Making the Band

Members of the Geological Survey at Sudbury, Ontario
Source

In 1841 the Province of Canada (what is now Ontario and Quebec) decided to create its first "rock band."

The next year, in 1842, it recruited its first and most famous "rock star," William E. Logan. His most important job was to search for coal. As Canada expanded to include new lands, the band he led, known as the Geological Survey of Canada (the GSC for short), also grew.

The GSC band members were not musicians, but geologists who were fascinated with the rocks that make up Canada. The instruments they carried did not play music; they measured distance and direction. These men were sent out to explore Canada's wilderness so that they could find and record the riches that the land had to offer. Was there coal, gold and oil? Could their findings make Canada rich?

Their stories are fascinating; some are amusing and many just plain odd. Read on to find out more.