i A HISTORY OF CANOE COVE a

The Naming of Canoe Cove

he story has been passed down that during the

hostilities between Britain and France the Indians were on the side of the British. The French occupied Fort LaJoye, now Fort Amherst, at Rocky Point. Because of the French defense the British were not able to enter Charlottetown Harbor, so they anchored off what is now Canoe Cove. The Indians took the British soldiers ashore in their canoes and it is said that the soldiers gave the name Canoe Cove to our district. In W published by the Department of Mines and Resources Canada 1973 Alan Rayburn writes “Probably derived from French Anse Canot and probably given because the Indians portaged from there to West River." Named by Holland in 1765 Allen Cove for either John Carter Allen who was present at the capture of Louisburg in 1756, or for Lieut. James Allen who was wounded there. Douglas 1925 has this as the correct name, but only Canoe Cove is used and this is shown in Wright 1852 and Meacham 1880. in Micmac Kweduna Walna, “Canoe Cove”. ln Canoe Cove and in surrounding districts, Canoe Cove was often pronounced “Canna Cove”. Where the local pronunciation “Canna” came from is not clear, it may have been the Gaelic influence. Canna Cove or Canoe Cove, there is no place like it. If you were born here you will hear the surf pound and smell the salt water in your dreams for the rest of your life. Even your descendents will feel the pull of the Cove and its proud Scots heritage calling them back to its beauty and tranquillity.