Savoir Faire, Savoir Vivre ― Rideau Club 1865-2015

Co-founded by Sir John A. Macdonald and Sir George-Etienne Cartier, the history of Ottawa's premier private club — the Rideau Club — is intertwined in so many ways with the development of Canada over the past 150 years. Commissioned for the Club's sesquicentennial, this work by Canadian historian Christopher McCreery weaves together the story of the club’s evolution since 1865 with vignettes of how certain members made and continue to make it a very special place.
Richly illustrated, this book provides a highly accessible account of the Club's enduring place in the nation's capital. From the early days of Ottawa as a rough lumber town to its present status as a centre of technological innovation, the pioneering spirit of the Club’s membership is exemplified by the prominent role its members have played in Canada’s national and international policy making, and in the arts, science, business, and commerce.

Christopher McCreery is the author of a dozen books, including The Canadian Honours System and Canadian Symbols of Authority. He has held various positions in the Senate of Canada and Privy Council Office and is the Private Secretary to the Lieutenant Governor of Nova Scotia. Since 2012 McCreery has also served as a trustee of the Canadian Museum of History. He lives in Halifax.