Grand Trunk Railway Building, Montreal

Erected in 1902 by the Grand Trunk Railway (GTR) company which managed a system in Quebec and Ontario prior to nationalization as the Canadian National Railway (CNR), this very well-preserved building on McGill Street is one of the most imposing in Old Montreal. Originally constructed by Titanic passenger Charles Hays, president of the GTR, as the company's corporate headquarters, it currently shelters offices of the government of Quebec and allows visitors to see a beautiful part of the interior which dates from its heyday in the early 20th century.

Charles Hays, whose office was in the building, boarded the Titanic with his family, his secretary and a maid. They were returning to Canada for the official opening in Ottawa of a brand new hotel Hays had built – the Château Laurier. The owner of the Titanic had personally invited him to take the celebrated new ship home, but the railwayman was not entirely impressed by ocean liners; in fact, he was reported to have made a prophetic remark on the evening of the disaster. Deploring the way the steamship lines were competing to win passengers with ever-faster vessels, he is said to have commented, "The time will come soon when this trend will be checked by some appalling disaster." Two hours later, Hays would be dead, before he could see the Grand Trunk Pacific Railway completed.

In 1919 the Grand Trunk company faced serious financial difficulties, and one year later the Government of Canada took possession of its assets and placed them under the control of the Canadian National Railway Company, a crown corporation. The inscription "Grand Trunk" and accompanying GT monogram clearly recall the origins of the building, however; also, the clock added to the top of the center section shows that the building was related to transport. Finally, on the upper part of the right tower one may recognize the two winged lions that symbolize the Grand Trunk's power.