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Depression and War: 1930-1945
 In 1929, the New York Stock exchange
crashed, setting off a number of key events around the
world which brought a sweeping downturn in the world
economy.
Alberta suffered from the effects of
the Great Depression with increased unemployment and few
opportunities. Albertans responded by electing the first
Social Credit government in the world. The new
provincial government unsuccessfully attempted to
regulate banks and financial institutions.
The Depression passed as the Second
World War arrived. Many Alberta men and women enlisted.
Alberta saw a massive increase in economic activity as
air training schools were built across the
province as part of the British Commonwealth Air
Training Plan, a national effort that trained aircrew
for the Allies. New roads, hangars, airstrips, and
buildings had to be rapidly built.
 The Northwest Staging Route was a
series of airfields built by the Americans that stretched
from Edmonton to Fairbanks, Alaska, and brought tremendous
economic activity. Its purpose was to provide landing
sites for the large numbers of aircraft being sent to
Russia for the lend-lease program, which provided the
Russians with the aircraft they needed for the war
effort.
The United States built
the Alaska highway along the same route as the Northwest
Staging Route so that American troops would have a land
corridor to Alaska if there was an invasion from the
Japanese.
During the Second World War Albertans
had seen their fortunes change from the bleak years of
the Depression to the rapid development and growth
initiated by the war effort. There was a feeling of
optimism and expectation at the end of the Second World
War.
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Heritage Community Foundation Presents
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