Georgetown boasts the first harbour to be built on the Eastern Seaboard and one of the deepest harbours in North America.

Georgetown Harbour was recognized by both French and English colonists as one of the best anchorages. Makes sense, then, that it has generated much of the area’s economic activity. For example, in the late 19th century, Georgetown was a major shipbuilding centre and port, and it played a major role in the East Coast’s shipping industry. It also provided steamship service to Pictou, Nova Scotia, thus enabling a railway connection to the rest of the country. Georgetown Harbour was the last port to freeze over in heavy winters and often the only point of contact with the mainland. Today, the bustling harbour is still a major community attraction.

The Mi’kmaq people have been present in this area for more than 9000 years, and the French and Acadian settlers, who began to arrive in the early 1700s, prospered in harmony.

Havre Saint Pierre, or St. Peter’s Harbour, was the first commercial settlement on the Island, established in the early 1700s. It has been home to the Epekwitnewaq Mi’kmaq and their ancestors for at least 9000 years. Archaeological evidence from the Jones site at Greenwich National Park, as well as other archaeological sites in the vicinity, point to a continuous Indigenous occupation in this area before and after European settlement. The Epekwitnewaq Mi’kmaq continued to live here in the early 1700s with the arrival of the French and Acadian settlers. These European settlers were attracted to the area by the harbour, the fishery, and arable lands. Although the Epekwitnewaq Mi’kmaq and European settlers had a different way of life they were both dependent on the abundant local resources and managed a peaceful co-existence. This came to an end when the Island was surrendered to the British Forces in 1758 and the Acadians were deported disrupting the previous way of life here.

Mention Rollo Bay to almost any Islander and they will immediately think “fiddle.” And with good reason!

Fiddling has always been part of the Rollo Bay scene. For example, there is the annual Rollo Bay Fiddle Festival, dating back to 1976. What began as a one-day event with primarily local talent has grown into a three-day celebration featuring the who’s who of fiddling from across the globe. Thousands of fans converge on the 60-acre site with campers, tents, lawn chairs and lots of enthusiasm. Step dancing and square dancing are part of the entertainment. Square sets, which differ from region to region, typically have four figures or series of movements. The local version, however, has three figures and starts from a circle rather than a square.

Souris has always been a friendly seaside town.

The Mi’kmaq enjoyed Sqolijwe’katik (frogs’ place), now known as Souris, as a seasonal fishing ground long before the first French and Acadian settlers came to the area in 1720. In 1758 the Acadians were deported by British colonial forces and the British divided the Island into lots. Lot 45, on which Souris stands, was given to two Englishmen who did not settle the land. Some Acadians managed to return to the area, and they successfully claimed squatters’ rights to become landowners for the first time. The Souris River and the abundance of tall trees made Souris an ideal shipbuilding centre which led to a booming local economy during the 19th century.

An important ingredient in the popular dessert can be found right here at Basin Head.

The Marine Protected Area is Prince Edward Island’s only natural habitat for Chondrus Crispus, a giant variety of Irish moss rich in carrageen, and used in many household products such as ice cream and sunscreen. The local wildlife group consistently monitors the growth of the moss, undergoing restoration activities as needed. Water from several sites is sampled for nutrient analysis, streamflow measurement, and water chemistry. Clumps of the Irish moss and PEI Blue Mussels have been planted at select locations and are surveyed and documented to restore the Irish moss population at Basin Head to healthy, self-sustaining levels.