In September 1841, the
Province of Canada legislature passed a resolution that authorized the sum of £1,500
sterling be granted to the government for the estimated expense of performing a geological survey of the province. In 1842, the Geological Survey of Canada was formed to fulfill this request.
William Edmond Logan was in
Montreal at the time and made it known that he was interested in participating in this survey. Gaining recommendations from prominent British scientists, Logan was appointed the first GSC director on April 14, 1842. Four months later, Logan arrived in
Kingston, Ontario, to compile the existing body of knowledge of Canada's geology. In the spring of 1843, Logan established the GSC's headquarters in Montreal (in his brother's warehouse and then in a rented house on Great St. James Street (now Saint Jacques Street). One of the prominent cartographers and the chief topographical draughtsman was
Robert Barlow, who began his work in 1855. Chemist T. Sterry Hunt joined in the early days and the Survey added
paleontological capability in 1856 with the arrival of
Elkanah Billings.
George Mercer Dawson became a staff member in 1875, progressed to assistant director in 1883 and finally to director of the Geological Survey of Canada in 1895. Dr.
Alice Wilson, the first of these women, lobbied for the inclusion of paleontologist
Frances Wagner shortly afterward. Around this same time, the GSC employed a third woman Dr.
Helen Belyea. == Programs and activities ==