1763

Treaty of Paris: France hands Canada over to Great Britain.
The King of England created the function of surveyor general.

1764-1801

Major Samuel Holland became the first surveyor general. Assisted by John Collins, he managed and supervised all surveying work performed in Canada and the American colonies.

1774

Samuel Holland settled in the Ville de Québec, where he began to draw maps and plans of the province. In addition, using the English land division system, the townships, he began to survey the territory that was later to become Ontario and Québec.

1790

The arrival of settlers prompted the creation of the Bureau de l'Arpenteur général, which ensured that more rigorous regulations were applied to surveying activities.

1804

Joseph Bouchette replaced Samuel Holland. Following an increase in activities, and given the precision required, the Bureau de l'Arpenteur général experienced renewed vigour.

1826

Creation of the Office of the Commissioner of Crown Lands in Lower Canada. The Commissioner was responsible for receiving and reviewing land concession applications, and for surveying this land where necessary.

1840

The Union Act, uniting Upper and Lower Canada.
The title of surveyor general was abandoned, and the related responsibilities were transferred to the Bureau du commissaire des terres de la Couronne.

1841

Adoption of the first act (4 and 5 Victoria, C.100) for disposing of public land. Creation of the Département des terres de la Couronne. This department is the very basis of the modern state, as it was the first government department.

1845

The Bureau de l'Arpenteur général is integrated with the Département des terres de la Couronne.

1867

British North America Act: creation of the Confederation of Canada. Ontario, Québec, New Brunswick and Nova Scotia became the first four provinces.

1869

The Surveys Office became the Surveys Branch. The Office of the Commissioner of Crown Lands became the Département des terres de la Couronne but was still directed by the Commissioner of Crown Lands.