The Development of Canada’s Pacific Gateway in the Age of Steam Globalization 1871-1939

Authors

  • Jan Drent

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.25071/2561-5467.913

Keywords:

Pacific Gateway, marine transportation, shipping, port and infrastructure development, transportation technology, maritime economics

Abstract

The completion of the Canadian Pacific Railway in 1886 made British Columbia’s coast Canada’s Pacific Gateway. Meanwhile, global trade boomed and growing marine traffic was supported by the systematic charting of the intricately indented British Columbia coastline, improved port infrastructure, and the creation of ship repair facilities. The opening of the Panama Canal in 1914 also resulted in a major boost to the Pacific Gateway. Vancouver became the dominant BC port and competed with eastern Canada for exports. This paper examines the main traffic flows through the Pacific Gateway and the development of its ports between 1871 and the start of the Second World War.

L’achèvement du chemin de fer Canadien Pacifique en 1886 a fait de la côte de la Colombie-Britannique la porte d’entrée canadienne du Pacifique. En même temps, le commerce Mondial était en plein essor et l’augmentation de la circulation maritime était appuyée par la cartographie systématique de la côte découpée de la Colombie-Britannique, l’amélioration des infrastructures portuaires et la création d’installations de réparation de navires. L’ouverture du canal de Panama en 1914 a également donné un sérieux coup de pouce à la porte d’entrée du Pacifique. Vancouver est devenue le port le plus important de la Colombie-Britannique, faisant concurrence à l’est du Canada pour les exportations. Le présent article analyse les principaux courants de circulation dans la porte d’entrée du Pacifique et le développement de ses ports entre 1871 et le début de la Seconde Guerre mondiale.

Author Biography

Jan Drent

Jan Drent was a career officer in the Royal Canadian Navy, commanding three warships on both coasts and serving ashore in Canada and overseas. His nautical writings have included articles and book reviews in periodicals in Canada and the UK. (Contact: janjdrent@gmail.com)

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Chart depicting British Columbia's waterborne exports between 1872 and 1890

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Published

2022-07-19

How to Cite

Drent, J. (2022). The Development of Canada’s Pacific Gateway in the Age of Steam Globalization 1871-1939. The Northern Mariner Le Marin Du Nord, 31(4), 365–386. https://doi.org/10.25071/2561-5467.913

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Section

Conference Proceedings: Articles