First Issue, 1930

The first issue of Canadian Geographic — then the Canadian Geographic Journal — had much of the same diverse content you’d find today. Yet there were also many differences.

For example, the magazine had a much more international flair than it does today. The May 1930 issue — the first — had coverage of the West Indies and a story by Sir Francis Younghusband on a Tibetan expedition.

There was also a story about the Prince of Wales and other nobility establishing ranches in the Canadian West; portraits of Canadian birds and Arctic wild flowers; and a feature on aerial photography.

The first issue also supported Canada’s visual arts, as the magazine continues to do today. Dr. F. G. Banting accompanied Group of Seven painter A. Y. Jackson to the Canadian arctic and brought back sketches and paintings that were published in the Journal.

Take a moment to check out what the magazine had to say about its first issue.

“Students love taking part in the Geography Challenge and each year they learn more and more. Thank you for creating this great motivator for geography”

— W.R. Best Memorial Public School, Shanty Bay, ON

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