A Firm Grip and a Calloused Hand: The Stories of Rudy Jacobs, Canadian Pioneer

When arriving in Canada in 1929, Rudolph Jacobs was a trained electrician and mechanic, but he spoke no English. He was hired as a bush cutter based on a reassuring firm grip and the calloused texture of his hand. Years on, when Rudy himself was boss, he used the same reliable method to hire honest, hard-working people.

These are the fascinating tales of an enterprising German immigrant who started with nothing and built a rich life and family in the wilds of Western Canada.

From the early days of homesteading in Northern Alberta, to trailblazing the Monkman Pass, building The Alaska Highway and the first Trans-Canada Microwave System, Rudy's rich experiences paint a picture of a man forever driven by adventure and the prospect of opportunity.

Retold by his eldest son Francis Jacobs - without embellishment but with a pleasing economy of words - these are Rudy's stories.