It was on this day in 1965 that the results came in after a federal election featuring three great Canadian party leaders -- legends really -- leading the three major parties.When the polls closed Canadians had granted Lester B. Pearson his second minority government after he faced off against John Diefenbaker and Tommy Douglas.Among the MPs sent to the Commons that year for the first time was a Montreal professor by the name of Trudeau. He joined the re-elected John Turner and Jean Chrétien in the Pearson caucus. All three men, of course, would become Prime Minister in the years ahead.As for Mr. Diefenbaker, almost alone -- and with Olive at his side -- barnstormed the country, traveling by campaign train, a Canadian version of Harry Truman's 1948 whistle-stop success. While he did not return to the office he had held from 1957 to 1963, his train tour and unmatched skill on the hustings resulted in his holding the Liberals to a minority.Mr. Douglas also brought his legendary oratorical skill to the election, rounding out a wonderful campaign.Perhaps best of all, 75 per cent of Canadians did their duty and cast ballots that special year. Canadian democracy was healthy and impressive, a good omen for all.So don't forget to toast Mr. Pearson, Mr. Diefenbaker and Mr. Douglas as you go about your business today.It was also on this date in 1867 that Father of Confederation Sir Charles Tupper delivered his maiden remarks in Canada’s House of Commons. Here is a link to the Hansard report of the day.caption id="attachment_549203" align="alignleft" width="220" PM Row: Pierre Trudeau, John Turner, Jean Chretien and Lester Pearson/captionArthur Milnes is an accomplished public historian and award-winning journalist.  He was research assistant on The Rt. Hon. Brian Mulroney’s best-selling Memoirs and also served as a speechwriter to then-Prime Minister Stephen Harper and as a Fellow of the Queen’s Centre for the Study of Democracy under the leadership of Tom Axworthy.  A resident of Kingston, Ontario, Milnes serves as the in-house historian at the 175 year-old Frontenac Club Hotel.