Canadian Northern Society

Historical Features

Big Valley and the
Canadian Northern Railway

The Canadian Northern Railway was a pioneer railway that became a transcontinental rival of both the Canadian Pacific Railway and the Grand Trunk Pacific Railway. With humble beginnings in northern Manitoba in 1896, the CNoR’s expansion westward was instrumental in the settlement of the northern prairies.The promoters of the CNoR – Sir William Mackenzie and Sir Donald Mann – wished to exploit the vast reserves of coal located in Alberta and Saskatchewan, both for domestic heating during the prairie’s freezing winters and for locomotive fuel. The CNoR’s plans for central Alberta focused almost entirely on the building of “coal railways” to tap the rich coal fields around Drumheller and at Nordegg (later Brazeau). Big Valley also could boast coal mines – the remnants of which can still be seen north of the village.

Learn More

Camrose and the
Canadian Northern Railway

The Canadian Northern Railway (CNoR) mainline ran westward from Winnipeg via Portage la Prairie, Dauphin, Canora, Humboldt, North Battleford and entered Alberta at Lloydminster. From Lloydminster the alignment ran through Vermilion, Vegreville, and Fort Saskatchewan. The line traversed a scenic and fertile area of western Canada where it served small communities and fledgling prairie communities. An early promotional phrase described the railway as the “Saskatchewan Valley Route.” The line arrived in Edmonton in November 1905. Subsequently the CNoR was completed west through Jasper to Vancouver via Blue River and Kamloops, with the transcontinental main line being opened for service in 1915.

Learn More

Meeting Creek and the
Canadian Northern Railway

In 1911, the Canadian Northern Railway opened a branch line known as the “Battle River Subdivision” – operating from its main line at Vegreville southwest through the growing towns of Camrose, Stettler, and Big Valley, and connecting the railway with the coal mines of Drumheller. Along the way, communities such as Meeting Creek sprung up, and the railway would provide a new link to the outside world.

Learn More

Canadian Railway Stories