A History of Elmsdale, Elmsdale West, and Brockton, Prince Edward Island

at that rate until they amalgamated with the Central Credit Union in O’Leary in

1969. That was the end of the St. Mark’s Credit Union. While in business the St.

Mark’s Credit Union helped farmers, fishermen, students going to college and per— sons needing help to pay doctor bills. They even helped people obtain loans as they were leaving the area for work in‘other parts of Canada.

THE PROGRESSIVE PARTY OF CANADA

The Progressive Party of Canada was a political party in the 19203 and 19303. Tra- ditionally the Progressive Party has been viewed as a Western Canadian protest party. It is certain that its core of support was Western. It was founded in 1920 by Thomas Crerer, a former Minister of Agriculture in the Unionist Government of Robert Borden. Crerer quit the cabinet in 1919 because the budget of Thomas White did not pay sufficient attention to farmers’ issues. He became the first leader of the Progressives and led them to win 65 seats in the 1921 general election. Besides winning seats in Western Canada, seats were also won in Ontario (24) and New Brunswick (1). In the Maritimes the Progressives received significant support. The Progressive movement had supporters in the First District of Prince. At an'annual meeting of the First District of Prince on July 13, 1926, the president, A.D. O’Brien

Island Farmer, June 13, 1923 I Pioneer, July 1924