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Canso Causeway vehicles and ships13 August 1955
Canso Causeway official opening
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VIEW CEREMONY FROM HARBOUR - A flotilla of boats of all sizes gave hundreds a first hand look at proceedings at the Canso Causeway. It was the first time the natural harbour formed by the causeway got so much traffic.A salute was given by the HMCS Quebec to Lieutenant Governor Alistair Fraser when he arrived at the Causeway with his party in the morning.
The area below Cape Porcupine was used as a parking area for some of the thousands who attended.
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Parking cars behind grandstand13 August 1955
Canso Causeway official opening
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Canso Causeway official opening program13 August 1955
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SOUVENIR PROGRAM -The Province of Nova Scotia produced a special souvenir program for the official opening. The Halifax Chronicle Herald, in its August 13, 1955 Special Edition, described the program."The cover, of heavily-glossed white paper, features motifs taken from the ancient Book of Kells. It has a border incorporating the "Tree of Life" derived from the Greek acanthus leaf also found in the Nova Scotia coat of arms, stylized animal heads, ornamented capitals and compound letters which are exact reproductions of the ancient form of Celtic lettering...
"Inside the program is a photo of a piper and two highland lassies standing against the background of the Causeway itself.
"Following the schedule of the opening and... information on the project construction, the booklet contains messages from the Federal and Provincial governments who cooperated in the building of the Causeway."
Howard Ladd, now of Calgary, Alberta, lived in Port Hawkesbury in 1955. He was one of the local people who handed out programs at the event. On a visit to the Gut of Canso Museum and Archives in 2004 he said that the demand for the souvenir programs was high, and that they were being passed out as quickly as the boxes of them could be opened.
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Canso Causeway Official Opening program Page 413 August 1955
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Stage for dignitaries for Canso Causeway Official Opening ceremonies13 August 1955
Canso Causeway official opening
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THE OFFICIAL OPENING OF THE CANSO CAUSEWAY AUGSUT 13th,1955 PROGRAMME - The ceremony began at 2 PM. The officials included on the souvenir programme were:- Honourable Henry D. Hicks, Premier of Nova Scotia
- Mrs. Angus L. Macdonald
- Honourable George H.Marler, Minister of Transport
- Venerable A.F. Arnold, Archdeacon of Cape Breton
- Reverand Stanley P. Macdonald
- Mr. Donald Gordon, President, Canadian National Railways
- Right Honourable C.D.Howe, Minister of Trade and Commerce
- Most Reverend John R. Macdonald, Bishop of Antigonish
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Crowds and bleachers for invited guests13 August 1955
Canso Causeway official opening
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PEOPLE AND CARS -This colour photograph, from the grandstand behind the stage, shows the sea of cars parked in the Cape Porcupine quarry site. Attached to the pole at the picture's centre is the Nova Scotia tartan ribbon, which would later be cut by Right Honourable C.D. Howe, Minister of Trade and Commerce24
Angus L. Macdonald, Premier of Nova Scotia1948
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SPIRIT OF ANGUS L. MACDONALD - The official opening of the Canso Causeway was filled with the spirit of Angus L. Macdonald, the premier who was able to bring to reality the decades long dream of a fixed link between mainland Nova Scotia and his Cape Breton Island birthplace. Unfortunately, Premier Macdonald died on April 13th, 1954.The Angus L. Macdonald Bridge between Dartmouth and the province's capital city, Halifax, had been officially opened in April 1955 as well.
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Mrs. Agnes Macdonald, widow of Premier Angus L. Macdonald13 August 1955
Canso Causeway official opening
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MRS. MACDONALD "….There was almost silence in the vast crowd when Mrs. Macdonald arose. She said: "Now let us praise the engineers. From a mere woman without any knowledge of the technical skill behind the building of the 'Road to the Isle', any words of praise would mean little enough.Other tongues more knowledgeable than mine will properly assess this great engineering achievement. But I can say how very much like a miracle it appears to me.
I well remember the first load of rock and earth that came from Porcupine to start the road across the water and I thought to myself in my ignorance that it would take more than one mountain to bridge the watery gap between the Island and the mainland."
AS IT WAS DREAMED
"I did not see this spot again until about two months ago, and … the 'Road to the Isle' was completed, as it was planned, as it was dreamed. And there was Porcupine looking very little disturbed but its great contribution to the building of this road. .........
As most of us know, the building of this 'Road to the Isle' was for long years a man's hope and his dream."He never lost sight of the gleam of that shining ambition.
Let it be remembered, and let it never be forgotten, that without his dream and his determination to make it come true, there would not be a 'Road to the Isle' for us to officially open here today with all its colourful ceremonies.
After some setbacks and disappointments, natural to the achievement of such an undertaking, he saw the dream beginning to shape, "But it was you, you men who built this road, all those who helped you to do so, who took his dream and his hope, and made these realities. And for this, thank you."
(The Chronicle Herald August 15th, 1955)
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