Dreams Under Construction

"Dream big and know that all things are possible." That is the motto of John Bahen, one of Canada's most successful construction engineers. And, in a career spanning from the postwar years of the past century to major fundraising efforts in the early years of this century, dream big, he did. His vision, born in the sandbox cities he built as a child at his residential school in Toronto, crystalized into a rewarding engineering career, during which he managed massive projects ranging from roads and dams to buildings and transit systems. John made his mark at Omaha-based worldwide contractor Peter Kiewit Sons Inc., particularly when he won his first of several contracts on the high-profile James Bay hydroelectric project in Quebec. He continued over the next thirty years to land significant jobs, such as Saskatchewan's Nipawin dam and powerhouse, the Rodney terminal in New Brunswick, the elevated portion of the Vancouver Skytrain and the Hibernia oil drilling rig in Newfoundland. Generating annual volumes of business ranging from $50 million to $350 million, John took great pride in bringing his projects in on time and on budget. His ability and success put Kiewit's Canadian operation, of which he eventually became president, solidly on the map. His strong leadership as well as his extreme attention to detail became known as the "Bahen style," which drew admiration and respect from friends and colleagues alike. Most of all, he had a great ability to laugh at himself. John was deservedly recognized for his accomplishments with several awards and tributes, among them, the prestigious Order of Canada, as well as an Honorary Doctorate of Engineering from his alma mater, the University of Toronto. John and his wife, Margaret, worked well as a team in their family life, overcoming personal tragedy as well as enjoying the fruits of his labour. Their philanthropy over the years has greatly enriched Toronto's medical, academic and cultural communities. Dreams Under Construction: The Life, Work and Legacy of John Bahen is a tribute to a man who helped build Canada - from the ground up.