The Great Oil Age

Richard G. Kuhn is an assistant professor of geography at the University
of Guelph.

The discovery and development of oil has been and will no doubt continue
to be a primary factor in the evolution of Canada as a major industrial
nation. While the authors’ claim that they have produced a
“definitive history of the Canadian oil and gas scene” may be
something of an overstatement, their book is highly readable and
comprehensive in its coverage.

The volume provides a chronological history of oil and gas development
in Canada, beginning with the development of the world’s first oil
field (located in southern Ontario). Subsequent chapters examine the
rise of the Alberta oil and gas industry, frontier developments in the
North and Hibernia, pipeline construction, and heavy-oil projects.
Throughout, the focus remains on Canadian innovations in the oil and gas
industry, and on Canadian capabilities for exporting our technologies
and expertise abroad.

The book is rounded off with a discussion of policy (including, of
course, the National Energy Program), the impact of oil and gas
development on the environment, and the impact of the industry on
Canada. The latter chapter fails to provide sufficient detail, but it
does inspire the reader to seek further works.

Aside from being a worthy addition to any library, this well-written
and accessible book will appeal to those interested in the uniquely
Canadian innovations and initiatives in the oil and gas industry.