Province of Canada - Capitals

Capitals

The location of the capital city of the Province of Canada changed six times in its 26-year history. The first capital was in Kingston. The capital moved from Montreal to Toronto in 1849 when rioters, spurred by a series of incendiary articles published in The Gazette, protested the Rebellion Losses Bill and burned down Montreal's parliament buildings. In 1857, Queen Victoria chose Ottawa as the permanent capital of the Province of Canada, initiating construction of Canada's first parliament buildings, on Parliament Hill. The first stage of this construction was completed in 1865, just in time to host the final session of the last parliament of the Province of Canada before Confederation.

Chronology

• Kingston 1841–1844
• Montreal 1844–1849
• Toronto 1849–1852
• Quebec City 1852–1856
• Toronto 1856–1858
• Quebec City 1859–1866
• Ottawa 1866–1867