(EDITOR’S NOTE: This is the 16th in a series of columns in which Sonja Herter is detailing the history of Canada in light of the country’s 150th anniversary in 2017.)
After the Second World War great anticipations were expected to make life better for Canadians.
The previous decades had tested people’s strength, faith and understanding. The need for improvements was visible with the growing population.
Even during the war, the formation of the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation was established in 1936, keeping the people in touch by radio of happenings around the world.
The following year the Trans Canada Airlines increased to regular flights, thus expanding the travel options. Later this became Air Canada, expanding the borders further and further.
A baby boom started after the war; however in 1945 family allowances were introduced in monthly payments to children under 16 and still attending school.
The original plan changed over the years. In 1949 Newfoundland became the 10th province of Canada after being the Dominion of Newfoundland. In recent years it became known as Newfoundland and Labrador.
A significant boom for Alberta and the rest of Canada was the oil strike at Leduc, Alta. in 1947. This greatly increased the economy in Canada, however unknown that 70 years later there would be so much negativity with this commodity.
The outlook was encouraging and modes of transportation advanced. The need to link the country in another way from the Atlantic to the Pacific was planned.
The Trans-Canada Highway took 20 years to complete, from 1950 to 1970. The over a billion-dollar project snaked its way across the varying terrain, making travel so much better for Canadians This also increased the transportation of various goods by trucks as well as by train.
So was life getting better for Canadians? The future looked very encouraging.
