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The Canadian Pacific Navigation Company was a steamship company based in Victoria, British Columbia established by Captain John Irving (b. 1854 - d. 1936) who had previously been involved in operating a steamer service between Victoria and New Westminster. When Canadian Pacific Navigation Company was established 1883, it acquired three Hudson's Bay Company ships. The company also operated ships serving the B.C. coast and southeastern Alaska.

In 1901, the company was bought by the Canadian Pacific Railway Company becoming the steamship division of C.P.R. The fleet initially continued to be operated under the Canadian Pacific Navigation Company name while finances and mortgage ownerships were sorted out. By 1903 the mortgages had been paid off and the remaining shares were registered under the name of the Canadian Pacific Railway. Canadian Pacific Navigation Company was then formally wound down and the fleet operated as the Canadian Pacific Railway British Columbia Coast Steamship Service.

The Canadian National Railway was established in 1918 by the Canadian Government during a period that saw the nationalization of several bankrupt railway companies. In 1919, the Grand Trunk Pacific Railway failed and was taken over by the C.N.R. The Grand Trunk Pacific had operated four passenger steamships on the B.C. coast and several sternwheelers on the Skeena River and these services became part of Canadian National Steamships. Until 1975, the C.N.R. operated passenger ships connecting B.C. and Alaska.

A term to describe the commercial shipping industry. The title “Merchant Navy” was bestowed on British merchant fleets by King George V after their crucial service in WWI. It recognized the importance of merchant ship crews and their vessels in war. It was applied to Canadian and other merchant fleets. The term “Merchant Marine” is used in the United States.