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Legislative Buildings
Regina followed the railway; the railway did not seek out Regina. If the
Canadian Pacific Railway had not desired to head straight west from Fort
Garry (Winnipeg) through the Kicking Horse Pass, Regina may never have existed.
As it turned out, Regina sprang into being when the railway decided on a
more southerly route for its expansion westward. Some critics suggested
that the CPR did not want to share the lucrative southern farmland market
with American rail lines that were threatening to encroach into the southern
North West Territories. Others maintain that the CPR wanted to avoid existing
businesses – especially land companies – and forge a new path
through virgin territory. Whatever the reason, Regina came into being when
some canny speculators, including the lieutenant-governor of the North West
Territories Edgar Dewdney, decided to purchase land near the spot where
the railroad was likely to cross Wascana Creek – a tiny blip on the
map commonly known as Pile of Bones.
Dewdney forever shaped the destiny of Pile of Bones when he persuaded
the federal government to move the capital of the North West Territories
there from its established spot at Battleford – a location that
the railway had deliberately abandoned when it changed the route. Dewdney’s
motives were probably less than pure in this decision – he owned
a considerable amount of land in the area. Dewdney justified his decision
by pointing out that the new spot was on the rail line and enjoyed a central
location. Detractors pointed out that the spot was ugly, barren, and had
no natural amenities like adequate adjacent water supplies to recommend
it. The decision was ultimately in Dewdney’s hands, however, and
in 1882 the territorial capital was switched from Battleford to Regina.
Regina also became the home of the North West Mounted Police, whose headquarters
were transferred from Fort Walsh by Dewdney in order to be near the main
line of the CPR. (Perhaps not so coincidentally, the land adjacent to
where the Territorial Administration Buildings and the NWMP barracks were
was owned by Dewdney.)
Regina was the territorial capital from 1882 until 1905, when it became
the temporary capital of the new province of Saskatchewan. The town of
Regina was desperate to hold onto its status as the provincial capital.
The competition was fierce, as cities like Saskatoon and Moose Jaw vied
for the coveted status as the new capital city. In the end, Regina succeeded
and became the capital of the new province.
A capital city needs to look like a capital, and the provincial government
decided not long after the formation of the province that a new legislative
and executive building was needed for Regina, now renamed in honour of
Queen Victoria. A competition was held for the design of the buildings.
The winners, the Maxwell Brothers of Montreal, designed the Tyndall stone
and marble creation that still adorns Wascana Park.
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Title: Saskatchewan’s Provincial
Inauguration Banquet
Year: 1905
Retrieval
#: CORA-B-623 |
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Title: J. Kelso Hunter speaking at inauguration
Year: 1905
Retrieval #: CORA-B-719 |
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Title: Review Stand Sep. 4
Year:
1905
Retrieval #: CORA-RPL-A-358 |
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Title: Troops and Indians lined up for inspection
Year: 1905
Retrieval #: CORA-RPL-A-355 |
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Title: Street decorations for inauguration
Year: 1905
Retrieval #: CORA-RPL-A-352 |
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Title: Gathering in front of City Hall for inauguration
Year: 1905
Retrieval #: CORA-RPL-A-348 |
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Title: Parade for Inauguration
Year:
1905
Retrieval #: CORA-B-724 |
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Title: Banquet celebrating the Provincial Inauguration
Year: 1905
Retrieval #: CORA-B-721 |
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Title: Parade for Inauguration Ceremonies
Year:
1905
Retrieval #:CORA-RPL-A-350 |
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Title: Street decorations for Inauguration
Year: 1905
Retrieval #: CORA-RPL-A-351 |
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Title: Ceremonies for Provincial Inauguration
Year: 1905
Retrieval #: CORA-RPL-A-349 |
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Title: Decorated Arches for Inauguration
Year:
1905
Retrieval #: CORA-A-1950 |
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Title: Mayor Peter McAra with RNWMP
Year:
ca. 1906
Retrieval #: CORA-A-1585 |
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Title: Mayor Peter McAra with RNWMP
Year:
ca. 1906
Retrieval #: CORA-A-1586 |
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Title: Proposed Legislative & Executive Building
Year: Drawing: ca. 1907; Print: ca. 1986.
Retrieval
Number: CORA-RPL-B-495 |
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Title: Legislative Building at Regina, Saskatchewan
Year: Drawing: ca.1907; Print: ca. 1986
Retrieval Number: CORA-RPL-B-494 |
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Title: Competition for Legislative and Executive
Building at Regina, Saskatchewan, Canada
Year:
Drawing: ca. 1907; Print: ca. 1986
Retrieval Number:
CORA-RPL-B-492 |
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Title: Legislative and Executive Building and Power
House
Year: Drawing: ca. 1907; Print: ca. 1986
Retrieval Number: CORA-RPL-B-244 |
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Title: Proposed Legislative & Executive Building
Regina Saskatchewan
Year: Drawing: ca.1907; Print: ca.1986
Retrieval
Number: CORA-RPL-B-493 |
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Title: Proposed Legislative and Executive Building
Regina, Saskatchewan
Year: Drawing: ca.1907; Print: ca.1986
Retrieval
Number: CORA-RPL-B-496 |
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Title: Laying of the cornerstone of the Legislative
Building
Year: 1909
Retrieval Number:
CORA-RPL-B-31 |
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Title: Saskatchewan Legislative Building under
construction
Year: 1910
Retrieval
Number: CORA-RPL-B-485 |
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Title: Legislative Building through the arches
of a bridge
Year: 1911
Retrieval
#: CORA-B-780 |
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Title: Legislative Chamber in Session
Year:
1924
Retrieval #: CORA-RPL-B-475 |
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Title: Scarth Street looking south from Hotel Saskatchewan
Year: 1927
Retrieval #: CORA-RPL-A-400 |
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Title: Regina in the early years
Date of Creation: ca. 1930.
Clip Scope and Content: Legislative Building and Legislative
Grounds.
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