The Atlas of Canada Project

Summary

The Atlas of Canada Project, released by the federal government in 1958, created a comprehensive national reference atlas building on earlier editions of 1905 and 1915. Originating from a 1945 report, the project was assigned to the Geographical Branch for coordination in 1948, with interdepartmental committees gathering authoritative data from across agencies. The atlas employed the Lambert Conformal Conic projection and four interrelated map scales under standardized base maps. Its 110 plates were arranged thematically: exploration and historical maps, physical geography, population, resources and economic activities, settlements and institutions, and finally political evolution and international affiliations. Through interdepartmental collaboration and systematic cartographic design, the project established a model for national geographic documentation.