Charlottetown
Where the conference that led to Canada was held in 1864, in a colony that then declined to join.
Updated 19 October 2026
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Delegates met at Province House in September 1864 to discuss a union of the Maritime colonies; a Canadian delegation asked to attend and persuaded them into a much larger scheme, which is why Charlottetown is called the birthplace of Confederation. The irony is local: Prince Edward Island then refused to join and only entered in 1873, when a railway debt left it little choice. Province House has been under long structural restoration with the chamber inaccessible. The Confederation Centre of the Arts staged Anne of Green Gables as a musical every summer from 1965 to 2019, the longest-running annual musical in the world, and now stages it every second summer.
History
The first European settlers were French: people from Louisbourg founded Port La Joye on the far side of the harbour in 1720, led by Michel Haché-Gallant. Under British rule Captain Samuel Holland chose the site in his survey of 1764 as the seat of Queens County, a year later it became the colonial capital, and surveys between 1768 and 1771 laid out the street grid and public squares of today's historic district, the town being named for Queen Charlotte. It was incorporated as a city in 1855, and in 1864 it hosted the Charlottetown Conference, which led to Confederation in 1867, though Prince Edward Island itself joined only in 1873 (Wikipedia, Charlottetown).
Highlights
- Province House - the 1864 conference building, under long restoration.
- The Anne musical - running since 1965 at the arts centre, now every second summer.
- Great George Street - restored streetscape from the harbour to the legislature.
- The waterfront - Peake's Wharf and the harbour the delegates arrived at.
When to go
June to September for the festival and full life; the island is quiet from November to April with many places closed. The musical runs through the summer season.
What to expect
Province House has been closed for structural work for years, with an off-site exhibit instead. The city is small. Winter is very quiet with reduced ferry and flight service.
Nearby
Green Gables lies north; Victoria-by-the-Sea is west.
Key facts
Source: Wikidata, item Q2127, read on 18 October 2026.
What to pack for Charlottetown
Chosen from what this place is for. Tap a kit for the full checklist.
- Comfortable walking shoes - Sightseeing means kilometres of pavement and cobbles daily. Find on Amazon
- A slim anti-theft daypack - Zips that close properly; keep it in front in crowds and on transit. Find on Amazon
- A refillable water bottle - Many cities have public fountains; save money and plastic. Find on Amazon
- A light layer + compact umbrella - For museum air-con and a sudden shower. Find on Amazon
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Opening times, ticket prices and seasonal closures change - check the official source before you go: official site.
