Alfred James Towle "Fred" Taylor was the driving force behind the Lions Gate Bridge. An engineering contractor born in Victoria, he spent years winning over governments and British investors.
- Taylor was born in Victoria on 4 August 1887. He died in New York on 20 July 1945. Source S101Source S102
- In 1912 he founded the firm that became Taylor & Young Engineering. Source S101
- In 1926 he moved to England to look for British money to develop the West Vancouver slopes. Source S101
- In December 1930 the Taylor group took control of the First Narrows Bridge Company. Secondary sourceSource S083
- The Canadian Register of Historic Places says he shaped the design and organised the financing. Source S001
- At the opening ceremony on 26 May 1939 he was honoured and gave a speech. Secondary sourceSource S058Source S103Source S221
- After the bridge opened, Taylor and his deputy John Anderson left the First Narrows Bridge Company, according to the North Shore Heritage Preservation Society. Secondary sourceSource S221
- In 1940 the British government asked him to help coordinate British and American factories. Secondary sourceSource S083
ID LGB-P-0001