The National Dream, Ep. 1: The Great Lone Land | History Documentary

[@MartinCanada]

There was an optimism in our country, and pride in the achievements of our forebears, when PB wrote The National Dream/The Last Spike c. 1970 and this television series was broadcast that is -- sadly -- absent today.

[@stevenzilinsky9121]

Possibly one of the best documentary series every put together in this country. I am so proud of our nation's history, the CPR executives and planners, especially Stephens, Donald, Van Horne and our first Prime Minister Jon A. Macdonald for dreaming the impossible dream. Had this transcontinental CANADIAN railway never come to fruition, there is a very real chance our land would be American territory today, which is the exact reason why our nation needed "an iron spine."

[@charlesfiddler7138]

it almost came to be there was NO railway! Corruption almost ended the railway!

[@shanewalters4632]

I remember when this came out like it was yesterday. I loved it then and I'm glad to have found it now. Thanks for posting.

[@DenisjrLarochelle]

I second that.

[@GemminaDonati]

I think I remember watching this or a similar documentary about the railway on TV (CBC or TVO I guess?) with my parents when I was little, in the late 90s. Thanks for uploading!

[@haweater1555]

I taped it off TVO in the late 90s. It was also reran on CBC primetime in 1992.

[@GemminaDonati]

@@haweater1555 thanks!

[@richardmorse5307]

This series inspired me to read both of Pierre Bertons books on the building of the CPR. It also inspired us to buy a camper van for our expedition along the route of the CPR across Canada in 1981. The series has a very compelling musical theme which I enjoy hearing to this day. I thought the casting of the characters in the series was superbly done and almost made you forget they were actors. I thought it was so well done it could have been released to the school system or at least to the public perhaps. I’m very glad and thankful for those who post the series on KZbin every few years. Thanks for keeping the story alive and the positive effect it has on the country!

[@andrewferguson5653]

I remember this series so well....so pleased to find it on KZbin. Thank you for uploading it!

[@ronmailloux8655]

Watched this back in 1974 .It was on every Sunday night for each episode . We enjoyed it very much.

[@bradpnw1897]

Pierre Berton was a national treasure truly. An amazing historian.

[@chessmckenzie1489]

Same

[@mr51406]

So wonderful to be able to watch it again! ⭐️🍁 Pierre Berton was an incomparable raconteur. I’ve read the source books too, they’re definitely must-reads for any Canadian and anyone else who wants to understand this country. It was “must see tv” for my dad and me on all those Sunday nights. Turned me into the proud history, geography and railroad geek I am now.

[@gordjones9227]

So proud to be Canadian! Thank you PB and CBC!

[@robertstewart7317]

This series captured the rapt attention of four-year-old me when first broadcast and infected me with a lifelong fascination with Canadian history.

[@danieldydzak691]

Read the book when I was a kid and met Pierre Berton , great Canadian and historian !

[@AnthonyVaz-io2jv]

Thank you for posting! I remember watching it on CBC a long time ago.

[@haweater1555]

Thank You for uploading the entire series. If you hadn't have done it, I would have, but my copy is a low quality slow VHS dub from TVOntario 25 years ago, and missing the first episode.

[@stevel5771]

Thank you for posting this. Very much appreciated!

[@mikesmith3397]

I'd kill for Berton's outfit here.

[@bradpnw1897]

Pierre was a great historian

[@EllPhillip]

Why did he always have a love affair with that bow tie?

[@kr6061]

Are you going to post the rest of it? I remember this series from when it was on the CBC in the 70's. Does anyone know if the entire series is available somewhere i would like to watch it again?

[@thespamdance311]

I don’t mean this is an insult, but there’s a dull dependability about old Canadian programmes, like a tailored pair of brown corduroy trousers. They used to show a lot of Canadian kids’ shows on tv in Australia, and whilst they lacked excitement and fun, you felt like they were earnestly trying to teach you something. Strange as it sounds, it has given me a positive attitude towards Canada and Canadians ever since.

[@liamstobart4736]

❤

[@recycle320]

Yessssssssss

[@billdornan4379]

❤️🇨🇦🇨🇦❤️

[@brucec2635]

Taming the land, maybe. Something that has been going on before recorded history. The good, bad and ugly. My family tree goes back to folks leaving Europe starting in 1804. Although not in Canada that I know of they built their dream in a continent being tamed. The good, bad and ugly. For me, thankfully they choose America but if they had chosen Canada i am sure my answer would be Canada.

[@DavidHuber63]

The Natives had a nation before your rr cut in

[@josephtemple1667]

"The Natives" LOL! You mean the various tribes of squatters who were killing and enslaving each other long before the White man--i.e. the real natives--arrived. No nation existed before White people created a prosperous and industrialized Canada--a nation that these so-called "natives" would be killing to get into if they were born anywhere else.