One foggy night in May of 1914, two ships collided on the St. Lawrence River. The Empress of Ireland, with 1,477 souls aboard, sank in less than 15 minutes. An estimated 1,012 people perished.

This souvenir catalogue leads you through the atmosphere of celebration following the departure from Quebec City, the confused encounter in the fog, the fateful collision with the collier and the desperate rush to escape the sinking vessel.

Artifacts from this once-splendid ocean liner and historical photos help bring to life stories of loss and rescue, despair and bravery that were all part of the greatest maritime disaster in Canadian history.