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For further information please visit:
LocalPushGlobalPull.com
OilSandsHistory.com
Synopsis
Not many people can say that seeing
a newspaper advertisement from 1915
would forever change the direction of
their lives, but Joyce e. Hunt can. In the
mid-1970s, while living in the oil sands
heartland of Fort McMurray, Alberta,
this educator and perennial student
of history came across an ad from an
early edition of the Edmonton Bulletin.
It encouraged the public to “forget that
silly talk about Calgary oil fields,” and
invest in a company preparing to drill
“in the real oil fields of the great north,
where the oil actually tis.”
This evidence of great enthusiasm
for Alberta’s vast oil sands resource
potential at such an early stage in
the game ignited in Joyce a profound
fascination. She began scouring private,
provincial, state, and national archives
for more information about oil sands
development in the period between
1900 and 1930, uncovering a surprising
story of drive, perseverance and
progress-a
story that truly has never
been told before.
Joyce’s extensive analysis of primary
source historical material offers
compelling parallels between the
trials and tribulations faced by early
players and the challenges affronted by
contemporary developers, including
fickle economics, logistical mountains,
technology breakthroughs, and
changing regulations. This is the story
of the personalities and projects that
laid the foundation for their successors
to overcome seemingly insurmountable
tests and win one of the greatest energy
resources the world will ever know.
Endorsements
"Joyce Hunt’s timely, meticulously researched and extraordinarily
interesting account will engage all who might wish to place
contemporary oil sands development in historical context."
Dr. David H. Breen, Emeritus Professor of History.
Department of History, University of British Columbia Vancouver
"Joyce Hunt has taken the development of the oil sands of western Canada and created
a most interesting and intriguing story that often reads like a novel instead of a very
important historical book. She has not only provided an extremely well documented
history, but also has created a most readable story. I recommend this book on oil sands
history to all readers not just historians."
Dr. William R. Brice, Ph.D. Professor Emeritus, Geology and Planetary Science, University of Pittsburgh, Past President: Petroleum History Institute, Editor: Oil-Industry History, Author: Myth, Legend, Reality: Edwin Laurentine Drake and the Early Oil Industry
"This book documents the early days of a game-changing quest for energy independence
by many players. The documentary boldly describes and illustrates the interplay of local and global forces.
It invites the reader to realize that the end of the final story is ultimately far in the future. This narrative presents
technical, political, and economic factors, all overlain by human-interest stories of courage, perseverance,
and initiative. It’s a story of promises made and promises broken, a story of rugged conditions, of pioneering
discovery and fortitude, a story of innovation and it’s a story of the market place."
John H. Dyck, P.Eng., Ph.D. Saskatoon, SK, Canada.
"Joyce and Peter Hunt have made a significant contribution to capturing the
history, spirit and heroic efforts of the pioneers at the earliest stages of oil
sands development. Canadians need to know that these pioneers of the oil
sands created a legacy for the country that we should all be proud of."
Rick George, President and CEO Suncor Energy, Inc.
"“Local Push Global Pull is a story about vision, perseverance,
courage and entrepreneurship that represent the qualities of leadership
required for the 21st Century development of the oil sands resource. I want
to congratulate Joyce and Peter for a publication that ensures we don’t forget
where we have come from and inspires all of us who are now involved in
creating the future of Canada’s oil sands resource."
Steve Williams, Chief Operating Officer, Suncor Energy, Inc.
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