Considering the tendency of a good number of Island youth to complete their postsecondary studies off-Island and then pursue their careers outside the province, the PERCÉ PEI program was initiated in 2004 by La Société de développement de la Baie acadienne (SDBA), in partnership with RDÉE Prince Edward Island, as a pilot project.

During the first few years, the program was aimed at Acadian and francophone students from PEI. Eight youth participated in the first year, 10 in the second year and eight in the third year. This program, which is considered a best practice at the national level, caught the attention of the Island Anglophone community. Resources West Inc. from West Prince accepted to form a partnership with the SDBA. An Anglophone section of the program was therefore begun in 2007. That year, two Anglophone students from West Prince joined the nine francophone students for a total number of 11 participants

Since this year’s evaluation was also extremely positive, PERCE PEI is presently working to accomplish its vision of enabling 20 young Anglophones and 20 young Francophones to benefit from this program every year. Our goal is to help repatriate or bring back our youth and to give them the opportunity to explore the job market on the Island and perhaps also to plant the seed to encourage them to someday starting their own business.