William Cornelius Van Horne and the building of the Canadian Pacific Railway. For armchair railroaders, historians, students - anyone fascinated by Canadian history - Van Horne's Road is a pictorial history of the railroad that forged a nation. Widely hailed as one of the most informative and important histories of the construction and first years of operation of the Canadian Pacific Transcontinental Railway, this vibrant new edition of Van Horne's Road has been reformatted and redesigned for a new generation of readers as a permanent tribute to the people responsible for the building of what has been called Canada's National Highway. Containing more than 450 photographs, illustrations, and historic documents - supplemented by 40 maps and diagrams designed by the author - the book presents a coast-to-coast recreation of what indisputably stands as one of the most important and historic undertakings in the history of this nation.

William Van Horne, general manager of the CPR, pushed through construction of the transcontinental line and went on to become company president.

William C. Van Horne was one of North America's most accomplished men. Born in Illinois in 1843, Van Horne started working in the railway business at a young age. In 1881 he was lured north to Canada to become general manager of the fledgling Canadian Pacific Ralway. The railroading general pushed through construction of the CPR's transcontinental line and then went on to become the company's president. During his time with the CPR, Van Horne developed a telegraph service, launched the Empress line of Pacific steamships in 1891, and founded CP Hotels. He capped his career by opening up Cuba's interior with a railway. A man of prodigious energy and many talents, he also became Canada's foremost art collector and one of the country's leading financiers. For all of his amazing accomplishments, Van Horne was knighted in 1894. When he died church bells throughout the length and breadth of Cuba tolled to mark his passing, and when his funeral train made its way across Canada, all traffic on the CPR system was suspended for five minutes.

An entertaining where-are-they-now look at the fate of some 100 celebrities, newsmakers, and artifacts from this countrys past.

An accessible business history that considers the dynamic interplay between economic climate and the personal determination of business people in the late 1800s. The book provides insight into how entrepreneurs, retailers, manufacturers, bankers, farmers, and ranchers pioneered a booming business city. It discusses the people and activities that helped to create the conditions in which Calgary emerged as a city and the Bow Valley an important agricultural centre. Historical figures such as Isaac G Baker, Agnes K Bedingfeld, and James A Lougheed in the context of business in Calgary. The author also talks about the obstacles that faced business and civic leaders: how to promote economic growth of the city; how to create demand for goods and services; how to finance transportation improvements; how to assimilate substantial social and political change.