Canadian History: Lester Bowles Pearson

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Over the years, plenty of great Canadians have achieved and shaped Canada to what is it today. One individual by the name of Lester Bowles Pearson changed Canada in a way very few have. Pearson was born in 1897 in a small town just outside of Toronto (www.nobelprize.org). His parents Edwin Pearson and Annie Sarah raised him. Little did they know their son would be one of the greatest Canadians of all time. Pearson was known as a diplomat, professor, historian and the Prime Minister of Canada from 1963-1968(www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca). Lester B. Pearson was a remarkable man with a dream to put Canada on the map and he did so not only in a domestic way, but also in an international way. In particular, his idea to give Canada a new flag, the creation of the Royal Commission on Bilingualism and Biculturalism and his efforts to prevent a world war, which lead him to a Nobel Peace Prize.

During the time, many questions were asked if Canada should have its own flag. Canada’s flag was still the Union Jack because they were closely connected with Britain, however, some Canadians believed it was time for Canada to have a flag to represent their country. Canada was around for 96 years and still had no flag (www.cbc.ca). The chance for Canada to have its own flag was put off for many years until Lester B. Pearson became PM of Canada. His dream as Prime Minister was to help change Canada for the better and this was one way he did so. In 1963, Pearson pitched his own ideas for a new flag in a speech. Many boos echoed throughout the crowd, which came to a huge surprise to him. The reason so was because Canada was still largely populated with British citizens who believed Canada should stay loyal to their mother country. Diefenbaker, the le...

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...e Laurendeau and Davidson Dunton went across Canada to see how to Canada could preserve the French and English relations. With the creation of Royal Commission, it changed how the francophones were treated in Canada. Pearson made them feel equally important in any circumstances.

In conclusion, Lester B. Pearson will be someone who Canadians will never forget. He did so much in both a domestic way such as the new flag for Canada and the Royal Commissions on Bilingualism and Biculturalism and in an international way like deflating the situation in Egypt. He saved the world from a possible world war. Pearson achieved his goal to show how Canada had a place in the world. He made Canada known by being amazing peacekeepers. He died on December. 27, 1972 (www.canadianencyclopedia.ca). An airport in Toronto, a theatre and multiple schools named after him are in memory.

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