Successful PeoplePresentation: Wilfrid LaurierBy: Sabrina Tamburri

Success

• Success can be defined as, “favorable or desired outcome; also : the attainment of wealth, favor, or eminence.”

• I believe a successful person is one who somehow positively contributes to a community or society and is happy with what he or she is doing.

Background & Early Life• Henri-Charles-Wilfrid Laurier was born on

November 20, 1841 in Saint-Lin, Canada East, today called Saint-Lin-Laurentides, Quebec.

• Laurier is 7th generation in Canada. His ancestor, François Cottineau, came from France.

• His family always talked about politics.• Laurier’s father influenced him to contribute to the

community. • Wilfrid left home to study in New Glasgow at 11

years of age. A neighbouring village largely inhabited by immigrants from Scotland, New Glasgow, gave the opportunity for Laurier to accustom to the British culture and language.

• Laurier attended the College of L'Assomption • He attended McGill University for law.

New Glasgow, NS

McGill

Background & Early Life (Cont’d)

• Was elected, for the first time in 1874 to the Canadian House of Commons

• Chosen as leader of the Liberal Party in 1887

• Victorious in the 1896 election for Prime Minister

• “His vision for Canada was a land of individual liberty and decentralized federalism”

1869

Prime Minister & His Obstacles

• When he was elected as 7th Prime Minister on July 11th, 1896, Canada needed a smart Prime Minister to lead the country through the period of growth, industrialization and immigration at the time.

• He said in a speech in 1904, “Canada has been modest in its history, although its history is heroic in many ways. But its history, in my estimation, is only commencing. It is commencing in this century. The 19th century was the century of the United States. I think we can claim that it is Canada that shall fill the 20th century.”

Prime Minister & His Obstacles (Cont’d)• Since there were both British and French Canadians,

they did not get along too well.• Even though Laurier was French, he tried to satisfy

both French and British.• In the Manitoba Schools Act in 1890, Laurier worked

out a compromise.• Manitoba would no longer have a complete system

of Roman Catholic schools. However, the teachers were still allowed to teach some of the religion during the course of the school day.

• By doing this, Laurier attempted not to anger any people.

Prime Minister & His Obstacles (Cont’d)

• In the 1899 second Boer War, the U.K wanted help from Canada by sending soldiers to fight the Boers.

• The English Canadians wanted to go. Meanwhile, the French Canadians wanted nothing to do with it and wanted to stay out of it.

• Therefore, to satisfy both peoples, once again, Laurier sent some volunteers, not all of them.

• In 1905, he took part in Saskatchewan and Alberta’s entry into Confederation.

• Also created the Royal Canadian Navy in 1910.

Prime Minister & His Obstacles (Cont’d)• Made the construction of a second

transcontinental railway occur.• One of his greatest decisions was in 1909. In

that year the International Joint Commission was set up to make peace between Canada and the U.S.A and settle all future disputes. This was crucial because it made allies with Canada’s neighbor.

Death• Wilfrid Laurier passed away from a

stroke on 17 February 1919.

• The Sir Wilfrid Laurier National Historic Site of Canada is in his birthplace, Saint-Lin-Laurentides, a town 60 km north of Montreal.

• The Laurier House, another National Historic Site, is a handsome brick residence in Ottawa.

• His great job as Prime Minister from 1896-1911 will never be forgotten.

AccomplishmentsMany Places are named in honour of Laurier: Avenue Laurier, located in Montreal, Quebec; and many

other streets The federal electoral district of Laurier—Sainte-Marie A Montreal Metro station, Laurier (Montreal Metro) He’s on the Canadian $5 bill CCGS Sir Wilfrid Laurier Wilfrid Laurier University (Waterloo, Ontario), along with

other educational placesSome Awards and Recognitions: Laurier was ranked #3 (out of 20) of the Prime Ministers of

Canada by J.L. Granatstein and Norman Hillmer. Placed first for Maclean’s historical ranking of Prime

Ministers in 2011 Holds the record for the most consecutive federal elections

won (4) 15 years of P.M remains the longest unbroken term of office

among Prime Ministers.

I think Sir Wilfrid Laurier is a successful person because he contributed to Canada as a whole by allowing Canada to make its own decisions, by having peace with the US, by helping with immigration to Canada and by trying to satisfy both French and British Canadians.

References

• http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wilfrid_Laurier#Prime_minister

• http://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.com/index.cfm?PgNm=TCE&Params=A1ARTA0004558

• http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/success• http://www.uottawa.ca/services/markcom/gazette/00

0602/000602-art04-e.shtml• Wilson.Douglas. (2000). Spotlight Canada. (Fourth

ed). Canada: Oxford University Press.