Canadian Pacific Navigation Company facts for kids
Advertisement for Canadian Pacific Navigation Co., December 1899, from the BC Mining Record.
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| Fate | Merged into successor corporation |
|---|---|
| Successor | Canadian Pacific Railway |
| Founded | 1883 |
| Defunct | 1901 |
| Headquarters | Victoria, British Columbia |
The Canadian Pacific Navigation Company was an important steamship company. It ran ships along the coast of British Columbia and through the Inside Passage to southeast Alaska. John Irving (1854-1936) started the company in 1883. He was a well-known steamboat captain, businessman, and politician in early British Columbia. In 1901, the Canadian Pacific Railway bought the company. It then became the steamship part of the CPR.
What Ships Did They Own?
The company had many different ships. These included the sternwheelers Princess Louise and R.P. Rithet. They also had older sidewheelers like Wilson G. Hunt and Yosemite. Another ship was the coastal steamer Willapa.
The Loss of the SS Islander
The company also owned the steamship Islander. This ship sank in August 1901. The Islander was a strong steel ship with two propellers. It was built for trips through the Inside Passage to Alaska. Many wealthy travelers liked to use this ship.
On the morning of August 15, 1901, the ship hit a hidden iceberg. It sank near the south end of Douglas Island, British Columbia. Sadly, 40 passengers and crew members were lost. This included the wife and daughter of politician James Hamilton Ross.
