Portland Public Library

Original highways, travelling the great rivers of Canada, Roy MacGregor

eng

Includes bibliographical references (pages 313-326) and index

illustrationsplatesmaps

index present

non fiction

Original highways

bibliography

971092126

Roy MacGregor

travelling the great rivers of Canada

"Expanding on his landmark Globe and Mail series in which he documented his travels down 16 of Canada's great rivers, Roy MacGregor tells the story of our country through the stories of its original highways, and how they sustain our spirit, identity and economy--past, present and future. No country is more blessed with fresh water than Canada. From the mouth of the Fraser River in BC, to the Bow in Alberta, the Red in Manitoba, the Gatineau, the Saint John and the most historic of all Canada's rivers, the St. Lawrence, our beloved chronicler of Canadian life, Roy MacGregor, has paddled, sailed and traversed their lengths, learned their stories and secrets, and the tales of centuries lived on their rapids and riverbanks. He raises lost tales, like that of the Great Tax Revolt of the Gatineau River, and reconsiders histories like that of the Irish would-be settlers who died on Grosse Ile and the incredible resilience of settlers in the Red River Valley. Along the Grand, the Ottawa and others, he meets the successful conservationists behind the resuscitation of polluted wetlands, including even Toronto's Don, the most abused river in Canada (where he witnesses families of mink, returned to play on its banks). Long before our national railroad was built, our rivers held Canada together; in these sixteen portraits, filled with yesterday's adventures and tomorrow's promise, MacGregor weaves together a story of Canada and its ongoing relationship with its most precious resource."--, Provided by publisher

1. Canada's original highway : the St. Lawrence -- 2. Priceless and precarious : the Ottawa -- 3. Rising from the dead : the Don -- 4. "Symbol of life" : the mighty Fraser -- 5. "We are Red River people" -- 6. Water wonder of the world : the Niagara -- 7. "The Rhine of North America" : the Saint John -- 8. The Mackenzie : river of disappointment or hope -- 9. Return to splendour : the Grand -- 10. Stresses along the Bow -- 11. Tax revolts and independence : the Gatineau -- 12. Colonel By's amazing feat : the Rideau River and Canal -- 13. River of politics : the Columbia -- 14. "Water is life" : the North Saskatchewan -- 15. Cottage country beauty and battles : the Muskoka -- 16. Whitewater escape on the Dumoine