Wreckless

Meet Nelson Skalbania. Most Canadians have heard of him: he's the man who gave Wayne Gretzky his big break in hockey. In real estate, he coined the term 'flipping.' He also owned (and sold) diverse commodities such as The Edmonton Oilers, Circus World, Eaton’s retail stores, and Vancouver’s Georgia and Wedgewood hotels. His appreciation for the finer things in life even led him to create the biggest art gallery in Vancouver.

The profits from all this buying and selling enabled him to own seven homes, four Rolls Royces, a one hundred and eighty-three foot long yacht with a thirteen member crew, and a DeHavilland DH 125 twin jet plane. Not bad for someone who began his career as a seismic engineer, from Polish parentage who immigrated to Canada with nothing but a fierce will to succeed.

Far less known is the sheer scope of Skalbania's adventures, especially lesser-known activities involving mini-subs, rockets, cold fusion, purchasing artwork in Chile during a civil war, fertilizing oceans with iron dust, or fleeing Juba in South Sudan during a coup.

But it's all here in Wreckless, a title Skalbania explains "is a play on the word. I acted recklessly, and many people thought I would wind up a wreck for doing so. I came close but never did. So, Wreckless.”