Bus & Motorcoach History: Alaska, the Yukon, & Northern BC
November 29, 1929
Canadian Greyhound Coaches Ltd., B.C. is incorporated, founded by George Fay and Speed Olson, with help from Barney Olson. The first routes ran from Nelson to Trail, Kaslo and Nakusp. The initial fleet was four buses and some seven-passenger touring cars.
1930
Greyhound sets up shop in Calgary's Southam Building, formerly occupied by Black's Jewellers. Decorated with crystal chandeliers and teak panelling, the terminal was considered one of the most outstanding in North America.
1935
George Fay and engineer H. K. "Pat" Williams develop the first steel bus, No. 25, known as "Two-bits." This steel frame bus with riveted heavy steel siding was revolutionary compared to other buses of the time with wooden frames and roof bows covered with canvas or light metal siding.
1936
Greyhound opens its first "Greyhound Travel Bureau," in Regina, to assist travellers with vacations across North America.
1940
The company is sold to the Greyhound Corporation in the United States and renamed as Western Canadian Greyhound Lines, Ltd.
June 21, 1943
Bus service began on the Alaska Highway on June 21, 1943, when Western Canadian Greyhound Ltd. began a contract with the Northwest Service Command. See Greyhound and the Northwest Service Command on the Alaska Highway.
September 1944
Greyhound's Alaska Highway contract was terminated and the army started operating the bus service with 5 of its own vehicles.
1948
Greyhound purchases a controlling interest in Motor Coach Industries (MCI), formerly called the Fort Garry Motor Body Company.
1950s
First use of famous Greyhound slogan, "Go Greyhound ... and leave the driving to us."
Greyhound begins providing reduced fares to members of the Canadian National Institute for the Blind, their escorts and service animals.
1956
George Fay retires after 27 years as president and is replaced by Bob Borden.
Greyhound now has full control of Motor Coach Industries (MCI).
September 1957
Greyhound Lines of Canada is incorporated, to own all Greyhound subsidiaries in Canada. Robert L. Borden of Calgary was named president. Stock in the new corporation was offered only in Canada.
1962
Greyhound introduces through schedules from Vancouver to Toronto following the completion of the Trans Canada Highway.
1963
Greyhound begins a short-lived, capital-intensive diversification strategy by incorporating subsidiary Boothe Leasing.
1964
Greyhound launches the "$99 Grand Circle Tour." Canadians travelled along the Trans-Canada Highway and then south to the United States, stopping in Los Angeles, New Orleans, Miami and New York.
1965
Greyhound buys out long-standing rival Brewster Transport.
1967
Greyhound offers special charters to Expo 67 in Montreal.
1970
Greyhound purchases northern operator Canadian Coachways.
1978
After 62 days of hearings the Ontario Highway Transport Board grants Greyhound the right to run a service over the Sudbury-Toronto route.
1979
Greyhound celebrates its 50th anniversary. The company is acknowledged as Canada's largest bus line by route miles, geographic area and revenues.
1984
Greyhound breaks ground on the new Calgary terminal.
1988
Greyhound is the transportation provider for the 1988 Calgary Winter Olympics.
1989
Dick Huisman replaces Jim Knight as president.
Greyhound invests $14 million to improve its facilities, equipment and service, and purchases 19 Kenworth "high cube" tractor-trailers to handle courier express overflow on major routes.
1992
Greyhound purchases Gray Coach Lines, former TTC subsidiary, from Stagecoach Holdings.
Greyhound transfers control of Motor Coach Industries to its parent.
Greyhound begins using pup trailers to ship parcels via Greyhound Courier Express. By 2006 the fleet of 93 pup trailers operated from B.C. to Quebec.
1993
Greyhound, VIA Rail and CNR open the restored and re-named Pacific Central Station in Vancouver. It is the first multimodal transportation centre in western Canada.
1994
Greyhound purchases key Ottawa and Toronto routes from Voyageur Colonial Ltd.
1995
Greyhound introduces wheelchair-accessible coaches and partners in developing the Intercity Bus Code of Practice, which sets out best practices for providing services in a safe and dignified manner to travelers with disabilities.
1996
Greyhound Lines of Canada restructures into two companies: Brewster and Greyhound Canada Transportation Corp. (GCTC).
Greyhound Air begins service to eight major cities, including Toronto, Ottawa, Hamilton, Winnipeg, Calgary, Edmonton, Kelowna and Vancouver.
1997
Laidlaw, Inc. purchases Greyhound Canada Transportation Corp. As a condition of the purchase, Greyhound Air ceases operations on September 21, 1997.
1998
Greyhound purchases Voyageur Colonial.
2001
The Canadian Foundation for Physically Disabled Persons gives Greyhound the Corporate Award, and National Transportation Week selects Greyhound to receive an Award of Achievement for its contributions to accessibility.
2002
Greyhound signs historic agreement with the National Express Group in Beijing, China to develop bus transportation in China.
2004
Greyhound celebrates its 75th anniversary.
October 30, 2018
Citing a loss of $70 million over 6 years, Greyhound eliminates service in western Canada as of November 1st. All Greyhound depots in the region are closed.
