Photo: Andy Farnsworth

Inscription

THE COLONIAL BUILDING GROUNDS 1. Orientation 7. Welcome 2. Responsible Government 8. Orientation 3. Build it Here 9. 1932 Riot 4. Welcome & Orientation 10. Newfoundland & Labrador Rangers Plaque 5. Welcome & Orientation 11. Commission of Government 6. National Convention 12. Orientation 13. Welcome THE COLONIAL BUILDING The Colonial Building was home to the Newfoundland and Labrador Legislative Assembly from 1850 until 1959. The building witnessed our unique political evolution from colony to self-governing Dominion to province of Canada. It was here that representatives gathered to make laws that shaped our economy, society and culture; it was also where they made tough choices. A gem of neoclassical architecture, the scale of the building was unprecedented in the colony at the time. The building's grandeur is a testament to the optimism its builders felt about our future. The use of "Colonial Building" as the name is part of its unique story. While symbolic of our relationship within the British Empire at that time, no other British North American colony adopted this title for its legislature. The name was also remarkably ironic as the calls for its construction and the subsequent democratic progression thereafter increasingly challenged colonial concepts and attitudes. In 2022, after consultation with Indigenous leaders and the general public it was decided to retain the historic name. Once again, this building is a gathering place for people to explore, contemplate, challenge, commemorate, and debate our story of governance.