PEI Retention Survey asks people why they stay or why they leave

The Institute of Island Studies (IIS) at the University of Prince Edward Island is working with the PEI Department of Economic Growth, Tourism and Culture to better understand population mobility and retention on Prince Edward Island.

Through the survey, the Institute wants to learn what factors have led to the outmigration of PEI residents as well as those that have prompted residents to remain in the province.

“Hearing from both those who have left and those who have stayed is important. In the end, the key motivation is to improve retention of newcomers,” said Dr. Laurie Brinklow, interim chair of the IIS. “What we learn will feed into the next population strategy.”

Researchers have created two online surveys, one for current PEI residents and one for former PEI residents. 

“All of us who live on PEI know stories about why some people leave the Island and some people stay, but we don’t have any concrete data to back this up,” said Brinklow. “This is why we are hoping to hear from as many people as possible through these two surveys. Reaching those who have left is going to be the most challenging, so once you have filled it out, if you know people who have moved, we would love it if you could forward the link to them.”
 
Deadline for the completing survey is midnight on April 15. Participants can enter a draw for one of 50 $15 gift cards.

If you have any questions about the survey, please contact Brinklow at brinklow@upei.ca or Dr. Jim Randall at jarandall@upei.ca.

The following are links to the consent form and the two surveys:

Population Retention Survey for current PEI Residents: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/PopulationRetentionCurrentResidentsofPEI
 
Population Retention Survey for former PEI Residents: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/PopulationRetentionFormerResidentsofPEI

Links are also found at islandstudies.com.