Belfast, Prince Edward Island
Encyclopedia
Belfast is a Canadian
village
located in southeastern Queens County
, Prince Edward Island
in the townships of Lot 57
and Lot 58
.
Situated on the island's south shore along the Northumberland Strait
, Belfast is predominantly an agricultural
area.
's settlers in 1803. These poor displaced Scottish
farmers soon established themselves on the best land in the area and it became one of the most productive farming districts in the colony.
The Presbyterian Scots were joined in the mid-19th century by displaced Irish
potato famine
refugees who were forced to take poorer land in surrounding areas. Political, social and economic tensions between the Roman Catholic Irish and Presbyterian Scots boiled over during a general election in March 1847, resulting in what has become known as the Belfast Riot.
Of particular note is the local parish church, St. John's. Built in 1824 in the style of Sir Christopher Wren, Saint John's is today under the pastoral care of Rev. Roger W.MacPhee. In 2005, the church invited Robin Mark, a popular Christian musician from Belfast
, Northern Ireland
, to lead their "Emerging Church Conference."
The E.C.C. was such a success that Mr. Mark returned in 2006 for "Revival in Belfast II" and is scheduled to be back in 2007 along with Pastor Paul Reid. Saint John's has the largest Presbyterian Sunday school east of Montreal
.
In addition to Saint John's, Belfast is home to two other churches, namely, Saint Michael's Roman Catholic, and Wood Islands Presbyterian. Many residents of the community attend worship services in Charlottetown
or Montague
.
, was first established in 1941. Two ferryboats, the M.V.Confederation and M.V.Holiday Island, currently service the route.
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
village
Village
A village is a clustered human settlement or community, larger than a hamlet with the population ranging from a few hundred to a few thousand , Though often located in rural areas, the term urban village is also applied to certain urban neighbourhoods, such as the West Village in Manhattan, New...
located in southeastern Queens County
Queens County, Prince Edward Island
Queens County is located in central Prince Edward Island, Canada. The county is geographically divided by the Hillsborough River's estuary, a tidal inlet which almost splits the county and Prince Edward Island...
, Prince Edward Island
Prince Edward Island
Prince Edward Island is a Canadian province consisting of an island of the same name, as well as other islands. The maritime province is the smallest in the nation in both land area and population...
in the townships of Lot 57
Lot 57, Prince Edward Island
Lot 57 is a township in Queens County, Prince Edward Island, Canada. It is part of St. John's Parish.-Unincorporated communities:*Bellevue*Eldon *Grandview *Iona *Kinross *Lower Newtown*Lyndale *Mount Buchanan *Newtown Cross *Orwell...
and Lot 58
Lot 58, Prince Edward Island
Lot 58 is a township in Queens County, Prince Edward Island, Canada. It is part of St. John's Parish.-Unincorporated communities: *Fodhla *Garfield *Glasbhein *North Pinette *Ocean View *Pinette *Pinette North *Pinette South *Surrey...
.
Situated on the island's south shore along the Northumberland Strait
Northumberland Strait
The Northumberland Strait is a strait in the southern part of the Gulf of Saint Lawrence in eastern Canada...
, Belfast is predominantly an agricultural
Agriculture
Agriculture is the cultivation of animals, plants, fungi and other life forms for food, fiber, and other products used to sustain life. Agriculture was the key implement in the rise of sedentary human civilization, whereby farming of domesticated species created food surpluses that nurtured the...
area.
History
Belfast was the landing site of Lord SelkirkThomas Douglas, 5th Earl of Selkirk
Thomas Douglas, 5th Earl of Selkirk was a Scottish peer. He was born at Saint Mary's Isle, Kirkcudbrightshire, Scotland. He was noteworthy as a Scottish philanthropist who sponsored immigrant settlements in Canada at the Red River Colony.- Early background :Douglas was the seventh son of Dunbar...
's settlers in 1803. These poor displaced Scottish
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
farmers soon established themselves on the best land in the area and it became one of the most productive farming districts in the colony.
The Presbyterian Scots were joined in the mid-19th century by displaced Irish
Ireland
Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
potato famine
Potato famine
Potato famine may refer to:* Great Famine , the famine in Ireland between 1845 and 1852* Highland Potato Famine, a major agrarian crisis in the Scottish Highlands from 1846 to 1857...
refugees who were forced to take poorer land in surrounding areas. Political, social and economic tensions between the Roman Catholic Irish and Presbyterian Scots boiled over during a general election in March 1847, resulting in what has become known as the Belfast Riot.
Belfast today
Today, Belfast is known for its golf course (the "Belfast Highland Greens"), Mini Woolen Mills, and many art studios and pottery shops. Also of interest is the lighthouse at nearby Point Prim, which was built in 1845 and is the oldest lighthouse on the Island. It is also the only round lighthouse on PEI and only brick lighthouse in Canada.Of particular note is the local parish church, St. John's. Built in 1824 in the style of Sir Christopher Wren, Saint John's is today under the pastoral care of Rev. Roger W.MacPhee. In 2005, the church invited Robin Mark, a popular Christian musician from Belfast
Belfast
Belfast is the capital of and largest city in Northern Ireland. By population, it is the 14th biggest city in the United Kingdom and second biggest on the island of Ireland . It is the seat of the devolved government and legislative Northern Ireland Assembly...
, Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland is one of the four countries of the United Kingdom. Situated in the north-east of the island of Ireland, it shares a border with the Republic of Ireland to the south and west...
, to lead their "Emerging Church Conference."
The E.C.C. was such a success that Mr. Mark returned in 2006 for "Revival in Belfast II" and is scheduled to be back in 2007 along with Pastor Paul Reid. Saint John's has the largest Presbyterian Sunday school east of Montreal
Montreal
Montreal is a city in Canada. It is the largest city in the province of Quebec, the second-largest city in Canada and the seventh largest in North America...
.
In addition to Saint John's, Belfast is home to two other churches, namely, Saint Michael's Roman Catholic, and Wood Islands Presbyterian. Many residents of the community attend worship services in Charlottetown
Charlottetown
Charlottetown is a Canadian city. It is both the largest city on and the provincial capital of Prince Edward Island, and the county seat of Queens County. Named after Queen Charlotte, the wife of George III, Charlottetown was first incorporated as a town in 1855 and designated as a city in 1885...
or Montague
Montague, Prince Edward Island
Montague is a Canadian town and the largest population centre in Kings County, Prince Edward Island.The town straddles the Montague River which is the dividing line between the townships of Lot 52 and Lot 59. The town functions as a regional service centre for a rural population of 20,000...
.
Amenities
Belfasts major recreational component to their community include, Belfast Rec Center which includes one ice surface a community room, a canteen & skate sharpening, Belfast Highland Greens a 9-hole golf course, Belfast Community Pool which includes two outdoor pools, a kiddy pool and canteen services. A campground — Lord Selkirk Provincial Park, as well as a softball field beside the rink.Economy
One of the region's major employers is Northumberland Ferries, which operates a terminal in Wood Islands. This ferry service, which connects Prince Edward Island to Caribou, Nova ScotiaCaribou, Nova Scotia
Caribou is a small Canadian rural community in Pictou County, Nova Scotia.Located on the Northumberland Strait northwest of the town of Pictou, Caribou is named after the Woodland Caribou which used to live in Nova Scotia until European settlers hunted the herds to extinction in the 19th century...
, was first established in 1941. Two ferryboats, the M.V.Confederation and M.V.Holiday Island, currently service the route.
Education
Students in the area attend Belfast Consolidated School. From grade 10 through grade 12, they attend Montague Regional High School. Both schools are administered by P.E.I.'s Eastern School District.Notable residents
Notable "Belfasters" include former P.E.I. premier John Angus MacLean (d. 2000)Communities
The Community of Belfast was incorporated in 1972 and contains the following localities or settlements:- Belfast
- Melville
- IonaIona, Prince Edward IslandIona is a settlement in Prince Edward Island....
- Culloden
- EldonEldon, Prince Edward IslandEldon is a Canadian community in Queens County, Prince Edward Island southeast of Charlottetownin the township of Lot 57.- History :The Acadians arrived in Pointe Prime, Ile St. Jean in 1750...
- Flat River
- Fodhla
- Garfield
- Lower Newtown
- Mount Buchanan
- Mount Vernon
- Pinette
- Roseberry
- Valley
- Surrey
- Belle River
- Wood IslandsWood Islands, Prince Edward IslandWood Islands is a Canadian rural farming and fishing community located in southeastern Queens County, Prince Edward Island on the Northumberland Strait....