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Today in Canada's Political History: August 17, 1943, Start of First Quebec Conference During WWII

  • Arthur Milnes

  • National Newswatch

  • August 17, 2026

Arthur Milnes, creator of Art's History on National Newswatch, is an accomplished public historian, award-winning journalist, and in-house historian at the Frontenac Club Hotel who brings Canada's political history to life through engaging stories, historical insights, and personal anecdotes drawn from his encounters with many of the country's leading figures.

Another chapter in the storied history of Quebec City was written on this date in 1943 as the Second World War’s Quebec Conference got underway. Over five days, and hosted by Prime Minister Mackenzie King, Winston Churchill and Franklin Roosevelt, along with their senior military advisors, gathered in top-secret talks to plan the next stages in the Allies' effort to defeat the forces of Nazi Germany, and in particular, plan the campaign that would forever be known as D-Day. Two items of particular interest for readers. Ahead of the conference President Roosevelt spent a number of days enjoying a secret fishing trip at Ontario’s Manitoulin Island. A plaque, in place to this day, marks the spot where the U.S. President and his party camped.

And, at the Quebec Conference itself, a brilliant diplomat, Saul Rae, served as one of the advisors to Prime Minister King. He, of course, was the father of future Ontario Premier and Canadian Ambassador to the United Nations, Bob Rae., demonstrating that public service is part of the Rae family’s DNA.



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.