City of Thunder Bay release
THUNDER BAY – The City of Thunder Bay has launched a new online historical exhibit to commemorate the 125th anniversary of public transit in Fort William, Port Arthur and Thunder Bay. It features information and images depicting the development of city transit as it grew with the region.
Starting with the introduction of Port Arthur’s electric street railway system in 1892, public transit has been a driver of local social and economic change. Resources available online include a detailed history of transit in the area, a chronology of major events and visual evidence in the form of photographs, maps and other significant documents.
“Thunder Bay is rich with transportation history,” says Brad Loroff, Manager – Transit Services. “Public transit has played a vital role in connecting our community over the last 125 years.”
The exhibit can be used for quick reference or as a starting point for understanding the city’s transit history. In addition to this website, the public are also invited to visit the City Archives at 235 Vickers St. N. to conduct historic research.
"The Amalgamated Transit Union Local 966 is proud to be a part of Thunder Bay's transit history, representing its Transit Workers since March 2, 1922,” says Ken Koza, President - Amalgamated Transit Union (ATU) Local 966. “This milestone of 125 years is a testament to the importance of safe, reliable public transportation in any community. We look forward to another 125 years."
Much of the research for this exhibit was prepared by a summer student working with staff at the City Archives. This program, funded in part by Young Canada Works as administered through the Canadian Council of Archives, is a great opportunity for young people to gain experience with historic research and writing for the public.
The exhibit was created using records available to the public from the City of Thunder Bay Archives. Information and support have also been provided by Thunder Bay Transit. The textual records seen in this exhibit cover the time period from 1892 to 2017, and the photographic images range from 1870 to 2017.
For more information visit: https://www.thunderbay.ca/125YearsofTransit
