Happy Birthday CAA!

It’s been 105 years since the formation of CAA, and we’ve come a long way, baby! Back when we first started we had just 27 members, and today, both CAA and AAA together have surpassed the 50 million member mark. This makes CAA and AAA the largest paid membership organization in North America.

Happy Birthday CAA!

Back in 1903, the number of automobiles on the roads was quite limited, and the majority of Canadians were wary of them. They were afraid that they would upset their horses, (the given mode of transportation), and tear up the fields. (Remember: Since there weren’t very many cars, there wasn’t really an established road system in most rural areas.)

However, when those 27 motorists eventually got together to form a club, they helped establish a lot of the major roads in Canada, and they also worked on getting them equipped with proper signs. Since its inception, Canada’s auto clubs have also benefited our society by working on getting the following items for its members:

• Publishing the first official road guide of Canada
• Providing roadside assistance and advice for over 100 years
• Advocating the adoption of speed limits in both rural and urban communities
• In the first World War, ambulances for the armed forces were provided, and CAA members would go to train stations to drive home returning soldiers
• Advocated snow removal from highways, guard fences, banked turn, sidewalks for pedestrians and uniform traffic regulations
• One of the first issuers of the drivers license
• Pushed for the establishment of a Trans-Canada highway

CAA has done a lot over the years to benefit society, and today serves more than five million members and has nine auto clubs each dedicated to serving the needs of their individual markets. The strength of both CAA and AAA is rooted in the dedication and commitment of each individual club and of all motor vehicle enthusiasts and members. Happy Birthday CAA!

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