Canada Unfinished

Canada is a country still in search of itself – built, yet not complete.

Despite our prosperity, we often seem hesitant to celebrate ambition or imagine what greatness might look like here. That tension has fascinated me my entire life.

I was born in Edmonton, but in 1969 my father moved our family to Calgary to join a pioneer ranching family building an integrated beef business. Living on that ranch south of the city gave me a profound sense of freedom and connection to the land that has stayed with me ever since. I don’t think I’m alone in that feeling – many Canadians share it. We all have a place that grounds us, that reminds us of who we are and why this country matters.

For most of my adult life, I’ve been interested in Canada – not just as a place to live, but as a country to understand. My career has taken me from food ventures to financial services, but a constant thread has been my curiosity about people who build. In 2006, I joined a Canadian bank to work within its Private Bank and Private Investment Counsel, helping successful families manage and transition their wealth. What began as a job soon became a calling. I found myself drawn to their stories – their wins and losses, the sacrifices behind the success and the complex relationship Canadians have with achievement itself.

In 2015, that curiosity led me to co-found Grayhawk Investment Strategies, a firm built to help families pass on not just their assets, but the values behind them. Over the years, I’ve spoken with hundreds of remarkable Canadians – entrepreneurs, creators, scientists and leaders from every corner of the country. Again and again, I heard the same uneasy theme: in Canada, success is something we acknowledge quietly but rarely celebrate.

Too often, those who take risks and create prosperity for others are met with scepticism rather than admiration. This lack of recognition matters. It shapes how we see ourselves and what we believe we can achieve. At the same time, our regional divisions have deepened, leaving us without a clear national story. We have no coherent plan for food, energy, or infrastructure – no shared ambition for what kind of country we want to become.

The signs are clear. Our ambition is fading, and our unity fraying. Yet I believe we still have everything it takes to build the next great chapter for Canada.

This book is my effort to begin that work – through a simple but powerful idea: asking questions.

I wanted to understand how extraordinary Canadians – builders, creators, and leaders – think about success, identity and belonging.

To reflect Canada’s diversity, I’ve organized the book regionally – Atlantic, Quebec, Ontario, the West, and the North. Each region holds its own lessons: resilience in the Atlantic, cultural pride in Quebec, reinvention in Ontario, entrepreneurial drive in the West, and a sense of belonging to the land in the North.

By listening to remarkable Canadians in each of these places, we can see both the fractures and the connective tissue that define us. This is, at its heart, a national conversation through 100 voices – an exploration of what holds us back, what binds us together, and what might yet propel us forward.

Canada is unfinished. The best chapters of our story are still ahead of us. My invitation to you is to imagine what they could be – and to consider the role you might play in writing them.

Michael Kaumeyer is Vice Chair of Nicola Family at Nicola Wealth, one of Canada’s leading private investment firms.

A respected business leader, entrepreneur and philanthropic advocate, he has built and advised companies, families and communities at the highest levels.

The founder of Grayhawk Wealth, Michael has spent the last 20 years helping families preserve, grow and give meaningfully from their wealth. His work blends financial stewardship with a deep belief in relationships, legacy, and purpose.

He serves as Vice President of the Ranchmen’s Club in Calgary, sits on the Board of the Montreal Economic Institute (MEI), and is a supporter of the Shorefast Foundation and many other Canadian charities.

Michael is also the founder of 1-Table, a movement that promotes and supports Canadian unity through conversation, connection, and shared purpose.

A lifelong storyteller, Michael hosts an upcoming podcast exploring Canadian resilience and origin stories. He lives in Calgary with his wife Deborah and their black Labrador, Daisy, and is the proud father of two sons, Max and Louis, who – like their grandfather – both work in the agriculture sector.

Sutherland House, an independent Toronto-based publishing house specializing in works of nonfiction.

Established in 2017 by Canadian author and publishing executive, Kenneth Whyte.

With a firm commitment to delivering engaging nonfiction narratives to readers worldwide, Sutherland House prides itself on its diverse catalogue, spanning biography, memoir, history, business, culture, and current affairs. In a quest for excellence, they strive to curate a collection of titles that resonate deeply with our global English-speaking audience.

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