First Amish couple arrives on P.E.I.

Motorists in eastern P.E.I. are being asked to watch for a different kind of vehicle on the roads as the first Amish couple has arrived in the area,and with them,a horse and buggy.

• Hitching posts for Amish coming to Montague, P.E.I.
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Brad Oliver, a localrealtor, helped the pair move in to their new home in Summerville last week. All fourparents of thecoupleare expected to arrive Tuesday.

Oliver said another group also plans to set up in Dundas.

"InDundas,there'slike25 people coming, not all coming to stay. Some are coming to stay in farms they have bought already, others are coming to look, but this is the start of two distinct communities for sure. It's on," said Oliver.

These two new communities are going to be closely watched by other Amish from Ontario, he said.

"Andwhen they have success, and I know theywill have success ...we'll have more coming."

The Amish are movingfrom small towns outside Woodstock and Kitchener-Waterloo in Ontario because of the affordable real estate on the Island.

Some stores in Montague, P.E.I. are getting ready for an influx of Amish shoppers this summer including installing hitching posts.

The Town of Montague is also looking at accommodatinglocalAmish. It's currentlyupdating its official plan and zoning bylaw.

The town is considering adding provisionsto designate streets near Main Street for buggy use and appropriate off-street areas for horse and buggy storage.