Debrett's Illustrated Guide to the Canadian Establishment: Peter C. Newman

R. Douglas Francis is a history professor at the University of Calgary
and author of Images of the Canadian West.

This is a book that should sell well. Every common Jane, Dick, and Harry desires to peck into the private life of those in positions of wealth and prestige. Is this not yet another contradiction of Canadians who pride themselves on their “classless” and “egalitarian” society?

Debrett’s Illustrated Guide is a richly illustrated collection of Canada’s alleged trendsetters in business, politics, and the arts. Peter C. Newman, as general editor, has provided a lively, if somewhat superficial, introductory section entitled “The Power Network.” Within the essay he draws some general conclusions about the “Canadian Establishment” taken from his earlier book, The Canadian Establishment (McClelland and Stewart, 1975). A section on “The Dynasties” follows, with substantial biographical sketches and photographs of the giants in the Canadian business world: the Bassetts, Batas, Bronfmans, Eatons, Siftons, Southams, and Woodwards, to name a few. The editors entitle the third and final section of the book “The Honour List”; it is a compendium of “Canadians of exceptional achievement in the Arts, Architecture, Journalism, Business, Finance, Law, Public Service, the Military, Religion, Academe, Science and Medicine.” The introduction to this section gives a general overview history of honorary titles and marks of royal favour in Canada and then lists the members of the various Orders of Canada. Then follows a listing of the Debrett’s Six Hundred most “eminent and influential” individuals in the fields listed above (with the exclusion of those individuals already portrayed in “The Dynasties” section and of politicians since, tongue-in-cheek, the editors add, “their positions are temporary and subject to the mercurial will of the voters”).

Beneath its glossy appearance, Debrett’s Illustrated Guide has little substance. No attempt has been made to provide any penetrating analysis of the nature of Canada’s elite and their contribution to Canadian life and society. The book also lacks unity. The title leads one to assume that the book is about the business tycoons in Canada. The section on “The Dynasties” reaffirms this belief, as does Newman’s introduction, since he concentrates solely on this group in his discussion. Thus, the third section, which lists Canadian academics, artists, religious leaders, and journalists, stands completely out of place. And accentuating the incongruity is the very short biographical sketches (or in some cases no biographical sketch) of these 600 individuals in comparison to the extensive coverage of the wealthy individuals discussed in “The Dynasties.” One closes the book feeling once again that the old adage “Canada is a land of golden opportunity” is doubly true: first, when you read the sketches of the wealthy and influential individuals and realize how comparatively recent has been their family’s acquisition of money and power, and secondly, when you consider that the editors, their publisher, and the booksellers will collect a handsome $45 from each Canadian curious enough to buy this volume.