The Road to Canada: The Grand Communications Route from Saint John to Quebec

Since the last Ice Age, the only safe route into Canada's interior during the winter started at the Bay of Fundy and followed the main rivers north to the St. Lawrence River through what is now New Brunswick. Aboriginal people used this route as a major highway in all seasons and the great imperial powers followed their lead.

The Grand Communications Route, as it was then called, was the only conduit for people, information and goods passing back and forth between the interior settlements a...