Territorial Administration Buildings

Regina became the capital of the North West Territories when Lieutenant Governor Edgar Dewdney selected a previously barren chunk of land close to the CPR line called Pile of Bones as the site of the new capital. The land was barren and not close to any naturally abundant source of water, as critics pointed out. Dewdney maintained that the spot was close to the main rail line, which Battleford (the former capital of the North West Territories ) was not.

Dewdney appears to have been engaging in the popular business of land speculation when he sited the new capital. Land near where the government buildings for the new capital were located, not coincidentally, belonged to Dewdney. The CPR thwarted Dewdney's plans by locating its station and tracks further to the east of Dewdney's townsite. However, for a brief time, Regina had two townsites, each with their own saloons, stores and stables. Eventually the businesses followed the location of the CPR station, and the government buildings were left all alone at the western townsite.

The Territorial Administration Buildings housed the Territorial Council from 1891 to 1905, and the provincial government from 1905 until 1910. The building is one of the oldest remaining structures in Regina . It survived a fire in 1922 and has twice been restored. It is currently a provincial heritage property.

  Title: North West Territorial Council
Date: 1886
Retrieval Number: CORA-RPL-B-34
  Title: Territorial Government Building
Date: ca. 1890s
Retrieval Number: CORA-RPL-B-506
  Title: Territorial Administration Buildings
Date: ca. 1898
Retrieval Number: CORA-RPL-A-742
  Title: Territorial Administration Buildings
Date: ca. 1898
Retrieval Number: CORA-RPL-A-743
  Title: Territorial Administration Building
Date: ca. 1915
Retrieval Number:
CORA-RPL-B-39

 

 

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