Three Rivers

Since Islanders are fond of their amalgamating, back in the fall of 2018 the former towns of Montague and Georgetown and communities of Cardigan, Brudenell, Lorne Valley, Montague and Valleyfield got together to form the town of Three Rivers.

As the town is the largest geographically on PEI and there are a number of names the Indigenous Mi’kmaq called this area, including Amkook, which translates to "the land of the sandy shore" and Wapuktuji’jk, meaning “the little white woods place”. French settlers arrived in 1732, and later immigrants from the British Isles settled in the area.

As of 2021, the population of Three Rivers was 7,883. Here’s what I found when I explored the town last week:

1. Selfie with the town's welcome sign: I snapped a pic at the town’s welcome sign on Route 3.

2. Visitor's Centre: Although it’s not listed on the provincial site, I found a Visitor’s Centre on Station Street and obtained some information on the area. (Debating whether it was a rogue Visitor’s Centre or some sort of Harry Potter “Room of Requirement” thing going on…)

3. Museum or heritage centre: There are some fantastic options in this town, but I checked out the Garden of the Gulf Museum on Main Street. Filled with information on the town’s history, including Mi’kmaq artifacts, information on shipbuilding and genealogies on the town’s early European settlers. The three storey brick building was once a post office for the town, and later converted into the first museum on PEI!

A.A. MacDonald Memorial Gardents

4. Public space: Another embarrassment of riches, Three Rivers is filled with parks and trails. My favorite is the A.A. MacDonald Memorial Gardens, located between the Kings Playhouse and the historic Georgetown Courthouse.

5. Local restaurant: Loads of restaurants to choose from in Three Rivers, and I decided on The Wheelhouse, where the only thing better than the fish and chips I enjoyed were the amazing views of Georgetown Harbour from the restaurant’s patio.

6. Locally produced spirit: Both Bogside Brewing and Copper Bottom Brewing can be found in Three Rivers. I have enjoyed visiting both breweries in the past, but for this exercise I stopped into Bogside in hopes of finding my personal favourite “The Spirit of Georgetown” Gose. They were all out, but I consoled myself with some Strawberry Sours and North Lake Lagers.

7. Art in public places: Lots of art can be found around town, including along the “Art Trail”. I particularly enjoyed the wooden sculptures of three musicians found along the Montague River.

8. Town swag: While at the Garden of the Gulf Museum I picked up a Town of Three Rivers pin.

A little bit of trivia: The first combined Tim Hortons and Wendys opened in Three Rivers (then Montague) in 1992. The executives for both franchises met for the first time at the opening, developed an instant rapport leading to an agreement to merge the companies three years later.