Buildings of the Legislative Assembly

Province House

Province House is the home of the PEI legislature, which has met there since 1847. It is the second oldest active legislative building in Canada. Province House is also a National Historic Site, celebrated as the 1864 birthplace of Confederation. It is located at 165 Richmond Street, in the middle of Queen Square. (More information on this important building is available at the Parks Canada website, History of Province House.)

In 2015 the building was closed in order for extensive restoration to be undertaken. It is expected to reopen in the mid 2020s. During this period, the Confederation Centre of the Arts and Parks Canada are pleased to provide The Story of Confederation exhibit. This offers visitors the opportunity to learn about Province House National Historic Site and the Charlottetown Conference by visiting a replica of the Chamber in which the Fathers of Confederation met in 1864. See The Story of Confederation for details.

Honourable George Coles Building

While Province House is closed, the Legislative Assembly holds its sittings in a temporary Chamber created in the Hon. George Coles Building. In addition to the Legislative Assembly Chamber, the building houses caucus offices and Assembly staff offices. The Hon. George Coles Building is located at 175 Richmond Street, just east of Province House on Queens Square.

Construction of the Honourable George Coles Building, then known as the Law Courts Building, began in 1874. It was designed by local architect Thomas Alley. The Supreme Court of Prince Edward Island first met in the building on January 11, 1876, and continued to do so until 1976, when the building was severely damaged by fire. A new court building was constructed near the Charlottetown waterfront and the Law Courts Building was repaired and renovated to house offices and the Public Archives of Prince Edward Island.

The building was renamed the Honourable George Coles Building, after the first premier to lead Prince Edward Island under responsible government. Hon. George Coles was also a Father of Confederation.

The building is Italianate in design, which was popular with architects in the 19th century. Learn more about the Hon. George Coles Building.

J. Angus MacLean Building

The J. Angus MacLean Building houses the Legislative Assembly's Library and Research Service, Hansard Office, and the Legislative Counsel Office of the Department of Justice and Public Safety. It is located at the corner of Richmond (180) and Great George (94) Streets.

Construction of the J. Angus MacLean Building, originally known as the Union Bank Building, began in 1872. The land on which the building is located once belonged to Lieutenant Governor Edmund Fanning, and later to Member of Executive Council/Colonial Secretary Henry Haszard. Before the building was built to house the Union Bank, a small flour and meal market operated on the site.

Established in 1863, the Union Bank was one of the first banks to operate in Prince Edward Island. The Union Bank building was built during a successful period for the bank, and its proximity to the legislature was intentional. However, involvement in the construction of the PEI Railway led to financial difficulties for the bank, and twenty years after its establishment it merged with the Bank of Nova Scotia, which used the building until 1921. The provincial government bought the building in 1939, and renamed it after former Premier J. Angus MacLean in 2002.

Like the nearby Honourable George Coles Building, the J. Angus MacLean building is an Italianate design by Thomas Alley. Learn more about the J. Angus MacLean Building.

St. Paul's Anglican Church Rectory

During the Province House restoration project, the Legislative Assembly's Office of the Speaker and Office of the Clerk are located at the St. Paul's Anglican Church Rectory at 197 Richmond Street. Entrance is via Church Street, which runs between the Hon. George Coles Building and the Rectory. Learn more about St. Paul's Anglican Church Rectory.