Symons Lecture on the State of Confederation

The Dominion of Canada came into being in 1867 when Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, and the united colony of Canada East and Canada West formed Confederation.  Other Provinces and Territories joined thereafter, the last being Nunavut, which became a Territory in 1999.

While the Dominion of Canada was officially formed in 1867, the work that led to its creation actually began in Charlottetown in September of 1864. From September 1-9, 23 delegates gathered for a conference that was originally planned to discuss Maritime union. With the participation of the delegates from the united colony of Canada East and Canada West, the intended discussion about Maritime union was enlarged to focus on a federal union of all the colonies in British North America.

To mark the centenary of that historic meeting in 1864, the Confederation Centre of the Arts, operated by the Fathers of Confederation Buildings Trust, was established in Charlottetown as Canada's National Memorial to the Fathers of Confederation. The Confederation Centre is a living memorial mandated to celebrate through culture and heritage, the founding and evolution of Canadian Confederation. The Centre fulfils its purpose by showcasing Canadian creativity in the performing and visual arts on its stages and in its galleries, through virtual and touring exhibitions, by its work in public education, and by public policy and heritage initiatives such as the Symons Lecture.

The Fourth Annual Symons Lecture
November 8, 2007, 1 p.m. – Mainstage Theatre
The State of Confederation
Open to the Public

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