Malahat Roadway, c. 1912 (Unedited)

00:00 Footage begins
00:44 Approach to Shawnigan Lake, including lumber camp.
02:43 View along the Malahat, with cars driving by.
06:21 Planting of the first post of the "Canadian Highway", Port Alberni, BC, May 4 1912.
08:15 View of the Lillooet Suspension Bridge, Frasier Canyon.

Library and Archives Canada ISN 22890

This video may depict a visit to the Malahat Highway near Victoria, B.C., by the Duchess of Connaught on the 2nd of October, 1912. It is some of the earliest footage recorded from a moving car in Canada.

"The Royal ladies... spent the afternoon looking over the logging camp of the Shawnigan Lake Lumber Company [...] The journey to Shawnigan was made by motor over the Malahat drive, the return trip being across the Sooke hills." -Victoria Daily Times, 3 October 1912.

Later footage of a canyon scene may have been taken at the Fraser Canyon, and is likely not from the same trip as the previous scenes.

Do you recognize any of the places, vehicles or situations in this film? Let us know at [email protected].