Released on May 20, 2005
Her Majesty The Queen officially opened the Government House Centennial Addition today and named it the Queen Elizabeth II Wing."When Government House was completed in 1891, it was the Vice-Regal residence for the Lieutenant Governor of the Northwest Territories, which was 2.5 million square miles," Lieutenant Governor Lynda Haverstock said. "This important Canadian treasure is the legacy of the visionary citizens who built it and the community-minded individuals who saved it from demolition. Government House Centennial project is our legacy for the future. We are grateful that our Sovereign is present to officially open the new wing that has been named in her honour."
Key components of the Centennial Project include a visitor and education centre, museum storage, catering facilities, and the new Sir Richard Lake Hall and carriage area that will display the province's historic landau and cutter. The current office space has been converted to the J.E.N. Wiebe Interpretive Centre, highlighting the history of the Crown and governance in Saskatchewan.
The Queen Elizabeth II Wing includes the Frederick W. Johnson Entrance and Foyer, named in honour of Saskatchewan's former Lieutenant Governor. The foyer offers visitors an opportunity to view the donor walls and use computer kiosks that provide information on Government House tours and other tourism attractions.
"We are pleased that Her Majesty would lend her name to a wing in Government House," Provincial Secretary Joan Beatty said. "This facility has the potential to be one of Saskatchewan's premiere tourist destinations, recreating history for new generations of young people, and allowing all of us to experience the treasures of our past."
More than 25,000 people, including 7,000 school children, visit Government House each year. It is anticipated that the addition will accommodate twice as many visitors.
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For More Information, Contact:
| Maureen Boyle Government Relations Regina Phone: (306) 787-5959 |