Souris, Prince Edward Island - Programme E-218

The first of the recorded mouse plagues occurred in 1724. They are remembered today in the naming of the Town of Souris. Havre a la Souris appears on Sieur de la Roque's map of Acadia and Isle Royale, as well as the Bellin and Pichon maps. In Mik' Maq, the harbour was known as Sgoltjoegatig. Surveyor-General Samuel Holland assigned the name Colville Bay to Souris Harbour as he completed his survey of the Island in 1764. Colville Bay was named for Alexander, 7th. Lord Colville of Culross (1717-1770) who was in command of naval forces from Quebec in the Bahamas in 1763. The post office was known as Souris from ca. 1830 until 1867 and as Souris East from 1867 to 1967. The community was named New Bristol by John Cambridge in 1820. Other names included Grand Haven, Mouse Harbour, Red Cliffs and Colville Bay. Souris Head extends in Northumberland Strait in Lot 44. It appears in 1752 as Cap de la souris. A map drawn in 1874 shows Colville Point. The 1880 Atlas shows Souris Head. Souris was officially incorporated as a town on November 14, 1910. Souris is a nationally recognized Community Inclusive Town. Listen as George Leard, Leo Gorman, Gen Roach and Dr. A. A. MacDonald describe the Town ca. 1962 to Jack McAndrew on the C.B.C. within the Museum of Canadian Music web site.
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