THE 'TRUTH'.
Statutes of Canada's Giants of History are falling faster than the Fall Leaves.
Even Sir John A's, without whom there would be no Canada...which some days one may wonder if that would be all that bad. But if I had to pick only one hero in all of our history it would definitely be Sir John A MacDonald.
He is accused of being the founder of Residential Schools for Natives even though he had died before they were even legislated into law.
He practiced law in Kingston, Ontario and Queen's Law School that I attended was named after this City's favourite son. I even quaffed the odd draft beer at the Princess Street Tap Room which Sir John frequented a few years earlier than I did. Queen's University, in it infinite wisdom in 2020 stripped His Name from the Law School. If I was applying to a Law School over again - hopefully I would choose one other than Queen's.
I got to thinking about this when I read an article in yesterday's National Post by Professor Lynn McDonald entitled 'The historical record vindicates Egerton Ryerson' another Canadian Giant. Here is what she had to say about Ryerson:
- He lived with Ojibway people and learned to speak their language;
- He assisted them with economic development, sharing his own farming skills (he was a farm boy);
- He actively supported their land claims;
- He promoted the careers of Ojibway leaders; and,
- He nominated one leader Sacred Feathers to be the superintendent of Indian Affairs West (Ontario).
