Chapter 12

New Patterns

The political message of the 19605 to small rural com— munities in P.E.I. was that changes would come whether the people affected wanted them or not. That warning was made even more evident in the 19705 and 19805. In 1971 the Canadian National Railway station in Kinkora closed] By 1989 all rail services on P.E.I. had ceased.2 Trucking had taken over most of the transportation business. As the railway disappeared so did the independent beef, pork and potato shippers around Kinkora. Also in 1971, Kinkora closed its butter factory because of too few dairy farmers, and the competition from larger dairy companies. In 1973 the Kinkora telephone exchange was integrated into the Bedeque exchange.3 In 1972 the school in Shamrock clos- ed, and in 1976 the same fate fell on the school in Newton. In 1984 the Middleton school was closed. By the mid—19805 Kinkora, with both elementary and high schools, had become the education centre for the area. Yet as Kinkora leaders learned in their efforts to secure a regional school in 1963, even it was not guaranteed survival without sup- port from many cooperative neighbourhoods.

So Kinkora’s leaders undertook a series of measures to further develop Kinkora as a centre for the surrounding communities. In 1973, the centennial year celebrating the entrance of P.E.I. into the Canadian confederation, they completed two projects. Six more housing units were add- ed to the AP. Mulligan Senior Citizens’ Court in Kinkora bringing the total number of units to twelve; it was now capable of accommodating twenty-two people. As for the first six units, Mrs. Gladys Mulligan donated the land. The cost of constructing the units, $104,000.00, was assumed by the P.E.I. government, and the Central Mortgage and

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Housing Corporation (now, Canada Mortgage and Hous- ing) a federal crown corporation.4

The second centennial project was an outdoor hockey rink, built in belated recognition of the importance of this sport in the area. Mention has been made of the success of Kinkora Silver Wings hockey team in the 1940s and 19505. Prior to this boys from the five communities prac- tised in the rinks at Crapaud and Bedeque; and in spite of the lack of hockey facilities in Kinkora, they often achiev— ed success, none more than David Cameron, who in the 19705 and early 19805 acquired national fame in his suc— cessful hockey career in the National Hockey League with the New York Islanders, Colorado Rockies and the New Jersey Devils.5 By the 19805 sports facilities in Kinkora had dramatically increased to include gymnasiums in the elementary and high schools, outdoor tennis courts, as well as a baseball diamond. Boys and girls teams in basketball and volleyball became part of regular school sports.

In 1974 Doug. Kirby, a retired Air Force instructor, moved to Kinkora with his family. Very soon he became a leader with Arnold McIver, the owner of the general store in Kinkora, in a major project to acquire for Kinkora area a new fire hall and community centre complex; this was achieved in 1979. In addition to a three-bay fire hall, the centre, known as Kinkora Place, includes a large recreation hall capable of accommodating about 225 people, kitchen facilities, a bar-lounge, a library, a Senior Citizens’ Room and several offices. The total cost of the complex was $270,000.00, which was obtained from the federal and pro— vincial governments, plus $40,000.00 from donations by residents, former-residents and friends.6 The Kinkora Fire Department serves about twenty near-by communities. Kinkora Place is widely used for entertainment, weddings, banquets and political rallies. It’s bar—lounge, called the- Kanata Klub is popular; in 1985 it earned a profit of over $16,000.00.7 Senior Citizens’ clubs through their activities, especially their Sewing and Craft Club, have earned over $54,000.00 since 1979, which they have used to support