Home > People > Lester B. Pearson: From Peacemaker to Prime Minister

Lester B. Pearson: From Peacemaker to Prime Minister
United Nations peacekeeping. Canada's first Nobel Peace Prize. The Maple Leaf flag. Official bilingualism. The Canada Pension Plan. These are a few of the achievements that can be credited to Prime Minister Lester Bowles Pearson during his 40 years in public service. But the passionate and pragmatic Pearson was also a sportsman, intellectual and war veteran who defied easy definition. Button image courtesy of the Liberal Party of Canada and the National Archives of Canada.		Educational activities about Lester B. Pearson: From Peacemaker to Prime Minister

	From athlete to academic		Canada is more than 'hockey players and quintuplets'		A peacemaker's peacemaker
	A look at Pearson's formative years before politics came knocking at his door. (TV; runs 3:36)		Pearson tackles the ever-elusive Canadian identity in this speech at the United Nations. (Radio; runs 2:40)		Pearson becomes the first Canadian to win the Nobel Peace Prize. (TV; runs 3:19)

	From quiet diplomat to political leader		Front Page Pearson		Prime minister, at long last
	Pearson throws his hat in the ring for the leadership of the Liberal party. (TV; runs 5:33)		The now-popular Pearson makes an appearance on Front Page Challenge, and faces some tough questions. (TV; runs 13:13)		After five years spent as leader of the Official Opposition, Pearson finally wins the country's top job. (TV; runs 4:51)

	Standing up to de Gaulle		'Too intelligent for politics'		Changing of the Grit guard
	As the country reacts to Charles de Gaulle's controversial words, Pearson prepares to deliver his official rebuke. (Radio; runs 11:43)		Pundits and colleagues reflect on Pearson's term in office following his surprise retirement. (Radio; runs 7:29)		Pearson bids farewell to politics as Trudeau is picked as his successor. (TV; runs 8:29)

	Reflections on a life in politics		'We are all Pearson's children'
	Pearson discusses the first volume of his memoirs with Peter Gzowski. (Radio; runs 5:09)		Live coverage of Pearson's state funeral held in Ottawa on a cold Dec. 31, 1972. (TV; runs 10:38)

LINKS Topic from Les Archives de Radio-Canada on the same subject Pearson, le premier ministre diplomate Related Topics from CBC's Archives Peacekeepers and Peacemakers: Canada's Diplomatic Contribution The Great Canadian Flag Debate The Road to Bilingualism The CBC assumes no responsibility for the content of external links.

5 Additional Clips about Lester B. Pearson: From Peacemaker to Prime Minister Printer-friendly topic page Send this page to a friend Add this topic to your personal bookmarks Cite this page

Copyright © CBC 2006 All Rights Reserved Privacy