Canadian Pacific: Creating a Brand, Building a Nation

An unprecedented look at Canada's history: How commercial design helped shape the country's image Up to now virtually nothing has been published about Canadian Pacific's decisive role in branding" the nation at home and abroad. The company's visionary leaders used the railway line's potential to its fullest, swiftly creating a pioneering global travel and transportation empire, for several decades the world's biggest. As Canada's main private land owner, Canadian Pacific became a key sponsor of immigration. These and numerous other activities were publicized with unparalleled proficiency and quality, projecting a dream-like world of the new state that became part of its identity. Never before or after has a single company influenced a nation and its image to such an extent. The book takes the reader on a colorful, delightful and educational journey brought to life by hundreds of historical illustrations and photos, many of which have never been published before. Utmost care was taken in digitally restoring and reproducing the priceless Canadiana as accurately as possible. This volume also demonstrates how a uniquely Canadian graphic design style developed over time, the essence of which can be felt in Canadian design until this day. The making of modern Canada is unimaginable without Canadian Pacific and its lasting achievements.

March H. Choko, author of Canadian Pacific: Creating a Brand, Building a Nationis professor emeritus at the School of Design of the Universite du Quebec a Montreal and former director of the university’s Design Center. He is also a former research director at the institute national de la recherche scientifique Urbanisation, Culture et Societe. Choko earned a bachelor’s degree in architecture and a master’s degree in planning from the Universite de Montreal and a doctorate in urban planning from the Universite de Paris VIII. He is the author of numerous publications on graphic design, urban development and housing issues, and has curated many exhibitions that toured internationally. Choko is an Honorary member of the Societe des designers graphiques du Quebec

M. C. Huhne, author of Pan AM: History, Design & Identity andAirline Visual Identity 1945-1975 is an author and owner of Callisto Publishers, based in Berlin, Germany. A Harvard graduate, Huhne developed an appreciation for art while working as a developer of high quality commercial and residential real estate. After leaving his position as project manager with a U.S. real estate developer, Huhne went on to found his own award-wining development company in 1966. Huhne collects and supports modern art as well as North American native art, and takes a special interest in commercial design and the history of architecture.