Pierre Elliott Trudeau

Born: October 18, 1919
Died: September 28, 2000
Place of Birth: Montreal, Quebec

• Pierre Trudeau is credited for bringing the Constitution back to Canada from Great Britain.

• Trudeau came from a wealthy family; his father was Quebecois and his mother was of Scottish descent.

• As a youth Pierre Trudeau gained global knowledge and perspective as the family visited various places in the world.

• Trudeau gained an education at several institutions and included a master's degree in Political Economy from Harvard University.

• In 1965, he and two close friends, Jean Marchand and Gerard Pelletier, were invited to run for the Liberal party.

• All three were elected and Trudeau was appointed Minister of Justice in the government of Prime Minister Lester Pearson.

• Pearson resigned in 1968 and Pierre Trudeau made a successful effort to become leader of the party.

• His campaign brought about the term "Trudeaumania" as Trudeau's image and personality made him an instant "star".

• In 1969, his government brought in legislation that created an Act that made the federal government and its agencies officially bilingual.

• He was faced in 1970 with a group known as the FLQ (Federation for the Liberation of Quebec) which was involved in bombings and kidnapping.

• Trudeau successfully enforced the War Measurements Act as a means to combat the FLQ.

• Pierre Trudeau remained an effective and respected voice even after he had resigned from politics.

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Last Updated: February 12, 2009
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