Three Rivers, Prince Edward Island
# Three Rivers, Prince Edward Island

Three Rivers is a town within Kings County in Prince Edward Island that was incorporated on September 28, 2018, through an amalgamation of seven municipalities and adjacent unincorporated areas. The municipalities that were amalgamated included two towns – Georgetown and Montague – and five rural municipalities – Brudenell, Cardigan, Lorne Valley, Lower Montague, and Valleyfield.

## Demographics

In the 2021 Census of Population conducted by Statistics Canada, Three Rivers had a population of 7,883 living in 3,246 of its 3,936 total private dwellings, a change of 10% from its 2016 population of 7,169. With a land area of 431.47 $km^2$ (166.59 sq mi), it had a population density of $18.3/km^2$ (47.3/sq mi) in 2021.

| Name | Former municipal status | Original incorporation year | 2016 Census of Population | 2016 Census of Population | 2016 Census of Population | 2016 Census of Population | 2016 Census of Population |
| - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Name | Former municipal status | Original incorporation year | Population (2016) | Population (2011) | Change | Land area $(km^2)$ | Population density |
| Brudenell | Rural municipality | 1973 | 371 | 362 | +2.5% | 20.4 | $18.2/km^2$ |
| Cardigan | Rural municipality | 1954 | 269 | 332 | −19.0% | 5.12 | $52.5/km^2$ |
| Georgetown | Town | 1912 | 555 | 675 | −17.8% | 1.59 | $349.1/km^2$ |
| Lorne Valley | Rural municipality | 1978 | 95 | 106 | −10.4% | 17.7 | $5.4/km^2$ |
| Lower Montague | Rural municipality | 1974 | 598 | 665 | −10.1% | 21.8 | $27.4/km^2$ |
| Montague | Town | 1917 | 1,961 | 1,895 | +3.5% | 3.16 | $620.6/km^2$ |
| Valleyfield | Rural municipality | 1974 | 670 | 672 | −0.3% | 78.6 | $8.5/km^2$ |
| Total former municipalities | – | – | 4,519 | 4,707 | −4.0% | 148.37 | $30.5/km^2$ |

## Government

The Town of Three Rivers was governed by an interim council comprising an interim mayor (Merrill Scott) and ten interim councillors. Seven of these interim councillors were the former mayors of the two towns and the five rural municipalities, while the three others were provincially-appointed representatives of the previously unincorporated areas. The first election for a mayor and twelve councillors was held on November 5, 2018, resulting in Edward MacAulay being selected as mayor and Jane King, Alan Munro, Gerard Holland, Ronnie Nicholson, Cameron MacLean, David McGrath, Cindy MacLean, Cody Jenkins, Isaac MacIntyre, Debbie Johnston, John MacFarlane, Wayne Spin as council members.

Three byelections took place between the 2018 and 2022 elections. MacIntyre resigned and his seat was won by Paul Morrison. Spin's resignation led to a byelection won by Larry Creed. Nicholson later resigned and was replaced by Hannah Martens.

As of the November 2022 municipal election, the size of council was reduced from 12 to 8. Johnston was elected as mayor and Munro, MacLean, Jenkins and MacFarlane remained on council. Spin returned to the fold while Anne Van Donkersgoed, John Van Dyke and Martina MacDonald were newly elected.

