Charlottetown
Where the conference that led to Canada was held in 1864, in a colony that then declined to join.
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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 has staged Anne of Green Gables as a musical every summer since 1965, the longest-running annual musical in the world.
What you actually see
- Province House - the 1864 conference building, under long restoration.
- The Anne musical - running every summer since 1965 at the arts centre.
- 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.
Honest expectations
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.
What to pack for Charlottetown
Chosen from what this place is for. Tap a kit for the full checklist.
Opening times, ticket prices and seasonal closures change - check the official source before you go: official site.