Tootfinder

Good Morning #Canada
On this day in 1948, the longest serving political leader in the British Commonwealth retired. William Lyon Mackenzie King served 21 years and 154 days as Prime Minister of Canada, in non-consecutive terms, from 1921–1926, 1926–1930, and 1935–1948. He led Canada through the Great Depression, introduced Old Age Pensions, nationalized the Bank of Canada, passed the 1938 National Housing Act to improve housing affordability, established the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation, Trans-Canada Air Lines, and the National Film Board, and implemented Unemployment Insurance. His government was also responsible for Japanese Internment Camps, and he believed strongly in the occult.
This video from TVO is an excellent overview of King's career. It's probably a two coffee viewing this morning if you have the time, but IMO worth the investment.
#CanadaIsAwesome #CanadianHeroes
https://www.tvo.org/video/mackenzie-king-at-150

Good Morning #Canada
There is a lot of news coverage about a USA president that lusts after a Nobel Prize like he attacks a family sized bucket of KFC. So let's celebrate that OTD in 1957, the first Canadian won the peace prize - Lester B. Pearson. Before he became our 14th Prime Minister, he spent the majority of his career as a diplomat. He was one of the founders of the United Nations and almost ended up as its first Secretary General. He was instrumental in ending the Suez Canal crisis by suggesting and helping to implement the first U.N. Peacekeeping Force.
#CanadaIsAwesome #CanadianHeroes
https://www.nobelprize.org/prizes/peace/1957/pearson/facts/

Great article on the Safety Boss experience in Kuwait and hoe Canadian innovation and ethics made a huge difference.
#CanadianHeroes
https://legionmagazine.com/gulf-war-aftermath/

Good Morning #Canada
#HappyBirthday to William Eldon O'Ree, born October 15, 1935, in Fredericton New Brunswick. O'Ree is recognized for being the first black player in the National Hockey League, playing as a winger for the Boston Bruins. His accomplishment of breaking the colour barrier in the NHL has led him to sometimes be referred to as the "Jackie Robinson of hockey." But O'Ree's legacy goes well beyond the small number of games he played in the NHL. He has spent his non-playing days as an ambassador for hockey and focused on diversity and expanding the audience for the sport. His post hockey career is undoubtedly why he has collected so many honors and awards.
#CanadaIsAwesome #CanadianHeroes
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Willie_O'Ree

Good Morning #Canada
#HappyBirthday to Sir Isaac Brock (1769 - 1812), who kept Canada from becoming the 51st state. Technically, we would have become the 19th at that time if the U.S. didn't retreat so frequently. Brock was the military commander and administrator of Upper Canada when the War of 1812 commenced. His early capture of Fort Mackinac, forcing the total surrender of American troops, was a rallying cry for Canada and took away USA military momentum. His actions in that victory were considered rash, and his next rash decision cost him his life at the battle of Queenston Heights.
#CanadaIsAwesome #CanadianHeroes
https://thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/sir-isaac-brock

Good Morning #Canada
On the eve of #RemembranceDay, it's fitting that we wish a ##HappyBirthday to Charles Cecil Ingersoll Merritt, who was born on this day in 1908. Merritt was the first Canadian recipient of the Victoria Cross in #WWII, the highest award for bravery among troops of the British Empire. He was also the son of Captain Cecil Mack Merritt, who was killed in the Second Battle of Ypres on April 23rd, 1915. Merritt commanded The South Saskatchewan Regiment, Canadian Army, (Canadian Infantry Corps), and led his regiment at the failed Dieppe Raid on August 19th, 1942. He led multiple charges against fortified positions, was wounded twice, and stayed on the beach to defend his troops as they were withdrawn. He was captured by the Germans and remained a prisoner until the end of the war.
#CanadaIsAwesome #CanadianHeroes
https://thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/charles-cecil-merritt-vc