CANADA HISTORY - Places-Events

Craigellachie

The driving of the last spike at Craigellachie, British Columbia, on November 7, 1885, symbolized the realization of a monumental vision that had long captivated Canada: the completion of the Canadian Pacific Railway (CPR). The project was integral to Prime Minister John A. Macdonald's "National Dream," a vision of uniting the young nation from coast to coast and ensuring Canadian sovereignty over the western territories. The event, known as "The Last Spike," marked the completion of the transcontinental railway and is a critical milestone in Canadian history, representing both the perseverance required to complete the railway and the consolidation of Canada as a unified nation.

Origins of the Event: The National Dream

The origins of the CPR lay in the political and geographical challenges that Canada faced following Confederation in 1867. The vast and sparsely populated western territories posed a risk of American expansion, and unifying the country required a tangible connection between eastern Canada and the west. British Columbia, in particular, agreed to join Confederation in 1871 on the condition that a transcontinental railway would be built to link it with the rest of Canada within 10 years.

John A. Macdonald, Canada’s first prime minister, championed this project, seeing the railway as crucial to the country's security, economic development, and unity. However, the project’s scale and complexity quickly became apparent. The CPR would have to traverse some of the most challenging terrain in North America, including the Rocky Mountains and vast prairies. Financial difficulties, political scandals, and engineering challenges plagued the early years of construction. In 1873, the Pacific Scandal, a major political controversy involving bribes and campaign contributions related to the railway contract, forced Macdonald to resign. However, he returned to power in 1878, determined to see the National Dream through.

Political Situation and Challenges

When Macdonald returned to power, the Canadian government was under increasing pressure to fulfill its promise to British Columbia. Delays in the project led to frustrations in the west, and the threat of the western territories drifting toward American influence became more acute. Macdonald’s government had to secure substantial funding for the railway, despite the economic challenges of the time.

In 1880, the Canadian Pacific Railway Company was formed under the leadership of prominent financiers and businessmen, including George Stephen, president of the Bank of Montreal, and Donald Smith, a Scottish-Canadian financier. The CPR was granted generous subsidies and land grants by the government to complete the railway. Despite this financial backing, the project continued to face immense challenges, from the rugged topography of the Rockies to the logistical difficulties of constructing a railway across thousands of kilometers of undeveloped land.

One of the most significant challenges occurred in the difficult terrain of the Selkirk Mountains in British Columbia. Despite the financial strain and the tough conditions, the CPR leadership remained committed, spurred on by Macdonald’s famous rallying cry, “Stand fast, Craigellachie,” a reference to a battle site in the Scottish Highlands where Scottish forces made a last stand against the English army. The phrase became a symbol of determination and resolve as the railway neared completion.

Major Events Leading Up to the Last Spike

By the mid-1880s, the project was nearing its conclusion, but not without significant sacrifices. Tens of thousands of workers, including many Chinese laborers who faced dangerous working conditions and discrimination, had toiled to lay the track. The labor of Chinese workers, in particular, was instrumental in completing some of the most difficult sections of the railway through British Columbia. Unfortunately, their contributions were not officially recognized, and many lost their lives during construction.

As the railway crews worked from opposite directions—one team heading west from Eastern Canada and another heading east from the Pacific coast—the two lines were set to meet at a remote site in British Columbia known as Craigellachie. The name itself was a nod to the Scottish site where Highlanders made a final stand against English forces, a symbolic gesture by Macdonald to remind those involved in the railway project of the importance of perseverance.

The Main Players

John A. Macdonald was the central political figure behind the CPR, driven by his vision of a united Canada. His persistence in pushing for the railway, despite political scandals and economic challenges, defined much of his later political career. His decision to provide extensive government support for the railway, including subsidies and land grants, ensured the project’s completion, but also left a complicated legacy due to the financial burdens placed on the government and the exploitation of workers, particularly the Chinese laborers.

Donald Smith, a key financier of the railway and a director of the CPR, was chosen to drive the last spike. Smith, originally from Scotland, had made a fortune through the Hudson's Bay Company and other ventures. Alongside George Stephen, Smith played a crucial role in financing the railway during its most difficult periods. His commitment to the project, along with his financial acumen, helped keep the CPR afloat.

The last major figure in the CPR project was William Cornelius Van Horne, the general manager of the CPR. Van Horne was responsible for overseeing the construction of the railway and is often credited with ensuring that the project was completed ahead of schedule. His logistical brilliance and leadership were essential to overcoming the many technical and environmental challenges the railway faced.

The Last Spike at Craigellachie

On November 7, 1885, the two rail lines finally met at Craigellachie, a remote site in the mountains of British Columbia. The ceremonial driving of the last spike marked the completion of the transcontinental railway, a symbol of national unity and a triumph over immense geographical challenges. Donald Smith, as a key financier of the railway, was given the honor of driving the last spike into the tie. The event was relatively modest, attended by railway officials, workers, and a small gathering of onlookers, but its historical significance was immense.

The last spike was driven into place, linking the eastward and westward rail lines and symbolizing the realization of Macdonald’s National Dream. The completion of the CPR was not only a feat of engineering but also a political and economic triumph, securing Canadian sovereignty over the western territories and facilitating the settlement and development of the prairies and British Columbia.

The Site Today

The site of the Last Spike at Craigellachie is now a commemorative landmark along the Trans-Canada Highway, located just east of Salmon Arm in British Columbia. While the original last spike is no longer at the site, a memorial stands as a tribute to the achievement of the CPR and its role in shaping Canadian history. An old steam locomotive is also on display, symbolizing the railway's significance in the development of Canada’s infrastructure and economy.

Visitors to the site can reflect on the immense challenges faced by those who built the railway, particularly the Chinese laborers who faced exploitation and hardship. Although the driving of the last spike is remembered as a moment of national unity, it also represents the complex and often troubling legacy of Canada's expansion westward, which included the displacement of Indigenous peoples and the harsh treatment of immigrant laborers.

The driving of the last spike at Craigellachie was a defining moment in Canadian history. It symbolized the realization of John A. Macdonald’s National Dream and the completion of a project that would unite Canada from coast to coast. The Canadian Pacific Railway played a critical role in the development and settlement of western Canada, securing the country’s sovereignty over its vast western territories and facilitating economic growth.

The political and financial challenges that marked the construction of the railway, from the Pacific Scandal to the dangerous working conditions faced by laborers, underscore the complex legacy of the CPR. Nevertheless, the completion of the railway remains one of Canada’s most significant achievements, a testament to the determination of those who believed in the project’s importance. Today, the site of the Last Spike at Craigellachie stands as a reminder of this pivotal chapter in Canadian history, and the railway itself continues to serve as a vital link between east and west.