5 days ago
The 'Scottish island' in Canada where most residents are Scots and people speak Gaelic
It has a fascinating history dating back hundreds of years.
All over the world, there are people who have roots in Scotland. There are even some settlements in far-off countries that celebrate their Scottish heritage thanks to our huge diaspora.
As recently reported by the Daily Record, there is a village in Italy that has a fascinating history. The residents of Gurro, which is nestled within the mountainous region of Piedmont, descended from a group of Scottish soldiers.
However, there are many places even further afield that have amazing ties to Scotland. One of these is Prince Edward Island in Canada.
Prince Edward Island is among eastern Canada's maritime provinces. It is located off New Brunswick and Nova Scotia (New Scotland), within the Gulf of St Lawrence.
According to the Prince Edward Island website, the history of the island is "like a rope made of intertwined strands"—with many different cultures represented. One of these is Scotland, with the island having a strong and enduring Scottish heritage.
Prince Edward Island is among Canada's oldest settled areas, with its population reflecting the origins of its early settlers. Hundreds of years ago, there was a large influx of Scots to the island.
That resulted in the isle having the biggest proportion of Scottish immigrants in Canada—while today people of Scottish descent make up its largest ethnic group.
As a result, Prince Edward Island became known for its thriving Scottish culture. Most of its Scottish population originated from the Highlands, with the settlers finding the island's terrain well suited to their Highland agricultural techniques.
According to history website Electric Scotland, the settlers chopped down trees and planted potatoes amongst the stumps. They also allowed their cattle to graze all over the land.
Prince Edward Island is even home to a number of Gaelic speakers. According to a tourism expert on the Prince Edward Island website, it has even been taught in some local schools.
They wrote: "The latest information I could find states that 15 people were claiming Scottish Gaelic as their mother tongue in the 2016 census. In the 2011 census, there were only 10, with over 90 claiming to speak a Gaelic language.
"Gaelic has been offered as part of some high school curricula in the past in Prince Edward Island and there is a Gaelic College in our neighbouring province of Nova Scotia."
Today, the island is home to a heritage centre where visitors can learn all about its one-of-a-kind history. The Selkirk Scottish Heritage Centre is comprised of the Acadian Cemetery, The Croft House Museum, the historic Belle River Church of Scotland, and the Honourable J Angus MacLean memorial cairn.
The replica Croft House is an information museum of Scottish heritage in the Big Belfast area of the island. Its roots date back to Lord Selkirk V and his 800 settlers who landed on Prince Edward Island in 1803.
The museum is home to guides who can tell stories and explain genealogical records and artefacts. Meanwhile, it even hosts a ceilidh in June.
Visitors can also visit its Scottish gift shop, which stocks jewellery and clan and tartan items. Also available are Scots dictionaries, maps, and a variety of books about Scotland and its history.
In Scottish Gaelic, Prince Edward Island is 'Eilean a' Phrionnsa'. This translates to 'the Island of the Prince'.
