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The Last Spike

In 1885, the Governor General of Canada, Lord Lansdowne, intended to present this silver “last spike” at ceremonies marking the completion of the Canadian Pacific Railroad. Unfortunately, he was unable to attend and, on November 7, 1885, an ordinary iron spike was hammered home at Craigellachie, British Columbia. Six months later, Lansdowne sent this ceremonial silver spike, mounted as a paperweight, to William Van Horne, CPR’s General Manager.

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    Vancouver, British Columbia - November 9, 7 to 9 p.m., Vancouver Public Library

    Vancouver, British Columbia - November 10, 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m., Vancouver Flea Market

    St. John's, Newfoundland - November 20, 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., Memorial University of Newfoundland

    St. John’s, Newfoundland - November 20, 6:30 to 8:30 p.m., Centre scolaire et communautaire des Grands-Vents

    Halifax, Nova Scotia - November 21, 7 to 9 p.m., Canadian Museum of Immigration at Pier 21

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    Edmonton, Alberta - December 4, 7 to 9 p.m., Prince of Wales Armouries

    Edmonton, Alberta - December 5, 9:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m., University of Alberta

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    Saskatoon, Saskatchewan - January 16, 10 a.m. to 1:30 p.m., The Mall at Lawson Heights

    Montréal, Quebec - January 24, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., Promenades Cathédrale

    Montréal, Quebec - January 24, 7 to 9 p.m., Salon Cartier 1, Centre Mont-Royal