George Stephen was one of the most successful businessmen of his generation. President of the Bank of Montreal from 1876 to 1881, he was the founding president of the Canadian Pacific Railway and was largely responsible for financing its construction. His accomplishments and benevolence were recognized when he was made a baronet in 1886 and granted a peerage by Queen Victoria in 1891, taking the title of Lord Mount Stephen. (Photo: William Notman, circa 1880)

The sitting room of the George Stephen residence at 1440 Drummond Street, Montreal. (Photographer: William Notman and Sons, 1884). Notman Photographic Archives, McCord Museum of Canadian History

The George Stephen residence at 1440 Drummond Street, Montreal. (Photo: William Notman and Sons, 1884). Notman Photographic Archives, McCord Museum of Canadian History

The conservatory of the George Stephen residence at 1440 Drummond Street, Montreal. It was here that Elsie Reford was first exposed to the wonders of the plant world. (Photo: William Notman and Sons, 1884). Notman Photographic Archives, McCord Museum of Canadian History

The drawing room of the George Stephen residence at 1440 Drummond Street, Montreal. Stephen's house was designed by architect William Tutin Thomas. It was built at an estimated cost of $600,000 in 1880. (Photo: William Notman and Sons, 1884). Notman Photographic Archives, McCord Museum of Canadian History

The library of the George Stephen residence at 1440 Drummond Street, Montreal (Photo: William Notman and Sons, 1884). Notman Photographic Archives, McCord Museum of Canadian History

The dining room of the George Stephen residence at 1440 Drummond Street, Montreal. In 1926 it became the Mount Stephen Club. (Photo: William Notman and Sons, 1884). Notman Photographic Archives, McCord Museum of Canadian History

Elsie Reford's sitting room. The Drummond Street home was designed for Elsie and Robert Reford by Robert Findlay and completed in 1904. The house was demolished by McGill University in 1968.

The Library at 3610 Drummond Street. Seen here are several pictures from the Reford art collection, portrait by Frans Hals (over the fireplace) and Agnolo Bronzino.

Bruce Reford at age 6, dressed as a page for the wedding of his aunt Edith, Robert Reford's sister. (Photo: William Notman and Sons, 1899)

The mouth of the Metis River (Photo: Robert Wilson Reford, circa 1905)

Garden party for Field Marshal Earl Roberts of Kandahar and Countess Roberts in the grounds of Robert Meighen's residence at 1440 Drummond Street, Montreal. (Photo: William Notman and Sons, July 1908). Notman Photographic Archives, McCord Museum of Canadian History

The Reford summer house at Little Metis (Metis-sur-mer). It was designed for Robert Reford by architect Sir Frederick Taylor. It was destroyed by fire in the 1970's. Robert Reford, the father of Robert Wilson Reford, was the founder of the Robert Reford Company, Canada's oldest shipping company. The Robert Reford Company has its headquarters at 221 St. Sacrement Street, serving the port of Montreal as it has since 1866. (Photo: William Notman and Sons, 1915). Notman Photographic Archives, McCord Museum of Canadian History

Robert Wilson Reford with his first son Bruce in 1896. (Photo: William Notman and Son, 1896). Notman Photographic Archives, McCord Museum of Canadian History

Captain Bruce Reford, M.C. of the Irish Guards, with a party of Arabs at the Vice-Regal lodge in Dublin, Ireland. (Photo: circa 1920)

Evelyn Margaret Robinson Reford (née MacInnes) on the occasion of her wedding to Captain Robert Bruce Stephen Reford, M.C. (Photo: June, 1920)

George Stephen (Lord Mount Stephen) with his sister Elsie and her husband Robert Meighen at Brocket Hall, Lord Mount Stephen's country estate in Hertfordshire, England. Built in 1760, Brocket Hall was the home to two British Prime Ministers, Lord Melbourne and Lord Palmerston. Lord Mount Stephen lived at Brocket Hall until his death in 1921. It is now a luxury hotel and golf course. (Photo: 1902)

Robert Wilson Reford with his grandchildren Michael and Maryon on board the R.M.S. Ausonia on the way to England. (Photo: H. Black, 1929)

On board the R.M.S. Ausonia: Robert Wilson Reford, Elsie Reford, Evelyn Reford with her children Maryon and Robert, and Eric Reford. (Photo: H. Black, 1929)

Estevan Lodge from the air (Photo: circa 1946)

Robert Wilson Reford, enjoying a quiet moment on the banks of the Metis River. (Photo: circa 1945)