This guide consists of specific references to government sources on to the Trans-Canada Highway.
As early as 1910, there were calls for a national road across Canada. Nearly 40 years later, the Trans-Canada Highway Act (1949) provided millions of dollars in cost-shared funding for provincial governments. It was not until July 30, 1962, however, when the 7,821-kilometre Trans-Canada Highway was formally opened at Rogers Pass. Finished in 1970, the Trans-Canada Highway is the largest national highway in the world.
This guide was revised in September 2000.
1. Archival References
Government Records
Records of the Privy Council Office (RG 2)
- Roads; Trans-Canada Highway; representations from outside the government, 1950-1951
(RG 2, series B-2, vol. 181, file R-16-6, pts. 1-3)
- Trans-Canada Highway, 1945-1952
(RG 2, series B-2 , vols. 96, 230 and 250, file R-16-6)
- Trans-Canada Highway Association; meeting with government, 1947
(RG 2, series A-5-a, vol. 2640)
- Trans-Canada Highway; conferences and agreements with provinces, several parts, 1948-1955
(RG 2, series A-5-a , vols. 2642-2648, 2654 and 2657-2659)
- Legislation; Trans-Canada Highway Act amendment, 1956
(RG 2, series A-5-a , vol. 5775)
- Legislation program, April 21, 1958
(RG 2, series A-5-a , vol. 1898)
- Campgrounds along the Trans-Canada Highway, July 18, 1958
(RG 2, series A-5-a, vol. 1899)
- Trans-Canada Highway Act, January 27, 1959
(RG 2, series A-5-a, vol. 2744)
- Legislation; Trans-Canada Highway Act amendment, January 7, 1960
(RG 2, series A-5-a, vol. 2746)
- Legislation; Trans-Canada Highway Act amendment; draft bill and resolution, February 9, 1960
(RG 2, series A-5-a, vol. 2746)
- Trans-Canada Highway; agreement with Quebec, August 10, 1960
(RG 2, series A-5-a, vol. 2747)
- Order on Trans-Canada Highway agreements, September 15, 1960
(RG 2, series A-5-a, vol. 2747)
- Legislation; proposed national highway system; second Trans-Canada Highway; suburban transportation, August 29, 1962
(RG 2, series A-5-a, vol. 6193)
- Trans-Canada Highway in Atlantic Provinces, April 23, 1963
(RG 2, series A-5-a, vol. 6253)
- Trans-Canada Highway, April 30, 1963
(RG 2, series A-5-a, vol. 6253)
Records Relating to Indian Affairs (RG 10)
The records relating to Indian Affairs are included because of issues of the highway crossing through Indian reserves.
- Thompson River District; Boothroyd Band; Inkahtsaph Reserve No. 6; construction of an access road to their farm land from the Trans-Canada Highway, 1925-1962
(RG 10, vol. 10332, reel T-7597, file 976/8-9-17-6)
- Sault Ste. Marie Agency; correspondence and accounts concerning Right of Way of the new Trans-Canada Highway running trough the Garden River Reserve, and also concerning road maintenance and new road construction on the reserve, 1939-1946
(RG 10, vol. 7691, reel C-12006, file 23013-2, pt. 1)
- Thessalon Agency; correspondence and accounts concerning Right of Way through the Mississagi River Reserve for the new Trans-Canada Highway, 1927-1946
(RG 10, vol. 7691, reel C-12006, file 23013-6)
- Sault Ste. Marie Agency; correspondence and accounts concerning Right of Way of the new Trans-Canada Highway running trough the Garden River Reserve, 1937-1939
(RG 10, vol. 7691, reel C-12006, file 23013-1)
- Trans-Canada Highway; Popkum IR, May 1957-September 1965
(RG 10, series C-VI , vol. 13299, file 167/31-4-37)
Records of the Department of Public Works (RG 11)
The Department of Public Works was responsible for a large part of the construction of the Trans-Canada Highway.
- (RG 11, acc. 1984-85/061, finding aid 11-71)
Records of the Department of Transport (RG 12)
The Department of Transport was heavily involved with the construction of the highway.
- Devitt Twp., Ontario; Disposition of Land to Province of Ontario for Trans-Canada Highway #11, May 29, 1953-February 9, 1954
(RG 12, series A-1, vol. 4647, file 3406-401)
- Parish of Dorchester, New Brunswick; land for Trans-Canada Highway, August 13, 1959-December 28, 1959
(RG 12, series A-1, vol. 4652, file 3406-466)
Records of the Department of Indian and Northern Affairs (RG 22)
The Department of Indian and Northern Affairs kept information about issues of the highway crossing through Indian reserves.
- Trans-Canada Highway agreements with provinces, 1950-1953
(RG 22, vols. 219-231 and 246)
Records of the Department of National Defence (RG 24)
The Department of National Defence kept reports on the value of the highway for national security reasons.
- Trans-Canada Highway, 1949-1955
(RG 24, acc. 1983-84/167, box 7055, file 2-560-2)
- Trans-Canada Highway, 1949-1952
(RG 24, acc. 1983-84/167, box 4366, file S-NSC-9720-3)
Records of the Department of External Affairs (RG 25)
The Department of External Affairs kept reports on the impact of the highway on foreign relations mainly with the United States.
- Trans-Canada Highway system; proposals, April 10, 1947-July 31, 1952
(RG 25, series G-2, vol. 3951, file 9617-40)
- Military considerations regarding the Trans-Canada Highway, October 5, 1949-April 12, 1950
(RG 25, series A-3-b, vol. 5809, file 333(s))
Records of the Department of Labour (RG 27)
The Department of labour kept records of contracts and labour agreement with companies and workers who built the Trans-Canada Highway.
- Labour agreement and contract files
(RG 27, vols. 2038-2040, 2043, 2075, 2082-2083)
Records of the Canadian Parks Services (RG 84)
- Trans-Canada Highway agreements, maps, plans and specifications through national parks.
(RG 84, series A-2-a, reels T-10977 to T-10986)