Conclusion: Canada was invented by Scots

Arguably the single most influential man in Canadian history was the Scottish Donald A. Smith, the Lord Strathcona. It is impossible to downplay the role that he played on both national and local scales: Because of Lord Strathcona’s perseverance, with the hammering of a single spike (or two, if you count the one he bent), not only was British Columbia joined with the great nation that he had already had an important hand in forming, but he also opened up the markets of the world as a whole to Canadian trade. He not only completed the Canadian Pacific Railroad, but was also the namesake of one of the most diverse neighborhoods in Vancouver, a city well known for its multi-cultural diversity; his dedication to the people of British Columbia resulted in him being the founder of the province’s physical education program; he was dedicated to the Canadian military, and formed what was possibly the first expeditionary force Canada ever produced; and, rightly, there is also a medal named after him given to military cadets for their excellence.

All of these things and more make him a lasting part of Canada’s history. While some would contend the Scots declaration that they invented the modern world is inapt, it should be clear that at the very least it was the Scots who created Canada.