Official Canada Blog
News and notes from Google Canada
Celebrating 10 years of Street View in Canada and around the world!
Tuesday, May 30, 2017
Street View started out as Larry Page’s far-fetched idea to create a 360-degree map of the world. Today, 10 years after the first imagery was published in Street View, Canadians can
scale mountains
, take a tour of the
Canadian Memorial at Vimy Ridge
, scout out the best
Street Art in Montreal
, and walk through Canadian
museums
. Over the last decade, a lot has changed—the technology we use, the appearance of the planet—but the goal of Google Maps has remained the same: to help you navigate and discover new corners of the world. Now raise your glass (or smartphone), and cheers to Street View’s 10th birthday!
[Whistler Mountain in British Columbia]
Let’s hop inside our
time machine
and see where it all began. Larry kicked off the first prototype in 2004 with a team of Googlers who were passionate about his idea to create a 360-degree view of the world. They tossed cameras on a van, added some lasers (okay maybe it was a
bit
more complicated than that), and the first Street View car was born. In 2006, Street View officially hit the roads in a few cities across the U.S. and the first imagery was published in
May 2007
. In Canada, Street View cars came up to Montreal through Vermont in September 2007 with the first image being of Highway 55. Ten years later, we’ve published imagery on every continent, in 83 countries, and traveled about 10 million miles with the Street View car. Talk about a roadtrip.
[First image of
Highway 55 - Vermont border crossing on the way to Montreal - the first image in Street View in Canada
]
While our cars explored streets around the world, we were still missing out on some of the most beautiful places on Earth: the world that exists beyond the roads. So we developed custom rigs, like the
Street View Trekker
, to go where cars couldn’t go. The Trekker is designed to be worn and walked through narrow alleyways or trails, gathering images as it goes. It’s traveled to breathtaking natural wonders and world heritage sites—
Grand Canyon
, the
Taj Mahal
,
Angkor Wat
, the
Galapagos Islands
and even the historic pedestrian paths in
Venice
.
And it's been used by conservation organizations to observe wildlife, like
elephants
,
chimps
,
polar bears
, and
frogs in the Amazon
, in their natural habitat.
Over the years we've put Street View cameras on a
snowmobile
to bring you closer to the Arctic Eiders, the back of a
camel
to roam the Arabian desert,
and a
trolley
to give you a better view of renowned works of art
.
[
Street View cameras on a
snowmobile
to bring you closer to the Arctic Eiders]
To build our map of the world faster, in 2013 we enlisted the help of partners through the
Trekker Loan Program
.
We gave volunteers Street View cameras, which they used to collect 360-degree imagery of the local places they know best.
Then the
Street View App
came along in 2015, so that anyone could publish photo spheres (360-degree panoramas) of their favorite places from around the world—or around the block—to Google Maps in an instant. We expanded on this last month, when we announced more than 20 new
Street View-compatible 360 cameras
, to help you document your adventures with high quality imagery.
Now anyone—from tourism organizations to local neighborhood enthusiast—
can contribute panoramic imagery to Street View.
The world is better explored than explained. Street View gives you a taste of the places you’ll see in person one day,
helps you remember the places you've been, and enables you to explore the places you might never get to
. So pick up your phone and take a peek. Many wonders await.
Authored By: Arjun Raman, Technical Program Management Director, Street View
Labels
#AI
2
#AIforsocialgood
1
#Artist
1
#Artistontherise
1
#canada
1
#cbcindigenous
1
#Chrome #GoogleCanada #Google
1
#chromebooks #googleforeducation #googlecanada
1
#Chromecast #ChromecastGames #Christmas #Xmas2015 #AngryBirds #Google #AngryBirdsFriends
1
#COVID-19 response
2
#creators
1
#DFO
1
#digitalskills
2
#EarthDay
1
#EnvironmentalInsights #EIE #ClimateAction
1
#GameOn
1
#GlobalJournalismFund
1
#GNI
1
#Google
3
#Google #GoogleCanada #GooglePlay #PlayPass
1
#Google #Accessibility
1
#Google #ArtsAndCulture #GroupOfSeven #Canada #Arts
1
#Google #GoogleAudio
1
#Google #GoogleCanada #GrowwithGoogle
1
#Google #GoogleCanada #Innovation
6
#Google #GoogleCanada #Arctic #Whistler
1
#Google #GoogleCanada #DecadeinSearch #TorontoRaptors #Toronto #BiancaAndreescu #TragicallyHip #Drake #JustinBieber
1
#Google #GoogleCanada #EIE #EnvironmentalInsightsExplorer #Sustainability
1
#Google #GoogleCanada #EIE #EnvironmentalInsightsExplorer #Sustainability #ClimateAction
1
#Google #GoogleCanada #GNI
2
#Google #GoogleCanada #Google.org #ArcticEiderSociety #Inuit #CanadianArctic
1
#Google #GoogleCanada #GoogleCalendar #Android #iphone
1
#Google #GoogleCanada #GoogleKW #Waterloo #Engineering #Innovation
2
#Google #GoogleCanada #IWD #IWD2020 #InternationalWomensDay #AI
1
#Google #GoogleCanada #IWD #IWD2020 #InternationalWomensDay #Communications
1
#Google #GoogleCanada #Nest #NestHubMax #Duo#GoogleMeet
1
#Google #GoogleCanada #Pixel #Pixel4
1
#Google #GoogleCanada #Pixel #Pixel4a #5G
1
#Google #GoogleCanada #Pixel #Pixel4a #Sustainability
1
#Google #GoogleCanada #PixelBuds #FeatureDrop
1
#Google #GoogleCanada #Stadia
1
#Google #GooglePlay #Family #FamilyLibrary
1
#Google #GooglePlayMusic #Beatles #Music
1
#Google #GooglePlayMusic #GooglePodcasts #GoogleCanada
1
#Google #GoogleTV #Chromecast
2
#Google #Nest #NestAware #Canada #GoogleCanada
1
#Google #Olympics #GoogleOlympics
1
#Google #Olympics #GoogleOlympics #GoogleCanada #Rio #Rio2016
2
#Google #Pixel #Pixel5G
1
#Google #PixelBuds #GoogleCanada
1
#GoogleAI
1
#GoogleCanada
15
#googlecanada # google.org #challenge #GIC #ImpactChallenge #canada
1
#GoogleCanada #Family #Android #YouTube #GooglePlay
1
#GoogleCanada #Google #AI #IWD2020
1
#GoogleCanada #Google #IWD2020 #IWD
1
#GoogleCanada #Google #SmallBusiness #SMBs #ShopHERE
1
#GoogleCanada #GoogleAI #Innovation
1
#GoogleCanada #GooglePlay
1
#googlecanada #pixel3
1
#GoogleCanada #Pixel4 #NestMini #NestWifi #NestHubMax #PixelbookGo #Stadia #PixelBuds #Sustainability
1
#googlecanada #pixelslate
1
#GoogleCanada #Startups #Innovation
4
#GoogleCloud
3
#GoogleExpeditions #SaveThePolarBears #GoogleCanada #PolarBearsInternational
1
#GoogleforEducation
1
#Googleforsmallbusiness
1
#GoogleMaps
3
#googlemaps #indigenous
1
#GoogleMeet
1
#GoogleNest #GoogleAssistant
2
#GoogleNest #Sustainability #GoogleCanada
1
#GoogleNewsInitiative
2
#GoogleNewsInitiative #News
1
#GoogleSearch #Events #MarchBreak
1
#GoogleSearch #GoogleMaps
1
#GoogleStreetView #StreetView
1
#googletranslate
1
#GoogleWaterloo
1
#GrowwithGoogle
3
#GSuite
1
#Indigenous #nationalaboriginalday #indigenousmapping #google #googlemaps #googleearths #canada #canada150
1
#innovation
1
#IWD #InternationalWomensDay
1
#JERF #GNI
1
#JobsOnGoogle #Employment
1
#KW
1
#language
1
#madebygoogle #MadeToHelp #GoogleCanada #Google #Helpfulness #RonaldMcDonaldHouseCharities #RMHC
1
#Mila
1
#MobileMonth
3
#Music
1
#News
4
#News #Search
1
#NewsWise
2
#ParksCanada
1
#ParksDay
1
#photos #food #GoogleCanada
1
#Pixel
2
#PledgeToVote
2
#Pride2020
1
#rainforestconnection
1
#saferinernetday
2
#savethewhales
1
#Search #YearInSearch
1
#SmallBusiness
3
#Stadia
2
#StadiaFreeTrial
1
#StadiaMontréal
1
#StadiaTeam
1
#streetartproject
1
#StreetView
2
#ThinkBrand
3
#toronto
1
#Travel #Search #googlemaps
1
#VectorInstitute
1
#whaletracking
1
#WorldEnvironmentDay #Environment
1
#YearInSearch
2
#YIS2021 #GoogleCanada #SearchOn #ThanksforAsking
1
#YouTube
3
#youtube #creators #canada #montreal #quebec #YouTubeSpace
1
#youtube #creators #nextup #canada
2
#YouTube #GoogleCanada #GoogleAI #Innovation
1
#youtube #Toronto #Google #advertising #ad #pulse #youtubepulse
1
#YouTube #YouTubeCanada
1
#YouTube #YouTubeFanFest #YTFF #Toronto #Google #iisuperwomanii #unicornisland #molsonamp
1
#youtubemusic
2
2018
1
360
1
Ads
15
Adwords
5
Agency
3
Agency Edge
2
AI
1
Allo
1
Analytics
1
Android
5
Android Apps
4
Arctic
6
art
1
Assistant
2
Availability
1
Award Winners
1
Back to School
7
bestbuy
1
bestbuycanada
1
Big Tent
1
Billboard Charts
1
Brand
4
Buffer Festival
2
Buffer Industry Day
2
Canada
3
Canada 150th
1
Canada NGO
1
Canadian
1
Canadian Innovation
2
Canadian Music
2
Canadiana
1
CBC
2
CBC News
1
CBCMusic
1
CBCNews
1
ChanningTatum
1
Chrome
9
Chrome Experiments
4
Chrome OS
3
Chrome Webstore
1
Chromebooks
5
Chromebox
1
Chromecast
6
chromecastultra
1
ChromeOS
1
Civic Engagement
3
Cloud
1
Cloud Computing
2
Codemakers
4
Comedy Week
1
Community Grants
4
Computational Thinking
1
contest
1
COVID-19
1
CS First
1
CSS3
1
D4G Canada
1
Daydream
1
Digital Economy
6
DIY Videos
2
Doodle
1
Doodle 4 Google Canada
2
Duo
1
Easter
1
Election
1
Elections
5
engineering
1
Enhanced Campaigns
1
EnMasse
1
Enterprise
5
eTowns
1
Francais
1
French
1
French Canadian
1
Full Value of Mobile
1
Geek Street
1
GIC
1
Gmail
4
Gmail App
1
Go North
1
GoneGoogle
4
GoNorth
1
google
4
Google Allo
1
Google App Engine
1
Google Apps
5
Google Apps for Business
2
Google AR & VR
1
Google Art Project
4
Google Assistant
1
Google Books
1
Google Calendar
2
Google Camp
1
Google Canada
4
Google Cloud
2
Google Cloud Platform
1
Google Cloud Storage
1
Google Coder
1
Google Cultural Institute
2
Google Currents
1
Google Developer
1
Google Docs
1
Google Doodle
1
Google Education Team
3
Google Engage
1
Google for Education
1
Google for Entrepreneurs
1
Google for non profits
1
Google for Seniors
1
Google Giving
1
Google Hangouts
3
Google Holiday
3
Google Impact Challenge
1
Google Kitchener-Waterloo
3
Google KW
2
Google Maps
30
Google Montreal
4
Google Music
1
Google My Business
1
Google Partner Serach
1
Google Partners
1
Google Play
10
Google Play Gift Cards
1
Google Play Music
4
Google Retail
2
Google Rise Award
1
Google Sites
1
Google Translate
1
Google TV
1
Google Waterloo
2
Google Wifi
1
Google+
2
GoogleCanada
3
googleshop
1
GoogleWifi
1
Grammys
1
Grow with Google
1
Guest Blog
1
Hackathon
1
Hangouts
3
happy birthday Canada
1
Hardware
1
Holiday
2
Home
1
How-to
2
How-to videos
2
Innovation
6
Innovation Week
5
Insights
1
LilySingh
1
LiveCase
1
Livestream
1
Livestreaming
1
machine learning
1
Made by Google
1
madebygoogle
3
Maps
15
Mobile
12
Montreal
1
Multi-Screen
2
Music
2
MyLiveCase
1
O2S
1
Online Impacting Offline
1
Open Data
2
Passover
1
Peter Mansbridge
1
pixel
5
Play TV
1
playmusiccanada
1
Policy
1
Product
1
Product Launch
1
Products
1
ProudToPlay
1
Public Alerts
1
Quebec
1
Research
1
Retail
3
Search
10
Search Trends
23
security
2
Shopping
1
small business
3
SMB
6
Songza
1
STEM
2
STEM Education
5
Street View
1
StreetView
1
Super Bowl
1
technology
1
Templates
1
The National
1
TheHip
1
TheTragicallyHip
1
Think Insights
3
TouTube FanFest
1
Travel
2
Trends
12
Updates
1
Video
1
Video Trends
6
VideoCalling
1
Videos
1
Vimy150
1
Virtual Reality
1
VR
1
Web Audio API
1
WebGL
1
WebRTC
1
WomenatGoogle
7
World Teacher Day
1
YouTube
52
YouTube 360
1
YouTube Creators
14
YouTube Debates
1
YouTube FanFest
2
YouTube Gaming
1
YouTube Kids
1
YouTube Live
1
YouTube Music
7
YouTube Music Awards
2
YouTube NextLab
1
YouTube Partner Program
3
YouTube Rewind
2
YouTube Space
1
YouTube Space Toronto
1
YouTubeCreators
1
YouTubeRewind
1
YPP
2
Zeitgeist
2
Archive
2022
Feb
Jan
2021
Dec
Nov
Oct
Sep
Aug
Jul
Jun
May
Apr
Mar
Feb
Jan
2020
Dec
Nov
Oct
Sep
Aug
Jul
Jun
May
Apr
Mar
Feb
Jan
2019
Dec
Nov
Oct
Sep
Aug
Jul
Jun
May
Apr
Mar
2018
Dec
Nov
Oct
Sep
Aug
Jun
May
Apr
Mar
Feb
2017
Dec
Nov
Oct
Sep
Aug
Jul
Jun
May
Apr
Mar
Feb
Jan
2016
Dec
Nov
Oct
Sep
Aug
Jul
Jun
May
Apr
Mar
Feb
Jan
2015
Dec
Nov
Oct
Sep
Aug
Jul
Jun
May
Apr
Mar
Feb
Jan
2014
Dec
Nov
Oct
Sep
Aug
Jul
Jun
May
Apr
Mar
Feb
Jan
2013
Dec
Nov
Oct
Sep
Aug
Jul
Jun
May
Apr
Mar
Feb
Jan
2012
Dec
Nov
Oct
Sep
Aug
Feed
Follow @googlecanada
Follow
Read this blog in French:
Blogue officiel de Google Canada
Give us feedback in our
Product Forums
.