. ▁In ▁ 1 9 0 6 , ▁after ▁under going ▁training ▁in ▁London , ▁England , ▁A it ken ▁sent ▁N es b itt ▁to ▁open ▁a ▁Royal ▁Sec ur ities ▁office ▁in ▁Montreal , ▁Quebec , ▁the ▁then ▁financial ▁center ▁of ▁Canada . ▁N es b itt ▁prosper ed ▁while ▁working ▁for ▁Royal ▁Sec ur ities . ▁ ▁N es b itt , ▁Thom son ▁and ▁Company ▁ ▁N es b itt ▁had ▁remained ▁in ▁touch ▁with ▁his ▁friend ▁Peter ▁Thom son , ▁and ▁in ▁ 1 9 1 2 ▁the ▁two ▁decided ▁to ▁open ▁up ▁their ▁own ▁stock ▁bro ker age , ▁N es b itt , ▁Thom son ▁and ▁Company , ▁with ▁offices ▁on ▁St . ▁James ▁Street ▁in ▁Montreal ▁and ▁in ▁Hamilton , ▁Ontario . ▁The ▁business ▁provided ▁finan cing ▁for ▁the ▁bur geon ing ▁min ing ▁and ▁natural ▁resource ▁indust ries ▁and ▁under w rote ▁stock ▁and ▁bond ▁issues ▁for ▁the ▁many ▁new ▁electric ▁power ▁generating ▁companies ▁that ▁were ▁spring ing ▁up ▁across ▁the ▁country . ▁N es b itt , ▁Thom son ▁and ▁Company ▁grew ▁to ▁become ▁one ▁of ▁the ▁largest ▁bro ker age ▁houses ▁in ▁Canada . ▁ ▁Power ▁Corporation ▁and ▁other ▁hold ings ▁ ▁By ▁ 1 9 2 5 , ▁N es b itt , ▁Thom son ▁and ▁Company ▁held ▁major ▁equ ity ▁positions ▁in ▁a ▁number ▁of ▁major ▁electric ▁util ities . ▁The ▁two ▁partners ▁established ▁Power ▁Corporation ▁of ▁Canada ▁as ▁a ▁holding ▁company ▁for ▁their ▁substantial ▁interests , ▁with ▁N es