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Born on April 23, 1897, Newton Brook, Ontario
Died on December 27, 1972, Ottawa, Ontario
Buried at MacLaren Cemetery,
Wakefield, Quebec
© Heritage Recording Services
 A
career diplomat who had become a politician, "Mike" Pearson received
the 1957 Nobel Peace Prize for helping to resolve the Suez Crisis.
The United Nations Emergency Force he had proposed became the
first of many worldwide peacekeeping assignments in which Canadian
troops would serve. Soon after, Pearson became leader of the Liberal
Party.
© NAC C-117624 |
Born near Toronto, Pearson served in the First World War and
taught history at the University of Toronto before launching the
diplomatic career that led him into politics. Soon after he assumed
the leadership of the Liberals in 1958, the party suffered one
of its greatest electoral defeats. Pearson stayed on as opposition
leader and led his party back to power in 1963.
Pearson never had a secure majority in Parliament, but he implemented
important social programs, including the Canada and Quebec Pension
Plans and universal health insurance. Pearson also introduced
the maple leaf flag and new initiatives in French-English relations.
Before retiring in 1968, he oversaw Canada's 1967 centennial celebrations.
Lester Pearson died in Ottawa in 1972 and was buried near Wakefield,
Quebec, in the Gatineau hills.
Address of cemetery: Chemin MacLaren, Wakefield, QC
Location map
PDF Version (1.74 Mb)
Directions to MacLaren Cemetary (1.66 Mb)
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