In July 1960, the Parkdale Women’s Institute held a rose show to raise money for their community efforts. They put on an annual rose show for the next four years with great success and quickly gained support from local experienced growers.

After 1966, the Parkdale WI discontinued their involvement with the Rose Show. This prompted exhibitors and growers to form a society on 10 April 1967 named the P.E.I. Rose Growers Association (later changed to the P.E.I. Rose Society). The first show under the newly formed society was held on 17 July 1967 in Memorial Hall of the Confederation Centre of the Arts, Charlottetown.

In 1973, the year marking the Centenary of PEI’s entry into Confederation, the Annual National Show of the Canadian Rose Society was held in Charlottetown, prompting the P.E.I. Rose Society to become affiliated with the national body. The show’s success in 1973 was due in large part to the leadership of Edwin Johnstone and the support of Jock Sutherland.

The Rose Society went on to have steady success in their annual shows and meetings until their disbandment in 2009.