On the heels of Natal Day celebrations commemorating Charlottetown’s 154th birthday, a book that tells the story of the history of Charlottetown will be launched at City Hall on Tuesday, June 16.
Dr. Peter Rider, Atlantic provinces historian at the Canadian Museum of Civilization in Ottawa, received funding to research the history of the city in the early 1980s.
The book, which focuses on the era between incorporation in 1855 and amalgamation in 1995, took nearly 30 years to complete.
“Although he was able, with the help of research and graduate students, to amass a considerable amount of history on the city, Dr. Rider’s other duties demanded his full attention and the book was put on hold,” said Dr. David Keenlyside, executive director of the P.E.I. Museum and Heritage Foundation.
“Recently Peter was able to return to the project and the P.E.I. museum publishing committee readily agreed to publish it, with the Canadian Museum of Civilization as co-publisher.”
Rider, who retires from the Canadian Museum of Civilization this month, will be on hand to launch the book, along with Charlottetown Mayor Clifford Lee and Keenlyside.
“I commend Dr. Rider on his commitment to this project throughout the past number of years,” said Carolyn Bertram, minister of communities, cultural affairs and labour.
“He has made the preservation of history a priority throughout his long and distinguished career and we are grateful that he chose
to research and document the history of our capital city.”
Boyd Beck, curator of history with the P.E.I. Museum and Heritage Foundation, promises that the book is well worth the wait.
“It is a very impressive book:  480 pages, lavishly illustrated, and written in a scholarly but very accessible style.”   
The public is invited to the book launch, which is scheduled for 11 a.m., Tuesday in the Parkdale Room, second floor, Charlottetown City Hall.
Books will be available for purchase at the launch with a 20 per cent discount.