For the first nine decades of British colonial rule, executive power on Prince Edward Island was held by officials appointed by the Crown. These officials were not accountable to locally elected representatives.
This changed in 1851, when Executive Council became responsible to the locally elected House of Assembly.
To mark 2026 as the 175th anniversary of Responsible Government in Prince Edward Island, the Honourable Brad Trivers, Speaker of the Legislative Assembly of Prince Edward Island, is pleased to host a series of lectures on the topic at the newly restored Province House.
Lecture schedule
The series will explore the evolution of responsible government on Prince Edward Island, beginning with a look at the legislature's home, Province House.
Lecture 1 Province House's Restoration
Brian Willis, Project Manager
Saturday, October 24, 2026, at 2:00 pm
Brian Willis has been involved with the Province House Conservation Project since 2017, serving as construction site superintendent and heritage conservation specialist before stepping into the role of onsite project manager. In his lecture, Willis will discuss the conservation of the Province House National Historic Site.
Lecture 2
Elections and Responsible Government
Dr. Don Desserud, Professor and Chair, Department of Political Science, UPEI
Dr. Desserud’s research interests include parliaments and legislative assemblies, and he frequently comments on local and national political issues in the media. In his lecture, he will address responsible government’s impact on Island elections.
Lecture 3
Arrival of Responsible Government
Dr. Edward Macdonald, Professor Emeritus, Department of History and Classics, UPEI
Dr. MacDonald is the pre-eminent scholar of Island history, having spent decades researching, writing, and teaching in the field. In his lecture, he will explain the history of the Island's achievement of responsible government.
Location
All lectures will take place in the first floor theatre in Province House at 165 Richmond street, Charlottetown.
Registration
The lectures are free and registration is strongly recommended to ensure a seat. Remaining seats will be assigned on a first-come, first-served basis.
To register, contact Bailey Clark, Assistant to the Speaker, at 902-368-4310 or baileyclark@assembly.pe.ca.