The story of Canada's development as a nation is the story of its waterways. In a land of virgin wilderness, rivers were the highways that opened up the interior to trade and settlement. As the trading empires unfolded, many forts and garrisons were built to protect conflicting economic interests. Sites featured in this film include the walled city of Louisbourg on Cape Breton, the Halifax Citadel, the Rideau Canal, and Manitoba's Lower Fort Garry.