Pistes d'exploration

Conduct a survey to determine how many students have taken a train or subway ride. For what purposes? How long did it take to reach their destinations?

Research the names of other Canadian railway companies. Compile a list of the top five fastest (oldest, slowest) trains in the world. 

Debate the advantages and disadvantages of travel by rail. Be prepared to justify your arguments.

Visit a railway museum. When was the first train built? Share your experiences and any photos with the class.

Discuss what you know about railways. When was the first railway built in Canada? Who built it? Have you ever taken a train ride? Where? When? What did you like best? Have you ever visited a train museum? What did you see? What did you do?

Choose a chapter from the book and take notes on interesting facts about Canada’s railway. Share the information with a partner.

Write a letter from one of the characters in the book to a family member or friend back home. Using information from the book, describe that person’s experience.

Mots-clés

Non-fiction , Canadian history , Canadian Pacific Railway , inventions , railroads , trains

Commentaire descriptif

The construction of the Canadian Pacific Railway, built to unite the country’s vast territory, helped Canada become a nation. Sacrifices and challenges are described (the harsh and unforgiving terrain, workers who lost their lives, Aboriginal peoples who lost a way of life), as are the ultimate successes, which continue to the present day: “...cities grew, and farms, ranches, mines and industries boomed.” The second half of the book is devoted to different types of trains and how they function. Page layouts mix text with comprehensive illustrations that capture the historical context of Canada at that time. Passenger, freight and assorted other special-issue trains are examined, both outside and in. Authentic telegrams, posters and portraits of key players further bring the story to life. The book provides substantial insight into Canada’s past and conveys to readers the impact of the railway on the country and its people. One of the Kids Book of series, this book ends with a summary of the current Canadian train system, a fact page, a “Words from the Past” glossary and an index.