Printed aerial photographs available in the Geospatial Centre

Contents

The Geospatial Centre contains more than 55,000 aerial photographs, photomaps, and photomosaics. The primary geographic focus of this collection is the local area, particularly the cities of Waterloo and Kitchener and the Regional Municipality of Waterloo. The collection also includes coverage of southern Ontario, parts of central and eastern Ontario, and selected areas across Canada. The images range in date from 1930 to the present and vary in scale from 1:500 to 1:140,000.

This publication briefly describes the aerial photograph collection in the Geospatial Centre. The entries are arranged by date of coverage under the following sections:

  • aerial photographs - photographic prints or transparencies. Photographs provide stereo coverage unless otherwise noted
  • photomaps - (photographic maps) - maps made by adding marginal information, descriptive data, or a reference system to a photograph or assembly of photographs
  • photomosaics - an assembly of overlapping aerial photographs joined together to form a continuous photographic representation
  • printed reproductions - atlases of aerial photographs accompanied by text information

The following publisher abbreviations are used in this publication:

  • (NAPL) is the National Air Photo Library (Ottawa)
  • (L & F) is the Ontario Department of Lands and Forests
  • (MNR) is the Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources
  • (CCRS) is the Canadian Centre for Remote Sensing

To locate specific aerial photographs, photomaps, and photomosaics, you will need to use flight line indexes and grid indexes. The UWaterloo Library publication Finding Aerial Photographs in the Geospatial Centre is a guide to using these indexes.

Photographs, photomaps, and photomosaics are for use in the library only, but may be borrowed for a short period of time (3 hours) to be copied. Faculty and graduate students may borrow aerial photographs for 3 days. Pocket and mirror stereoscopes are available for use in the library from the public services desk.

If you have any questions, please ask for assistance at the public services desk. Information on obtaining aerial photographs through Interlibrary Loan (ILL) or retail sources is also available at the public services desk.

Aerial photographs

Date of coverage: 1930 (April-May)
Geographical area covered: Northern Waterloo County; part of Wellington County
Index on 4 sheets
Scale: 1:18,500, 1:11,500 (Roll 2212)
Publisher: NAPL

Date of coverage: 1930 (May)
Geographical area covered: Part of Kitchener-Waterloo; part of Breslau.
No index available. Oblique, nonstereo coverage
Scale: flying height 1,500 feet
Publisher: NAPL

Date of coverage: 1934 (September-November)
Geographical area covered: Parts of Hamilton-Wentworth and Niagara Counties
Scale: 1:15,840
Publisher: NAPL

Date of coverage: 1939 (June)
Geographical area covered: Toronto
Scale: 1:17,000
Publisher: NAPL

Date of coverage: 1945 (September)
Geographical area covered: Eastern Waterloo County
(North Dumfries Township, most of Waterloo Township)
Index on 2 sheets
Scale: 1:20,600
Publisher: NAPL

Date of coverage: 1946 (June)
Geographical area covered: Western Waterloo County
(Wilmot Township, parts of adjacent townships)
Index on 2 sheets
Scale: 1:15,500
Publisher: NAPL

Date of coverage: 1947 (May)
Geographical area covered: Kitchener, Waterloo, Preston, Galt
Scale: varies, 1:11,700-1:12,300
Publisher: L & F (negatives Ontario Archives)

Date of coverage: [1948]
Geographical area covered: St. Catherine's and most of Thorold
Scale: 1:4,800
Publisher: Unknown

Date of coverage: 1949
Geographical area covered: Waterloo, Kitchener, Preston and Galt
Scale: 1:12,500
Publisher: Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources

Date of coverage: 1952
Geographical area covered: Southern Kitchener, Preston and Hespeler
Scale: 1:11,500
Publisher: Unknown

Date of coverage: 1953-1955 (May-October)
Geographical area covered: Parts of midwestern and central Ontario
(all of NTS 40P; most of NTS 30M; parts of NTS 31C, 40I, 40J, 41A, 41H)
Index on 6 sheets
Scale: 1:15,840
Publisher: L & F (negatives Ontario Archives)

Date of coverage: 1959-1960 (September)
Geographical area covered: North of Metropolitan Toronto (including Caledon Hills, Newmarket, Uxbridge, Richmond Hill, Oshawa, Pickering)
Index on 2 sheets
Scale: 1:28,500
Publisher: NAPL

Date of coverage: 1960 (April)
Geographical area covered: North of Metropolitan Toronto (including Aurora, Brampton, Richmond Hill)
Scale: 1:25,000, 1:27,000 (line 16998)
Publisher: NAPL

Date of coverage: 1962
Geographical area covered: Parts of Essex County and North of Peel
Scale: 1:20,000
Publisher: NAPL

Date of coverage: [1963]
Geographical area covered: Kitchener-Waterloo and adjacent areas
Scale: 1:11,950
Publisher: Spartan Air Services Ltd.

Date of coverage: 1963
Geographical area covered: Parts of Huron, Perth, Lambton, Middlesex, Elgin and Oxford Counties
Scale: 1:20,000
Publisher: NAPL

Date of coverage: 1964-65
Geographical area covered: Kitchener-Waterloo
Scale: 1:25,000
Publisher: NAPL

Date of coverage: 1964 (August)
Geographical area covered: Sauble Beach, Wiarton, Lake Charles, Owen Sound
Scale: 1:30,000
Publisher: NAPL    

Date of coverage: 1965 (October)
Geographical area covered: Parts of Hamilton-Wentworth, Haldimand-Norfolk and Niagara Counties
Scale: 1:20,000
Publisher: NAPL

Date of coverage: 1966 (Spring)
Geographical area covered: Northern Metropolitan Toronto; Markham; Pickering (NTS 30M/14)
Scale: 1:12,000
Publisher: Lockwood (Northway)

Date of coverage: 1966 (June)
Geographical area covered: Waterloo County; part of Perth County; part of Wellington County
Scale: 1:37,560
Publisher: NAPL

Date of coverage: 1966 (August)
Geographical area covered: Northern Waterloo County (Wellesley, Woolwich and part of Waterloo Township)
Part of Wellington County (Elora, Fergus, Orangeville) Bruce Peninsula (Bruce Peninsula photos dated 1966 but actually flown July 1967)
Index on 3 sheets
Scale: 1:15,840
Publisher: L & F (negatives MNR)

Date of coverage: 1967 (April)
Geographical area covered: Waterloo County
Scale: 1:18,000
Publisher: Lockwood (Northway) (flown for the County of Waterloo)

Date of coverage: 1968 (Spring)
Geographical area covered: Waterloo County (Wilmot, Woolwich Township; part of North Dumfries, Waterloo, and Wellesley Townships);
part of Oxford County (Plattsville)
Scale: 1:24,000
Publisher: International Mapping Services, Ltd.

Date of coverage: 1969 (May)
Geographical area covered: Beaver Valley, Grey County
Scale: 1:36,500
Publisher: NAPL

Date of coverage: 1969 (May 26)
Geographical area covered: Bruce Nuclear Station, Kincardine, Rocky Saugeen, Lueck Mill
Scale: 1:40,000
Publisher: NAPL

Date of coverage: 1969 (May 27)
Geographical area covered: Southhampton, MacGregor Provincial Park, Rockford, Arnott
Scale: 1:40,000
Publisher: NAPL

Date of coverage: 1969 (June 16)
Geographical area covered: Bruce Peninsula, Sauble Beach, Meaford
Scale: 1:40,000
Publisher: NAPL

Date of coverage: 1969-1973
Geographical area covered: Port Loring and Restoule areas, Parry Sound District; this area (NTS 31E/13) is south of Lake Nipissing
Scale: varies, 1:36,000-1:38,000
Publisher: NAPL

Date of coverage: 1970
Geographical area covered: St. Thomas Expressway, Kincardine - Underwood - Hwy 21, Hwy 407 - Hwy 27 - Whitevale, Hwy 8 - Galt - Preston Bypass, St. Thomas, Duffs Corners to Brantford Hwy 403, Welland Canal
Scale: varies, 1:3,000, 1:9,000, 1:12,000, 1:24,000
Publisher: MTO (Ontario Ministry of Transportation)

Date of coverage: 1970-1987
Geographical area covered: Parts of southwestern Ontario.
Photos flown for the purposes of highway route planning and construction. Flight lines aligned along proposed or existing highways. Some photos in colour. Inquire at public services desk for indexes to this collection
Scale: varies, 1:3,000-1:40,000
Publisher: Ont. Ministry of Transportation/NAPL

Date of coverage: 1970 (July)
Geographical area covered: Orangeville; Brantford; Toronto; Hamilton.
High altitude, colour infrared transparencies
Index on 3 sheets
Scale: 1:120,000
Publisher: NASA/NAPL

Date of coverage: 1971
Geographical area covered: Hwy 3 - Jarvis to Delhi, Go Transit - Hamilton to Oshawa, Canadian National Railway (CNR) Toronto Area
Scale: scale varies, 1:5,160, 1:6,000, 1:12,000
Publisher: MTO (Ontario Ministry of Transportation)

Date of coverage: 1971 (May)
Geographical area covered: Waterloo; Kitchener; Breslau; Cambridge
Scale: 1:15,840
Publisher: Northway-Photomap Inc. (flown for the County of Waterloo)

Date of coverage: 1971 (June-August)
Geographical area covered: Georgetown; Caledon; Tottenham; Alliston; Newmarket; Uxbridge; Richmond Hill; Pickering; Milton. Although photos dated 1971, some flown 1972
Scale: 1:15,840
Publisher: MNR

Date of coverage: 1971 (October)
Geographical area covered: London through Woodstock, and Tillsonburg to Brantford. High altitude, colour transparencies
Scale: 1:140,000
Publisher: NASA/NAPL                               

Date of coverage: 1971 and/ 1972
Geographical area covered: Golden Horseshoe to Hamilton to Niagara Falls. South of Hamilton to North of Burlington. Saltfleet to Niagara River; North Grimsby to Gainsborough; North Grimsby to Grimsby Centre; Mono to Flamborough; Stoney Creek to Woodburn; Castlederg to Trafalgar; Eversley to Maple; Lake Ontario (Long Branch); Bewdley to Port Hope; Pontypool to Port Hope; Thickson Point to Scugog Island; Claremont to Liverpool; Niagara on the Lake to Stamford; Leskard to New Castle; Teunton to Port Whitney; Fingerboard to Ghirley; Niagara Falls to Mulgrave; Stoney Creek to Hwy 20. High altitude, colour infrared transparencies
Scale: 1:120,000/ 1:60,000/ 1:140,000
Publisher: NASA/ NAPL/ CCRS

Date of coverage: 1972
Geographical area covered: Conestoga Lake Area - St. Jacobs, Hwy 24 & Hwy 53 - Brantford Expressway, Hwy 7 - New St. Mary's Bypass - New Hamburg, Mountain Freeway - Hamilton, Hwy 402 - Hwy 81 London, Hwy 7 - London, Hwy 403 - Hamilton - Duffs Corners, Hwy 7 - Markham - Brooklin
Scale: scale varies, 1:3,000, 1:12,000, 1:40,000, 1:50,000
Publisher: MTO (Ontario Ministry of Transportation)

Date of coverage: 1972 (June-July)
Geographical area covered: Southern Waterloo County (Wilmot and Waterloo Townships; part of North Dumfries and Wellesley Townships)
Scale: 1:25,200
Publisher: NAPL

Date of coverage: 1972 (June-July)
Geographical area covered: Southern Waterloo County (Wilmot, Waterloo, and North Dumfries Townships; part of Wellesley Township; Long Point).
Scale: 1:15,840
Publisher: MNR

Date of coverage: July 1972
Geographical area covered: St. Mary's, Wilderwood and adjacent
Scale: 1:13,600
Publisher: NAPL

Date of coverage: 1973
Geographical area covered: Hwy 401 & Hwy 8 - Kitchener - Preston, Hwy 8 - Kitchener - Galt, Hwy 401 - interchange 14 - Windsor, Hwy 402 Strathroy - 401, QEW Guelph line - Hwy 20, Welland Canal - Hwy 406, Welland
Scale: scale varies, 1:3,000, 1:6,000, 1:7,200, 1,12,000, 1:20,568
Publisher: MTO (Ontario Ministry of Transportation)

Date of coverage: 1973 (March 23)
Geographical area covered: Tillsonburg to Durham; Cayuga to Angus (near Alliston). High altitude, colour infrared photos. Terrain snow covered
Scale: 1:129,000
Publisher: NASA/NAPL

Date of coverage: 1973 (April) Infrared
Geographical area covered: Point Pelee
Scale: 1:35,000
Publisher: NAPL

Date of coverage: 1973
Geographical area covered: UWaterloo Campus, west to Fischer-Hallman Road
Scale: 1:6,000
Publisher: General Photogrammertric Services Ltd.

Date of coverage: 1974
Geographical area covered: Pukaskwa National Park
Scale: 1:17,000
Publisher: Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources

Date of coverage: 1974
Geographical area covered: Hwy 407 - Hwy 48 & Hwy 35, Hwy 8 & Hwy 7 - Hwy 401 - New Hamburg - Hwy 85, Hwy 402 - Sarnia - Lambton - Middlesex County Line, Hwy 401 Chatham - Kent/ Elgin, Hwy 8, Hwy 7 - 401
Scale: scale varies, 1:3,000, 1:4,200, 1:12,000, 1:24,000
Publisher: MTO (Ontario Ministry of Transportation)

Date of coverage: 1975
Geographical area covered: Strathroy Area - Environmental Impact of Hwy 402, Hwy 48 - Mt. Albert - Hwy 47, Hwy 3 - St. Thomas - Aylmer, Conestoga River - St. Jacobs, Hwy 401 - Elgin County, Grand River & Irvine River
Scale: scale varies, 1:3,000, 1:4,000. 1:5,000, 1:8,000, 1:10,000
Publisher: MTO (Ontario Ministry of Transportation)

Date of coverage: 1975
Geographical area covered: Kitchener, Cambridge and part of North Dumfries Township
Scale: 1:11,900
Publisher: Northway

Date of coverage: 1976
Geographical area covered: Bruce Peninsula
Scale: 1:50,000
Publisher: Department of Energy, Mines and Resources

Date of coverage: 1976
Geographical area covered: Hwy 4 - Hwy 22 & Hwy 9 - London - Teeswater, Hwy 8 - Cambridge Bypass, Hwy 7 - Kitchener - Guelph, Hwy 40 - New Sarnia Area, Hwy 403 - Hwy 10 - QEW
Scale: scale varies, 1:4,000, 1:5,000, 1:10,000, 1:12,000
Publisher: MTO (Ontario Ministry of Transportation)

Date of coverage: 1977
Geographical area covered: Hwy 58 - Thoroldstone Rd. - Hwy 20, QEW - McLeod Rd. Interchange, Hwy 403 - Ancaster - Brantford, Hwy 3 - Jarvis - Dunnville, QEW - Hwy 20 - Fifty Rd.
Scale: scale varies, 1:4,000, 1:10,000, 1:12,000
Publisher: MTO (Ontario Ministry of Transportation)

Date of coverage: 1977 (July-August)
Geographical area covered: Georgian Bay shoreline (Port Severn to Pointe au Baril); Muskoka Lakes; southern Algonquin Park (south of Hwy. 60). Although photos dated 1977, some flown June 1978
Scale: 1:15,840
Publisher: MNR

Date of coverage: 1978 (May 29)
Geographical area covered: Strathroy Area - Environmental Impact of Hwy 402
Scale: 1:4,900
Publisher: MTO (Ontario Ministry of Transportation)

Date of coverage: 1978 (June-Oct.)
Geographical area covered: Parts of midwestern and central Ontario (east half of NTS 40P, most of NTS 30M, parts of NTS 30N, 31D, 31G, 40G, 40J, 41A, 41H)
Index on 7 sheets
Scale: 1:10,000
Publisher: MNR

Date of Coverage: 1978 (September)
Geographical area covered: Hamilton to Guelph. Synthetic aperture radar images
Scale: 1:41,250
Publisher: NAPL

Date of coverage: 1978
Geographical area covered: Hwy 403 - QEW - Hamilton - Burlington - Oakville, Hwy 8 & Hwy 24 - Preston - Freeport, Hwy 59 - Woodstock NW Bypass, Hwy 406 - QEW Interchange at Louth
Scale: scale varies, 1,3,000, 1,4,000, 1:10,000
Publisher: MTO (Ontario Ministry of Transportation)

Date of coverage: 1979 (Sept.20)
Geographical area covered: Strathroy Area - Environmental Impact of Hwy 402
Scale: 1:5,000
Publisher: MTO (Ontario Ministry of Transportation)

Date of coverage: 1979
Geographical area covered: Bruce Peninsula (Lake Huron Coast)
Scale: 1:11,000
Publisher: NAPL

Date of coverage: 1980 (April-July)
Geographical area covered: Lake Huron shoreline to Acton; London to Mount Forest (all of NTS 40P)
Scale: 1:50,000
Publisher: NAPL

Date of coverage: 1980
Geographical area covered: Lake Huron shoreline Dunlop south to Grand Bend, east to St. Mary's
Scale: 1:55,650
Publisher: Northway

Date of coverage: 1980 (May 5)
Geographical area covered: West of Strathroy - Hwy 402
Scale: 1:5,000
Publisher: MTO (Ontario Ministry of Transportation)

Date of coverage: 1980 (September 6)
Geographical area covered: West of Strathroy - Hwy 402
Scale: 1:5,000
Publisher: MTO (Ontario Ministry of Transportation)

Date of coverage: 1980
Geographical area covered: Hwy 7 & Hwy 8 - Stratford - New Hamburg, Hwy 401, Hwy 410, and Hwy 403 - Toronto, Hwy 402 - Lambeth area, Hwy 3 - Fort Erie - Jarvis
Scale: varying scales: 1:3,000, 1:5,000, 1:10,000, 1:12,000
Publisher: MTO (Ontario Ministry of Transportation)

Date of Coverage: 1981
Geographical area covered: St. Thomas Expressway & Hwy 3, Cayuga, E.C. Rowe Expressway - Windsor, Hwy 40 - Sarnia, Hwy 85 - Waterloo Area - Northfield Drive
Scale: varying scales: 1:3,000, 1:8,000, 1:12,000, 1:20,000
Publisher: MTO (Ontario Ministry of Transportation)

Date of coverage: 1982 (October)
Geographical area covered: Waterloo Region (except for western part of Wilmot and Wellesley Twp.); Guelph and parts of Wellington Co.; Milton to Orangeville; Newmarket-Aurora area
Scale: 1:30,000
Publisher: Ontario Basic Mapping/MNR

Date of Coverage: 1982
Geographical Area Covered: Hwy 402- London - Strathroy Area, Hwy 403 - Woodstock - Brantford, Hwy 18 - Canard River - Turkey Creek - Windsor, Hwy 404 - Hwy 401 to Gormley
Scale: scale varies, 1:3,000, 1:5,000, 1:14,400
Publisher: MTO (Ontario Ministry of Transportation)

Date of coverage: 1982 - 1983
Geographical area covered: QEW East of Burlington - Oakville
Scale: 1:3,300
Publisher: MTO (Ontario Ministry of Transportation)

Date of coverage: 1983 (May)
Geographical area covered: Durham and Walkerton areas; Dundalk, Shelburne, Alliston
Scale: 1:30,000
Publisher: Ontario Basic Mapping/MNR

Date of coverage: 1983
Geographical area covered: Parts of Mississagua, Scarborough, Pickering and Ajax.
Scale: 1:11,700
Publisher: Kenting Earth Sciences Ltd.

Date of coverage: 1984
Geographical area covered: Hwy 407 - Woodbine - Ninth Line, Hwy 410 - Brampton - Victoria
Scale: 1:10,000
Publisher: MTO (Ontario Ministry of Transportation)

Date of coverage: 1985 (July)
Geographical area covered: Pinery Provincial Park shoreline, Grand Bend and Wallaceburg area. Black and white infrared photos
Index on 2 sheets
Scale: 1:8,000
Publisher: MNR

Date of coverage: 1985
Geographical area covered: QEW - Burlington to Beamsville, QEW - Niagara Rd 24 to Hwy 405
Scale: 1:10,000
Publisher: MTO (Ontario Ministry of Transportation)

Date of coverage: 1986
Geographical area covered: Hwy 406 - PT Robinson - Thorold, Hwy 420 - Thoroldstone Rd., QEW - Niagara Falls - Fort Erie
Scale: 1:10,000
Publisher: MTO (Ontario Ministry of Transportation)

Date of coverage: 1987
Geographical area covered: QEW - Freeman to Royal Windsor Dr. Burlington - Oakville
Scale: 1:3,000
Publisher: MTO (Ontario Ministry of Transportation)

Date of coverage: 1990 (April)
Geographical area covered: Waterloo Region.
Coverage is stereo even though Library has every second photo
Scale: 1:20,000
Publisher: Northway Map Technology Ltd.

Date of coverage: 1990 (July)
Geographical area covered: Brampton
Scale: 1:30,000
Publisher: Aquarius Flight Inc.

Date of coverage: 1992 (March)
Geographical area covered: Parts of Mississauga, Oakville, Meadowvale, and Erin Mills
Library has every second photo on each flight line
Scale: 1:8,000
Publisher: Aquarius Flight Inc.

Date of coverage: 1995 (May)
Geographical area covered: Waterloo Region
Coverage is stereo even though Library has every second photo
Scale: 1:20,000
Publisher: Northway Map Technology Ltd.

Photomaps

Date of coverage: 1967 (April)
Geographical area covered: Waterloo County
Scale: 1:4,800
Publisher: Waterloo County Planning Board

Date of coverage: 1971 (May)
Geographical area covered: Waterloo, Kitchener, Hespeler, Preston, Galt
Scale: 1:4,800
Publisher: Waterloo County Planning Board

Date of coverage: 1975 (April)
Geographical area covered: Waterloo Region
Scale: 1:5,000
Publisher: Regional Municipality of Waterloo

Date of coverage: 1980 (July)
Geographical area covered: Lake Huron shoreline from Goderich to Grand Bend, and east to Blyth and St. Mary's
Scale: 1:55,650
Publisher: Northway-Gestalt Publication

Date of coverage: 1980 (May)
Geographical area covered: Waterloo Region
Scale: 1:5,000
Publisher: Regional Municipality of Waterloo

Date of coverage: 1981 (March)
Geographical area covered: Guelph and Puslinch Townships. Set consists of 6 photomaps. No separate index
Scale: 1:10,000
Publisher: City of Guelph Department of Planning & Development

Date of coverage: 1985 (May)
Geographical area covered: Waterloo Region
Scale: 1:5,000
Publisher: Regional Municipality of Waterloo

Date of coverage: 1990 (April)
Geographical area covered: Waterloo Region
Scale: 1:5,000
Publisher: Regional Municipality of Waterloo

Date of coverage: 1993 (April)
Geographical area covered: Metropolitan Toronto; parts of Mississauga, Vaughan, Markham, and Pickering
Scale: 1:5,000
Publisher: Municipality of Metropolitan Toronto Central Mapping Agency

Date of coverage: 1995 (May)
Geographical area covered: Waterloo Region
Scale: 1:5,000
Publisher: Regional Municipality of Waterloo

Date of coverage: 2000 (April)
Geographical area covered: Waterloo Region
Scale: 1:5,000
Publisher: Regional Municipality of Waterloo

Date of coverage: 2006 (May)
Geographical area covered: Waterloo Region
Scale: 1:5,000
Publisher: Regional Municipality of Waterloo

Photomosaics

Date of coverage: 1952-1956
Geographical area covered: Southern Ontario (Gananoque to Windsor)
Index stored with 1930-1959 aerial photograph indexes
Scale: 1:15,840
Publisher: MNR

Date of coverage: 1990 (July)
Geographical area covered: Guelph
Scale: 1:12,500
Publisher: Northway Map Technology Ltd.

Printed reproductions

Canadian Landscape: Map and Air Photo Interpretation.
TR810.C3x 1990  UW Porter GEO Atlas Book Stacks.

Koegler, John. Canada's Changing Landscape: Air Photos Past and Present.
TR810.K64x 1977  UW Porter. Book Stacks. 6th-10th Floors.

Koegler, John. Canada's Modern Landscape: An Air Photo Study. TR810.K67x 1978  UW Porter GEO Atlas Book Stacks.

Mollard, J. D. Landforms and Surface Materials of Canada: Stereoscopic Airphoto Atlas and Glossary: A Guide to Terrain Analysis for Engineering, Geological and Environmental Studies.
TR810.M6x 1973  UW Porter. Book Stacks. 6th-10th Floors.

Geospatial data services librarian (Geospatial Centre)
Eva Dodsworth (edodsworth@uwaterloo.ca)