Robert Bandeen
Encyclopedia
Robert Angus Bandeen, OC
(October 29, 1930 - August 16, 2010) was a Canadian
businessman and former President and Chief Executive Officer of Canadian National Railways.
Born in Rodney, Ontario
on October 29, 1930, the third of four children of John Robert Bandeen and Jessie Marie Thomson. Bandeen's father was a tobacco buyer and farmer while his mother was an elementary schoolteacher. Raised on the family farm in Duart, Ontario, Bandeen and his siblings worked tobacco harvests throughout their school years.
The Bandeen children excelled at school and Robert earned a scholarship to the University of Western Ontario
where he received a Bachelor of Arts
degree in economics and political science, graduating in 1952 with the Governor General's Academic Medal
. He was accepted directly into the Ph.D. program in economics at Duke University
from which he graduated in 1955. He was hired as an economist at the Montreal
headquarters of the Canadian National Railways in 1955. Bandeen met Mona Blair in Montreal in 1957 and they were married in spring 1958; they had four sons.
Bandeen became vice-president Great Lakes Region for CN in 1971 and he relocated to Toronto. This position also saw Bandeen in charge of CN's major U.S. holdings, the Grand Trunk Western Railroad
, the Duluth, Winnipeg and Pacific Railway
and the Central Vermont Railway
. One of his first major decisions as vice-president Great Lakes Region was to consolidate the U.S. lines under a newly created holding company named Grand Trunk Corporation
.
In 1974, Bandeen returned to Montreal where he was appointed president of CN, replacing the retiring Norman J. MacMillan. As president, Bandeen moved to reorganize CN into distinct profit centres focused on the core freight rail business. Bandeen moved to sell non-core businesses such as CN Hotels and trucking subsidiaries. He also moved to organize operations requiring government subsidies into separate entities, including CN Marine
, Via Rail
, and Terra Transport
. Under Bandeen's leadership, CN refused to build new freight cars for grain shipments in Western Canada, citing the economics of the Crow Rate
. A subsequent government inquiry determined tha the Crow Rate was in fact costing CN and CP millions and a new law was passed by the Parliament of Canada
in 1983 that allowed grain transportation rates to increase while railway losses would be covered by a federal government subsidy; the federal government also committed to building a new fleet of grain hopper cars. Bandeen retired as President and Chief Executive Officer of CN in 1982.
Following his career at CN, Bandeen worked for Crown Life where he was instrumental in reorganizing the company by reducing management, increasing profits, and improving brand awareness while taking on new business divisions. He left Crown Life in 1985 after working there for three years.
In 1981, he was appointed the 15th Chancellor of Bishop's University
and served until 1987.
In 1980, he was made an Officer of the Order of Canada
"in recognition of his contribution to the development of transportation in Canada". http://www.gg.ca/honours/search-recherche/honours-desc.asp?lang=e&TypeID=orc&id=71
He had four boys who have all gone on to be successful in the financial world. In retirement, Bandeen was living between Toronto and his farm in Quebec. He had 14 grandchildren. A strong supporter of various community organizations and the arts, the Bandeens were members of various organizations, including the Montreal and Toronto symphony orchestras, the Art Gallery of Ontario
, the Stratford Shakespeare Festival, and the Canadian Olympic Foundation.
Bandeen died in Toronto, Ontario on August 16, 2010, following complications resulting from heart surgery.
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...
(October 29, 1930 - August 16, 2010) was a Canadian
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
businessman and former President and Chief Executive Officer of Canadian National Railways.
Born in Rodney, Ontario
Ontario
Ontario is a province of Canada, located in east-central Canada. It is Canada's most populous province and second largest in total area. It is home to the nation's most populous city, Toronto, and the nation's capital, Ottawa....
on October 29, 1930, the third of four children of John Robert Bandeen and Jessie Marie Thomson. Bandeen's father was a tobacco buyer and farmer while his mother was an elementary schoolteacher. Raised on the family farm in Duart, Ontario, Bandeen and his siblings worked tobacco harvests throughout their school years.
The Bandeen children excelled at school and Robert earned a scholarship to the University of Western Ontario
University of Western Ontario
The University of Western Ontario is a public research university located in London, Ontario, Canada. The university's main campus covers of land, with the Thames River cutting through the eastern portion of the main campus. Western administers its programs through 12 different faculties and...
where he received 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...
degree in economics and political science, graduating in 1952 with the Governor General's Academic Medal
Governor General's Academic Medal
The Governor General's Academic Medal is awarded to the student graduating with the highest grade point average from a Canadian high school, college or university program...
. He was accepted directly into the Ph.D. program in economics at Duke University
Duke University
Duke University is a private research university located in Durham, North Carolina, United States. Founded by Methodists and Quakers in the present day town of Trinity in 1838, the school moved to Durham in 1892. In 1924, tobacco industrialist James B...
from which he graduated in 1955. He was hired as an economist at the Montreal
Montreal
Montreal is a city in Canada. It is the largest city in the province of Quebec, the second-largest city in Canada and the seventh largest in North America...
headquarters of the Canadian National Railways in 1955. Bandeen met Mona Blair in Montreal in 1957 and they were married in spring 1958; they had four sons.
Bandeen became vice-president Great Lakes Region for CN in 1971 and he relocated to Toronto. This position also saw Bandeen in charge of CN's major U.S. holdings, the Grand Trunk Western Railroad
Grand Trunk Western Railroad
The Grand Trunk Western Railroad is an important subsidiary of the Canadian National Railway , constituting the majority of CN's Chicago Division ....
, the Duluth, Winnipeg and Pacific Railway
Duluth, Winnipeg and Pacific Railway
The Duluth, Winnipeg and Pacific Railway is a subsidiary railroad of Canadian National Railway operating in northern Minnesota, United States. A CN system-wide rebranding beginning in 1995 has seen the DWP logo and name largely replaced by its parent company...
and the Central Vermont Railway
Central Vermont Railway
The Central Vermont Railway was a railroad that operated in the New England states of Connecticut, Massachusetts, Vermont, New York, as well as the Canadian province of Quebec....
. One of his first major decisions as vice-president Great Lakes Region was to consolidate the U.S. lines under a newly created holding company named Grand Trunk Corporation
Grand Trunk Corporation
The Grand Trunk Corporation is the subsidiary holding company for the Canadian National Railway's properties in the United States. It is named for the former Grand Trunk Railway, which CN absorbed in the early 1920s...
.
In 1974, Bandeen returned to Montreal where he was appointed president of CN, replacing the retiring Norman J. MacMillan. As president, Bandeen moved to reorganize CN into distinct profit centres focused on the core freight rail business. Bandeen moved to sell non-core businesses such as CN Hotels and trucking subsidiaries. He also moved to organize operations requiring government subsidies into separate entities, including CN Marine
CN Marine
CN Marine was a Canadian ferry company headquartered in Moncton, New Brunswick.-History:CN Marine was created by parent Canadian National Railway in 1977 as a means to group the company's ferry operations in eastern Canada into a separate operating division...
, Via Rail
VIA Rail
Via Rail Canada is an independent crown corporation offering intercity passenger rail services in Canada. It is headquartered near Montreal Central Station at 3 Place Ville-Marie in Montreal, Quebec....
, and Terra Transport
Terra Transport
Terra Transport was the name for the Newfoundland Transportation Division, a wholly owned subsidiary of Canadian National Railway , created in 1979 as a means to organize the company's operations on the island of Newfoundland.-Background:...
. Under Bandeen's leadership, CN refused to build new freight cars for grain shipments in Western Canada, citing the economics of the Crow Rate
Crow Rate
The "Crow Rate" or "Crow's Nest Freight Rate" was a rail transportation subsidy imposed on the Canadian Pacific Railway by the Canadian government, benefiting farmers on the Canadian Prairies and manufacturers in central Canada.-Origin:...
. A subsequent government inquiry determined tha the Crow Rate was in fact costing CN and CP millions and a new law was passed by the Parliament of Canada
Parliament of Canada
The Parliament of Canada is the federal legislative branch of Canada, seated at Parliament Hill in the national capital, Ottawa. Formally, the body consists of the Canadian monarch—represented by her governor general—the Senate, and the House of Commons, each element having its own officers and...
in 1983 that allowed grain transportation rates to increase while railway losses would be covered by a federal government subsidy; the federal government also committed to building a new fleet of grain hopper cars. Bandeen retired as President and Chief Executive Officer of CN in 1982.
Following his career at CN, Bandeen worked for Crown Life where he was instrumental in reorganizing the company by reducing management, increasing profits, and improving brand awareness while taking on new business divisions. He left Crown Life in 1985 after working there for three years.
In 1981, he was appointed the 15th Chancellor of Bishop's University
Bishop's University
Bishop's University is a predominantly undergraduate university in Lennoxville, Sherbrooke, Quebec, Canada. Bishop's is one of three universities in the province of Quebec that teach primarily in the English language...
and served until 1987.
In 1980, he was made an Officer of the Order of Canada
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...
"in recognition of his contribution to the development of transportation in Canada". http://www.gg.ca/honours/search-recherche/honours-desc.asp?lang=e&TypeID=orc&id=71
He had four boys who have all gone on to be successful in the financial world. In retirement, Bandeen was living between Toronto and his farm in Quebec. He had 14 grandchildren. A strong supporter of various community organizations and the arts, the Bandeens were members of various organizations, including the Montreal and Toronto symphony orchestras, the Art Gallery of Ontario
Art Gallery of Ontario
Under the direction of its CEO Matthew Teitelbaum, the AGO embarked on a $254 million redevelopment plan by architect Frank Gehry in 2004, called Transformation AGO. The new addition would require demolition of the 1992 Post-Modernist wing by Barton Myers and Kuwabara Payne McKenna Blumberg...
, the Stratford Shakespeare Festival, and the Canadian Olympic Foundation.
Bandeen died in Toronto, Ontario on August 16, 2010, following complications resulting from heart surgery.