Monday, May 21, 2012

Major facelift planned for historic Province House

...the headline news on The Guardian newspaper website today http://www.theguardian.pe.ca/News/Local/2012-05-21/article-2984237/Major-facelift-planned-for-historic-Province-House/1
May 21, 2012
Above: The iconic Fathers of Confederation photograph was taken on the steps of Government House (Fanningbank) in Charlottetown in September 1864.
     Major renovations are planned for Province House (below) in advance of the 2014 celebrations marking the 150th anniversary of the Charlottetown Conference.
     Parks Canada officials say the renovations will commence next month and will be ongoing until 2014.
     Federal Environment Minister Peter Kent announced last August that approximately $2 million had been approved by Ottawa for the renovations.
      The work will consist of upgrades to the exterior of Province House that have been identified as high priority and necessary to protect the character-defining elements and heritage fabric of the building. Included in the list of renovations are repairs to the building’s foundation, masonry repointing and maintenance of the roof, windows and doors.
     “These renovations will ensure that Province House National Historic Site continues to be maintained, appreciated and enjoyed by present and future generations of Canadians,’’ a Parks Canada press release states.
     It is hoped Province House will look much the way it did 150 years ago when Charlottetown Conference was held here. The building was not yet 15 years old at that time.
     Buildings of the age of Province House require ongoing maintenance. Between 1977 and 1984 Parks Canada spent $3.4 million on restorations.
     Visitors will be able to access the building throughout the renovations. Regular updates on the project will be available on the Parks Canada website at www.parkscanada.gc.ca/provincehouse.
Province House and Market Building c.1865

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