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Archival description
Ministry of Transportation and Highways films and videotapes Item
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Construction of the Lion's Gate Bridge, Vancouver

The item consists of an ECO master made from an industrial film originally made between 1937 and 1939. It contains a detailed record of the construction of the First Narrows Bridge (Lion's Gate Bridge) between Vancouver and the North Shore of Burrard Inlet. A.J.T. Taylor, who promoted the idea of the bridge and the residential development of the North Shore, is seen discussing the plans with architect John Anderson. The bridge was first crossed by a car on November 4, 1938 and opened to the public on November 12, 1938. John Anderson receives the first toll ticket. Charles Marega's sculptured lions are shown. The "Empress of Japan" steams under the bridge. On May 29, 1939 King George VI and Queen Elizabeth cross the bridge and later, under naval escort, they pass under it aboard a ship bound for Victoria.

End of an era

The item is a videocassette of a documentary from ca. 1986. It shows the old North Bend Aerial Ferry, which operated across the Fraser River at Boston Bar from March 1940 to January 1986. The aerial ferry, believed to be the last of its type in North America, was a familiar landmark and a part of the daily routine in Boston Bar and North Bend. It was replaced by a bridge, which could accommodate the logging industry's need for heavier hauls.

Fraser Port -- freightway to the Pacific

The item is a promotional video from 1988. It profiles the Fraser River as a major North American seaport, stretching 100 kilometres along the river's main arm. Shows port facilities such as the Annacis Island automobile terminal (with the car carrier "Aniara" unloading) and the Fraser-Surrey Docks, an advanced general cargo terminal with container cranes. Also shows the groundbreaking ceremonies for the new Intermodal Terminal in Surrey, scheduled for completion in 1990. John Crosbie speaks at the ceremony.

Geology and soils

The item consists of two video tapes created by the Ministry of Transportation and Highways in 1979. The item contains an interactive instructional telesession on geology and soils given to remote Ministry staff and was the first telecourse offered by the Ministry on the Knowledge Network.

Hope slide

The item is an edited reversal print from 1965. It show the aftermath of the huge landslide on the Hope-Princeton Highway 12 miles east of Hope, on January 9, 1965. There are extensive aerial views of slide area, ravaged mountainside, surrounding landscape; helicopter flying over site; ground crews at work, digging in rubble, searching for vehicles and bodies (including use of dogs and metal detector); heavy equipment clearing temporary roadway; blasting; crews working, erecting signs; wrecked vehicles in snow; travelling shot from new road; crew removing barriers to open road.

Men, mountains and the challenge

The item is a videocassette copy of a documentary film from ca. 1957. It shows highway construction in BC. Includes planning and surveys; opening of contractors' bids by Highways Minister Gaglardi; clearing of route by heavy equipment; culvert assembly; drilling and blasting rock; road bed preparation; paving. Also: traffic control; overpass construction. Sections of Highways 1 and 1A are shown, and Premier W.A.C. Bennett presides at an official opening.

Port Mann Bridge

The item is a videocassette copy of an industrial film from ca. 1957 to 1964. It shows the engineering and construction of the Port Mann Bridge -- the last link in BC's portion of the Trans-Canada Highway -- and its official opening on 12 June 1964 by Premier W.A.C. Bennett. Also includes historical footage of 1930s traffic and the opening of Pattullo Bridge in 1937 by Premier T.D. Pattullo.

Pre-trip inspection

The item consists of a training video produced by the British Columbia Government Production Centre in 1981 for the Ministry of Transportation and Highways Training and Safety Branch. Training officer Vic Barrett demonstrates the detailed procedure of pre-trip inspection to be used by Highways personnel when operating Ministry vehicles and aircraft.

Real islanders

The item is a promotional video from 1991. It shows Ministry of Transportation and Highways employees on Vancouver Island in their various work situations. Includes an original song written by Scott Littlejohn and Tom Parkin, and sung by Bobby Teesdale.

Rivers rising

The item is a release print of an educational film from 1974. It shows the roles played by various departments and agencies of the BC government in monitoring, preventing, preparing for and dealing with high water and flooding due to spring run-off. Regular snow pack measurement carried out by crews from Hydrology Division of the Water Investigations Branch, Water Resources Service, shown here checking instruments at the headwaters of Mission Creek (Okanagan Valley); flood control by dams (the Hugh Keenleyside Dam on the Columbia) and flood gates (Okanagan Falls); dyke construction; Dept. of Highways dyke patrols in the Fraser Valley during high water period; stockpiles of sandbags and bailey bridge components; the Lower Fraser Valley Flood Organization; Dept. of Agriculture preparations to evacuate and feed livestock; the role of the Provincial Emergency Program. Includes scenes of early and actual flooding on the Fraser River in 1972, and along the Similkameen River, as well as archival stills of the 1894 and 1948 Fraser River floods.

Road to the Pacific Rim ; Island builders

The item is a documentary video from 1993 containing two programs. They show the history, construction and improvement of Highway 19, from Campbell River to Port Hardy on Vancouver Island, during the 1970s. The road opened on September 21,1979. The story is told through studio interviews with retired or long-time Highways employees, including Dan Bowen, George Dodge, Dennis Dodsworth, and Al Tranfield, as well as former Port McNeill mayor Gerry Furney. Also includes archival Super 8 footage of the construction, shot by George Dodge.

Rogers Pass

The item is a release print of a promotion film on two reels. It depicts the history of Rogers Pass and the construction of the section of the Trans-Canada Highway that runs through it. Includes a re-enactment of the pass's discovery in 1881 by Major A.B. Rogers.

Skeena journal : Fire, flood

The item is Public affairs video from 1978. It is a documentary about flooding that struck Terrace and the surrounding area over 11 days in October-November 1978, generated by heavy rains that followed a hot dry summer with many forest fires. The Introduction contains shots of forest fires, including aerial views and helicopters in action. The remainder of the program comprises extensive footage of flooding and flood damage to highways, railroads, bridges, homes and vehicles in the affected area, mainly accompanied by voice-over narration.

Staff orientation

The item consists of a video tape created by the Ministry of Transportation and Highways, Manpower Planning and Staff Development office in 1982. It contains a training video for Ministry staff to explain to staff about who works for the Ministry and what they do as well as basic information for new staff. The video is a combination of moving image footage set to music and still images with voice over explanations. The video was produced by the B.C. Government TV Production Centre and broadcast by the Knowledge Network.

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