Seat of Territorial Government National Historic Event
n/a, Saskatchewan
HSMBC plaque in Regina
(© Parks Canada / Parcs Canada, 2003)
Address :
n/a, Saskatchewan
Recognition Statute:
Historic Sites and Monuments Act (R.S.C., 1985, c. H-4)
Designation Date:
1973-11-15
Other Name(s):
-
Seat of Territorial Government
(Designation Name)
Importance:
Capital of Northwest Territories was Fort Livingstone 1876-78
Plaque(s)
Existing plaque: With the Fort Livingston NHSC plaque, Pelly, Saskatchewan
Additional plaque: Government Ridge, Battleford, Saskatchewan
In October 1876 Battleford was designated as capital of the North-West Territories. While accommodation was being prepared, Fort Livingstone, until August of that same year headquarters of the Mounted Police, was chosen as temporary seat of government. Here, on 27 November 1876, Lieutenant-Governor David Laird and his Council were sworn in, and here the Council first sat on 8 March 1877. By order in council the capital was formally transferred to Battleford on 2 February 1878.
Existing plaque: 5304 Dewdney Avenue, Regina, Saskatchewan
On March 27, 1883 Regina was named capital of the NorthWest Territories, and on August 20 Lieutenant Governor Edgar Dewdney first met with his council in the Council Chamber constructed on this site. Here policies were developed to govern the territory from the Manitoba border to the Rockies and from the international boundary to the Arctic Islands. Here also representative government was established in 1888, evolving into responsible government for the southern part of the Territories in 1897, and culminating in the creation of the provinces of Alberta and Saskatchewan in 1905.