The Lost Black Community of Charlottetown: The Bog

If you walk through Charlottetown’s government buildings district today, you’d never know that a once-thriving Black community stood here.

The Bog, as it was called, existed from the early 1800s to the early 1900s and was home to freed slaves and their descendants. Located on marshy land from Government Pond to Richmond and Rochford Streets, the neighborhood housed up to 100 Black residents at its peak. They worked in physically demanding jobs—building roads, sweeping chimneys, and loading ships—while forming a close-knit, resilient community.

One of the most well-known figures from The Bog was Samuel “Black Sam” Martin, a formerly enslaved man who settled in the area around 1812. Though denied legal ownership of his land, he built a home and lived there for over 50 years.

The community was also home to George Godfrey, a heavyweight boxing champion, and the West End Rangers, a Black hockey team that played in the Maritime Colored Hockey League. The Rangers, known for their fast-paced play, helped pioneer techniques like the slapshot.

Education was central to the community, and in 1848, the Bog School was built on Rochford Street. Unlike segregated schools in other provinces, this school welcomed both Black and white students. Led by teacher Sarah Harvie, it remained open until 1903.

Despite such progress, racism was a reality. In 1878, 16-year-old George Kelley was shot and killed in a racially charged incident. Though witnesses contradicted the attackers’ claims, the two white men were acquitted.

By the early 1900s, The Bog was redeveloped, and its residents were displaced. Government buildings and parking lots now stand where homes and businesses once thrived.

Though largely forgotten, efforts continue to recognize this vital part of PEI’s Black history. The stories of The Bog’s residents, their struggles, and their successes deserve to be remembered.