Confederation Centre gets nearly $1M for new program

Ottawa has announced close to $1 million for a new program called the Story of Confederation at Confederation Centre of the Arts in Charlottetown.

The program is designed to give visitors a chance to learn about Province House and the Charlottetown Conference while Province House is closed for renovations.

The more than $20-million conservation project could take three to five years to complete and the historic building must be closed to the public during that time.

The new program is designed to ensure visitors don't miss out on the historic experience. 

Jessie Inman, Confederation Centre of the Arts CEO said the centre has always helped tell the story of Confederation through the artistic troupe the Confederation Players. But she said, over the next three years, the centre will be doing much more. 

"There is a new video that has been developed by Parks Canada that will be shown inside Confederation Centre and we are building a stunning new replica of the Confederation chamber," said Inman.

"There will be a kiosk outside where visitors will be able to come and obtain either the Parks Canada Explora application which tells the story, or our Confederation Players will be there and will be giving their walking tours or be bringing them into this new replica of the Confederation Chamber."

Parks Canada will provide $839,000 in funding, as well as in-kind support valued at $89,000 over three years, to the Story of Confederation program.

The new program will be ready for visitors by this summer.