The Prince Edward Island legislature in Charlottetown in 2003. A 2014 report found that the structure's foundation was crumbling and part of the building could collapse.Andrew Vaughan/The Canadian Press
The historic provincial legislature in Charlottetown officially reopened today after an extensive restoration that took almost 12 years to complete.
The neo-classical building, known as Province House, was opened for its first legislative session in 1847, making it the second-oldest legislature in Canada.
It is best known as the site of intense political negotiations in September, 1864 that led to the founding of Canada as a country three years later.
In February, 2014, a report from an engineering firm revealed that the legislature’s foundation was crumbling and part of the building could collapse.
At the time, officials confirmed the they were also dealing with a leaky roof, deteriorating masonry and falling plaster.
In 2015, the building was closed for repairs and the legislative chamber was moved to the Honourable George Coles Building on nearby Richmond Street.
The restoration project encountered several challenges over the years, including delays caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, supply-chain issues, inflated material costs and a shortage of skilled tradespeople.