Official Opening
August 13, 1955
Important Dates
First train crossed the causeway – April 18th, 1955Toll booths opened & first paid car crossed the causeway – May 20th, 1955 (980 vehicles crossed that day)Official opening of the Canso Causeway – August 13th, 1955First commercial vessel passed through the Canso Canal – September 9th, 1955
Largest Gathering in Nova Scotia History
Many Cape Bretoners came home for the official opening of the Canso Causeway on August 13th, 1955. People came from all over, including the Boston States and all points north, south, east and west.They arrived by the thousands for the opening ceremonies and 40,000 people in total attended the celebrations, making it the largest crowd in Nova Scotia’s history.
Possible names
There were multiple options when it came to naming the causeway, some of the suggestions were…– Angus L. Road to the Isles– MacMillan Causeway– Road to the Isles– Chevrier CausewayAfter contemplation, the official name of the causeway was chosen…The Canso Causeway
Parking was an Issue
With over 40,000 in attendance, parking was an issue on August 13th, 1955, to locals as well as visitors attending the grand opening celebrations.One resident of Creignish remembers going to the opening and seeing all the cars. She said that as people approached the Causeway from whichever direction they arrived, they would park behind the line of cars and walk the rest of the way.Traffic in Port Hastings was at a stand still. Cars were lined up from Port Hastings towards Port Hawkesbury.
Ribbon Cutting
The grand opening of the Canso Causeway was a historic event for all of Canada.The Right Honorable C.D. Howe, Minister of Trade and Commerce who had given the inaugural address had the honor of cutting the ribbon. Assisting him was Premier of Nova Scotia Henry D. Hicks.RCMP officers Larry Reed and Al Wood held the Nova Scotia tartan ribbon.
The Spirit of Angus L. Macdonald
The grand opening of the Canso Causeway was filled with the spirit of the former Premier Angus L. Macdonald who sadly passed away in April of 1954 before his lifelong dream of a permanent crossing was completed. The widow of Angus L. Macdonald, Agnes Macdonald spoke at the grand opening in honour of her late husband.
From the Chronicle Herald:
There was almost silence in the vast crowd when Mrs. Macdonald arose and said:
“Now let us praise the engineers. From a mere woman without a 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 will 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.
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 it’s 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.”
People at the Official Opening
Former Minister of Transport, Lionel Chevrier (pictured in the centre) who set off the first dynamite charge for the causeway construction, was present at the grand opening.Venerable A.F. Arnold, Archdeacon of Cape Breton. (far right)Reverend John R. Macdonald, Bishop of Antigonish. (left far)Honorable George H. Marler, Minister of TransportReverend Stanley P. MacdonaldLieutenant Governor Alistair Fraser (who is pictured on the far left of the photo)J. M. MacEachen, MP of Inverness-Richmond (who is pictured here in the white suit in the middle row)Mrs. Angus L. MacdonaldMr. Donald Gordon, President of Canadian National Railways
Gaelic Greeting
Father Stanley Macdonald, brother of the late Premier, Angus L. Macdonald, presented a Gaelic Greeting to the crowd of 40,000 at the Canso Causeway official opening. Both Angus L. Macdonald and his brother spoke Gaelic fluently. In 1955, there were many in the crowd who understood Gaelic so there was laughter when Father Stanley made remarks that those on the platform with him didn’t understand.Father Macdonald finished his speech by saying:‘It’s a great day for the rest of Canada.’
HMCS Québec
The Royal Canadian Navy vessel HMCS Quebec fired a congratulatory salvo after the cutting of the ribbon to celebrate the official opening of the Canso Causeway. This ship was one of many in the waters south of the Causeway on opening day.Boat owners realized that they could get a better view of the activities from where it would be less crowded and cooler on this scorching August day.
