I will always remember the day the CN Tower became the talkest freestanding structure in the world. My mother, a retired teacher, took my brother and me out of class so we could watch Olga, the Sikorsky Sky Crane lifting the final sections into place.
Spent my honeymoon in Canada starting at Niagara Falls Oct9, 1995 and working through Ontario. Loved the CN tower the story of it and especially the glass floor. Some people were totally afraid of it while others , amazed at the sight looking down. Worth the time to see it. Thank you, my Canadian friends.
I'm Cdn and I take no pride away from your post assuming you are also Cdn. Perhaps it's because I was raised during a time when it was understood that Canada is what its citizens make of it. A good start is having respect for the government of Canada. All I hear any more from Cdn youth is whining about how bad our government has made their lives. Toronto is what Cdns make of it. Whining as though its a dump is a sure path to failure.
@@banalpedant41 It is a dump, and it’s because of people with the mindset of you - believing that the government actually helps Canadian’s - that allowed it to become as much. I was born in Toronto and have lived here for most of my life. The rapid decline of it and its people over the past 35+ years was not voted in - it was systematically planned and machined, just the same as California’s decline was. Neither left nor right politicians have had anything but their own personal financial interests in Toronto since the mid-80’s, and that habit has continued until this very day. You say I should be proud of Canada and its government. But Canada and its government has shown no pride, consideration or respect for having me be a contributing member of its society - where’s the fairness in that?
Watching the final piece of antennae at the very top being delicately placed by the Sikorsky Sky Crane, low on fuel, and being rushed with an impending storm cloud quickly descending onto the downtown core, as my father and we watched from Lakeshore Boulevard is a memory I will always cherish. I think I was 10.
Great memories indeed. I guess it was a big challenger for the team in the Sikorsky Sky Crane and on the tower. They work with the knife between their teeth...
That's a part of the story that never gets told often: just how close the whole thing came to failure. If the storm came in, or Olga ran out of fuel, it would've been either deadly, or delayed the entire project. Talk of nail-biting!
The helicopter pilot was a genius at his job. I remember hearing about this construction project as a child, living in Brampton at the time. Then, having a Field-Trip to the CN Tower a few years later. Magical times!
How could it be 10,000 years ago when the Earth & Universe were Spoken into Existence a little less than 6900 years ago by our Creator - God? I have been at the top of the CN Tower.
My dad used to take my brother and I down to Coronation Park and periodically watch the construction of the tower through binoculars. The best was watching Olga, the giant Sikorsky helicopter, lift the last few pieces of the antenna into place. That memory will stay with me for the rest of my life!
Back then you had to know what you are doing and not be afraid and affected by everything. Now most people are dealing with mental issues and nobody knows what will strike when and cannot rely on experience and nerve. Too many workers losing concentration and walking off the edge (of houses or whatever I'm not being specific with the Tower). It's now possible to run into problems let go and the harness holds. Working at Heights
@@oneskyscraper208"The good ole days, when men were men and woman were widowed." The "know nothing bureaucrats" that keep putting in more safety measures do seem to know more than yourself. The worker fatality rate in Ontario over the last half dozen years has averaged 1.1 deaths per 100,000 workers. The worker fatality rate in Ontario during the decade of the 1970’s (when the CN Tower was built) was 17 deaths (yes, seventeen!) per 100,000 workers. The decade of the 1980’s was 13/100,000. The decade of the 1990's saw the sharpest decrease (when most industrial workplaces were forced to fully implement wide scale safety policies) down to 4/100,000. And over the last 20+ years the continuous trend has been downward (now hovering just over 1/100,000) as safety requirements have trended upward. Funny how that works!
A friend of mine worked on this tower. He showed me an old photograph of himself standing on a metal beam - no harness - no nothing - out in the open, overlooking the rest of the city. I wish I could upload it here. Crazy shot. Those steel workers, man... big balls. I could not stand up there and do that work - even if I had harnesses, safety nets, a suit made of cushions, or a life jacket. lol
I remember driving through Toronto from Ottawa on my motorcycle and when I saw it I stopped on the side of the 401 and just marveled at what I was seeing with my naked eye for the 1st time on September 05, 1977.
Now that was an awesome flashback to being a kid! Looking back, I wonder about those kids who signed their name on the top section. The few who can point at the screen and 'hey thats me!'.
I'm one of those kids. Seems like along time ago but when you get to sign your name as well as those of family and friends it's something I tell my grandkids today😊 I was lucky enough to go on a school trip from Etobicoke downtown where we were all permitted to put names really whatever on the very top piece of the tower.
At that time, safety protocols and worker protections were not as robust during that area compared tp modern construction practices. Those workers were indeed very brave. Thank you for watching!
What a fascinating piece of film and history! A couple of interesting facts: originally the antenna was to be pushed up via the inside. They decided it would be almost unworkable so the Sikorsky, “Olga” helicopter was brought in. I had the pleasure of watching the antenna being installed. Also, a friend of mine had photos taken during construction. His dad worked on the tower. Apparently a lot of native Canadians worked at high altitudes and at times with no safety harness due to the fact they had no fear of heights and have excellent balance.
The natives you mentioned are Mohawks who live on a reserve which straddles the US/Canada border. Generations of them worked building the skyscrapers of New York City.
While on a school trip to "The City" we got to watch some of this build through binoculars in the CIBC building. I remember seeing workers going up and down the stairs like ants in a very tall hive. This was in '76. Excellent documentary. Thanks for posting this. ❤
I was in the Editing Room of Westminster Films where this film was cut on a Moviola 16mm film editor. WFs production offices were located in an old house on Gerrard Street (now long gone) in the heart of Downtown Toronto. WF specialized making only Industrial documentaries, John Deere, Ontario Hydro to name a few, and the CN contract was a big deal as it had a significant budget. Don Haldane was the owner (listed in the credits) and a major player in Canadian film history at the CBC and NFB, he actually went to Yale University and was an intense character, who smoked a cigar. His ex-wife, Lee Gordon was more active running the company as I free-lanced working for her. Lee was strict, aggressive and tough with budgets and crews! Keith Harley worked as a Director and Peter Reid, production manager-interesting to see them credited under photography. I guess because it was such a lengthy ordeal documenting the construction process it was less expensive than using Toronto Cinematographers however Joe Seckeresh, CSC is listed under additional photography and I worked with Joe on a John Deere doco where we were sent to the wheat fields of Alberta. I did not work on the CN project as I came in after it was being wrapped up, but I recall the helicopter footage of the completion of the top of the Tower was celebratory and a great joy and sigh of relief to see the finality of such a construction undertaking, as the time-lapse photography illustrates. I was there only briefly after film college as I re-located to Hollywood for 35 years. Sadly, Lee and Don are long gone. The house paved over by the downtown Toronto development. Arthur Campus who is listed in the credits told me it was once a funeral home! The Westminster Film folks in the 1970’s made money in a tough field, top of the game in Canada-run like a family, hard-assed tough, bottom dollar production, intellectual smarts laced with humor and wit of all the staffers and free-lancers. Great to see this 16mm film on UA-cam in 2024!
@@UguysRnuts I spent 1 year of Film at Conestoga College under Vaclav Taborski (still alive at 95) and 2 years of film at Confederation College under Glen Ludlow, where I graduated. I then moved to Toronto.
@serget2168, I am glad you wrote that. I was noting that many of the comments here were about just the helicopter and nothing about those men who stood under those swinging tons of steel and kept their nerve under the most dangerous conditions imaginable and doing it in a human co-operation to benefit humanity. But look at Canada now- unproductive shysters sucking up all around them as others slave and, yes, die for the parasites.
I watched this being built from start to finish, the hole in the ground was enormous. I took the streetcar dozens of time as a young teenager from the west end, New Toronto in Etobicoke (Go Mimico High Go) to watch it grow. Later when I had a family and kids I took them down to watch the Sky Dome being built, even had a bunch of EllisDon steelworkers staying at the house for that one.
Years ago, I owned a store at Ossington and Dundas. One of my customer was the wife of one of the construction workers who worked on the CN tower. His best friend was the first person to parachute off the top. I remember her bringing in many pictures of the two of them work on the tower.
Forgot what a monumental achievement this was for the City and the Country. My dad worked on Adelaide Street and dragged me out of sr kindergarten to watch them put the top on with "Olga". Now that I'm older I am very grateful for being able to witness this part of Toronto history. On a sidenote, I wonder if the guy who jumped off with a parachute and made it ( I believe he was an ironworker) was in the documentary. A legendary figure and they used to have an exhibit about him in the tower for a while.
I am deathly afraid of heights and seeing these workers walking on the planks made my stomach sink lol Truly remarkable! I’ve gone up the tower many times.
IM A HOISTING ENG AND my teacher was the great Winston young .he was the tower crane operator on the tower the story’s he had and I also have his original pics from the construction of the CN tower wat a great man
In 1973-74 the Russians monitored construction of the CN Tower. They rented offices in highrise buildings in downtown Toronto with a clear view of the construction site. From there they used small rudimentary lasers to measure how the tower twisted - from its base to its spire - due to the Earth's rotation. Since it was the tallest structure in the world, CN Tower provided a rare opportunity to physically model the trajectory of a ballistic missile. Moscow used this information to program actual missiles. Apparently, fifty years ago, programming flight path trajectory in missiles was not fully mature.
Canada is cooked. Especially Toronto and the GTA. I don't even like going to Toronto for anything anymore. Even in my lifetime I've it degrade and become more of a mess.
Totally a well done video ... TY to ALL the brave workers who risk themselves working at such heights. ... was there ever a total of the amt of people that made this accomplishment . And who was the name of the worker who stood last on the very top and raised our beautiful Canadian flag ? .( how often does it get replaced with a new one ? )
I had a friend years ago, who was one of the iron workers at the very top. He had original photos his coworker took of the helicopter bringing in the tower.
I was lucky enough to watch the tower being built from start to its completion. I worked next to the rail yards and had a clear view of its construction. I especially recall the use of the Sikorsky Crane (helicopter) putting the final parts on the top.
My parents were in their early twenty's my older brother born in 83 me and my twin in 86...they're disgusted how the country became. This old country I wish would return
Nowadays it would have taken three or more times to build it. A simple repair on a street corner can take weeks. It's as if Canada is now full of bureaucrats and few motivated workers. I hope that changes soon... Thank you for watching!
Look at the bonehead we have as premier today. He announced recently that Whitby would be getting a hospital built in TEN years. Our society is circling the bowl.
A close friend was the Lead Ironworker in charge of erecting the steel antennae of the CN Tower. The iconic photographs of him directing in "Olga" with the final section are on display at the base of the tower. After the CN Tower job he went to NYC where he was in charge of erecting the steel skeletal framework of World Trade Centre Building Seven, the 47 story Solomon Building, which came down eight hours after the twins, despite not being hit by any airliner. He eventually retired as the President and CEO of Canron/Dominion but was called back to the WTC's Solomon Building a few years later to do a "special" job lasting for several months and which ended on 9/11/2001 No one had more comprehensive knowledge of what held up Building #7,. Or what brought it down. He told me the "official" story two days later. That story has since been shown to be false. My friend died mysteriously in Toronto Harbour in 2010. The spot where his body was found can be seen in the dead centre of the frame at 06:03 in this video. RIP Paul.
@@oneskyscraper208 The Association of Fire Commissioners for NY declared the cause to be as a result of pre-planted explosive charges. The charges served to detonate a nano-thermite paint coating which had been applied to the steel columns and girders accessed through elevator shafts and mechanical areas under the guise of fire-retardent replacement. By this method tons of explosives were delivered and installed in plain view at a high security facility without risk of discovery.
@@oneskyscraper208 The Association of Fire Commissioners for the State of NY declared the destruction could only have been a result of "pre-planted explosives". The cutting charges detonated the nano-thermite paint coating which had been applied to the columns and girders accessed through elevator shafts and mechanical areas under the guise of "Fire Retardant" remediation. By this means tons of explosives were covertly installed in a high security facility.
Indy and CART racer Paul Tracy's father was in charge of painting the tower. I know this as I was his sister's boss at a unisex clothing store in East York, Toronto back in 1974 and 1975.
Dang, I remember going downtown two, three times a month with my father to watch the progress. It was such an impressive feat to behold as it progressed level by level. When it opened to the public we waited over 9 hours in line to finally make it to the top. Scared the livin 💩outta me but totally worth it.
Yes those were the days. I was working for the CN hauling Containers and delivered two pieces of the antenna right to the base of the tower and sat there walked where allowed to while being unloaded. CN gave employs free passed to go up the tower after it was finished but I never did use mine and have never been in the tower.
I know an electrician who was an apprentice when the CN tower was being constructed, the story goes like this, his job at first was to take coffee orders first thing in morning , then pack them up in a cooler to keep them warm for the guys , then walk up the stairs and back down, EVERYDAY, some apprenticeship 😂
This was a big deal when the tower was finished. There was a time when the CN Tower had an annual event where people would climb the internal stairs to the top to raise money for charity.
At the 2:00 mark i give a “hats off” to whoever was behind the soundtrack on this as it travels through a Sabbath intro proceeding into a Nick Mason in Pompeii drum solo followed by a Waters bass solo…. Keyboards & then Ian Anderson on the flute!!! Hilarious and priceless!
You have no idea of just how much of an understatement your comment is. The Lead Ironworker who directed 'Olga' in with the final section was a friend of mine.
I'm born in 68. I saw them build it. I went up in the Bank of Montreal tower, way up in what was the tall silver bldg with a bright blue M on the top. I looked across at it and the observation deck was just a skeleton still, and the cement was still being poured to complete the lower section. Then I went up in it wyen it was open for business, and looked across to the blag, but it was way lower now to me. Then we went to the skydeck and it was way down there, and cars were dots. Been up the tower a few times over the years. Theres a nice park under it now. Used to be train yards.
I remember reading that as the slip form got smaller and higher, all the workers had to zip line down all the way to Bathurst Street. I was wondering if anyone old enough knows if this is true?
I will always remember the day the CN Tower became the talkest freestanding structure in the world. My mother, a retired teacher, took my brother and me out of class so we could watch Olga, the Sikorsky Sky Crane lifting the final sections into place.
Amazing Thank you for watching!
A friend of mine told me his mom was allowed to watch the tower being topped out during work. Her boss must have been a nice person.
That Sikorsky CH-54 Tarhe is still flying to this day, its last filed flight was on August 20, 2024 flying out of Van Nuys California.
@@RayleighCriterion "That" Sikorsky is "Olga" and she is an S-64.
Ah yes, I remember eating hotdogs and frolicking in a meadow on that particular day.
My Sister and I both signed the last piece. Our Dad took us out of school to do it, he was a plumber and knew all the guys on site. Good memories.
Truly incredible! I would have liked to have been there too. Good memories indeed. Thank you for watching!
Ya,my brother and our neighbors son signed it as well his father was the Crain operator . Winston Young RIP
Same here my dad's best friend worked on it as well his family and ours are up there too
Spent my honeymoon in Canada starting at Niagara Falls Oct9, 1995 and working through Ontario. Loved the CN tower the story of it and especially the glass floor. Some people were totally afraid of it while others , amazed at the sight looking down. Worth the time to see it. Thank you, my Canadian friends.
Indeed good memories. Thank you for sharing.
Unfortunately Canada isn't the proud country it once was.
@@Velocity1118
Only Conservatives say that.
Who cares what CONs think.
Come back to visit soon. Cheers!
Back when Toronto was actually something to be proud of.
yes it was mostly white settlers...now diversity is our strength and f all gets done..
Seems like an eternity ago.
I'm Cdn and I take no pride away from your post assuming you are also Cdn.
Perhaps it's because I was raised during a time when it was understood that Canada is what its citizens make of it. A good start is having respect for the government of Canada. All I hear any more from Cdn youth is whining about how bad our government has made their lives. Toronto is what Cdns make of it. Whining as though its a dump is a sure path to failure.
@@banalpedant41 Right, since the garbage we're importing surely has nothing to do with the current state of affairs...
@@banalpedant41 It is a dump, and it’s because of people with the mindset of you - believing that the government actually helps Canadian’s - that allowed it to become as much. I was born in Toronto and have lived here for most of my life. The rapid decline of it and its people over the past 35+ years was not voted in - it was systematically planned and machined, just the same as California’s decline was. Neither left nor right politicians have had anything but their own personal financial interests in Toronto since the mid-80’s, and that habit has continued until this very day.
You say I should be proud of Canada and its government. But Canada and its government has shown no pride, consideration or respect for having me be a contributing member of its society - where’s the fairness in that?
Watching the final piece of antennae at the very top being delicately placed by the Sikorsky Sky Crane, low on fuel, and being rushed with an impending storm cloud quickly descending onto the downtown core, as my father and we watched from Lakeshore Boulevard is a memory I will always cherish. I think I was 10.
Great memories indeed. I guess it was a big challenger for the team in the Sikorsky Sky Crane and on the tower. They work with the knife between their teeth...
I worked few blocks from there, and watched them put the top on.
That's a part of the story that never gets told often: just how close the whole thing came to failure. If the storm came in, or Olga ran out of fuel, it would've been either deadly, or delayed the entire project. Talk of nail-biting!
The helicopter pilot was a genius at his job.
I remember hearing about this construction project as a child, living in Brampton at the time. Then, having a Field-Trip to the CN Tower a few years later. Magical times!
Thank you for sharing!
Takes a three man crew to pull something like that off that off in a Skycrane.
How could it be 10,000 years ago when the Earth & Universe were Spoken into Existence a little less than 6900 years ago by our Creator - God? I have been at the top of the CN Tower.
This and the documentary about the building of the Gateway Arch in St.Louis here on YT are the kind of old school documentaries I could watch all day.
I agree with you, Thank you for watching!
You should check out the Documentary on the Making of The Detroit, Michigan ~ Windsor, Ontario Tunnel it is cool story over 80 years ago
@@79tazman i will look for this thank you.
My dad used to take my brother and I down to Coronation Park and periodically watch the construction of the tower through binoculars. The best was watching Olga, the giant Sikorsky helicopter, lift the last few pieces of the antenna into place. That memory will stay with me for the rest of my life!
Great memories indeed. Thank you for sharing!
I didn’t see too many safety harnesses. My stomach turned just watching them! Great job
Back then you had to know what you are doing and not be afraid and affected by everything. Now most people are dealing with mental issues and nobody knows what will strike when and cannot rely on experience and nerve. Too many workers losing concentration and walking off the edge (of houses or whatever I'm not being specific with the Tower). It's now possible to run into problems let go and the harness holds.
Working at Heights
Real men don't wear safety harnesses, or helmets, or steel toe shoes.
More safety rules = less freedom and freedom does not mean you work unsafely. But the rules are made by bureaucrats who know nothing.
@@oneskyscraper208 kinda like when people with no children write parenting books.
@@oneskyscraper208"The good ole days, when men were men and woman were widowed."
The "know nothing bureaucrats" that keep putting in more safety measures do seem to know more than yourself. The worker fatality rate in Ontario over the last half dozen years has averaged 1.1 deaths per 100,000 workers. The worker fatality rate in Ontario during the decade of the 1970’s (when the CN Tower was built) was 17 deaths (yes, seventeen!) per 100,000 workers. The decade of the 1980’s was 13/100,000. The decade of the 1990's saw the sharpest decrease (when most industrial workplaces were forced to fully implement wide scale safety policies) down to 4/100,000. And over the last 20+ years the continuous trend has been downward (now hovering just over 1/100,000) as safety requirements have trended upward. Funny how that works!
My Nonno helped build the foundation and I’m following in his footsteps!
Super! Thank you for watching
Amazing architecture design for it's time. Really put Toronto on the map. Still amazing many years later.
I agree with you. Thank you for watching!
Pride of Canada 🇨🇦
Thanks for your comment and for watching!
A friend of mine worked on this tower. He showed me an old photograph of himself standing on a metal beam - no harness - no nothing - out in the open, overlooking the rest of the city. I wish I could upload it here. Crazy shot. Those steel workers, man... big balls. I could not stand up there and do that work - even if I had harnesses, safety nets, a suit made of cushions, or a life jacket. lol
AMAZING! Thank you for the info
I remember driving through Toronto from Ottawa on my motorcycle and when I saw it I stopped on the side of the 401 and just marveled at what I was seeing with my naked eye for the 1st time on September 05, 1977.
Thank you for sharing!
Now that was an awesome flashback to being a kid!
Looking back, I wonder about those kids who signed their name on the top section. The few who can point at the screen and 'hey thats me!'.
It's been 48 years already. I imagine that some remember that day, and that others were not so lucky... Thank you for watching!
I'm one of those kids. Seems like along time ago but when you get to sign your name as well as those of family and friends it's something I tell my grandkids today😊 I was lucky enough to go on a school trip from Etobicoke downtown where we were all permitted to put names really whatever on the very top piece of the tower.
@@danmaclean2770 That is great! And a cool story to share.
Fascinating documentary...and the music makes it epic. My hat's off to those guys who can go and work way up there. No way could I do that.
At that time, safety protocols and worker protections were not as robust during that area compared tp modern construction practices. Those workers were indeed very brave. Thank you for watching!
Back in my country we use flying carpets.
What a fascinating piece of film and history! A couple of interesting facts: originally the antenna was to be pushed up via the inside. They decided it would be almost unworkable so the Sikorsky, “Olga” helicopter was brought in. I had the pleasure of watching the antenna being installed. Also, a friend of mine had photos taken during construction. His dad worked on the tower. Apparently a lot of native Canadians worked at high altitudes and at times with no safety harness due to the fact they had no fear of heights and have excellent balance.
The natives you mentioned are Mohawks who live on a reserve which straddles the US/Canada border. Generations of them worked building the skyscrapers of New York City.
@@NibsNiven thanks for the update. I think it is important for all of us to remember their fearless contribution.
Amazing. Thanks for sharing the info!
It’s mind blowing that all of that concrete on the very bottom has been holding and continues to hold all of the weight of the concrete above it!
Thank you for your comment!
When I arrived in 1978 the conversation was about the CN Tower amazing peace oof engineering 👏
Thank you for sharing!
Couldn’t take my eyes off the presentation…Amazing video. Back then these folks got things DONE!
I agree. Thanks!
While on a school trip to "The City" we got to watch some of this build through binoculars in the CIBC building. I remember seeing workers going up and down the stairs like ants in a very tall hive. This was in '76.
Excellent documentary. Thanks for posting this. ❤
Amazing! Thank you for your comment and sharing!
I was in the Editing Room of Westminster Films where this film was cut on a Moviola 16mm film editor. WFs production offices were located in an old house on Gerrard Street (now long gone) in the heart of Downtown Toronto. WF specialized making only Industrial documentaries, John Deere, Ontario Hydro to name a few, and the CN contract was a big deal as it had a significant budget. Don Haldane was the owner (listed in the credits) and a major player in Canadian film history at the CBC and NFB, he actually went to Yale University and was an intense character, who smoked a cigar. His ex-wife, Lee Gordon was more active running the company as I free-lanced working for her. Lee was strict, aggressive and tough with budgets and crews! Keith Harley worked as a Director and Peter Reid, production manager-interesting to see them credited under photography. I guess because it was such a lengthy ordeal documenting the construction process it was less expensive than using Toronto Cinematographers however Joe Seckeresh, CSC is listed under additional photography and I worked with Joe on a John Deere doco where we were sent to the wheat fields of Alberta. I did not work on the CN project as I came in after it was being wrapped up, but I recall the helicopter footage of the completion of the top of the Tower was celebratory and a great joy and sigh of relief to see the finality of such a construction undertaking, as the time-lapse photography illustrates. I was there only briefly after film college as I re-located to Hollywood for 35 years. Sadly, Lee and Don are long gone. The house paved over by the downtown Toronto development. Arthur Campus who is listed in the credits told me it was once a funeral home! The Westminster Film folks in the 1970’s made money in a tough field, top of the game in Canada-run like a family, hard-assed tough, bottom dollar production, intellectual smarts laced with humor and wit of all the staffers and free-lancers. Great to see this 16mm film on UA-cam in 2024!
Thanks for the info and for watching!
Wow. Thanks for sharing!
I knew Don Haldane. I worked with him one block north of Westminster Films on Mutual Street. What are you referring to as "Film College"?
Cool story -thanks for sharing
@@UguysRnuts I spent 1 year of Film at Conestoga College under Vaclav Taborski (still alive at 95) and 2 years of film at Confederation College under Glen Ludlow, where I graduated. I then moved to Toronto.
The music is outstanding considering the topic.
Interesting music indeed. Thank you for watching!
It hurts my ears, every note is insanely emphasized
@@JustinJamesJeepit is loud
Unwatchable because of the shoddy audio
@@JustinJamesJeepnot much brother just taking a dump and watching some UA-cam
I remember watching them build the tower from my grandmother's balcony in North York. Years later I would actually work at the CN Tower.
Amazing story. Thank you for watching!
One of my UofT engineering profs worked on the tower. One day instead of a lecture he brought in his slide show of pictures of his work. Brilliant!
Good idea! Thank you for watching!
That was the great city of Toronto.
Looking at Toronto now, it’s sad how bad it got ever since.
It’s unrecognizable
I think the mayor of Totonto... not good at all?
@@oneskyscraper208 All mayors of Toronto were great until Nathan Phillips, and it's been all down hill from there.
I wish Canadians would return like these guys. Bring it home.
Thank you for your comment!
The men who built the CN TOWER should have a plack with their names on it on the bottom
*plaque. Do better.
Thanks for your comment and for watching!
There is a "Making Of" exhibit in the base of the tower with pictures and names of many of those involved.
I hope it paid a fortune no way you would catch me up there
@serget2168, I am glad you wrote that. I was noting that many of the comments here were about just the helicopter and nothing about those men who stood under those swinging tons of steel and kept their nerve under the most dangerous conditions imaginable and doing it in a human co-operation to benefit humanity. But look at Canada now- unproductive shysters sucking up all around them as others slave and, yes, die for the parasites.
Thank you to all my italian people who built Toronto ❤
Indeed, God bless them!
Thank you for your comment!
It’s a story about Canada. Stfu about Italy u fool
I watched this being built from start to finish, the hole in the ground was enormous. I took the streetcar dozens of time as a young teenager from the west end, New Toronto in Etobicoke (Go Mimico High Go) to watch it grow. Later when I had a family and kids I took them down to watch the Sky Dome being built, even had a bunch of EllisDon steelworkers staying at the house for that one.
Amazing! Thank you for sharing the info.
Truly wild how much the skyline has grown up since then
Oh yes. In the late 1970s, Toronto was the third “best skyline” after New York City and Chicago. Thank you for watching!
When Canada was strong, wealthy and proud.
I agree. Thank you for sharing!
Make Canada Great Again 🇨🇦🇨🇦
@@peteryeung111you sound like the rapist/traitor loving maga scum. I'm sure they be happy to have you. Pos
Wonderful video. Thanks for everything. ☺
Thank you for watching!
Man the music reminds me of when I was a kid! Awesome!!
Interesting music indeed. Thanks or watching!
Hard Buggers back then! My Uncle was a welder on it. Tom Watson,
Amazing! Thank you for sharing the info and for watching!
The music is crazy good!!
Yes, some people like it and some people don't. Thank you for watching!
Years ago, I owned a store at Ossington and Dundas. One of my customer was the wife of one of the construction workers who worked on the CN tower. His best friend was the first person to parachute off the top. I remember her bringing in many pictures of the two of them work on the tower.
Thank you for sharing!
its crazy it only took 2 years to build it, thats insane in my eyes
I agree with you! Thank you for your comment!
Amazing to watch and I loved the music! What an achievement!
Thank you for watching!
What a great documentary...with really groovy music, too! 😄
Interesting music. Thanks for watching!
Respect to Canadian engineers of that time! They done great work !
Yes. Well done!
Thanks for posting this! Today I’m sure constructing this would take three times as long!
Yes, indeed. It's incredible how long some projects take to complete. Thank you for watching!
Not if it were made of block ..They push the masons these days as if the world is going to end tommorow
Forgot what a monumental achievement this was for the City and the Country. My dad worked on Adelaide Street and dragged me out of sr kindergarten to watch them put the top on with "Olga". Now that I'm older I am very grateful for being able to witness this part of Toronto history. On a sidenote, I wonder if the guy who jumped off with a parachute and made it ( I believe he was an ironworker) was in the documentary. A legendary figure and they used to have an exhibit about him in the tower for a while.
Good memories indeed. Thank you for sharing!
I remember as a small child (4 -5 years old) watching them build the CN Tower with helicopters. It was amazing.
Amazing! Thank you for sharing and for watching.
Thanks for the upload!!
Thank you for watching!
Those are genuine hard workin real men right there...probably didn't get paid what they're really worth😣
"Probably did"?
@@user-zr6pl6nb6z wheew..thanks i missed that 👴🍻
yeah they earned 40,000 a year and bought a 20.000 house in 6 months, fuck right off with that
@@FurnishedIgloo No one bought a house in six months.
Thank you for your comment!
I am deathly afraid of heights and seeing these workers walking on the planks made my stomach sink lol Truly remarkable! I’ve gone up the tower many times.
Yes, these workers were very brave, but I guess you get used to working at height. I visited the tower a long time ago. Thank you for watching!
If you're deathly afraid of heights why would you go up the CN Tower many times?
@@user-zr6pl6nb6z I’m ok with heights as long as I’m enclosed. Planes, buildings, etc. but once I’m out in the open? Nope! lol
They should fly a big Canadian flag from the top of the tower every year on Canada Day.
Yes indeed. Thank you for sharing the info.
I recall seeing the distant Sikorsky hovering while I was watching from my front lawn in Scarborough, I was about 11 years old.
Amazing Thank you for watching!
IM A HOISTING ENG AND my teacher was the great Winston young .he was the tower crane operator on the tower the story’s he had and I also have his original pics from the construction of the CN tower wat a great man
ua-cam.com/video/16gqN09XmoY/v-deo.htmlsi=d134dSxR7Jg682Ec
Amazing. Thank you for sharing the info!
amazin documeatry thank you to all the workers on this project :)
Yes indeed! Thank you for watching!
Interesting video. Thanks for sharing.
Thank you for watching!
Back in the days when there weren’t a hundred condos littering the downtown core!
Thank you for sharing!
There weren't immigrants coming by the hundreds of thousands every year either.
great job👍👍
Yes indeed!
Wow, the music goes hard in this doc. 😆
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Geezus. H. Chrysler the music of the ending from Dawn of the Dead! 1978 Outstanding
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In 1973-74 the Russians monitored construction of the CN Tower. They rented offices in highrise buildings in downtown Toronto with a clear view of the construction site. From there they used small rudimentary lasers to measure how the tower twisted - from its base to its spire - due to the Earth's rotation. Since it was the tallest structure in the world, CN Tower provided a rare opportunity to physically model the trajectory of a ballistic missile. Moscow used this information to program actual missiles. Apparently, fifty years ago, programming flight path trajectory in missiles was not fully mature.
None of this is true.
Thank you for sharing the info.
the CN Tower was actually built by Fred Trump, Donald's father...good times
Make Canada great again!!!
Canada is cooked. Especially Toronto and the GTA. I don't even like going to Toronto for anything anymore. Even in my lifetime I've it degrade and become more of a mess.
I think the mayor of Totonto... not good at all?
Totally a well done video ... TY to ALL the brave workers who risk themselves working at such heights. ... was there ever a total of the amt of people that made this accomplishment . And who was the name of the worker who stood last on the very top and raised our beautiful Canadian flag ? .( how often does it get replaced with a new one ? )
Thank you for watching!
FYI. The title of this video is “To the Top”. Made by the National Film Board of Canada.
Thank you for sharing!
I had a friend years ago, who was one of the iron workers at the very top. He had original photos his coworker took of the helicopter bringing in the tower.
Thank you for sharing!
I was lucky enough to watch the tower being built from start to its completion. I worked next to the rail yards and had a clear view of its construction. I especially recall the use of the Sikorsky Crane (helicopter) putting the final parts on the top.
Amazing! Thank you for your comment.
An iron worker jumped off with his parachute when it was near completion.
Thank you for the info!
Great old doc, with classic music, and voices.
Yes indeed. Thank you for your comment!
Built in a year.
Back when Canadians could get things done!
My parents were in their early twenty's my older brother born in 83 me and my twin in 86...they're disgusted how the country became. This old country I wish would return
Back when Canada was still Canadian, not anymore
Nowadays it would have taken three or more times to build it. A simple repair on a street corner can take weeks. It's as if Canada is now full of bureaucrats and few motivated workers. I hope that changes soon... Thank you for watching!
Look at that endomorph Doug Ford recently announcing that Whitby will get a hospital built in TEN YEARS! Our society is circling the drain.
Look at the bonehead we have as premier today. He announced recently that Whitby would be getting a hospital built in TEN years. Our society is circling the bowl.
A close friend was the Lead Ironworker in charge of erecting the steel antennae of the CN Tower.
The iconic photographs of him directing in "Olga" with the final section are on display at the base of the tower.
After the CN Tower job he went to NYC where he was in charge of erecting the steel skeletal framework of World Trade Centre Building Seven, the 47 story Solomon Building, which came down eight hours after the twins, despite not being hit by any airliner.
He eventually retired as the President and CEO of Canron/Dominion but was called back to the WTC's Solomon Building a few years later to do a "special" job lasting for several months and which ended on 9/11/2001
No one had more comprehensive knowledge of what held up Building #7,. Or what brought it down.
He told me the "official" story two days later. That story has since been shown to be false.
My friend died mysteriously in Toronto Harbour in 2010. The spot where his body was found can be seen in the dead centre of the frame at 06:03 in this video. RIP Paul.
Tying up those loose ends 9 years later?
Yep.
Amazing! Can you tell us a little about the real cause of the collapse of WTC 7 or his work there. Thank you for sharing!
@@oneskyscraper208 The Association of Fire Commissioners for NY declared the cause to be as a result of pre-planted explosive charges. The charges served to detonate a nano-thermite paint coating which had been applied to the steel columns and girders accessed through elevator shafts and mechanical areas under the guise of fire-retardent replacement. By this method tons of explosives were delivered and installed in plain view at a high security facility without risk of discovery.
@@oneskyscraper208 The Association of Fire Commissioners for the State of NY declared the destruction could only have been a result of "pre-planted explosives".
The cutting charges detonated the nano-thermite paint coating which had been applied to the columns and girders accessed through elevator shafts and mechanical areas under the guise of "Fire Retardant" remediation. By this means tons of explosives were covertly installed in a high security facility.
Indy and CART racer Paul Tracy's father was in charge of painting the tower. I know this as I was his sister's boss at a unisex clothing store in East York, Toronto back in 1974 and 1975.
Amazing! Thank you for sharing the info.
Great history
Thank you for comment and for watching!
You can ALL thank Local 721. Makes me proud to be an Ironworkers son.
Yes indeed. Thank you for watching!
And after it was built: steve guildault climbed up it for greenpeace, got arrested and is now our environmental minister.
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My uncle john brokered the land deal, he worked at CN.
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dose any body know the song name played at the end of the video?
Not such, could be Bright Industry. Thank you for watching!
Dang, I remember going downtown two, three times a month with my father to watch the progress. It was such an impressive feat to behold as it progressed level by level. When it opened to the public we waited over 9 hours in line to finally make it to the top. Scared the livin 💩outta me but totally worth it.
Amazing! Thank you for sharing your story.
Yes those were the days. I was working for the CN hauling Containers and delivered two pieces of the antenna right to
the base of the tower and sat there walked where allowed to while being unloaded. CN gave employs free passed to go
up the tower after it was finished but I never did use mine and have never been in the tower.
You should go!
Thank you for watching!
man , this sound track is 🔥🔥🔥
Thank you for comment!
I know an electrician who was an apprentice when the CN tower was being constructed, the story goes like this, his job at first was to take coffee orders first thing in morning , then pack them up in a cooler to keep them warm for the guys , then walk up the stairs and back down, EVERYDAY, some apprenticeship 😂
You have to begin somewhere. Thanks for sharing!
This was a big deal when the tower was finished. There was a time when the CN Tower had an annual event where people would climb the internal stairs to the top to raise money for charity.
Thank you for sharing!
I worked for CN in Toronto and did the stair climb a few times.
There were guys who were fat when they first started at the CN Tower. When the job was done they were thin.
Very physical work, and I guess it wasn't always safe... Thank you for watching!
What safety harness? Just dont fall. 😂😂😂
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The CN Tower ending already cut because I have no idea what happened to the other missing film piece.
Thank you for sharing!
“.... built with slide-rule precision...”
oh boy!
Thanks for your comment !
At the 2:00 mark i give a “hats off” to whoever was behind the soundtrack on this as it travels through a Sabbath intro proceeding into a Nick Mason in Pompeii drum solo followed by a Waters bass solo…. Keyboards & then Ian Anderson on the flute!!!
Hilarious and priceless!
Interesting music, indeed! Thank you for your comment!
This commentary reminds me of school on a reel projector
Everything! The commentary, the video, the music, the audio levels.
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A lot of Mohawks also!
Thank you for sharing!
Three guys up top were my upstairs neighbors, crazy buggers 😅
Amazing Thank you for watching!
Back when there was no traffic on Gardiner
Thank you for sharing!
No safety vest or orange shirts at all
I don't see any safety features, but I'm sure they all worked safely (otherwise...) Thanks for your comment!
Great stuff 👍
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Very dramatic music in the intro. Then 70's detective music "where commuter trains don't run"
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It would be interesting to see an interview with the Guys that attached the final sections.
You have no idea of just how much of an understatement your comment is.
The Lead Ironworker who directed 'Olga' in with the final section was a friend of mine.
Thank you for your watching!
a time i wish i could have experienced, felt some pride in my chest, just to remember i was born after the world and a cananda already sunk itself
Thank you for sharing!
I remember we had just come to Toronto Canada migrated in 1975. And we saw the helicopter.
Amazing! Thank you for sharing!
I'm born in 68. I saw them build it. I went up in the Bank of Montreal tower, way up in what was the tall silver bldg with a bright blue M on the top. I looked across at it and the observation deck was just a skeleton still, and the cement was still being poured to complete the lower section. Then I went up in it wyen it was open for business, and looked across to the blag, but it was way lower now to me. Then we went to the skydeck and it was way down there, and cars were dots. Been up the tower a few times over the years. Theres a nice park under it now. Used to be train yards.
Thanks for sharing, very interesting!
Thanks to all the white men who designed and built this tower to last!!!
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The CN Tower made enough money to cover their costs to build it, but the Dome never did
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Amazing what we men do
Yes indeed. Thank you for watching!
I remember reading that as the slip form got smaller and higher, all the workers had to zip line down all the way to Bathurst Street. I was wondering if anyone old enough knows if this is true?
Thank you for sharing!
Amazing to see
Yes amazing. Thank you for watching!
No skydome neither yes i still call it that 😅😊
Skydome is still Skydome to me too. Thank you for your comment!
No safety gadgets, but I'm sure they work safely. Thank you for your comment!
You can see the CN tower on the other side of the lake from the QEW west of St Catharines on clear days anyway
Thank you for sharing the info!