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Old Government House / Saint-Charles Scholasticate National Historic Site of Canada

52 7th Street West, Battleford, Saskatchewan, S0M, Canada

Formally Recognized: 1973/11/15

General view of the Old Government House/ Saint-Charles Scholasticate National Historic Site of Canada, showing the building before the fire in 2003, 1989.; Parks Canada Agency / Agence Parcs Canada, 1989.
Before the fire in 2003
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Other Name(s)

Old Government House / Saint-Charles Scholasticate National Historic Site of Canada
Old Government House / Saint-Charles Scholasticate
Ancien hôtel du gouverneur / Scolasticat Saint-Charles

Links and documents

Construction Date(s)

1878/01/01 to 1879/01/01

Listed on the Canadian Register: 2007/06/26

Statement of Significance

Description of Historic Place

Old Government House is the site of the first Territorial Government House in what is now the Province of Saskatchewan. The building was destroyed by fire in 2003 and the site now consists of a grassy plateau with archaeological remains of the former structure. It overlooks the vast valley of the Saskatchewan and Battle rivers. The designation refers to the site, defined as the property at the time of designation (1973).

Heritage Value

Old Government House was designated a national historic site of Canada because it was the seat of Territorial Government from 1878 to 1883. Its heritage value resides in its association with the establishment of federal government in the West. This is best expressed in the dominant and highly visible site, high above the Battle and Saskatchewan rivers, the major travel arteries of the time.

Source: Historic Sites and Monuments Board of Canada, Minutes, November 1973.

Character-Defining Elements

Key features contributing to the heritage value of this site include:

- the siting of the property high above the Battle and Saskatchewan rivers,
- the setting, isolated from other structures or settlements,
- the viewplanes to and from the Battle and Saskatchewan rivers,
- the extent of the site, sufficient for main and subsidiary buildings,
- the light vegetation ,
- any archaeological vestiges of the original government house.

Recognition

Jurisdiction

Federal

Recognition Authority

Government of Canada

Recognition Statute

Historic Sites and Monuments Act

Recognition Type

National Historic Site of Canada

Recognition Date

1973/11/15

Historical Information

Significant Date(s)

1878/01/01 to 1883/01/01

Theme - Category and Type

Governing Canada
Government and Institutions
Building Social and Community Life
Education and Social Well-Being

Function - Category and Type

Current

Community
Commemorative Monument

Historic

Government
Office or office building
Residence
Single Dwelling

Architect / Designer

n/a

Builder

n/a

Additional Information

Location of Supporting Documentation

National Historic Sites Directorate, Documentation Centre, 5th Floor, Room 89, 25 Eddy Street, Gatineau, Quebec

Cross-Reference to Collection

Fed/Prov/Terr Identifier

734

Status

Published

Related Places

n/a

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