Territorial Evolution, 1882

Canada

As people continued to settle in the Northwest Territories (partly because the railway was being built), the Federal government found it had to create new districts to govern the territories. In 1882, by an Order in Council, four new districts -- Assiniboia, Saskatchewan, Athabaska and Alberta -- were created. They were governed by a Lieutenant Governor from his capital at Regina, Saskatchewan.

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Photograph of Surveyors' Camp, Brandon, Northwest Territories

Between 1873 and 1882, a long and acrimonious dispute was carried on between Ontario and the Dominion, and more specifically between Sir John A. Macdonald and Sir Oliver Mowat, in regard to the western boundary of Ontario. The situation was complicated by a demand on the part of what was then called the "Postage Stamp" province of Manitoba for enlargement of its territory. The question was not finally settled until 1889, when an Imperial Order in Council was passed fixing the boundary between Ontario and Manitoba.

Provisional Districts

It is interesting that each of the new districts included a major river valley or part of one. This was because the early settlers in western Canada avoided the open grasslands and instead liked to settle in wooded areas and river valleys. The boundaries of the District of Saskatchewan overlapped those of the District of Keewatin. This problem was not solved until later.

The animation Territorial Evolution 1867 to 1999 shows sequentially the history of the political boundary changes in Canada from Confederation to the creation of Nunavut.

• Territorial Evolution, 1867 Map | Read about this map
• Territorial Evolution, 1870 Map | Read about this map
• Territorial Evolution, 1871 Map | Read about this map
• Territorial Evolution, 1873 Map | Read about this map
• Territorial Evolution, 1874 Map | Read about this map
• Territorial Evolution, 1876 Map | Read about this map
• Territorial Evolution, 1880 Map | Read about this map
• Territorial Evolution, 1881 Map | Read about this map
• Territorial Evolution, 1886 Map | Read about this map
• Territorial Evolution, 1889 Map | Read about this map
• Territorial Evolution, 1895 Map | Read about this map
• Territorial Evolution, 1897 Map | Read about this map
• Territorial Evolution, 1898 Map | Read about this map
• Territorial Evolution, 1901 Map | Read about this map
• Territorial Evolution, 1905 Map | Read about this map
• Territorial Evolution, 1912 Map | Read about this map
• Territorial Evolution, 1920 Map | Read about this map
• Territorial Evolution, 1927 Map | Read about this map
• Territorial Evolution, 1949 Map | Read about this map
• Territorial Evolution, 1999 Map | Read about this map
• Territorial Evolution, 1867 to 1999 Map | Read about this map

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• Territorial Evolution
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