Brudenell River, Prince Edward Island
In 1803, a ship carrying 39 Scottish settlers sailed down the Brudenell River. Hailing from Perthshire, Scotland, the group was made up of MacLaren, MacFarlane, Stewart, Robertson, and Gordon family members. As they passed the tiny Brudenell Island upon arrival, Christina (MacLaren) Gordon, was so enchanted she declared she wanted to be laid to rest there when her time came. Sadly, just one year later, at the age of 32, she was the first person buried there.
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A short walk from the Brudenell River Provincial Park leads to Brudenell Island and the Brudenell Pioneer Cemetery, where you'll find sandstone grave markers and a commemorative cairn erected in 1903. Offer a quiet moment of reflection on the early settlers and the Indigenous before them.
Beyond the cemetery, the park's natural setting and amenities reward those who take the time to explore.
Nearby Attractions
Cardigan Heritage Centre
Just a short drive from the park, discover historical information and displays on community, industry, military, sports and the railroad. See the half-scale model of a schooner hull as it would have been built years ago.
Roma at Three Rivers National Historic Site
If you look across the Brudenell River, you'll see the Roma at Three Rivers National Historic Site. In 1732, a French visionary named Jean Pierre Roma and a group of followers arrive on the Island with not much more than dreams of prosperity and world trade. After years of toil and hardship, the shared dream was just beginning to flourish. Then, in 1745, conflict between the English and French in Europe spilled over to this corner of the world. A British warship arrived from New England with orders to destroy the site and capture all French inhabitants.