Description of Historic Place

The Government of Canada Building in Montague is located prominently on Main Street. It is a two storey rectangular structure built of brick and stone in the Internationalist style with a flat roof, horizontal emphasis, and simple details.

Heritage Value

The heritage value of the Government of Canada Building in Montague is shown in its architectural style; its continued use as a federal public building in the town; and for its contribution to the streetscape.

Built by the federal government in 1954, the building has become a landmark in the Town of Montague. The post office relocated here from the large sandstone post office and customs house in use from 1888 to 1954 and now known and operated as the Garden of the Gulf Museum. The post office is located in the left side of the building, while other federal offices, including the local Member of Parliament's office, has traditionally been located in the right side of the building.

It was designed by E.A. Gardner of the Department of Public Works in the Internationalist style. This modern style's hallmarks include a rectangular shape with a flat roof employing brick or stone as the main construction material. The use of windows with horizontal muntins continues to reflect the style. The situation of the building set back from the street with tubular metal fencing and low shrubs are also characteristic of the style. Another dominant part of the design is the large metal Canadian coat-of-arms (reflecting the 1921 design with the Tudor Crown) attached to the front of the building facing Main Street.

Today, the building remains a tangible reminder of the federal presence in the Town of Montague, especially because of its continued use as the headquarters of the post office. It was recognized in 1996 by the Federal Heritage Buildings Review Office (FHBRO) as an example of the buildings constructed by the Federal government in the 1950s when they attempted to consolidate services into regional centres.

Source: Culture and Heritage Division, PEI Department of Tourism and Culture, Charlottetown, PE C1A 7N8
File #: 4320-20/G7

Character-Defining Elements

The following character-defining elements illustrate the heritage value of the Government of Canada Building in Montague:

- The rectangular shape of the building with two storeys
- The asymmetrical design of the facade
- The arrangement of the windows
- The smooth-faced brick and white stone panelling and exterior pilasters
- The flat roof
- The metal coat-of-arms

Other character-defining elements include:

- The location of the building set back from Main Street with simple landscaping of small shrubs and perimeter tubular metal fencing