Chronology of Changes – Ontario Road Maps

The Official Ontario Road Map has continually changed as the decades have passed. The following summarizes some of the more notable changes to the layout and structure of the map. Changes to actual road names and construction is left for those sites that focus more on the highways of Ontario.

1915	The Department of Public Highways is established on the recommendations of the Public Roads and Highways Commission of Ontario.
1923	First official map produced by the Department of Public Highways.
1929-1930	Water in coastal areas of the maps of municipalities is modernized. Instead of multiple lines in the water, only a single line is used.
1931-1932	The Department of Public Highways is given a place in provincial cabinet with it’s own minister. The department is renamed the Ontario Department of Highways. George Henry becomes the first minister. Lithographed by The Copp-Clark Co., Limited
1933 – 1934	Map made of a lighter paper than in the 1931 – 1932 issue. Fold of map changed and size changes from 37.5 W X 23.5 H to 52″ W X 9.5″ H Premier name on cover changes to Leopold Macaulay. Northern Ontario is placed on the back of the map – instead of all of Ontario being on the front side. 37 Ontario Highways shown – up from 34 on the 1931 – 1932 issue. The “Main Highway Routes Into Ontario” Map is reduced half the 1931 – 1932 issue size.
1935 – 1936	Fold of map changed and size is changed to 52″ W X 9.5H to 45″ W X 19″. Premier name on cover changes to T. B. McQuesten. “Main Highway Routes into Ontario” is quadrupled in size over the 1933 – 1934 issue. Articles promoting Ontario as a tourist destination are included. Five narrow route maps are included.
1936 – 1937	“Main Highway Routes into Ontario” map is produced in multi colors and called a “pictorial map”. Smith-Moir Lithographing Co., Limited, Toronto prints the map – after Copp Clark being the favored printer.
1937 – 1938	The name of the Premier of the Province appears for the first time on the cover – M. F. Hepburn. First issue of the Official map to have Northern Ontario on the opposite side.
1938 – 1939	Lithographed by The Copp-Clark Co., Limited again 96 Provincial Highways are shown the map.
1939 – 1940	Photo – like images of people used for the first time on an Official Map Cover – the Royal couple. King George VI and Queen Elizabeth officially open the Queen Elizabeth Way at dedication ceremoines in St. Catharines. 98 Ontario Highways shown. First map where the small maps of communities have color added to them.
1940 – 1941	99 Ontario Highways shown on map
1941
1949	Premier T. L. Kennedy’s name first appears on map cover for only this year. Numbered highways are now at 105
1950	Premier Leslie Frost’s name appears on the cover for the first time. Error made in the printing of some maps – The colors red, pink, green and the blue of the water were not been applied to the back side of some maps.
1951	First year to begin using colored images routinely on the cover.
1952	Earliest sections of Highways 400 and 401 are open.
1953	Lithographing started by The Miller Litho Company Limited. Numbered highways are now at 110
1954	Numbered highways are now at 122
1955	Map dimensions changed – closed dimensions went from 3.5″ X 9.5″ to 4.75″ X 8.5″. Opened dimensions changed from 45.25″ W X 19″ to 41″ W X 25″ H. The manner in which the map was folded was also altered. A new style of north arrow was also implemented. James Allan’s name appears as the new Minister of the Department of Highways New lithographer – Lawson & Jones Limited, London and Toronto Highways are numbered up to Highway 123
1956	Highways are numbered up to Highway 132 Lithographing by The Miller Litho Company Limited. First year of the inclusion of boxed safety slogans – normally in otherwise unused areas of the map.
1957	On July 1, legislation was passed which established the Department of Transport. Highways are numbered up to Highway 133 Lithography by Lawson & Jones, London and Toronto
1958	Highways are numbered up to Highway 135 Lithography changed to Litho Print Limited, Toronto Original Burlington Bay Skyway opens to traffic.
1959	Fred Cass’s name appears on the cover as the new Minister of the Department of Highways
1960	Lithography changed to Rolph-Clark-Stone Ltd. The Ontario coat of arms is placed against the white silhouette of a King’s Highway sign on the cover for the first time.
1961
1962	John Robarts’s name appears on the cover as the new Premier of the Province W. A. Goodfellow’s name appears on the cover as the new Minister of the Department of Highways Highway numbering reaches 136
1963	Map dimensions changed – closed dimensions remained the same. Opened dimensions changed from 41″ W X 25″ H to 36.5 W” X 25″. The mileage tables, which had been used since the 1920’s were removed and replaced by the mileage chart. Regulatory sign area was redesigned. Trillium in the oval – provincial logo – makes it’s debut on a cover. The yellow tinge was removed as the main background color of the map of Ontario Reference markings around the perimeter of the map were made alternating colors for ease of use. Blue border on the rear cover was removed. C. S. McNaughton’s name appears on the cover as the new Minister of the Department of Highways Garden City Skyway in St. Catharines opens to traffic.