Volume 2 - ElectricCanadian.com

1901 TO 1914 243were made by the bank to get into touch with the new-comersfrom the United States, who were taking up land in theCanadian West in large numbers. The object was, of course,The success of these effortsto secure their banking business.led to the formation of plans for reachingother nationalitiesthan those speaking the English language, and the momentwas opportune. About this time there took place a largeinflux into Canada of ah'en immigrants of many nationalities,which included Scandinavians and Hollanders from thenorthern parts of Europe, Italians and Greeks from the south,and members of the various Slav and Czech races from theBalkan states, Russia and Austria, in addition to Chinese,Japanese and Hindus from Asia. These settled more or lessall over Canada, from the Atlantic to the Pacific, some ofthem in colonies, and others, especially the Chinese, Greeksand Italians, scattering over the country in pursuit of theirusual occupations of laundrymen, restaurant-keepers, shoeblacks,labourers and fruit-vendors. There was therefore acall to provide banking facilitiessuited to the needs of theseforeigners, many of whom could not speak English, andwere unfamiliar with the business methods of this country.In the United States a similar problem had presented itselfat an earlier date and had been in great measure solved bythe organization of small banks for the avowed purpose ofcatering to the needs of the various alien nationalities. In anyneighbourhood where a colony of one particular nationality ofany size had sprung up, one of these banks would be organized,its staff comprising at least one officer who could speak thelanguage and was familiar with the customs of the foreigners.In Canada there was no legal provision for forming such smallbanks, and the task of providing for the needs of the newcomershad to be taken up by the head offices of the existingbanks, ifanything was to be done. The Canadian Bankof Commerce was the first to enter the field, and in 1909equipped its branches throughout the country with facilitiesfor issuing drafts and making remittances direct to almost