A man who was instrumental in making the Welland Canal one of Canada's greatest engineering feats has largely been overlooked by history, apart from the St. Lawrence Seaway port that bears his name.

John Laing Weller richly deserves this eponymous new biography. His story will appeal to readers fascinated by the history of the pivotal inland waterway, and by the people who lifted massive lakers and ocean freighters over the Niagara Escarpment.

Author Peggy Muntz was 12 in 1932 when Weller, her grandfather, died in Hamilton, where he lived the last 13 years of his life. She traces the career of a man compared to Major-General George Washington Goethals, the U.S. Army engineer who directed construction of the Panama Canal.

Weller, a graduate of Royal Military College, managed a project that likewise entailed daunting engineering requirements. He supervised the survey, design and construction of the fourth Welland Canal -- the modern version -- between 1912 and 1917.

His task was to build a longer, wider and deeper canal on a shorter, north-south route across the escarpment to replace an inefficient, outdated facility. Weller patterned the famous twinned locks after those of the Panama Canal and he created an artificial harbour at Port Weller.

He experienced disappointment as well as success. Although the canal was to have been completed in 1918, the government abruptly suspended construction to concentrate on the war effort.

Weller left the public service and moved to Hamilton, where he bought a house on Bay Street South. Work on the canal proceeded at a snail's pace in the absence of the engineer known for getting things done.

Weller lived to see the canal finally open for navigation, but sadly, he died at 70 -- only 2 1/2 months before its official inauguration on Aug. 6, 1932.

The author who wrote the definitive history of HMCS Haida has produced a pictorial softcover that illustrates Canada's most decorated warship in its prime.

In HMCS Haida: Anatomy of a Destroyer, Barry Gough (who wrote HMCS Haida: Battle Ensign Flying in 2001) gives readers a bow-to-stern tour of the destroyer now based at HMCS Star.

The best of 200 black-and-white photos show Haida's crew in action: rescuing survivors from a sinking merchant ship, firing the guns, manning the anti-aircraft pom poms, launching torpedoes, battling icy conditions in the North Atlantic and Arctic and keeping constant watch.

John Laing Weller: The Man Who Does Things

By Madelein (Peggy) Muntz

(Vanwell, $22)

HMCS Haida: Anatomy of a Destroyer

By Barry Gough

(Looking Back Press, $22.95)