Tignish, a quaint Canadian town nestled in Prince County, Prince Edward Island, is a place where history and culture intertwine. Located approximately 50 miles northwest of Summerside and 90 miles northwest of Charlottetown, Tignish is a community rich in Acadian and Irish heritage. The town's name, derived from the Mi'kmaq "Mtagunich" meaning "paddle", also holds Gaelic roots, translating to “Home Place”.
Tignish was founded in the late 1790s by nine Acadian families. The town's population grew in the 19th century with the arrival of Irish immigrants, who primarily settled in the nearby locality of Anglo–Tignish. Today, many of Tignish's residents are of Acadian or Irish descent.
One of the town's most iconic structures is the St. Simon & St. Jude Catholic Church, constructed between 1857 and 1860. This church was among the first major structures built in Tignish. The town was officially designated as a community in 1952 and later gained town status in 2017.
According to the 2021 Census of Population conducted by Statistics Canada, Tignish had a population of 744, a 3.5% increase from its 2016 population of 719. The town, with a land area of 5.87 km2, had a population density of 126.7/km2 in 2021.
Fishing is a significant part of life in Tignish, with many local families relying on this industry for income. The town boasts three functioning harbors: the Tignish harbour, the Skinner's Pond harbour, and the Seacow Pond harbour.
Tignish is also home to several businesses, including the Tignish Heritage Inn, Eugene's General Store, Tignish Co-op grocery store, hardware store, and gas station, Tignish Cultural Center, and Perry's Construction. The town celebrated its bicentennial in 1999 with local festivities featuring Acadian music, carnivals, and the creation of a local music CD featuring the voices of Tignish residents. Each summer, a bluegrass festival is held in Tignish, adding to the town's vibrant community life.
Tignish is surrounded by smaller localities that are considered part of the town due to their proximity.
The name "Tignish" has been adopted by the International Astronomical Union for a crater on the surface of Mars. The Tignish crater, located at −30.71 degrees south by 86.9 degrees east on the Martian surface, was officially named in 1991 and has a diameter of 13.7 miles.
Tignish experiences a humid continental climate with four distinct seasons. The Gulf of St Lawrence moderates temperatures during the warmer months, resulting in mild to warm summers. Winters in Tignish are very cold, with daily highs often below freezing.
