“Fredericton: the City of Stately Elms” by Bob Banks (1979)

Most Canadian cities have produced something like this view of Fredericton, but few have had the fortune to sit for the prolific pen of Vancouver illustrator Bob Banks. Banks was a blue-chip illustrator in the mid-20th century, the inventor of a BC-famous character named Century Sam, and for six decades he drew for clients like Pacific Yachting, the Buzzer, the BC Law Society Journal, Domtar, Canfor, BC Rail, and Air Canada. When this map came out in 1979 it might’ve helped someone decide to eat at Goofy Roofy’s stall at the farmer’s market, but it also tells us about people who made it, its intended audience, and the history of Fredericton itself. 

First, let’s take a look at the small print at bottom. The map was a Fredericton Chamber of Commerce project, who commissioned the Vancouver and Toronto-based marketing studio Intercart to make the map . It’s noteworthy that such a small Chamber (at the time Fredericton had only 50000 citizens) hired such a big-city agency as Intercart—they would’ve demanded a serious fee to bring their talents all the way to New Brunswick. 

Second, while it’s tempting to say this map is for visitors and all Frederictonians, it’s actually for people who have disposable income. Yes, you can find the Chalmer’s Hospital and Legislature, but the real stars of the show are the billboards and logos of businesses, restaurants and hotels ready to take your money. 

Third, while it’s meant to boost commerce, the City of Stately Elms still has a lot to offer historians about the city itself. The now-demolished Risteen House is shown faithfully in blue as Le Martinique Cabaret next to the Tingley’s Save-Easy Foods at centre, and the green and yellow Carleton Street Bridge is shown as it stood from 1905 to 1982. Places like Goofy Roofy’s, Keddy’s Motor Inn, and Medjucks furniture store all sit on the margins of historical study, and this map is crammed with that kind of marginalia. It’s a fun, nostalgic look at Fredericton and it's also a hundred doorways into the city’s past. 

A reproduction available at 12x16" or 18x24" on Epson Enhanced Matte 192 gsm paper printed with Epson UltraChrome XD2 archival ink. Sold in an limited number, unframed. Licensed from the estate of Bob Banks.