Our two greatest leaders, Sir John A. Macdonald of Kingston and Sir Wilfrid Laurier, are the only Prime Ministers whose birthdays are officially marked on the Canadian calendar.
Today, of course, is Sir Wilfrid Laurier Day by an Act of Parliament and it is therefore a great pleasure to honour the great man, on this, his 184th birthday. Our first French-Canadian Prime Minister, Laurier held office from 1896 to 1911 and these years were marked by boundless optimism for Canada’s prospects as the 20th century dawned.
The very unity of Canada was the cause of Laurier’s life and it is right and fitting we continue to honour him today. Happy birthday Sir Wilfrid!