Savoir Faire, Savoir Vivre

Commemorating the Rideau Club’s 150th anniversary, this richly illustrated book celebrates the history of Ottawa’s premier private club since its founding in 1865.

Co-founded by Sir John A. Macdonald and Sir George-Étienne Cartier, the history of Ottawa’s premier private club — the Rideau Club — is intertwined in so many ways with the development of Canada over the past 150 years. Commissioned for the Club’s sesquicentennial, this work by Canadian historian Christopher McCreery weaves together the story of the club’s evolution since 1865 with vignettes of how certain members made and continue to make it a very special place.

     Richly illustrated, this bilingual book provides a highly accessible account of the Club’s enduring place in the nation’s capital. From the early days of Ottawa as a rough lumber town to its present status as a centre of technological innovation, the pioneering spirit of the Club’s membership is exemplified by the prominent role its members have played in Canada’s national and international policy making, and in the arts, science, business, and commerce.