Souris, Prince Edward Island

Town of Souris
Town

St Marys Church, Souris

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Location of Souris in Prince Edward Island

Coordinates: 46°21′19″N 62°15′15″W / 46.35540°N 62.25416°W / 46.35540; -62.25416Coordinates: 46°21′19″N 62°15′15″W / 46.35540°N 62.25416°W / 46.35540; -62.25416
Country Canada
Province Prince Edward Island
County Kings County
Founded 1740
Incorporated Town November 14, 1910
Government
 • Type Town Council
 • Mayor David MacDonald
 • Deputy Mayor Denis Thibodeau
 • Councillors Wanda Bailey
Thelma MacDonald
Kenny Peters
Jim Cheverie
Jo-Anne Dunphy
 • CAO Shelley LaVie
Area
 • Total 3.42 km2 (1.32 sq mi)
Highest elevation 13 m (43 ft)
Lowest elevation 0 m (0 ft)
Population (2011)
From Statistics Canada
 • Total 1,173
 • Density 342.8/km2 (888/sq mi)
Time zone AST (UTC-4)
 • Summer (DST) ADT (UTC-3)
Canadian Postal code C0A
Area code(s) 902
Telephone Exchange 687
NTS Map 011L08
GNBC Code BACII
Website www.sourispei.com

Souris is a Canadian port town in southeastern Kings County, Prince Edward Island. It is located in an area famous for its beaches.

History

Historical population
YearPop.±%
19011,140—    
19111,089−4.5%
19211,094+0.5%
19311,063−2.8%
19911,333+25.4%
19961,293−3.0%
20011,248−3.5%
20061,232−1.3%
20111,173−4.8%

Souris was founded by Acadians in 1727 as a fishing settlement at the mouth of the Souris River. These early settlers experienced several plagues of field mice in the surrounding area during the 1720s-1760s (the name is French for "mouse").

Since the 1960s, Souris has hosted an interprovincial ferry terminal for the service to Quebec's Magdalen Islands. The MV Madeleine is operated by the Coopérative de transport maritime et aérien (CTMA).

The town has many well-preserved historical buildings, including the Matthew and MacLean Building, Souris Customs House and Post Office, McQuaid Building, along with others.

Economy

The economy of the area is dominated by the seasonal industries of fishing and oysters, agriculture and tourism. There are also several industrial businesses and a good retail sector. The town is home to banks, pharmacies, cafés, restaurants, gas stations, a grocery store and other independent businesses.

Education

Souris is home to two schools, serving grades K-12. Souris Regional School teaches students from grade K-12. Ecole La Belle Cloche is Souris' only Francophone school and teaches students from grades K-12.

École La-Belle-Cloche is currently situated in what was formerly Fortune Consolidated School, ten minutes west of Souris in Fortune Bridge.

Sports

Souris has venues for soccer, baseball, basketball, rugby, hockey, football, ringette and other similar sports. There are also several parks in Souris.

Kitesurfing is popular in Souris and nearby beaches. Souris Beach is an intermediate level beach, and has goodwave conditions when winds blow from the Southwest. Nearby beaches of Little Harbour, Basin Head, and other nearby beaches generally have good conditions in southwest and southeast winds.

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