Province House in Charlottetown reopens after 12-year restoration

Province House, the historic legislature of Prince Edward Island, has officially reopened in Charlottetown following a restoration project lasting nearly 12 years. The neo-classical building, which first hosted a legislative session in 1847, is the second-oldest legislature in Canada and served as the site of the 1864 negotiations that led to the founding of the country.

The restoration was initiated after a 2014 engineering report identified a crumbling foundation that posed a risk of collapse, along with a leaky roof, deteriorating masonry, and falling plaster. The building closed for repairs in 2015, during which time legislative sessions were relocated to the George Coles Building.

The project faced several delays and challenges, including the COVID-19 pandemic, supply-chain disruptions, rising material costs, and a shortage of skilled tradespeople.