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Government House of Nova Scotia is the official residence of the Lieutenant Governor of Nova Scotia, as well as that in Halifax of the Canadian Monarch. It stands in the provincial capital at 1451 Barrington Street; unlike other provincial Government Houses in Canada, this gives Nova Scotia's royal residence a prominent urban setting, though it is still surrounded by gardens.
The public has only access to the Main Foyer, the Grand Staircase, the Ballroom, the Morning Room, the Drawing Room and the Dining Room.
(Description copied from wikipedia)
The Ballroom
• Largest room in Government House
• Larger events are held in this room, investitures, concerts, receptions, state dinners, ceremonies etc.
• In 1911, Lieutenant Governor McGregor hosted a Coronation Day Ball here in honour of King George V with almost 1000 guests in attendance
• Today, because of fire and safety regulations, the house’s maximum capacity is 125 including all staff.
• During the two World Wars, it was used by St John Ambulance and the Red Cross to roll bandages
• After the Halifax Explosion in 1917, it was used as a minor casualty clearing station.
Portrait – Sir John Wentworth
• Artist – Robert Field
• Previously Governor of New Hampshire during the American Revolution
• First Lieutenant Governor to reside at this Government House
Portrait – Frances, Lady Wentworth
• This is a copy of the original 1765 portrait, which hung in the New York Public Library until 2005 when it was sold in 2005 for $3.3 Million
• A female spouse of the Lieutenant Governor is referred to as the Chatelaine (like the magazine), Lady Wentworth was the first Chate-laine of this Government House
Portrait – Hon. MacCallum Grant
• Served as Lieutenant Governor from 1916 – 1925
• Portrait donated by Grant Family to the Art Gallery in 2006
• Grant served in office during the First World War and the Halifax Explosion
During the Halifax Explosion 900 panes of glass were blown out, the Grants moved to the basement after the snow storm that followed the explosion
Portrait – Viola Desmond
• While in New Glasgow in 1946, she was arrested for sitting in the “whites only” section of a local theatre, found guilty of tax evasion on the charge of not paying the 1 cent tax difference between the balcony (blacks only) seating and the floor seats and was forced to pay a fine.
• The Hon. Mayann Francis on behalf of the Crown granted a post-humous Royal Pardon in 2010 to Viola.
• Portrait by Pictou artist, David MacIntosh, jointly commissioned by the Lieutenant Governor and Town of New Glasgow, unveiled in 2010.
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