Saskatchewan Legislative Building facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Saskatchewan Legislative Building |
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Saskatchewan Legislative Building and grounds
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| Record height | |
| Tallest in Regina, Saskatchewan from 1912 to 1927 | |
| General information | |
| Architectural style | Beaux-Arts |
| Town or city | Regina, Saskatchewan |
| Country | Canada |
| Construction started | August 31, 1908 |
| Completed | January 25, 1912 |
| Cost | $1.75 million |
| Client | Government of Saskatchewan |
| Owner | Government of Saskatchewan |
| Design and construction | |
| Architect | Edward and William Sutherland Maxwell |
| Official name: Saskatchewan Legislative Building and Grounds National Historic Site of Canada | |
| Designated: | 2005 |
| Type: | Provincial Heritage Property |
| Designated: | 1978 |
The Saskatchewan Legislative Building is a very important building in Regina, Saskatchewan, Canada. It's where the government of Saskatchewan meets to make laws for the province.
Contents
Building History: How It Was Built
The Saskatchewan Legislative Building was built between 1908 and 1912. It was designed in the Beaux-Arts style by Edward and William Sutherland Maxwell from Montreal. These architects also watched over the building's construction. A company from Montreal, P. Lyall & Sons, built it. This same company later built the Centre Block of the federal Parliament Building in Ottawa.
Work on the building's foundations started in the fall of 1908. In 1909, Earl Grey, who was the Governor General of Canada, laid the first stone. In 1912, Prince Arthur, Duke of Connaught, who was also a governor general, officially opened the building.
The original plan for the building allowed for future additions. Wings could be added to the east and west sides, forming a courtyard. At first, the building was going to be made of red brick. However, after construction began, Premier Walter Scott decided that Manitoba Tyndall stone would look grander. This change made the building cost $50,000 more. The total cost reached $1.75 million when it opened in October 1912. The assembly had already started meeting in the unfinished building ten months earlier.
In 1965, Clifford Wiens began a big project to fix up and restore the building. This work took about fourteen years to finish.
Building Features: What Makes It Special
For a long time, the carpet in the legislative chamber was red. This was different from most parliaments. Usually, red carpet is for places where members are not elected, like the Senate of Canada. Places with elected members often have blue or green carpet. Premier Walter Scott liked red carpet, so it stayed that way for a century. In the summer of 2012, the red carpet was replaced with green carpet.
Walter Scott believed the building would be the main structure on the "Capital grounds" for a hundred years. He thought Saskatchewan's population would grow much larger. The building is still the main one in the area. It remains the most impressive building in a city that is smaller than its founders imagined.
The legislative chamber was designed to hold 125 members. However, the assembly has never had more than 66 members (and currently has 61). This means there has always been plenty of space for all government members. They usually sit to the Speaker's right. But because of physical distancing rules, desks are now spread out. This means some government members sit on the Speaker's left side.
The Institute for Stained Glass in Canada has recorded the beautiful stained glass in the building.
The Saskatchewan Legislative Building is located at 2405 Legislative Drive, Regina. It looks out over Wascana Lake. You can take free tours of the building during the week.
Significance: Why It's Important
The legislative building and its surrounding area were named a National Historic Site of Canada in 2005. It is also a Provincial Heritage Property under the Heritage Property Act.
A very old and important table is kept in the building's library. This table was used in 1864 when the Fathers of Confederation met in Quebec City. Six feet were removed from the middle of the table. This was done so it could fit into the Prince Edward Building. This was the temporary home of the Legislative Assembly of Saskatchewan while the Legislative Building was being built.
Statues at the Legislature
Current Statues
A statue of Queen Elizabeth II on horseback was revealed in 2005. It stands in the Queen Elizabeth II Gardens, in front of the building. Susan Velder designed the statue. It shows the Queen riding Burmese, her favorite horse. This horse was a gift from the Royal Canadian Mounted Police in 1969. Burmese was originally born in Saskatchewan.
On the east side of the building, there is a fountain. It is one of two fountains brought from London's Trafalgar Square. The other fountain is in Ottawa. This fountain was designed by McDonald and Leslie. It was moved before the mid-1930s.
Removed Statue
A statue of Louis Riel by John Cullen Nugent was put up in 1968. It stood on the legislature grounds until 1991. It was removed because the Saskatchewan Métis Society and others asked for it. Some people felt the statue was not a fair representation.
See also
In Spanish: Edificio Legislativo de Saskatchewan para niños
