Research

Introduction

On this page, you will find information on all things connected to Sir William Van Horne and to the island he loved. This page will grow as we discover more things, so be sure to check back periodically.

Sir William Cornelius Van Horne

Here is the article on Van Horne from the Dictionary of Canadian Biography Online.

Here is a copy of Sir William's will.

A tribute page to Sir William Van Horne.

The chapter on Portraying Canada in Art and Empire by Professor John M. Mackenzie contains an opening paragraph on Sir William's role as a "major patron of Canadian art". Click on the small portrait of Van Horne beside this paragraph to see the larger version. This page shows a painting of a western portion of the CPR line which was inspired by Van Horne. You can also view Moonlight on the St. Croix River, one of Van Horne's own paintings.

Here is a panoramic view of the interior of The Saskatchewan, one of the personal railway cars Van Horne used. Another of his rail cars is featured at the Fort La Reine Museum in Manitoba. See the section headed "A National Treasure". But he travelled across the ocean as well. This link takes you to Tundra Books' page on Trunks All Aboard, a book which uses illustrations of his travels Van Horne sent to his grandson.

The story of Edward and William Maxwell, architects from Montreal, whom Van Horne used to help with the redesign of part of his Ministers Island cottage, and who were also used by many of the "summer people" who came to St. Andrews and wanted to build cottages for themselves.

Van Horne as a financier: see this page on the RBC site, which talks about the formation of the Royal Trust Company.