L.M. Montgomery Seashore

Hon. Gail Shea, MP and Minister of National Revenue, toured the L.M. Montgomery Seashore on Friday, September 14, 2012 and CBC Compass accompanied the visit and aired a story on that evening’s news.

One of Prince Edward Island best known and most loved companies, COWS, has made a significant gift and commitment to the L.M. Montgomery Land Trust. Hon. Marion Reid and Bill Andrew, honorary co-chairs of the L.M. Montgomery Land Trust visited the COWS CREAMERY recently to receive the first of three annual gifts totaling $200,000 from Jackie McIntyre representing COWS.

“The goal of the Land Trust is to preserve in perpetuity, for agricultural use only, a portion of PEI’s North Shore that is not only incredibly beautiful but also culturally significant,” says Bill Andrew. “COWS makes the best ice cream in Canada. They do that with the best milk from great people who operate our finest farms. This generous gift underscores agriculture as a central pillar of a healthy, prosperous province,” adds Andrew.

When complete, The L.M. Montgomery Seashore, in tribute to one of the world’s most beloved authors, will be over 400 acres of spectacular land that now exist in numerous privately held parcels. The L.M. Montgomery Land Trust, a registered charity, accepts donations that will be used to preserve the land from development.

Already in 2011, the Land Trust announced a gift of $250,000 from the estate of Marc Gallant and the acquisition of the 135 acre “Ash Property.” The gift from COWS, which will be directed to the Ash Property Fund, establishes 2011 as the most successful year in the 17-year history of the L.M. Montgomery Land Trust.

The L.M. Montgomery Land Trust is actively raising funds towards the preservation of the L.M. Montgomery Seashore.

You can contribute financially in one of several ways:

Hon. Marion Reid, honorary co-chair of the L.M. Montgomery Land Trust announces on behalf of the board of directors that the Land Trust has acquired a significant parcel of land as part of the L.M. Montgomery Seashore in French River. Locally referred to as the Ash Property, or from earlier generations “Sims Farm”, this 135 acres is bordered by New London Bay, the Cape Road and the Gulf of St Lawrence.

“My co-chair, Bill Andrew, and I and the L.M. Montgomery Land Trust board are so very pleased to secure this magnificent property,” says Marion Reid. “We have already taken the necessary steps to ensure that it will forever remain in agricultural use. We can tell everyone that it exists the way it was when Maud Montgomery herself frequently walked the fields, beach and sandstone shore.”

When complete, The L.M. Montgomery Seashore, in tribute to one of the world’s most beloved authors, will be over 400 acres of spectacular land that now exist in numerous privately held parcels. Added to other properties already preserved, this latest acquisition has brought the Land Trust near the halfway mark in its goal. The Land Trust has taken the necessary steps to ensure that the arable land on the Ash property will forever be kept for agricultural use.

“The L.M. Montgomery Land Trust, a registered charity, now seeks more financial donations to continue our vital work,” adds Marion Reid. “Much of the funding required to secure the remaining properties will have to come from private donors. This project should be important to all full-time, seasonal and former Islanders.”

The Ash property consists of 135 acres made up of farmland and wood lot. This property’s incredible stretch of shore frontage is second-to-none on PEI and indeed anywhere. It is located at the west side of the entrance to New London Bay and has a beautiful sandy beach as well as magnificent red cliffs.

Within the boundaries of the property is the Sims Pioneer Field Cemetery, established in 1816 and in use until 1848 when French River was called Elizabethtown, named for the immigrant ship the Elizabeth” that carried the early settlers. Some of those who came to PEI on the Elizabeth are among those buried there. A few of the graves are marked with the names of ancestors to families who still live in the nearby communities. Many others are unmarked graves.

In line with the L.M. Montgomery Land Trust mandate to keep the land in agricultural use, 95 acres of the Ash Property are currently under long-term lease to local farmers for cultivation.

The L.M. Montgomery Land Trust has received a donation of $250,000 from the estate of Prince Edward Island artist and land use activist Marc Gallant, advancing the cause of preserving The L.M. Montgomery Seashore in tribute to one of the world’s most beloved authors.

An accomplished photographer, author, artist, graphic designer and outspoken advocate for the protection of the Island’s precious coastal landscapes, Gallant died in 1994.

Hon. Marion Reid, co-chair of the Trust’s fund-raising campaign, marked the donation by noting that Marc Gallant was a man ahead of his time in wishing to preserve Island coastal landscapes. “Marc was as passionate about the beauty of Prince Edward Island as he was about his artistic endeavors,” said Marion Reid. “This important contribution is testament to that fact.”

Hon. Marion Reid, co-chair of the L.M. Montgomery Seashore campaign, appeared this morning, Islander Day, on CBC’s Island Morning to discuss the L.M. Montgomery Land Trust, our history and work to date, and the current campaign. You can listen to the interview here.

The L.M. Montgomery Land Trust is pleased to announce that the Hon. Marion Reid and William E. (Bill) Andrew will be honorary co-chairs of the Land Trust’s fundraising campaign to preserve the portion of PEI’s north shore known as the L.M. Montgomery Seashore.

“We are honoured to have the support of such notable Islanders,” said Peter Rukavina, chair of the Land Trust board of directors. “Marion Reid’s passion for our cause to preserve this iconic piece of PEI’s north shore continues to inspire and guide us.”

“Bill Andrew, whose grandmother Leta Andrew was a staunch promoter of L.M. Montgomery’s enduring contribution to PEI, shares her sentiment that preserving this particular landscape is important and will benefit both Islanders and visitors. We appreciate the contributions Marion Reid and Bill Andrew will make to our cause,” added Mr. Rukavina.

The L.M. Montgomery Seashore, in tribute to one of the world’s most beloved authors, encompasses over 400 acres of agricultural land along 4 kilometres of shoreline stretching from the Cape Tryon Lighthouse to the lighthouse in French River.

This particular land is one of the last sections of undeveloped seashore property on PEI’s north shore. It remains in farm use just as it was in the time of L.M. Montgomery who knew these fields, lanes and shores well. It is named for her because this magnificent landscape inspired, in part, Montgomery’s famous writings about PEI.

The volunteer board of the L.M. Montgomery Land Trust is working to raise several million dollars to preserve this iconic land and seascape for future generations to enjoy. The Land Trust is using the name of L.M. Montgomery with the approval of her heirs.

Active since 1994, the L.M. Montgomery Land Trust works to ensure the land stays in agricultural use and the landscapes and seascapes are preserved in perpetuity. To date, the Land Trust has preserved over 200 acres along the L.M. Montgomery Seashore.