1962 — The Trans-Canada Highway, the then-longest national highway in the world, is officially opened.
The Trans-Canada Highway system traverses all ten provinces of Canada. Its main route stretches an impressive 7,821 kilometers (4,860 miles) from Victoria, British Columbia, to St. John’s, Newfoundland and Labrador, making it one of the longest routes of its kind globally. Construction of the main route commenced in 1950, following the signing of the Trans-Canada Highway Act. This act empowered federal and provincial governments to initiate the construction of various sections of the highway. The highway was officially opened by Prime Minister John Diefenbaker in 1962, but its completion was achieved in 1971. Since its opening, numerous other routes have been designated to the system, providing connections to the main route at various points. Among these, the most prominent is the Yellowhead Highway, which runs north of the main route, connecting Haida Gwaii, British Columbia, to Winnipeg, Manitoba. The entire system, encompassing all its routes, spans approximately 12,800 kilometers (8,000 miles).
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