Island Petroleum - The Early Years
Island Petroleum has been serving customers on Prince Edward Island for longer than you might expect!
 |
The origins of Island Petroleum can be traced back to 1929 when land was purchased from the Governors of St. Dunstan’s University for the first McColl-Frontenac bulk plant. J.D. (Dave) Stewart began the Texaco distributorship on Mount Edward Road in Charlottetown. | |
 |
In 1945, additional land was purchased from George Richards next to Finley MacKinnon on the south side of Grafton St. East. A new bulk plant was constructed to replace plant on Mt Edward Rd. | |
 |
In 1950, the McColl-Frontenac Texaco distributorship moved to 103 Great George Street (what is now University Ave) and renamed to Charlottetown Petroleum. | |
 |
During 1960, Texaco Canada Inc. purchased 1.9 acres of land from G. Elliot Full at the foot of Prince Street for a new tank farm and marine terminal. This bulk plant stood until 1991, when the tank farm was converted to what we know today as Confederation Landing Park. | |
 |
The McColl-Frontenac distributorship was sold back to Texaco Canada in 1972, at which time Texaco Canada appointed Mr. Jud Keith as the local distributor of Texaco products. | |
 |
In 1982, Harry and Blair MacLauchlan took over the Texaco distributorship upon Mr. Keith’s retirement. They called the business Island Petroleum. | |
 |
During 1986, Texaco Canada appointed Island Petroleum as the wholesale marketer for Queen’s County. Island Petroleum continued their expansion by acquiring Week’s Fuels in Hunter River and Wood’s Fuels in Parkdale. | |
 |
In 1990, Ultramar Canada acquired Texaco Canada Inc in the Atlantic Provinces. Island Petroleum rebranded at that time to the Ultramar name. | |
 |
Later in 1990, Island Petroleum purchased shares of Williams Fuels in Summerside, and combined Williams Fuels with East Prince Fuels following their aquisition in 1991. | |
 |
In 1991 the Texaco Bulk Plant in Charlottetown was demolished and converted into Confederation Landing Park. Currently, all petroleum products that had been previously delivered to the former tank farm are now delivered to the Irving Oil storage facility on Riverside Drive. | |
 |
In 1998, Island Petroleum re-branded to the “IP” image. This was to attempt to ease the confusion that came from having two seperate companies delivering Ultramar heating oil in Charlottetown and surrounding areas. | |
 |
Island Petroleum purchased Hynes & Smith Plumbing and Heating in 2003. | |
 |
2006 saw Island Petroleum buy the H.W. MacLauchlan Centre and move their office to the new location after 19 years in their previous location. |
