Charlottetown, PEI
Charlottetown, the capital of Prince Edward Island, was established as the colonial capital in 1764 and named for Queen Charlotte, wife of King George III. Small and easily explored on foot, its historic center is filled with churches, government buildings, old homes and streets leading toward the waterfront.
Charlottetown holds a particularly important place in Canadian history. In September 1864, delegates from the Maritime colonies gathered here to discuss a possible union. Representatives from the Province of Canada joined them and proposed something much larger—a federation of the British North American colonies. The discussions that began in Charlottetown continued in Quebec and ultimately led to the creation of Canada in 1867.
That history earned Charlottetown its title as the “Birthplace of Confederation.” Ironically, Prince Edward Island declined to join the new nation in 1867, waiting until 1873 to become Canada's seventh province.
Recent Posts
The Big Bell
Outside Charlottetown City Hall stands an enormous bell. At first it might seem like simply another artifact preserved from the city’s past, but this bell belongs to Charlottetown’s long history of fighting fires. Before telephones, radios and modern emergency dispatch systems, bells played an essential role in protecting a city. When fire broke out, the […]
Sir Louis Henry Davies
While walking through Charlottetown, I noticed this plaque commemorating Sir Louis Henry Davies. I didn’t know who he was, but the positions listed beneath his name caught my attention. Here was a man from Prince Edward Island whose career eventually took him to some of the highest offices in Canada. Louis Henry Davies was born […]
Prince Edward Island Memorial Fountain
While walking through Charlottetown, we came across this unusual memorial fountain. Unlike the military monuments we had seen elsewhere in the city, this one was not created to remember a particular war or even a single group of people. It was designed to recognize a much broader idea of service and sacrifice. The Prince Edward […]
Hospital School of Nursing
While walking through Charlottetown, we came across this monument marking a place where generations of Prince Edward Island nurses began their careers. It commemorates the Charlottetown Hospital School of Nursing, which operated from 1891 until 1969. The nursing school began in 1891 in connection with the Charlottetown Hospital. At a time when professional nursing education […]
Captain Henry Wolsey Bayfield
Walking along the Charlottetown waterfront, it is easy to simply enjoy the view across the harbor. Sailboats move across the water, the opposite shore seems close by, and today we give little thought to knowing exactly where the channels, shoals and underwater hazards are located. A plaque along the waterfront introduced me to Captain Henry […]
City Hall
Walking through Charlottetown, I was struck by how many chapters of the city’s history remain visible in its buildings. Charlottetown City Hall is one of the best examples. Its red brick walls, massive, rounded arches, contrasting bands of stone and tall corner tower make it difficult to pass without noticing it. But the building tells […]
Québec Garden
While walking through Charlottetown, I came across this stone marking the Québec Garden, dedicated by Québec City in June 2014 during the 150th anniversary year of the Charlottetown Conference. Its location in Charlottetown represents an important connection between two Canadian cities. In September 1864, delegates gathered in Charlottetown and began seriously considering the creation of […]
