Confederation Chamber Replica closing to prepare for Province House reopening

October 2, 2024 – The Confederation Chamber Replica currently housed at Confederation Centre of the Arts will close at the end of October to prepare for the reopening of Province House National Historic Site in 2025.

When Province House closed for essential conservation work in 2015, Parks Canada and Confederation Centre of the Arts worked together to present The Stories of Confederation, transforming an upper foyer space at the Centre into a stunning replica of the chamber where the delegates to the Charlottetown Conference met in 1864.

The Stories of Confederation features a replica of the Confederation Chamber, complete with original artifacts from Province House, informative panels, as well as guided interpretation in both English and French. It also includes a short film, A Building of Destiny, which was produced by Parks Canada in collaboration with the Mi’kmaq Confederacy of PEI. This film transports viewers back in time, showcasing the historic discussions that took place at Province House as well as related themes, including the Indigenous context at the time of Confederation and the role of women in Victorian society.

“Since its opening at the Centre in 2015, the Confederation Chamber Replica has welcomed over 160,000 guests from around the world – including descendants of delegates who attended the 1864 Charlottetown Conference,” says Francesca Perez, the Centre’s director of arts education and heritage. “Confederation Centre of the Arts is proud to have hosted this important exhibition that facilitates a deeper understanding of how this nation was formed. We look forward to continuing to be storytelling partners with Parks Canada and working towards our shared goals of highlighting the multifaceted history of this evolving country.”

“At Parks Canada it was important to us that Islanders and Canadians had the opportunity to learn about the stories of Confederation while Province House was closed for conservation work. Confederation Centre of the Arts was the ideal organization to take this on. We are grateful for this collaboration and look forward to working together in the future,” explains Karen Jans, Prince Edward Island Field Unit Superintendent.

When Province House National Historic Site reopens in 2025, the new interpretive exhibits will carry forward the themes of architecture and conservation of the building, Canadian Confederation, and the PEI Legislative Assembly. The stories told will be broadened to include narratives and voices not previously presented.

The Confederation Chamber Replica is currently open Monday to Saturday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Its final day of operation at Confederation Centre of the Arts is Thursday, October 31.

To learn more about heritage programming at the Centre, visit confederationcentre.com/heritage.

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Media Contacts:
Emily McMahon, Communications Manager, Confederation Centre of the Arts
[email protected] | 902-628-6135

Nancy Clement, Public Relations and Communications, Parks Canada
[email protected] | 782-377-2315