Teacher Resource Centre

Province House National Historic Site of Canada

Province House, 1880, Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island
© National Archives of Canada

BACKGROUND
Built between 1843 and 1847, Province House National Historic Site of Canada is the only remaining meeting place of the Fathers of Confederation. The colony of Prince Edward Island hosted the Charlottetown Conference in September 1864 where the idea of union among the colonies, which would become known as Confederation, was discussed for the very first time.

Delegates from the British North American colonies of Prince Edward Island, Nova Scotia and New Brunswick planned to meet to discuss the possibility of Maritime Union. Learning of this forthcoming meeting, the Lieutenant Governor of Upper and Lower Canada requested that representatives from these colonies attend as observers. Permission was granted and twenty-three politicians and three secretaries met in Charlottetown the first week of September 1864. The topic of discussion became that of a possible union among the colonies - a union from sea to sea to sea. This historic meeting was the beginning of a process that led to Confederation in 1867. Province House National Historic Site is accordingly considered to be the birthplace of Confederation.

The still-impressive building of classic proportions was designed by Isaac Smith. While Smith was not formally educated in architecture, he won the design competition and construction contract for the Colonial Building. The building was to house the House of Assembly, the Legislative Council and the Supreme Court of Prince Edward Island, as well as various colonial offices. Province House, as it was renamed in 1873, is also noted as one of Canada's best remaining examples of neo-classical architecture.

The Supreme Court of Prince Edward Island was moved next door in 1872. The House of Assembly and Legislative Council were amalgamated into one body - the Legislative Assembly - in 1892. Province House remains the home of the Legislative Assembly for the province to this day. This fact makes Province House the second oldest legislative building in all of Canada.

REASONS FOR NATIONAL HISTORIC SIGNIFICANCE

Delegates to the Charlottetown Conference assembled on the steps of Government House, also known as Fanningbank, the Lieutenant Governor's residence, 1864.
© National Archives of Canada

MILESTONES
1843-1847
Construction period of Province House, then called the Colonial Building to house the colonial government.

1847
Official Opening of Province House or the Colonial Building.

1847
First Sitting of House of Assembly within Province House in January (although first ever sitting was in July 1773).

1862
The Legislative Council becomes an elected body.

1864
Hosted Charlottetown Conference, first discussions on colonial union that led to Confederation, in Legislative Council Chamber.

1872
Supreme Court of Prince Edward Island is moved out of Province House and to the newly constructed Supreme Court Building next door (today called the George Coles Building).

1873
Prince Edward Island becomes the seventh province within Canadian Confederation.

1893
The House of Assembly and Legislative Council are amalgamated into one legislative body, the Legislative Assembly.

1974
The federal government and the government of Prince Edward Island entered into an agreement whereby Parks Canada undertook to restore the building and re-establish the 1864 atmosphere to a large segment of the second floor.

1983
Province House was designated a National Historic Site of Canada and a Historic Sites and Monuments Board of Canada plaque was unveiled on July 1.

LOCATION
Province House National Historic Site of Canada is located at 165 Richmond Street, next to Confederation Centre of the Arts, also a National Historic Site.

FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT
Province House National Historic Site of Canada
2 Palmers Lane
Charlottetown, Price Edward Island
C1A 5V6
Telephone: (902) 566-7626
Fax: (902) 566-8295
Internet Site: http://www.pc.gc.ca/provincehouse