Atlas of Canada
Canada · Department of the Interior · 1915
Related Reviews & Articles
Atlases of the Western Hemisphere: A Summary Survey
Stephenson, Richard W. · 1972
This survey updates Ena L. Yonge’s earlier review by cataloguing and describing significant general and thematic atlases of the Western Hemisphere published over the subsequent ten-year period. It compiles 147 volumes, organized by geographic coverage from hemispheric to continental, national, and subnational scales, including atlases of the United States, Canada, and their constituent states and provinces. The descriptive compilation highlights the diversity of atlas production: comprehensive national atlases (e.g., *The National Atlas of the United States*, *The National Atlas of Canada*), regional economic and resource atlases, historical atlases, road and marketing guides, and specialized thematic works covering topics such as climate, vegetation, population, and industry. Key findings reveal a vibrant period of cartographic activity driven by government agencies, university geography departments, and commercial publishers. These atlases serve a wide range of purposes—from academic teaching aids and land-use planning to business decision-making and public education. The survey underscores the atlas’s continuing role as a vital synthesis of spatial information during a decade marked by notable advancements in thematic cartography and multidisciplinary resource documentation.
National atlases as indicators of scientific and economic change
Unknown · 1965
This paper examines how national atlases serve as indicators of scientific and economic change, using Canada’s three federal atlases (1906, 1915, and 1957) as a case study. By analyzing the subject matter coverage, methods of cartographic presentation, organizational order, and language policies across these editions, the study reveals the evolution of geographic knowledge, data availability, and national priorities. The 1906 and 1915 atlases focused heavily on physical geography, transportation, and population, but largely omitted economic activities, relying extensively on statistical diagrams rather than spatial maps. The 1957 edition significantly expanded coverage to include economic activities such as agriculture, mining, and manufacturing, while also incorporating advances in soils, flora, fauna, and glaciology. Cartographic presentation shifted from diagram-dependent formats to precise spatial distributions, reflecting improved survey techniques and data collection. The sequential study of these atlases demonstrates how each volume records the state of geographic science and the cartographic arts at its time, while also exposing knowledge gaps that can guide future research. Language policy evolved from English-only in early editions to bilingual English-French production in 1957, mirroring Canada’s developing biculturalism. The author concludes that national atlases, if produced in a continuing series, can function akin to a periodic census—providing a systematic, updatable record of national development and serving as a foundation for long-term geographical planning and institutional continuity.
New Atlas of Canada
Grant-Suttie, G. L. P. · 1947
This paper examines the role and activities of the Canadian National Committee of the International Geographical Union, with a focus on its efforts to advance geographic science and address national deficiencies in geographic knowledge. The study reviews the Committee’s mandate, composition, and collaborative projects, highlighting its interdisciplinary reach across physical and social geography. Key contributions include promoting geography in Canadian universities, international research on agriculture in high latitudes, and strategic influence in wartime planning. A central finding is Canada’s significant lag in modern geographic mapping, particularly the absence of an up-to-date national atlas; the 1906 and 1915 editions are obsolete. The paper argues that a new comprehensive Atlas of Canada is urgently needed, integrating physical, biogeographic, economic, and human geography. It outlines a preliminary framework based on a survey by the Canadian Social Science Research Council and emphasizes the necessity of collaboration among federal departments and provincial authorities. The Committee concludes that planning must begin immediately to align with the 1951 census, enabling the atlas to include timely statistical maps. The project can be executed within the normal functions of existing agencies at minimal additional cost, with eventual cost recovery through sales. The paper underscores that the Committee is prepared to provide scientific guidance, pending governmental authorization, to produce a modern atlas serving education, industry, international representation, and public understanding of Canada.
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