Born in Thorold, Beatty attended the University of Toronto and Osgoode Hall. In 1898, he joined the legal department of Canadian Pacific Railway (CPR) in Montreal and became the company's first Canadian-born president at the age of 41. He led the CPR in head-to-head competition with Canadian National Railways and was responsible for building the Royal York Hotel in Toronto and the "Empress of Britain" luxury liner. He was knighted in 1935. During the Second World War, Beatty assisted the Canadian war effort by coordinating shipping and rail transport, until his health deteriorated in 1941. Before retiring from the CPR the following year, he helped establish Canadian Pacific Airways. A lifelong philanthropist, on his death in 1943 Sir Edward left half his estate to charity.

Location

At the Sir Edward Beatty House, 13 Sullivan Avenue, Thorold

Themes

• Industry and trade
• People
• Transportation systems and communications