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Aerial Photography

Since the 1920s, aerial photography has been used to view Canada from the air. This important collection of historical photographs can help us answer the following questions:

  • How much of the land was used for agriculture?
  • Were natural areas converted for agricultural or residential use?
  • Have waterways been modified or disturbed?
  • How have villages, towns and cities developed?

Most Government of Canada photographs exist only in hard copy and are stored at the National Air Photo Library in Ottawa. Some aerial photographs are available through our Data Cube which enables you to view changes in the land across different dates.

Black and white aerial image of Victoria, British Columbia in 1930. It depicts James Bay while including the streets and part of the Salish Sea.

Victoria, British Columbia

Explore aerial photographs of the city taken in 1930 and 1950.

Black and white aerial image of Salish, BC in 1950. Its scale allows for a bridge, as well as streets and property lines to be identifiable.

Salish, British Columbia

Find out how Vancouver's downtown area developed between 1950 and 1982.

Black and white aerial image of Regina, SK in 1947. Its scale allows for the identification of streets, property lines as well as Wascana Lake.

Regina, Saskatchewan

Explore how the city's development influenced the course of Wascana Creek between 1947 and 1967.

Black and white aerial image of Markham, ON in 1960. Its scale allows for streets to be identifiable, as well as property lines.

Markham, Ontario

Explore the city from the air in 1960 and 1974.

Black and white aerial image of the Ring of Fire region in Ontario from 1954.

Ring of Fire, Ontario

Explore the area from the air between 1954 and 1976.

Black and white aerial image of the Ottawa River, ON.

Ottawa River, Ontario

See how the Ottawa River has changed between 1950 and 2001.

Black and white aerial image of Halifax, NS in 1947. It shows a portion of the peninsula as well as the port and Point Pleasant Park.

Halifax, Nova Scotia

See how Halifax Harbour changed between 1947 and 1977.

Black and white aerial image of Tuktoyaktuk, NWT in 1950.

Tuktoyaktuk, Northwest Territories

See how Tuktoyaktuk has changed between 1947 and 2004.

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Contact us

For more information, please send an email to geoinfo@nrcan-rncan.gc.ca.

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