An unprecedented look at Canada's history: How advertising shaped the
country's imageThe history of Canada is inseparable from the history of
Canadian Pacific. The company's advertising and publicity strategies and
their influence on the country's perception can be regarded as a very
early example of the concept of nation branding. The deep
interdependence between a private company's economic and strategic
interests and a newly formed nation's identity makes this arrangement
unique. Canadian Pacific not only built the nation's first
transcontinental railway, a prerequisite for Canada's political
unification in the 19th century; it quickly expanded to become the
world's largest transportation conglomerate that for many decades formed
the backbone for Canada's economic development. Efficient railroad and
global shipping services were complemented by numerous activities that
attracted immigrants and tourists to Canada, including the famous
landmark hotels designed in what is now referred to as Canadian Chateaux
Style: Chateaux Frontenac, The Banff Springs Hotel, Chateaux Lake
Louise, and many others. A distinct Canadian national identity was still
in its infancy in the 19th century, and various stereotypes linked with
Canada today are the direct result of decisions made by the designers
and artists whose work is portrayed in the book and by Canadian
Pacific's executives. In the context of these identity building
processes the book showcases the significance of commercial art and
advertising pointing far beyond their trivial function as promoters of a
commodity or service.Author Marc H. Choko's concise and compelling
narrative is brought to life by more than 600 carefully selected
historic photos, illustrations and documents that mirror Canadian
Pacific's widespread activities and unusually diverse clientele, ranging
from the adventurous travelers of the late 19th century to immigrants in
search of a better future, from wealthy cruise passengers to big game
hunters, from outdoor enthusiasts to airline customers starting in the
1940s.No expense has been spared to digitalize, restore and reproduce
this critical part of Canadian design history. Readers see all the
images in an unprecedented quality as close to the period originals as
possible. The book was designed by Yvonne Quirmbach, an internationally
recognized art book designer.
