Government House

Venue background

Government House is the former vice-regal residence to the province’s first 6 Lieutenant Governors who made this elegant Jacobean Revival-style mansion their home. It was closed as a vice-regal residence in 1938, with the building serving in various roles over the next 40 years. After an extensive restoration and partial modernization project in the mid-1970s, Government House was re-opened as a government conference centre in 1976. It was declared a Provincial Historic Resource in 1985, and a National Historic Site in 2013.

Today, this facility and its surrounding grounds is used primarily for hosting government, vice-regal and state functions. It also welcomes the general public for free guided tours and special events, including traditional teas and the popular New Year’s Day Levee hosted by Alberta’s representative of His Majesty, King Charles III, the Lieutenant Governor who’s role is ceremonial, constitutional and social.

Lieutenant Governor of Alberta

The current Lieutenant Governor of Alberta is Her Honour, the Honourable Salma Lakhani who was installed as Alberta’s 19th Lieutenant Governor on August 26, 2020.

Visitor highlights

Visitors to Government House can view historic architectural details, original artifacts and furnishings dating from its time as a vice-regal residence (1913 to 1938), and an extensive art collection showcasing historic and contemporary Canadian artists.

Find out how to plan your visit

The grounds surrounding Government House are intended as day-use and are open to the public without time restrictions for uses such as wedding or graduation photos.

Bookings are not required for use of the surrounding grounds for photos, but the space is intended to be open on a first-come, first-served basis, which are usually best taken on the south-side of Government House in addition to the surrounding gardens.

Set-up of outdoor equipment such as tents, chairs, and such for any type of event is strictly prohibited unless approvals have been granted by Alberta Infrastructure ahead of time. Contact Infrastructure via email: [email protected].

No private functions

Government House is an Alberta government conference facility, and does not host private events. Government House is used for state and government functions only. However, registered non-profit organizations can reserve space inside Government House with approvals in place.