KEVIN LIANG

Lester B. Pearson1963-1968

The Early Years

Lester Bowles Pearson was born in Newton Brook, Ontario in 1897

His father was a Methodist minister

Excellent athlete and student

Enrolled in history at the University of Toronto

Received the nickname Mike

Rise To Power

Joined the Department of foreign affairs

Became Canada’s Ambassador to the United States

He had an important part in founding both the United Nations and NATO

Won the Noble Peace Prize for defusing the Suez Crisis through the United Nations

Rise to Power cont’d

Won in seat in the House of Common for Algoma East under the Liberal Party

After St. Laurent’s resignation Pearson was elected leader of the Liberal Party

Became Prime Minister of Canada in the 1963 general election

Accomplishments as a PM

Accomplished many things under a minority government

Brought in Universal Healthcare, the Canada Pension Plan, and the Canada Student Loans

Established the new national flag, the Maple Leaf. Established legislations such as the 40-hour work

week, two weeks vacations time, and a new minimum wage

Improved Canada-US relationship Started a number of Royal Commissions Instituted a race-free immigration system

Issues that were Unsuccessfully Tackle

Unable to limit Conservative power during elections

Signed the Automotive Products Trade Agreement

Did not send troops to Vietnam

Deteriorated the situation between Canada and France

The Final Days

Announced on December 14, 1967 his retirement from politics

A new liberal leader was called: Pierre Trudeau

Served as Chancellor of Carleton University in Ottawa

Died in 1972 and was buried just north of Gatineau, Quebec

Lester B. Pearson’s Impact

“Pearson’s Canada is today’s Canada”

Established the things that made Canadians feel proud

Created a sense of nationalism

After Pearson, French was made an official language, and the Canadian government would provide services in both

Truly Great and Textbook Great

“The choice, however, is as clear now for nations as it was once for

the individual: peace or extinction”

Lester B. Pearson

Bibliography

Internet "Pearson-Profiles-First Among Equals." 2010.

<http://www.collectionscanada.gc.ca/2/4/h4-3350-e.html>. "Lester B. Pearson - MiniBio." Canadian Content. N.p., n.d. Web. 4

Jan. 2010. <http://www.canadiancontent.net/people/politics/Lester-B.-Pearson.html>.

"Lester B. Pearson - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia." Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. N.p., n.d. Web. 4 Jan. 2010. <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki>

Book Cohen, Andrew. Lester B. Pearson. London: Penguin Canada,

2008. Print. Film Lester B. Pearson . Dir. Andrew Cohen. Perf. Andrew Cohen. TVO,

2009. Film.