P.E.I.'s Oldest Cemeteries Eroding into the Sea
· news
Eroding History: Prince Edward Island’s Vanishing Cemeteries
The fragile balance between nature and human endeavor is on full display in Prince Edward Island, where centuries-old cemeteries are being consumed by coastal erosion. Centuries-old burial grounds dating back to the 1800s are slowly disappearing as the sea encroaches, leaving officials with a stark reality: even well-intentioned efforts can only delay the inevitable.
At Panmure Island and St. Andrew’s Point, two of P.E.I.’s oldest cemeteries, erosion has become increasingly dire. According to Christian Thériault, provincial archaeologist, these sites have lost up to 30 meters of land since the 1930s. “They’re both very close to the edge,” he warns. The collapse of parts of the cemetery serves as a stark reminder that rising sea levels and intensifying storms can be devastating.
The stories behind each burial ground are poignant and historical. At Panmure Island, the first known burial dates back to a young girl who froze to death while crossing the island in winter. St. Andrew’s Point boasts an even earlier grave, from 1799 – a man from Scotland laid to rest on unfamiliar soil. These lives, lost so long ago, now face the threat of being erased by the sea.
Efforts have been made to protect these sites with varying degrees of success. At Panmure Island, crews installed a “living shoreline” in 2023 using natural materials designed to stabilize the coast. Thériault is cautiously optimistic about its impact but acknowledges that it’s merely delaying the inevitable. For St. Andrew’s Point, an armour stone wall was built last winter as a more permanent solution, though even this seems insufficient against the fury of storms.
The province’s stance on coastal erosion mirrors the reality faced by many places around the world: rising sea levels and increasingly powerful storms are accelerating loss at an unprecedented rate. Matt McNeill, a senior adviser with P.E.I.’s Department of Land and Environment, echoes Thériault in recognizing that gradual erosion has always been part of the Island’s landscape. However, it’s the speed and scale of modern changes that pose the most significant threat.
The crisis is particularly poignant due to the sheer number of sites affected – about 300 archaeological sites across the Island are either eroding or have already been lost to the sea. This includes not just historical cemeteries but also Indigenous pre-contact sites, historic sites with both pre-contact and historic components. The very fabric of P.E.I.’s history is being eroded, literally.
The question on everyone’s mind – particularly among communities affected by these changes – is what can be done next? Moving graves is considered a last resort due to its expense and the cultural taboo associated with relocating remains. However, if storms continue their relentless march, officials will have no choice but to work with families and local communities to decide whether exhumation and relocation are necessary.
As we struggle to find ways to preserve these sites, we’re forced to confront not just the natural forces at play but also our own relationship with history. The reality is that even the most well-intentioned efforts can only go so far against the tide of change.
Reader Views
- CMColumnist M. Reid · opinion columnist
The island's eroding cemeteries are more than just historical sites being consumed by the sea – they're also a sobering reminder of our own failure to adapt to nature's relentless march. While efforts to protect these sites with living shorelines and armour stone walls are laudable, we'd do well to consider the long-term implications of trying to hold back the tide. In an era where climate change is driving sea levels higher, perhaps it's time for a more fundamental shift: not just preserving the past, but also preparing for its eventual loss – and learning from the stories that will soon be lost forever.
- ADAnalyst D. Park · policy analyst
While the article correctly highlights the urgency of preserving P.E.I.'s eroding cemeteries, it glosses over the long-term implications for provincial policy and land use planning. With sea levels projected to rise significantly in the coming decades, coastal erosion will only intensify, making these sites increasingly difficult to protect. The focus should shift from temporary Band-Aid solutions to more comprehensive planning that accounts for climate change's impact on island ecosystems and infrastructure. This might involve strategic relocation or redesign of cemeteries, as well as community-led initiatives to adapt to the new realities.
- RJReporter J. Avery · staff reporter
The erosion of P.E.I.'s oldest cemeteries raises more than just historical preservation concerns - it's also a sobering reminder of the province's inadequate coastal management strategy. While well-intentioned measures like living shorelines and armour stone walls are being implemented, the fact remains that these Band-Aid solutions won't hold back the inevitable rise in sea levels for long. The real question is whether these efforts are merely delaying the inevitable or providing a false sense of security to communities facing repeated flooding and erosion.