Norman John MacMillan
Encyclopedia
Norman John MacMillan, CC
, QC
(1909 - 30 October 1978) was a president of Canadian National Railway
.
MacMillan was born in Bracebridge, Ontario
. He would study at the University of Manitoba
where he graduated with a Bachelor of Arts
in 1930. In 1934, he received a Bachelor of Laws
.
As a career lawyer, MacMillan joined Canadian National Railways in 1937 as a solicitor
in the company's Winnipeg, Manitoba office. He moved to Canadian National's Montreal office in 1943, becoming the railway's general counsel in 1945. In 1967 he became the company's President, leading the railway through a time of technological change. Before his retirement in 1974, MacMillan would see the start of construction on Toronto's CN Tower
landmark.
He died in 1978 at his cottage in his birthplace community of Bracebridge. He was married with a son and a daughter.
Order of Canada
The Order of Canada is a Canadian national order, admission into which is, within the system of orders, decorations, and medals of Canada, the second highest honour for merit...
, QC
Queen's Counsel
Queen's Counsel , known as King's Counsel during the reign of a male sovereign, are lawyers appointed by letters patent to be one of Her [or His] Majesty's Counsel learned in the law...
(1909 - 30 October 1978) was a president of Canadian National Railway
Canadian National Railway
The Canadian National Railway Company is a Canadian Class I railway headquartered in Montreal, Quebec. CN's slogan is "North America's Railroad"....
.
MacMillan was born in Bracebridge, Ontario
Bracebridge, Ontario
Bracebridge is a town and the seat of the Muskoka District Municipality of Ontario, Canada.The town was built around a waterfall on the Muskoka River in the centre of town, and is known for its other nearby waterfalls . It was first incorporated in 1875...
. He would study at the University of Manitoba
University of Manitoba
The University of Manitoba , in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada, is the largest university in the province of Manitoba. It is Manitoba's most comprehensive and only research-intensive post-secondary educational institution. It was founded in 1877, making it Western Canada’s first university. It placed...
where he graduated with a Bachelor of Arts
Bachelor of Arts
A Bachelor of Arts , from the Latin artium baccalaureus, is a bachelor's degree awarded for an undergraduate course or program in either the liberal arts, the sciences, or both...
in 1930. In 1934, he received a Bachelor of Laws
Bachelor of Laws
The Bachelor of Laws is an undergraduate, or bachelor, degree in law originating in England and offered in most common law countries as the primary law degree...
.
As a career lawyer, MacMillan joined Canadian National Railways in 1937 as a solicitor
Solicitor
Solicitors are lawyers who traditionally deal with any legal matter including conducting proceedings in courts. In the United Kingdom, a few Australian states and the Republic of Ireland, the legal profession is split between solicitors and barristers , and a lawyer will usually only hold one title...
in the company's Winnipeg, Manitoba office. He moved to Canadian National's Montreal office in 1943, becoming the railway's general counsel in 1945. In 1967 he became the company's President, leading the railway through a time of technological change. Before his retirement in 1974, MacMillan would see the start of construction on Toronto's CN Tower
CN Tower
The CN Tower is a communications and observation tower in Downtown Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Standing tall, it was completed in 1976, becoming the world's tallest free-standing structure and world's tallest tower at the time. It held both records for 34 years until the completion of the Burj...
landmark.
He died in 1978 at his cottage in his birthplace community of Bracebridge. He was married with a son and a daughter.
Awards and recognition
- 1967: honorary Doctor of Laws from the University of ManitobaUniversity of ManitobaThe University of Manitoba , in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada, is the largest university in the province of Manitoba. It is Manitoba's most comprehensive and only research-intensive post-secondary educational institution. It was founded in 1877, making it Western Canada’s first university. It placed...
- 1972: first-ever Canadian recipient of the Distinguished Service Award by American Railway Development Association
- 26 June 1974: appointed a Companion of the Order of CanadaOrder of CanadaThe Order of Canada is a Canadian national order, admission into which is, within the system of orders, decorations, and medals of Canada, the second highest honour for merit...