Jewish History on Prince Edward Island

Jewish people started to live on Prince Edward Island in the 1890s but most remained for short periods. In 1908 the local press took notice of a growing Jewish population and reported that Jews in Charlottetown were celebrating Passover. Most early settlers immigrated from Eastern Europe. Noteworthy were Russian-born brothers Louis, Israel and Abie Block and their families. They operated small businesses. Of the thirteen Block children born on the Island, only Abie’s son Maurice did not emigrate. He and his spouse Sarah raised their family in Charlottetown. Remarkable was the entrepreneurship of Dr. Leo Frank from Scotland, via the United States. He established a well-known and successful silver fox farm in 1914, which he operated for thirty years. Before World War II more than twenty Jewish-owned businesses opened with almost all closing within a couple of years. During the 1940s Jewish physicians, refugees from Central Europe, started practicing on PEI.

The Jewish population started to grow during the 1970s and continues to increase in number until today. Not many Jews were born on PEI and most migrated from other parts of Canada and immigrated from around the globe including Argentina, Brazil, Great Britian, Israel, Mexico, Russia, South Africa, Turkey, Ukraine, and the United States. The Jewish population found economic opportunity in various sectors including farming, higher education, federal and provincial government public service, health care, retail, hospitality, and the literary, visual, musical, and theatre arts.

Following the opening of the Confederation Bridge in May 1997, the Jewish population grew at a more rapid rate. The Jewish population has changed dramatically over the past 130+ years.

Dr. Joseph B. Glass, a member of the Prince Edward Island Jewish Community, prepared two documents: “A Short Jewish History of Prince Edward Island” and “A Short History of the Jewish Community of Prince Edward Island” for the readers of the PEIJC website. These short histories include hyperlinks to more detailed information and published articles.

Photo of article is from Yom HaShoa 2000

Photo of article is from Yom HaShoa 2000