Montague, Prince Edward Island

Montague is a former town located within the town of Three Rivers in Kings County, Prince Edward Island, Canada. It amalgamated with the town of Georgetown, the rural municipalities of Brudenell, Cardigan, Lorne Valley, Lower Montague, and Valleyfield, and portions of three adjacent unincorporated areas in 2018.

Montague
Montague marina and skyline
Flag
Seal
Motto(s): 
Prosper Fair Montague
Montague
Location of Montague in PEI
Coordinates: 46°10′11″N 62°39′14″W
CountryCanada
ProvincePrince Edward Island
CountyKings County
Founded1732
IncorporatedApril 26, 1917
AmalgamatedSeptember 28, 2018
Area
 • City3.16 km2 (1.22 sq mi)
Elevation
28 m (92 ft)
Population
 (2016)[1]
 • City1,961
 • Density620.8/km2 (1,608/sq mi)
 • Metro
6,011
 • Change (2011-16)
 3.5%
Time zoneUTC−4 (Atlantic (AST))
 • Summer (DST)UTC−3 (ADT)
Postal code
C0A 1R0
Area code(s)902
Telephone Exchange313 326 361 784 838 846 969
NTS Map011L02
GNBC CodeBABTL
WebsiteOfficial website
Montague Waterfront

Montague is the largest population centre in the county and straddles the Montague River which is the dividing line between the townships of Lot 52 and Lot 59. The community functions as a regional service centre for the eastern end of the province, supporting two supermarkets, three hardware stores, a number of independent businesses, and several fast food restaurants, banks, and car dealerships.

General information

Montague is home to the Kings County Memorial Hospital, provincial government offices, and the Montague Curling Club, along with an elementary, intermediate and regional high school. The past years have seen a number of older homes and commercial buildings replaced with new, suburban style development along Main Street, particularly in the north end. A large scale redevelopment of the community's waterfront has taken place in recent years.

The community is located 44 km east of Charlottetown and 15 km southwest of Georgetown.

History

Jean-Pierre Roma, an Acadian French merchant settled in 1732 a site a few miles East of present-day Montague that he called Trois Rivieres, now The Three Rivers. It is now a designated historic site, which brings to life his story and how he established there an international trading post. Its interpretive centre is open from the last week of June to the last week of September each year.[2] Unfortunately for him and his business, the French Army on Ile St. Jean were to be defeated by the British in 1745, in an act of ethnic cleansing the Acadian population was deported and lost all their earthly goods.

At the time of Samuel Holland's survey in the 1760s, Georgetown was designated as the shire town of Kings County. The Montague River was the southernmost of three rivers draining the area. Eventually Lower Montague, Montague Road and Montague Bridge were named after the river. The river itself traces its name to either George Brudenell, 4th Earl of Cardigan (later George Montagu, 1st Duke of Montagu), John Montagu, 4th Earl of Sandwich, or Montague Wilmot, Governor of Nova Scotia (which then included St. John's Island - present-day Prince Edward Island) at the time of Holland's survey. The Garden of the Gulf Museum (c. 1887 to 1888) is on the Canadian Register of Historic Places.[3]

Recent events

Montague is notable as the first community to combine a Wendy's restaurant and a Tim Hortons franchise under one roof. In 1992, the owner of both franchises in Prince Edward Island, Daniel P. Murphy, opened a new outlet for both brands in the same building in the community. He invited Ron Joyce and Wendy's chairman Dave Thomas to the grand opening, where the two executives met for the first time and established an immediate rapport. Murphy's success with the combined operation led to an agreement resulting in a merger of Wendy's and Tim Hortons (TDL Group) in 1995.[4]

Montague has had several modest property developments in recent decades, consisting of several subdivisions, as well as new big box retail and institutional buildings.

The bridge carrying Route 4 across the Montague River was replaced in December 2007.

The Cavendish Farms Wellness Centre, opened in 2009 on the southern edge of the community beside the existing Atlantic Fitness Centre East complex. This facility includes an Olympic sized hockey arena, municipal offices, meeting rooms, two indoor walking tracks and the local library.[5]

In early 2010, the provincial Department of Fisheries, Aquaculture and Rural Development relocated from Charlottetown to a new building in downtown Montague.

Montague Regional High School opened for the 2010–2011 school year at the southern edge of the community on Valleyfield Road.[6]

In 2011, the intersection of the Wood Islands Rd (Route 4) and the Valleyfield Rd (Route 326) was replaced by Kings County's first roundabout.

In 2014, the 30-room Riverhouse Inn hotel opened,[7] and Aspin Kemp & Associates' world headquarters relocated to Montague, along with the relocation of a construction facility for the marine supply company to nearby Poole's Corner.[8]

The same year, Montague also received $320,000 of federal and provincial funding for cultural development, which was used in the construction of a waterfront art gallery, park construction, and the installation of several historic murals throughout the community.[9]

On September 28, 2018, the Town of Montague amalgamated with the Town of Georgetown, five nearby rural municipalities – Brudenell, Cardigan, Lorne Valley, Lower Montague, and Valleyfield & ndash; and portions of three adjacent unincorporated areas.[10]

Government

As of September 28, 2018, Montague is governed by the Town of Three Rivers.[10] The Kings District of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) serve the community from their headquarters just north of Montague, with one officer exclusively serving the community.

Culture

Montague celebrates its birthday the first week after Canada day every year with an annual tradition called Montague Days, with activities including midway, buskers, soap box derby, Miss Montague contest, a pet parade,a parade (missed in 2007 due to construction of the bridge) and a fireworks display on the Montague Waterfront to wrap up the weekend long festival. The Montague Waterfront also plays host to musical acts and various other activities all weekend long. The gazebo at the waterfront was constructed by local master craftsman, Shane Phillip MacDonald. He described it as his magnum opus.[11]

Education

Montague is home to three English Language School Board schools:[12]

The provincial community college, Holland College, has a location in the Down East Mall, in a wing named the "Montague Centre."[13]

Sports

Montague is home to several sports teams and recreation programs. It has running tracks, recreational trails, parks, and playing fields for soccer, rugby, football, field hockey, softball and baseball. The community also has a swimming pool and fitness centre along with basketball courts and nearby tennis courts. The Eastern Eagles Soccer Complex, on the southern edge of the community, is home to the regional soccer teams, the Eastern Eagles. The Eastern Eagles host a soccer tournament for other teams on Prince Edward Island and those from out of province every summer. In 2009, the Cavendish Farms Wellness Centre opened, giving a new home to the Montague Norsemen hockey teams and replacing the aging Iceland Arena. It also gave Montague junior B and senior hockey teams, the Montague Maniacs and Montague Marines. The community is also home to the Montague Curling Club, which takes in curlers from all of Kings County.[14] Montague Regional High School and Montague Intermediate School are also home to many male and female sports teams.

Climate
Climate data for Montague
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Record high °C (°F) 11.8
(53.2)		 12.5
(54.5)		 22.6
(72.7)		 23.3
(73.9)		 32
(90)		 33.2
(91.8)		 36.3
(97.3)		 33.9
(93.0)		 32.7
(90.9)		 24.4
(75.9)		 21.2
(70.2)		 15.6
(60.1)		 36.3
(97.3)
Average high °C (°F) −3.4
(25.9)		 −3
(27)		 1.2
(34.2)		 6.7
(44.1)		 14
(57)		 19.6
(67.3)		 23.6
(74.5)		 22.9
(73.2)		 18
(64)		 11.9
(53.4)		 5.6
(42.1)		 −0.3
(31.5)		 9.7
(49.5)
Average low °C (°F) −12.3
(9.9)		 −11.7
(10.9)		 −6.8
(19.8)		 −1.1
(30.0)		 4.7
(40.5)		 10.2
(50.4)		 14.5
(58.1)		 14.2
(57.6)		 9.8
(49.6)		 4.4
(39.9)		 −0.9
(30.4)		 −8
(18)		 1.4
(34.5)
Record low °C (°F) −29.9
(−21.8)		 −26.1
(−15.0)		 −23.9
(−11.0)		 −13.4
(7.9)		 −5
(23)		 0
(32)		 6.7
(44.1)		 4.4
(39.9)		 −0.1
(31.8)		 −5.6
(21.9)		 −13.3
(8.1)		 −25.6
(−14.1)		 −29.9
(−21.8)
Average precipitation mm (inches) 100.1
(3.94)		 75.1
(2.96)		 83.8
(3.30)		 79.7
(3.14)		 94
(3.7)		 84.4
(3.32)		 84.8
(3.34)		 88.3
(3.48)		 91.7
(3.61)		 94.5
(3.72)		 96.7
(3.81)		 105
(4.1)		 1,078
(42.4)
Source: Environment Canada[15]

Attractions

Montague's main attraction is the community itself, aptly named "Montague the Beautiful" for its tree-lined streets, tranquil river and stately buildings. Other draws include the Garden of the Gulf Museum (the oldest museum in the province), the Canada Tree, the Montague Curling Club, Cavendish Farms Wellness Centre, Montague Regional High School, the Down East Mall, Station Street Adventure Company,[16] and Gillis' Drive-In Restaurant (in Brudenell). Montague is also a starting point of the Confederation Trail, linking many communities across P.E.I. The former train station has been renovated into a café, gift shop and information centre, looking out over the river.

Garden of the Gulf Museum.

Economy

Like much of the province, the area's three main industries are fishing, farming and tourism. Montague is home to many independent businesses, along with several chains primarily in the North End. Several large employers include the new Department of Fisheries, Aquaculture and Rural Development, the Provincial Addictions Centre, Vital Statistics, On-Line Support, Shoppers Drug Mart, Mariner Seafoods, Cavendish Farms potato processing plant in Pooles Corner, Atlantic Superstore, and Sobeys. The community itself has no designated industrial areas, however neighbouring communities, notably Pooles Corner, have several industrial businesses.

Montague has a public wharf located in Lower Montague on the South shore of the Montague River at Wightmans Point Road.[17]

The region's weekly newspaper, the Eastern Graphic, is based in Montague.

Neighbourhoods
Aerial view of Montague.

"Greater Montague," which includes outlying areas outside the actual community, has a population of over 6,000. It comprises several neighbourhoods, including:

Notable people

References
  1. "Census Profile, 2016 Census: Montague, Town [Census subdivision], Prince Edward Island". Statistics Canada. Retrieved October 12, 2019.
  2. "Roma at Three Rivers ... heritage, history & culture come alive". www.roma3rivers.com.
  3. "Garden of the Gulf Museum". Canada's Historic Places. Parks Canada. Retrieved October 12, 2019.
  4. "US burger giant buys Tim Hortons doughnut chain". CBC.ca Archives. CBC News. August 8, 1995. Archived from the original on March 5, 2008.
  5. "Montague Wellness". The Town of Montague. Archived from the original on October 16, 2008.
  6. Armstrong, Nigel (July 10, 2007). "New school for Montague wins unanimous support". The Guardian. Archived from the original on March 5, 2016.
  7. Sharratt, Steve (February 9, 2014). "Down by the Riverhouse". The Guardian. Archived from the original on March 28, 2014.
  8. Sharratt, Steve (March 7, 2014). "Aspin Kemp and Associates moving headquarters to P.E.I." The Guardian. Archived from the original on March 28, 2014.
  9. Sharratt, Steve (March 22, 2014). "Montague gets $320,000 in funding for cultural development". The Guardian. Archived from the original on March 28, 2014.
  10. "EC2018–586: Municipal Government Act Town of Three Rivers Establishment" (PDF). Government of Prince Edward Island Executive Council. September 25, 2018. pp. 323–327. Retrieved October 27, 2018.
  11. Sharratt, Steve (May 21, 2014). "New stage takes shape for Montague waterfront events". The Guardian. Archived from the original on March 4, 2016.
  12. "Public Schools". Government of Prince Edward Island - Public Schools Branch. Retrieved October 12, 2019.
  13. "Campuses and Centres". Holland College. Retrieved October 12, 2019.
  14. "Montague Curling Rink". Retrieved October 12, 2019.
  15. Environment Canada Canadian Climate Normals 1971–2000. Retrieved July 15, 2009.
  16. "Station Street Adventure Company". Retrieved August 24, 2018.
  17. Canada, Province of Prince Edward Island. "Island Information". www.gov.pe.ca.

Further reading
  • Finley Martin, A View From the Bridge: Montague, P.E.I., Town of Montague, 1984.
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.