A Transformative Story
On August 27, 1912, a stubborn British travel writer with a flair for drama and an unflappable mechanic with nerves of steel set out to drive from Halifax to Vancouver Island across a barely mapped and passable Canada.
Their carriage? A REO Special Touring Car, affectionately dubbed the "Pathfinder."
A film by Gregory Maassen, Bob McConkey, Adele Schmidt, and Brian McCotter
Historic Resources
In an era when most Canadians had never left their home province, Jack Haney and Thomas Wilby climbed aboard a REO Special Touring Car to prove that Canada could be crossed by automobile. What followed was a grueling, mud-caked, history-making journey across rivers without bridges, mountains without roads, and a country still defining itself.
Spanning over 7,800 kilometers from St. John’s to Victoria, the Trans-Canada Highway became one of the longest uninterrupted roads in the world—and a lasting symbol of Canadian unity.
The Long Road West Across Canada
Wilby, seated in the back with notebook in hand, was the visionary. Haney, barely acknowledged in Wilby’s later book, was the man behind the wheel. Their 52-day journey was grueling, but their feat ignited a national conversation about Canada’s need for a true coast-to-coast highway.
Fifty years later, on September 3, 1962, that dream was realized when Prime Minister John Diefenbaker officially opened the Trans-Canada Highway in Rogers Pass, B.C.
It all began with two men, one car, and an impossible idea.
The 1912 Trans-Canadian Motor Tour
They traveled 6,759 kilometers (4,200 miles) of wilderness and mud in 52 days. There were no signposts and GPS, just sheer will, shovels, ropes, and block-and-tackle. They called it the "All-Red Route" and a dream of a coast-to-coast highway connecting an new nation from the West to the East.
2
Men
6,759
KMs Traveled in 52 Days
130
Average KMs Per Day
2
Casualty Chickens
8
Provinces Traveled
1
REO Special Touring Car
Inspiring Books
About the Team
Dr. Gregory F. Maassen - Executive Producer & Director
Gregory Maassen is an award-winning documentary filmmaker with over two decades of experience in editing and audio-visual production. His work spans diverse assignments across Asia, Southern Africa, Europe, and the United States, showcasing his ability to tell compelling stories across cultures and contexts.
Gregory earned a Master’s in TV and Film Production at American University (2024) and a PhD in Business Administration (1999). As a Fulbright Scholar, he draws on a rich academic and professional background to bring a unique perspective to his work. His award-winning PBS feature-film documentary, www.after-ike.com, made waves on the film festival circuit and is currently distributed nationally in the US through NETA/PBS.
He founded Wandel Guides LLC, the production company behind the "Chasing the Trans-Canadian Dream" documentary. He is a teaching artist at Docs in Progress (DaVinci Resolve Video Editing).
Contact Gregory via LinkedIn.
Bob McConkey - Co-Producer
Bob McConkey (Canadian) is a distinguished figure in Vancouver's vintage car and truck collecting community, renowned for his deep expertise in early 20th-century automobiles and trucks and his commitment to preserving automotive history. His passion for antique vehicles is evident through his extensive involvement in restoration projects and his leadership within the collector community. He resides in Vancouver, Canada.
Brian McCotter - Creative Director
Brian McCotter is an accomplished creative leader with expertise in strategic communications, brand development, and program management, with extensive experience across Africa, Europe, Asia, and the United States. His background spans political strategy, documentary and short-form video production, scriptwriting, reality television, and branded content.
Brian served as Creative Director on After Ike, an award-winning PBS documentary, and Only Lazy Americans E-Bike. His work also includes the current production of The Way with Penny, an interactive television travelogue spotlighting hidden gems, local culture, and untouched landscapes through dynamic on-the-ground storytelling.
Known for combining strategic insight with creative execution, Brian brings a distinctive ability to develop authentic stories that connect brands, organizations, places, and audiences.
He holds a B.A. from Duke University and an M.A. from the Elliott School of International Affairs at George Washington University, with additional studies at Cambridge University, Universidad Complutense de Madrid, and the University of Cape Town.
Adele Schmidt - Co-Producer
Adele Schmidt is an award-winning film producer, educator, and consultant. She has produced eight long-format, award-winning documentaries, all broadcast on national public television.
As a co-founder of Rockville, MD-based production company Zeitgeist Media LLC, she is currently producing a series of documentaries on progressive rock music. She is also the co-founder of Docs in Progress and a professor at American University.
The Books and Articles
Drawing on diaries, over 250 newspaper articles from 1912, Haney's travel log, Wilby's writings, historic photos, articles, and books, the documentary captures the romance of early motoring, the grit of Canadian pioneers, and the grand vision that changed how Canadians saw their country.
Top Pop Songs From 1912
The documentary "Chasing the Trans-Canadian Dream" features Top Pop Songs from 1912, sourced from the Library of Congress' National Jukebox, as American music was popular in Canada. Thanks to the Music Modernization Act, we have the privilege of using this music since all recordings released before 1923 became public domain on January 1, 2022. While we've digitally enhanced the original recording to eliminate noise and imperfections, we took care not to compromise the authenticity by over-processing the audio.
Moonlight Bay - 1912
Wenrich, Percy -- Composer - American Quartet -- Vocal Group - Madden, Edward -- Lyricist