Allied Power: Mobilizing Hydro-electricity during Canada's Second World War

Allied Power: Mobilizing Hydro-electricity during Canada's Second World War examines how Canada expanded and managed its hydroelectric resources to support wartime industrial production. The book focuses on the period between 1939-1945 when electrical generation became crucial for manufacturing war materials and powering military facilities. Through case studies of major hydroelectric projects across different regions of Canada, Evenden traces the intersection of industrial strategy, natural resource management, and wartime priorities. The text draws on archival records, government documents, and industry sources to reconstruct the rapid development of power infrastructure during this period. The work analyzes how wartime demands reshaped Canada's electrical grid and influenced long-term energy development in the postwar era. Key topics include the role of crown corporations, public-private partnerships, and the environmental impact of accelerated hydroelectric construction. This detailed study reveals broader patterns about the relationship between natural resources, industrial capacity, and national defense during times of conflict. The book contributes to understanding how infrastructure development shapes both wartime mobilization and peacetime economic growth.

Limited reviews exist for this academic work. The handful of reviews focus on the book's narrow examination of wartime hydroelectric development in Canada. Readers liked: - Clear connections between power development and war production - Inclusion of original documents and photos - Focus on regional differences across Canadian provinces - Coverage of political conflicts between utilities Readers disliked: - Dense academic writing style - Limited analysis of social/environmental impacts - High price point for hardcover edition ($95+) Available Ratings: Goodreads: 4.0/5 (2 ratings) Amazon.ca: No reviews WorldCat: No ratings From a published review in BC Studies journal, the book "makes a significant contribution to understanding the relationship between the Canadian state and electrical utilities during WWII" but "could have explored indigenous perspectives more deeply." Limited reader feedback exists since this is primarily an academic text used in university courses.

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🔋 During WWII, Canadian aluminum production increased by 600% thanks to hydroelectric power expansion, making Canada the world's second-largest aluminum producer and a crucial supplier for Allied aircraft manufacturing. ⚡ The book reveals how wartime hydroelectric projects permanently altered Indigenous territories, particularly in northern Quebec, where the Shipshaw power project flooded traditional Innu lands. 🏭 Author Matthew Evenden discovered that Nazi Germany had detailed intelligence about Canadian hydroelectric facilities, considering them potential strategic targets due to their role in wartime production. 🌊 The urgent wartime need for power led to the construction of the Shipshaw generating station in just 18 months—a project that would normally take 4-5 years to complete. 🎓 Evenden's research draws from previously classified government documents and corporate archives that had never before been used to tell the story of Canada's wartime power development.