Sir William Mackenzie 1849-1923

and

Sir William Mackenzie (1849-1923)

There are two plaques at this location.
Both can be seen on this page.

Photos by Alan L Brown - Posted December, 2010

Photo Source - Wikipedia

Plaque Location

The City of Kawartha Lakes
In Kirkfield, on the north side of Portage Road (Road 48)
half a block west of Kirkfield Road (Road 6)

Coordinates: N 44 33.770 W 78 58.886

Plaque Text

Born near here, Mackenzie became a successful local merchant and contractor on Ontario railways. He built this house in 1888. After 1886, with associates, he obtained major construction contracts on numerous Canadian railways and by 1895 was one of Canada's leading railway builders and financiers. In 1899 Mackenzie and Donald Mann organized the Canadian Northern Railway, which later became a transcontinental system. Knighted in 1911, Mackenzie achieved international prominence through business directorates and electric railway and power development in Canada, Europe, the Caribbean, and South America. His influence declined following the Northern's nationalization in 1917, and after much dispute his Ontario power companies were acquired by the province in 1920. He died in Toronto and was buried at Kirkfield.

Photos by contributor Wayne Adam - Posted July, 2009

Plaque Text

An outstanding entrepreneur, Sir William Mackenzie with his partner Sir Donald Mann built the Canadian Northern Railway, opening large areas of the west to settlement. Born in present day Kirkfield, Mackenzie excelled in financing and constructing railways. He diversified into mining and shipping, developed Ontario's first major hydro-electric power system, and electrified streetcar lines in Toronto and Winnipeg, as well as in Brazil. His major work, the transcontinental Canadian Northern Railway, completed in 1915, later formed a large component of the Canadian National Railways.

Related Ontario plaque
The Canadian Northern Railway

More
Information

More
Builders

Here are the visitors' comments for this page.

(none yet)

Here's where you can write a comment for this page.

Note: If you wish to ask me a question, please use the email link in the menu.

Note: Comments are moderated. Yours will appear on this page within 24 hours
(usually much sooner).