Government House (Prince Edward Island)
Encyclopedia
Government House of Prince Edward Island, often referred to as Fanningbank, is the official residence of the Lieutenant Governor of Prince Edward Island
, as well as that in Charlottetown
of the Canadian monarch. It stands in the provincial capital at 1 Government Drive; while the equivalent building in many countries has a prominent, central place in the capital, the site of Prince Edward Island
's Government House is relatively unobtrusive within Charlottetown, giving it more the character of a private home.
Government House was built in 1834 as a viceregal residence for the lieutenant governor of the then British
colony of Prince Edward Island. The land, a parcel of known 100 acre (0.404686 km²) known as Fanning Bank or Fanning's Bank, was in 1789 set aside by Lieutenant Governor Edmund Fanning
as Crown land
, with the specific stipulation that it be used as the site for the governor's residence. Eventually, approximately 10 acres (40,468.6 m²) was retained for Government House and its grounds.
Government House was designated a National Historic Site of Canada in 1971.
, as well as luncheons, dinners, receptions, and speaking engagements. It is also at the royal residence that the lieutenant governor will drop the writs of election
, swear-in new members of the Executive Council
, and hold audience with her premier
.
The property is owned by the Queen in Right of Prince Edward Island
and is open to the public for certain periods during the summer.
with echoes of the Palladian tradition. The two axis of the house converge on the main entrance hall, which has doric
columns and pilaster
s and a double switchback stair leading to the second floor. The residence was designed by Yorkshire architect Isaac Smith, who also designed the Island's Colonial Building.
Lieutenant Governor of Prince Edward Island
The Lieutenant Governor of Prince Edward Island is the viceregal representative in Prince Edward Island of the Canadian monarch, Queen Elizabeth II, who operates distinctly within the province but is also shared equally with the ten other jurisdictions of Canada and resides predominantly in her...
, as well as that in Charlottetown
Charlottetown
Charlottetown is a Canadian city. It is both the largest city on and the provincial capital of Prince Edward Island, and the county seat of Queens County. Named after Queen Charlotte, the wife of George III, Charlottetown was first incorporated as a town in 1855 and designated as a city in 1885...
of the Canadian monarch. It stands in the provincial capital at 1 Government Drive; while the equivalent building in many countries has a prominent, central place in the capital, the site of Prince Edward Island
Prince Edward Island
Prince Edward Island is a Canadian province consisting of an island of the same name, as well as other islands. The maritime province is the smallest in the nation in both land area and population...
's Government House is relatively unobtrusive within Charlottetown, giving it more the character of a private home.
History
British North America
British North America is a historical term. It consisted of the colonies and territories of the British Empire in continental North America after the end of the American Revolutionary War and the recognition of American independence in 1783.At the start of the Revolutionary War in 1775 the British...
colony of Prince Edward Island. The land, a parcel of known 100 acre (0.404686 km²) known as Fanning Bank or Fanning's Bank, was in 1789 set aside by Lieutenant Governor Edmund Fanning
Edmund Fanning (colonial administrator)
Edmund Fanning first gained fame for his role in the War of the Regulation, but later had a distinguished career as a colonial governor and British general.right| Sketch of Edmund Fanning...
as Crown land
Crown land
In Commonwealth realms, Crown land is an area belonging to the monarch , the equivalent of an entailed estate that passed with the monarchy and could not be alienated from it....
, with the specific stipulation that it be used as the site for the governor's residence. Eventually, approximately 10 acres (40,468.6 m²) was retained for Government House and its grounds.
Government House was designated a National Historic Site of Canada in 1971.
Use
Government House is where the Canadian Royal Family and visiting foreign dignitaries are greeted and often stay while in Charlottetown. It is also where numerous royal and viceroyal events take place, such as the bestowing of provincial awards or inductions into the Order of Prince Edward IslandOrder of Prince Edward Island
The Order of Prince Edward Island is a civilian honour for merit in the Canadian province of Prince Edward Island. Instituted in 1996 by Lieutenant Governor Gilbert Clements, on the advice of the Cabinet under Premier Catherine Callbeck, the order is administered by the Governor-in-Council and is...
, as well as luncheons, dinners, receptions, and speaking engagements. It is also at the royal residence that the lieutenant governor will drop the writs of election
Dropping the writ
Dropping the writ is the informal term for a procedure in some parliamentary government systems, where the head of government goes to the head of state and formally advises him or her to dissolve parliament...
, swear-in new members of the Executive Council
Executive Council of Prince Edward Island
The Executive Council of Prince Edward Island is the cabinet of that Canadian province....
, and hold audience with her premier
Premier of Prince Edward Island
The Premier of Prince Edward Island is the first minister for the Canadian province of Prince Edward Island. They are the province's head of government and de facto chief executive.The current Premier of Prince Edward Island is Robert Ghiz.-See also:...
.
The property is owned by the Queen in Right of Prince Edward Island
Monarchy in Prince Edward Island
By the arrangements of the Canadian federation, the Canadian monarchy operates in Prince Edward Island as the core of the province's Westminster-style parliamentary democracy...
and is open to the public for certain periods during the summer.
Architecture and interiors
The wood frame building's architectural design is GeorgianGeorgian architecture
Georgian architecture is the name given in most English-speaking countries to the set of architectural styles current between 1720 and 1840. It is eponymous for the first four British monarchs of the House of Hanover—George I of Great Britain, George II of Great Britain, George III of the United...
with echoes of the Palladian tradition. The two axis of the house converge on the main entrance hall, which has doric
Doric order
The Doric order was one of the three orders or organizational systems of ancient Greek or classical architecture; the other two canonical orders were the Ionic and the Corinthian.-History:...
columns and pilaster
Pilaster
A pilaster is a slightly-projecting column built into or applied to the face of a wall. Most commonly flattened or rectangular in form, pilasters can also take a half-round form or the shape of any type of column, including tortile....
s and a double switchback stair leading to the second floor. The residence was designed by Yorkshire architect Isaac Smith, who also designed the Island's Colonial Building.