C.e. In The Large Queen Cancel

Can anyone tell me what the C.E. in the split ring cancel means?

Canada East.

That part of the country was called C.E. prior to the confederation in 1867 when Canada East officially became the Province of Quebec and the postmarks were changed to QUE. or P.Q., but Montreal and more commonly rural towns kept using the "C.E." postmarks until they wore out in the 1870s or even 1880s.

Here is a cover mailed from the US to "Canada East".



Edit: to add another photo (from the Internet) of a cover mailed in 1864 from C.W. (Canada West) to C.E. (Canda East).