Province House design tenders to be called for $10-million in repairs

Parks Canada is preparing to call for design tenders this year and planning to invest about $10 million for repairs to Charlottetown’s historic Province House.

CHARLOTTETOWN

Parks Canada is preparing to call for design tenders this year and planning to invest about $10 million for repairs to Charlottetown’s historic Province House.

“The work will focus on repairs to the roof and windows, in order to address water infiltration into the building and preservation of the structure of the building,” said Gail Shea, Member of Parliament for Egmont and Canada’s Minister of Fisheries and Oceans.

Toronto architects Taylor Hazell produced a 500-page report for Parks Canada in May 2013 on the condition of the building, which found extensive problems with the building which houses P.E.I.’s legislature.

Leaks in the building have led to water running between the exterior and interior walls, causing the connecting mortar and timbers to disintegrate.

Province House is a significant historical site, which is tied to the founding of Canada. The Charlottetown Conference was held in Charlottetown for representatives from the colonies of British North America to discuss Canadian Confederation. The conference took place between in September 1864.

This investment is taking place in 2014, the 150th anniversary of the conference.

Province House is the only provincial legislature maintained by Parks Canada. It has benefitted from more than $6.6 million in investments in the historic site since 1974.

In 2011, more than $2 million was invested in the preservation of period masonry and structural upgrades in preparation for this year’s celebrations.

A call for design tenders will be launched during the anniversary year to ensure work can begin as soon as possible. Work will begin after 2014 celebrations conclude. A public design competition was launched in 1839 to build a legislative structure for Prince Edward Island. The cornerstone was laid at Province House in 1843, making the building 171 years old.