The Sourls Economy

In 1838 when John Knight built his breakwater into Colville Bay he decided the site of Souris town. and its future role as a seaport. As it grew it also became the place to which the whole northeastern part of Prince Edward Island looked for retail and other services, and it attracted secondary industries related to the primary harvests of land and sea. In recent years tourism has joined the fishery and agriculture as an important ele- ment in the Souris economy.

In 1980 approximately 800 workers were employed in the town in about 100 establishments, and a population of 5,500 looked to Souris for everything from banking ser- vices to groceries. The scope of this activity is reflected In the following list of businesses and services:

Business Establishments

Souris Meat Market

Souris Co-operative

Poole’s Red & White Grocery Store

Souris Grocery

J.P. MacPhee Co. Ltd. (groceries and hardware) MacKenzie Motors

McGraw Auto Supplies Ltd.

Souris Auto Electric

Daisy a Day Flower Shop

Sally Clinton's Dress Shop

Estate W.B. Leard Reg. (men's wear & footwear) Flossie’s Boutique

United Maritime Fishermen

Stedman's Ltd.

Souris Harbour Gift Shop

Bagnall’s Mills Ltd. (building supplies) Clinton & MacAulay (building supplies) Larter’s Pharmacy Souris Ltd.

War Surplus Store

The Log Cabin (Hand Craft Sales) Henderson Lumber Company

Quigley Pulpwood

Charlie Cooke’s Insurance

Lank Realty

R & M Auto Body

Esso Service Station

Souris Buttercup Dairy

Bluefin Restaurant & Lounge Dingwell‘s Funeral Home

Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce Souris Credit Union

Central Market Ltd. (Souris Petroleum) Central Market Ltd. (Chaisson's Restaurant) Kentucky Fried Chicken

Mac’s Barber Shop

Cormier Shell Service Station

The Souris breakwater, first built by John Knight in 1838, was enlarged by the Dominion government after Confederation.