A year to remember, 150 years to celebrate.

• Author: Henderson, Robert
• Position: Prince Edward Island's Confederation

Prince Edward Island prides itself on its historic role in the development of Confederation. Celebrations are planned throughout 2014 in honour of the 150th anniversary of the original Charlottetown conference.

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This year marks an important anniversary for Prince Edward Island and Canada. It is the sesquicentennial of the 1864 Charlottetown Conference, an event which has come to be recognized as pivotal to the formation of the Canadian Confederation. To commemorate this milestone, Prince Edward Island is welcoming all Canadians to take part in a province-wide, year-long celebration of our shared history. We call it simply "2014" and consider it to be an opportunity to showcase our hospitality, heritage, communities and culture. The calendar is filled with more than 150 events, festivals, and a variety of activities to satisfy all interests. And, like all the best Island parties, there will be great music, good food, high spirits, and new friends to meet.

The celebrations commemorate the occasion when 23 representatives of the British North American colonies -Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, Prince Edward Island and Canada (present day Ontario and Quebec-gathered in Charlottetown to discuss the merits of creating a Canadian Confederation.

Originally the intent behind the September 1864 conference had been to discuss a proposed union of Nova Scotia, New Brunswick and Prince Edward Island, under one government and legislature. The Journal of the House of Assembly of Prince Edward Island of April 18, 1864 recorded the following motion, "Resolved, that his Excellency the Lieutenant Governor be authorized to appoint Delegates (not to exceed five) to confer with Delegates who may be appointed by the Governments of Nova Scotia and New Brunswick, for the purpose of discussing the expediency of a Union of the three Provinces of Nova Scotia, New Brunswick and Prince Edward Island, under one Government and Legislature,--the report of the said Delegates to be laid before the Legislature of this Colony, before any further action shall be taken regard to the proposed question." The motion was carried 18-9 and the resolution was adopted, paving the way for Island delegates to participate.

The Canadian government took note, and requested it be permitted to send a delegation to the conference to see if the proposed union could be extended to include all the provinces. The request was granted and a delegation of seven Canadians, including John A...