Greatest Canadian: Pierre Trudeau Essay

Pierre Elliot Trudeau was the fifteenth prime minister of Canada. He had many accomplishments that benefited all of Canada which include the official language act of Canada where he made French and English the official languages, the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedom, and the liberalization of laws on abortion, homosexuality and the legalization of lotteries. These are only a few of the many accomplishments that Pierre Trudeau achieved for Canada while his position in Parliament that was important.

Tommy C. Douglas, a politician, Baptist minister, premier of Saskatchewan and first leader of the NDP party was the greatest Canadian. His family had provided a strong background for politics. When he had moved to Canada in 1919, he witnessed the Winnipeg General Strike. From there on, he became a Baptist Minister and the Premier of Saskatchewan in 1944.

Pierre Elliot Trudeau was born on October 18 1919, in Montreal, Quebec, Canada to parents, Grace Elliot and Charles Trudeau. He was elected as Canada’s 15th Prime Minister in 1968 and would last until 1979 and then later from 1980 until 1984. Pierre Trudeau, with his two siblings, grew up in a wealthy household due to his father’s career as a businessman and a lawyer with his two siblings. Pierre Trudeau would attend Collège Jean-de-Brébeuf, an elite Jesuit preparatory school, and soon graduate and later go on to attain his law degree from the University of Montreal where he would become a professor of law. After the retirement of Lester Pearson in 1967, Trudeau would begin campaigning for leadership of the Liberal Party. In 1968, he won post and a couple weeks later was sworn in as the 15th Prime Minster of Canada. Trudeau was Prime Minister for nearly 16 years and became to be known as one of Canada’s most charismatic Prime Ministers.

Pierre Trudeau is one of Canada’s most renowned Prime Ministers. He was in office April 20, 1968, to June 4, 1979, and later on March 3, 1980, to June 30, 1984,.¹ An event that Pierre Trudeau is well known for is the enactment of the War Measures Act during the October Crisis. This decision to invoke the War Measures Act during the October Crisis has led to a great deal of controversy on whether the act was justified. The October Crisis was a series of events in October 1970, these events began with the kidnappings of James Cross and later Pierre Laporte by the group known as the FLQ (Front de libération du Québec) the group’s main goals were to create an independent Quebec.2 The group resorted to terrorist acts in order to achieve those goals, this later led to Prime Minister Pierre Trudeau invoking the War Measures Act. The War Measures Act was a federal statute adopted by parliament during WWI and has been used 3 times; during WWI, WWII and during the October Crisis. The act gives major power to the Canadian government to uphold security during times of great distress.3 Pierre Trudeau was justified in enacting the War Measures Act during the October Crisis. One reason that Pierre Trudeau was justified in invoking the War Measures Act is that the FLQ was essentially a terrorist organization responsible for the deaths and injuries of countless people. Since the group was formed in the early 1960’s, the terrorist group’s acts had only worsened from mailbox bombings to

Looking at Canada and how it is now as a whole, it is not a likely thought that would come to your head everyday and think, where would this country be today if it wasn't for its leaders that started it. Sir John A MacDonald and Sir Wilfred Laurier were two major leaders that contributed their time to build Canada. As they suffered through many conflicts and challenges that they had to over come. As with MacDonald's dispute with the pacific scandal and bringing along colonies under one government, which lead to confederation. Some include Laurier and the Manitoba Act, along with reciprocity with-in Canada and the United States of America.

“The choice, however, is as clear now for nations as it was once for the individual: peace or extinction. ” 1 and Lester B. Pearson was definitely a man of peace. To those who don’t know who Lester B. Pearson is, he’s the fourteenth Prime Minister of Canada, that served from April 22. 1963 - April 20. 1968 2. During his time as Prime Minister, he’s accomplished many things, and that’s why I believe that Lester B. Pearson is the greatest Canadian.

He was controversial and outspoken. He was photographed executing a pirouette behind the Queen's back. He slid down bannisters and had a vast repertoire of funny faces. He made certain to always pin a rose to his lapel. He said things like "just watch me" and "fuddle duddle". He couldn't go out in public without being mobbed by vivacious crowds. We wanted his autograph and to have our photos taken next to him. He held celebrity status. He arguably ignited the most national pride and political interest our country has ever felt. He was Pierre Elliott Trudeau, the 15th Prime Minister of Canada. It was "Trudeaumania".

Pierre Elliott Trudeau was a remarkable man who has made a significant impact in the Canadian society. Trudeau was voted to be the fifteenth Prime Minister of Canada from April 20, 1968 to June 4, 1979. Trudeau has put a lot of effort into making Canada a better place and he was truly passionate. His actions spoke louder than words and he proved to a lot of Canadians how he was the best Prime Minister of the Post- war Era in a lot of people’s eyes. Back then, a lot of people liked and supported him and his actions, that’s why he has been re-elected and continued being Canada’s Prime Minister from March 3, 1980 to June 30, 1984. Trudeau’s ambitious attitude and determination has brought him to all the successes he had made during the fifteen

Throughout Canadian history, a plenty of figures appeared to be significant for the time being. However, out from this great number of candidates that may qualify for the most important Canadian in history, William Lyon Mackenzie King prevails. First elected in 1921 after the Borden's Unionist government failed, Mackenzie King served as the longest serving Canadian head of government ever, holding the office of prime minister for 22 years. During his premiership, Canada developed from an attacked British colony to a major international player, building cornerstones for the golden age of Canadian diplomacy. His war policy made Canada an important contributor in the Allied forces during the World War II, giving supports for British and other

Pierre Trudeau was an effective prime minister because he created the Constitution Act as well as the Charter of Rights and Freedoms, made the Official Languages Act and decided to use the War Measures Act during the October crisis. These made Canada what it is today because of Pierre Trudeau.

Pierre Elliot Trudeau was arguably one of the most vivacious and charismatic Prime Ministers Canada has ever seen. He wore capes, dated celebrities and always wore a red rose boutonniere. He looked like a superhero, and often acted like one too. Some of the landmark occurrences in Canadian history all happened during the Trudeau era, such as patriating the constitution, creating the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms and the 1980 Quebec Referendum. However, it is Trudeau’s 1969 “white paper” and the Calder legal challenge which many consider to be one of his most influential contributions to Canadian history.

Former prime minister, Sir Wilfrid Laurier, believed greatly in what he thought Canada was to become. “The nineteenth century was the century of the United States. I think that we can claim that is it Canada that shall fill the twentieth century. “ was said by Laurier and his words passed almost without notice at the time. However, it did not take long before his words had somehow been transformed into the most famous phrase in Canadian history, “The twentieth century belongs to Canada.” His words showed great confidence and pride in the actions that Canada was supposedly to take to fulfill his vision. He believed that Canada would fill the century, not in size or military might but in progress, growth, and quality of life. Ultimately, he

Up until the end of the 1960s, the French people of Quebec could be seen living as second-rate citizens in Canada. It wasn’t until 1969, that the Official Languages Act was passed by Pierre Elliot Trudeau giving both the English and French languages equal representation in Canadian parliament. Up until then, most documents written by the Canadian government and its affiliates were solely in English and did not recognize French as an official language. In The Hockey Sweater, the character of Mr. Eaton can be equated to the role of the Canadian government. The order forms provided in the Eaton’s catalogue were completely in English even though they were being shipped to a small French town in Quebec. This could be seen as the English speaking people of Canada imposing their language and culture upon Quebec in an almost assimilation-like manner. The lack of equality with regards to the French and English language pre- 1969 led to many people of Quebec feeling subservient to the rest of Canada. The language issue played a vital role in the story of The Hockey Sweater which led to great turmoil just as it did with Quebec’s culture during the

Pierre Elliott Trudeau is called to happiness and holiness. He was a devout Catholic and attended church regularly, showing how he was called to holiness, and subsequently happiness. This is represented by the cross. He was quite an intellectual and would often reference his Catholic faith, either directly or indirectly, in his writings. This is shown through the paper with a peace symbol on it, representing the peaceful values of Catholicism. He lived his life with Catholic values, that led him to happiness in his public and private life. He had made his legacy with the Canadian constitution, something that promoted peace and equality. This shows how he was called to the holiness of God’s word, where community and respect are encouraged. This

It is a proven fact that one cannot proceed without knowledge of the past and that one learns from another person’s mistakes as well as their own. There are thousands of historians around the world that have contributed to making the world what it is to this current day. In the past 150 years Canada has come across phenomenal individuals that have had an impact both domestically and internationally. These personages have surmounted expectations as they have changed military, technological, political, economic, and social history. John Diefenbaker, Craig Kielburger, Roméo Dallaire, Pierre Elliot Trudeau and Mike Lazaridis are just a few of the many Canadians that stepped outside the box to change history forever.