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Province House (Prince Edward Island)

Coordinates: 46°14′06″N 63°07′34″W / 46.234927°N 63.126084°W / 46.234927; -63.126084
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This article is about the legislative building for Prince Edward Island. For other uses, see Province House.

Province House
Province House is Prince Edward Island's provincial legislature and a National Historic Site
Map
General information
Architectural styleRoman/Greek Revival
Address165 Richmond Street
Town or cityCharlottetown, Prince Edward Island
CountryCanada
Construction started1843
Inaugurated1847
Design and construction
Architect(s)Isaac Smith
Official nameProvince House National Historic Site of Canada
Designated1973
TypeDesignated Heritage Place
Designated2004

Province House is where the Prince Edward Island Legislature, known as the Legislative Assembly of Prince Edward Island, has met since 1847. The building is located at the intersection of Richmond and Great George Streets in Charlottetown; it is Canada's second-oldest seat of government.[1]

History

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The cornerstone was laid in May 1843 and it commenced operation for the first time in January 1847. The entire structure was built for a cost of £10,000 and was designed by Isaac Smith. Smith was a self-trained architect from Yorkshire, who also designed the residence of the Lieutenant Governor of Prince Edward Island. It was built by Island craftsmen during a time of prosperity for the colony. Its architectural lines include Greek and Roman influences, common to public buildings in North America built during this era.

From September 1–7, 1864, Province House had an important role in helping Prince Edward Island host the Charlottetown Conference which resulted in Canadian Confederation.

In 1973, Parks Canada approached the government of Prince Edward Island with a proposal for joint management and restoration of the structure in recognition of its important role in Canadian history. Under the ensuing agreement, both parties agreed to a 99-year period of joint management. Parks Canada paid for a $3.5 million (CAD) restoration from 1979–1983 which involved part of the building being restored to the 1864 period. The provincial legislature occupies one end of the building, whereas the restored Confederation Chamber displays the room where the Charlottetown Conference meetings occurred.

Confederation Chamber within Province House, August 2011

On April 20, 1995, a powerful pipe bomb exploded beneath a wooden wheelchair ramp on the north side of Province House, destroying glass in windows and causing some minor structural damage. Several passersby were injured and the explosion occurred only five minutes after an entire class of school children on a tour of the building had passed through the area. The bombing occurred only one day after the Oklahoma City bombing and is considered to be a copycat action. Responsibility was claimed by a group calling itself Loki 7; however, a subsequent police investigation and criminal court case blamed a single individual, Roger Charles Bell.

In 2015, Province House was closed for repairs and conservation work, expected to take several years, with the legislature moved to the adjacent Hon. George Coles Building.[2] Parks Canada confirmed in May 2023 that repairs had been delayed, and it would not reopen that year as planned.[3]

Province House National Historic Site

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Province House was designated a National Historic Site of Canada in 1973.[4] It is one of only three provincial legislative buildings, along with Province House in Halifax and the Saskatchewan Legislative Building in Regina, to be so designated. Province House is also designated under the provincial Heritage Places Protection Act.[5]

Visitors can tour the 1860s period rooms, which include displays about the Charlottetown Conference, the building and the Provincial Legislative Assembly. An audio-visual presentation about the Conference is available, titled "A Great Dream".

Monuments and memorials

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In front of the Legislature on Grafton Street is the Charlottetown Veterans Memorial consisting of three soldiers. The bronze memorial by G. W. Hill commemorates the dead from the two World Wars and the Korean War.

A Boer War Memorial by Hamilton MacCarthy was erected to honour the members of the Royal Canadian Regiment on the side of legislature.

A series of plaques commemorating the province's Fathers of Confederation are found along the side of the building:

A small statue of Eckhart the Mouse from David Weale's children's story The True Meaning of Crumbfest is also found on the grounds of legislature.

References

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  1. ^ "Province House National Historic Site of Canada". Parks Canada. 2012-03-15. Archived from the original on 25 December 2013. Retrieved 6 October 2013.
  2. ^ "Visitor Information". Legislative Assembly of Prince Edward Island. Retrieved 2017-02-20. The Legislative Assembly of Prince Edward Island is located in the Hon. George Coles Building at 175 Richmond Street in Charlottetown…Beginning January 1, 2015, Province House National Historic Site will be closed for 3-5 years for extensive conservation work.
  3. ^ "Parks Canada: Renovations to historic P.E.I. legislature taking longer than expected". Toronto Star. 8 May 2023. Retrieved 8 May 2023.
  4. ^ Province House National Historic Site of Canada. Canadian Register of Historic Places. Retrieved 26 September 2011.
  5. ^ Province House. Canadian Register of Historic Places. Retrieved 16 March 2013.
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46°14′06″N 63°07′34″W / 46.234927°N 63.126084°W / 46.234927; -63.126084

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