Statement by the Honourable James Moore, Minister of Canadian Heritage and Official Languages, on the Occasion of Sir John A. Macdonald Day
Ottawa, January 11, 2009
On January 11 every year, we commemorate the birth of one of the greatest Canadians in our history.
John A. Macdonald was born in Glasgow, Scotland, 194 years ago. One of the Fathers of Confederation, Macdonald became Canada's first Prime Minister, serving from 1867 to 1873 and from 1878 to 1891. On July 1, 1867, he was knighted by Queen Victoria in recognition of his extraordinary efforts to unite the country.
Among Sir John A.'s many other noteworthy achievements were the creation of the first Canadian national park, in Banff, Alberta, and the construction of the Canadian Pacific railway.
Canadians should be aware of and appreciate the people and events that have shaped our great country. Commemorating the birth of our first Prime Minister provides an ideal opportunity to revisit our country's history.
On behalf of Prime Minister Stephen Harper and the Government of Canada, I invite all Canadians to reflect on this great man's many accomplishments and his contribution to our proud history as a united, independent country that has welcomed people of all backgrounds from around the globe.
