In "Chronicles of Canada Volume 31 - All Afloat: A Chronicle of Craft and Waterways" by William Wood, readers are taken on a fascinating journey through the history of Canada's waterways and the various forms of watercraft that have played a vital role in shaping the country's development.

Wood's meticulous research and engaging writing style bring to life the stories of early settlers, fur traders, explorers, and other individuals whose lives were intimately connected to the rivers and lakes of Canada. The book covers a wide range of topics, including the building of canals, the development of steamships, and the impact of transportation on the country's economy and culture.

What makes this book particularly compelling is the way in which Wood highlights the importance of waterways in connecting communities and fostering economic growth. By focusing on the people behind the boats and the bridges, he creates a vivid and detailed portrait of Canada's maritime history.

Overall, "All Afloat" is a must-read for anyone interested in Canadian history, transportation, or the ways in which waterways have shaped human civilization. Wood's passion for his subject matter shines through on every page, making this book both informative and engaging.

Book Description:
No exhaustive Canadian 'water history' can possibly be attempted here. That would require a series of its own. But at least a first attempt will be made to give some general idea of what such a history would contain in fuller detail: of the kayaks and canoes the Eskimos and Indians used before the white man came, and use today; of the small craft moved by oar and sail that slowly displaced those moved only by the paddle; of the sailing vessels proper, and how they plied along Canadian waterways, and on all the Seven Seas; of the steamers, which shed so much forgotten lustre on Canadian enterprise; of the teeming fisheries which the far-seeing Lord Bacon rightly thought 'richer treasures than the mines of Mexico and of Peru'; of the Dominion's trade and government relations with nations that 'have their business in great waters'; and, finally, of that guardian Navy, without whose freely given care the 'water history' of Canada could never have been made at all.