Trudeau opens National Arts Centre

1969 — Ottawa’s National Arts Centre was a Centennial project launched by the Liberal government of Lester B. Pearson. Boasting four theatres, the centre was built on a Rideau Canal property that was the site of a former Ottawa city hall.

Centennial celebrations are over for at least a year when the National Arts Centre is finally completed. Canada has a new Prime Minister, so it is Pierre Trudeau who opens the complex. Referring to the House of Commons, he notes that “after a few visits to the centre, we should be able to improve our own performances in that other publicly supported playhouse across the street.”

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Diefenbaker wants Bank of Canada Governor to step down

1961 — Donald Fleming, Canada’s Finance minister, tells James Coyne that his contract as Governor of the Bank of Canada won’t be renewed. In fact, he says that the cabinet of the John Diefenbaker government wants Coyne to resign.

The Board of the Bank of Canada follows suit by formally requesting his resignation, but on June 13, Coyne refuses to do so. In the summer, the House of Commons passes a bill enforcing Coyne’s dismissal. It goes to the Senate where a committee rejects it. Coyne then resigns, indicating that the Senate’s action has vindicated his honour.

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Second stroke paralyzes Macdonald

1891 — Customs minister, Mackenzie Bowell visits his old friend and leader, Sir John A. Macdonald who is recuperating at his Earnscliffe home after suffering a stroke two days ago. Later in the day, Macdonald has a second, more severe stroke that paralyzes the right side of his body.

Neither man is in the Commons when the Liberals introduce a motion condemning Sir Charles Tupper for campaigning during the recent election while serving as Canada’s High Commissioner to London.

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Pearson and Johnson discuss Vietnam War

1964 — Prime Minister Lester B. Pearson meets secretly with U.S. President Lyndon B. Johnson in New York City. Some of the discussion at that meeting becomes public seven years later through the release of the Pentagon Papers.

A memo in the Papers indicates that Canada was likely aware of Johnson’s plan to bomb North Vietnam half a year before it actually happened. Pearson opposed the use of nuclear weapons generally but appeared to be okay with targeted punitive bombing strikes.

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Pierre and Margaret separate

1977 — Prime Minister Pierre Trudeau and his wife of six years, Margaret, agree to separate at her initiative. Two months earlier, Margaret decided to leave Trudeau for a 90-day trial separation. During that time she made news after seen partying with the Rolling Stones in Toronto.

As part of the permanent separation, a news release from Trudeau’s office indicates that Margaret “reliquishes all privileges as the wife of the prime minister and wishes to leave the marriage and pursue an independent career.”

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Tennis court encounter sparks romance

1973 — Montreal lawyer Brian Mulroney marries Mila Pivnicki, the daughter of Dimitrije and Bogdanka Pivnicki who emigrated from Yugoslavia in 1958.

Mulroney first met the Sir George Williams University student playing tennis at the Mount Royal Tennis Club. Although he was 15 years older than Mila, Mulroney introduced himself and asked her out.

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Thompson becomes premier for less than two months

1882 — John Thompson was Premier of Nova Scotia for just 54 days in 1882. Like most of his political jobs, it was one he neither sought nor wanted. In fact, earlier this month, he had tendered his resignation as a member of the Nova Scotia Assembly.

But the unpopular premier, Simon Holmes, had just resigned and Thompson appeared to be the only viable alternative to lead the Conservatives to the polls. It isn’t enough to stem Tory unpopularity. Thompson’s government loses to the Liberals, while he hangs on to his own seat by a mere 63 votes.

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Macdonald gets nod to be first leader

1867: Viscount Monck, the Governor General of the Province of Canada, appoints John A. Macdonald to be the first Premier of the Dominion of Canada. The title Prime Minister doesn’t come into regular use until the early 1900s.

One hundred years later in 1967, Macdonald’s Kingston home — Bellevue House — is officially opened as a historic site. He lived there for only one year (1848-49), during which time his first son, John Alexander Jr., died.

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Clark steps down as party leader and MP

2004: With the dissolution of Canada’s 37th Parliament, Joe Clark ends his career (for now?) as a Member of Parliament. First elected in 1972 to represent Rocky Mountain, Alberta (later recreated as Yellowhead), he served for two decades, including a brief term as PM in 1979-1980.

He retired in 1993, wisely avoiding the near obliteration of the party under Kim Campbell at the polls. With no one stepping up to lead the party five years later, Clark returned to politics, and two years later became an MP once again, winning a by-election in Kings-Hants, Nova Scotia. In the next election, he ran successfully for the seat in Calgary Centre. An inability to re-grow the party fast enough — and a looming merger with Stephen Harper‘s Alliance Party — convinced Clark to retire from Parliament.

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Meighen fails to settle Winnipeg General Strike

1919 — Canada’s Interior minister, Arthur Meighen, arrives in Winnipeg with cabinet colleague Senator Gideon Robertson, the Labour minister, to deal with the General Strike. It has been running since the beginning of May to agitate for higher wages, and has grown to involve more than 6,000 workers from at least a dozen unions.

Although Robertson urges the city to settle with the workers, he and Meighen are ultimately convinced that the strike organizers are hoping to overturn the local government. They have the government of Sir Robert Borden enact legislation on May 25 to force the labourers back to work. In mid-June, the continuing strike leads to violence and the arrest of the labour leaders.

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