On this date in 1986 Canada’s “last living Father of Confederation,” Newfoundland’s Joey Smallwood, was invested as a Companion of the Order of Canada. A living legend in his own time and beyond, he played the leading role in bringing Newfoundland into Confederation.
And being who he famously was, Smallwood stirred up controversy because he had at first insisted on receiving a Knighthood! When this type of honour was rejected, he had to make do with the Order of Canada!
You can read his Order of Canada citation below.
A former journalist, radio broadcaster and labour activist, the sole living Father of Confederation spearheaded the movement which culminated in Newfoundland becoming the 10th province of Canada. Premier of Newfoundland for 21 years, he won the hearts of Newfoundlanders and Canadians alike who refer to him fondly as "Joey".
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Joey Smallwood/caption
Arthur 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.
Arthur 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.