectators (and room to build a second ice pad), meeting rooms and a six-lane, 25-metre outdoor competitive swimming pool.
The Eliyahu Wellness Centre at Canada Games Place is a high-efficiency wellness centre, featuring an Olympic-sized ice surface, fitness centre and 180-metre walking track.
The Bell Aliant Centre is a 160,000 sq.-ft., multi-purpose facility featuring a 25-metre, eight-lane competitive pool and two NHL-sized ice surfaces.
Prince Edward Island Convention Centre adjoins the Delta Hotels by Marriott Prince Edward and boasts a 23,000 sq.-ft. ballroom that is divisible into six separate rooms.
Eastlink Centre Charlottetown offers an NHL-sized ice surface with seating for 3,718 attendees, a 42,000 sq.-ft. trade centre and a 3.5-acre outdoor events space.
University of Prince Edward Island and Holland College offer a wide selection of athletics venues.
Legacy of the 2023 Winter Games
Upgrades to city-owned venues included new boards, lighting systems, scoreboards and digital screens and there were major upgrades and expansion projects at the Mark Arendz Provincial Ski Park.
There was also construction of a $63-million residence at the University of PEI (UPEI), featuring a 400-seat amphitheatre and 376 student rooms.
A $5.5 million legacy fund continues to support local initiatives, including new lighting at UPEI’s MacAdam Field, and a new dasher board system at the Bell Aliant Centre, which will make the venue fully accessible for para hockey.
Download the 2023 Canada Winter Games Final Corporate Report here.
In the Works
Charlottetown is exploring the potential development of a colourfully designed outdoor basketball venue in collaboration with Buckets and Borders, a not-for-profit organization that works to improve communities and bring people together through basketball.
Upcoming and Recently Hosted
2025 Canada Soccer Toyota National Championships
U-15 Cup 2025 Junior East Wheelchair Basketball Championship
2024 Grand Slam of Curling: HearingLife Tour Challenge
2024 Atlantic Slam W: NCAA Division 1 Women’s Basketball Tournament
2024 Para Hockey Cup
2023 World Under-17 Hockey Challenge
2023 U SPORTS Men’s Hockey Championship
Photos: Angela Kryhul
Published March 2025
