Until the mid-1950s, Highway 44 which runs through the Whitemouth, in the Rural Municipality of Whitemouth, served as the original Trans-Canada Highway.
This one-storey wood frame building was built in the early 1930s by proprietor John Buss as a service station and garage catering primarily to traffic on the Highway. The facility had two gasoline pumps that sold North Star brand gasoline (switched later to McColl-Frontenac brand) while a single service bay was located in an adjacent building.
In the mid-1950s, the Trans-Canada Highway was rerouted to the south so traffic volume here declined. However, Buss’ son Norman took over the business in 1960 and operated it until closing in 1997.
Trans-Canada Garage (late 1940s)
Source: Sharon Stockes
Trans-Canada Garage (June 1990)
Source: George Penner
The former Trans-Canada Garage (July 2023)
Source: Jordan MakichukSite Location (lat/long): N49.95507, W95.98136
denoted by symbol on the map above
See also:
Manitoba Business: North Star Oil Company / Shell Oil Canada
Manitoba Business: McColl-Frontenac Oil Company / Texaco Canada Limited
Historic Sites of Manitoba: Trans-Canada Highway Monument (Eastern Manitoba)
“Trans-Canada Garage and Service Station at Whitemouth, Man. [Advertisement],” Winnipeg Tribune, 18 June 1932, page 6.
“Trans-Canada Garage and Service Station at Whitemouth, Man. [Advertisement],” Winnipeg Tribune, 20 July 1935, page 28.
We thank Sharon Stockes for providing additional information used here.
This page was prepared by George Penner and Jordan Makichuk.
Page revised: 4 July 2025
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