D'Alton Corry Coleman | |
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| Born | July 9, 1879 Carleton Place, Ontario, Canada |
| Died | October 17, 1956 (aged 77) Montreal, Quebec, Canada |
| Occupation(s) | Railway executive and businessman |
| Employer | Canadian Pacific Railway |
| Children | 2, including Jim Coleman |
| Honours | LL.D. (Hon), DCL (Hon), Knight of Grace in The Most Venerable Order of the Hospital of St. John of Jerusalem |
D'Alton Corry Coleman CMG KStJ (July 9, 1879 – October 17, 1956) was a Canadian railway executive and businessman. He began working for the Canadian Pacific Railway (CPR) in 1899, and was promoted through its ranks until serving as president from 1942 to 1947. He oversaw expansion which added 3,620 kilometres (2,250 mi) of branch lines in the Canadian Prairies, and guided Western Canada railways through the Great Depression. He developed the CPR to support logistics during World War II, including manufacture of munitions, expanded shipbuilding and established one of the country's first private blood donation clinics. Canadian Pacific Air Lines was established under his leadership, and he became chairman of the Canadian Pacific Steamship Company, Canadian Pacific Hotels and other subsidiaries. He maintained good relations between the CPR and its unionized workers and believed in promoting from within the company.
Coleman developed a love for reading history at a young age, became city editor of The Belleville Intelligencer by age 18, and kept a large personal library on Canadiana. He was the father of sports journalist Jim Coleman, served as the vice-president of the Montreal Canadiens, and owned a horse racing stable which produced the winner of the 1943 Canadian Derby. Coleman had a long association of community service with the Navy League of Canada, and served in executive positions on multiple financial institutions including the Bank of Montreal and the Metropolitan Life Insurance Company. He served on the board of governors for the University of Manitoba, McGill University and the University of Bishop's College; and received honorary law degrees from Manitoba and Bishop's. He was made a Knight of Grace in The Most Venerable Order of the Hospital of St. John of Jerusalem in 1943, and appointed a Companion of the Order of St Michael and St George in 1946.