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The First Spike
The Canadian Pacific Railway began its westward expansion from Bonfield, Ontario (previously called Callander Station), where the first spike was driven into a sunken railway tie. (https://www.ebonfield.org/) -
Period: to
Building of the Canadian Pacific Railway
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Getting Through the Canadian Rockies
Major Albert Bowman Rogers was promised a $5000 for finding a pass through the mountains of British Columbia, which he found in April of 1881 (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A._B._Rogers) -
Crossing Native American Land
The CPR faced the difficulty of crossing Crowfoot Nation land, but with the help of Albert Lacombe, he persuaded the Blackfoot chief Crowfoot that construction of the railway was inevitable. (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Crowfoot) -
Funds Crisis
By 1883, railway construction was progressing rapidly, but the CPR was in danger of running out of funds. In response, on 31 January 1884, the government passed the Railway Relief Bill, providing a further $22.5 million in loans to the CPR. The bill received royal assent on 6 March 1884 (http://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/canadian-pacific-railway/) -
The Last Spike!
On 7 November 1885, the last spike was driven at Craigellachie, British Columbia, making good on the original promise.
(https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Craigellachie,_British_Columbia)
