Elgin is located in Mi'kma'ki, the ancestral and unceded territory of the indigenous Mi'kmaq people, and they are the past, present, and future caretakers of this land. This territory is covered by the Treaties of Peace and Friendship which the Mi’kmaq, Wolastoqiyik, and Peskotomuhkati nations first signed with the British Crown in 1725 CE. The treaties did not deal with surrender of lands and res
ources but in fact recognized Mi’kmaq title and established the rules for what was to be an ongoing relationship between nations. Mi’kma’ki includes all of Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island, most of New Brunswick, the Gaspé region of Quebec, southwestern Newfoundland, as well as parts of Maine. It may refer to Elgin Centre, which is part of the old Elgin Parish, and it may also refer to Ward 3 of the Community of Three Rivers municipality. Elgin Happenings is dedicated to serving all of Elgin Parish and Ward 3, which includes the communities of Elgin Centre, Church Hill, Churchs Corner, Ferndale, Forest Glen, Forest Hill, Goshen, Gowland Mountain, Harrison Settlement, Hillside, Little River, Mapleton, Meadow, Midland, Parkindale, Pleasant Vale, Pollett River, Prosser Brook, and Ross Corner. The Pollett River is the main river that runs through Elgin. The Mi'kmaq called the river Manoosak, meaning "island at the outlet". The river was named after a Mi'kmaw medicine man named Peter Paulet who lived near the mouth of the river and died there around 1800 CE. Land petitions in 1791 CE refer to it as Paulets River and Polet River. The 57 kilometer long river is the largest tributary in the Petitcodiac River watershed, with a basin that covers 314 square kilometers. The first European to settle in the Elgin area was John Geldart Junior in c. 1806 CE, the eldest son of John Geldart the Yorkshire settler. The community was named after James Bruce, 8th Earl of Elgin who was the Governor of the United Province of Canada. Today Elgin is home to many rural communities, with the community of Elgin Centre being home of the Elgin Community Centre & Elgin Volunteer Fire Department, Elgin Eco Park, Elgin Laurie Bishop Senior Citizens Centre, Elgin Women's Institute, First Elgin Baptist Church, Elgin Country Kitchen & General Store, and the Elgin Post Office. Just south of Elgin Centre along River Road toward the community of Churches Corner are the famous Gibson Falls and Gordan Falls. During the summer months you will find people enjoying the falls as well as the river just past the bridge. Heading north from Elgin Centre on Route 895 you will pass the Elgin Cemetery and then turn right to cross the Mapleton Bridge. Keep going a few kilometres into the community of Mapleton to find the Mapleton Acadian Forest Trail, which is managed by the Elgin Eco Association. If you keep heading along Route 895 to the community of Parkindale you will find the award winning music venue Parkindale Hall. From Elgin Centre heading north on Route 905 towards the village of Petitcodiac is the Blueberry Hill Farms wedding venue in the community of Pollett River. If you are heading to Sussex take Route 895 towards Portage Vale for a more scenic drive through Midland and Goshen and connect with New Brunswick Highway 1. Looking for a beautiful Sunday drive... continue on River Road to Churches Corner, then left on to Hillside Road. Continue and the road will become Pleasant Vale Road and further north it will connect with Route 895. Turn left on Route 895 towards Elgin Centre or turn right towards the Town of Salisbury. If you turn right at Churches Corner towards Mechanic Settlement you can connect with Route 114 to Fundy National Park. Elgin is a beautiful place to call home and it is the mission of Elgin Happenings to help bring our communities closer together, to build a stronger community that sticks together and protects our rural way of life. Elgin Happenings is also dedicated to supporting the Elgin Eco Park to help the park grow and become an active central gathering place for the community. Elgin Happenings is happy to host the Elgin Eco Park Bottle Fundraiser, an indefinite fundraiser to help add to the park. Bottles can be dropped off at 137 River Road in Elgin Centre.
