“[The Fathers of Confederation Memorial Building] is a tribute to those famous men who founded our Confederation. But it is also dedicated to the fostering of those things that enrich the mind and delight the heart, those intangible but precious things that give meaning to a society and help create from it a civilization and a culture.”
Prime Minister L.B. Pearson, Opening Ceremonies for Confederation Centre of the Arts, October 6, 1964
Canada’s National Memorial to the Fathers of Confederation
Confederation Centre of the Arts was founded in 1964 as Canada’s National Memorial to the Fathers of Confederation, who gathered at Province House in 1864 to discuss the creation of our country.
The Charlottetown Festival is held each summer at Confederation Centre. The Festival is anchored by Anne of Green Gables-The Musical™, which has the Guinness World Record as the “longest-running annual musical,” having played on our stage every summer since 1965. The Charlottetown Festival is a leader in Canadian musical theatre and has launched more than 80 original productions, touring many across Canada and beyond.
All-Canadian Effort
Every Canadian played a part in the establishment of Confederation Centre: in 1964 the provinces and the federal government each committed 15 cents per capita for a total of $5.6 million to construct the huge building. In other words, each Canadian citizen contributed the equivalent of 30 cents. This was the first time that all provinces agreed to invest in an institution outside their boundaries. Covering an entire city block, the Centre stands on what was the site of the old Charlottetown marketplace. It houses several theatres, an art gallery, restaurant, and a gift shop. Open year-round, Confederation Centre showcases the best in Canadian visual and performing arts.
The Dream Unfolds
Confederation Centre is the result of a dream shared by all Canadians – to create a place where our country’s history and multicultural character is celebrated, and where the talents of its people are nurtured and showcased.