The Greatest Canadian

Last week after a long campaign and documentaries on CBC of the 50 greatest Canadians the vote was finally tallied. And the winner was.... Tommy Douglas.

Douglas is virtually unknown outside Canada, and the decision is even more outstanding as few of the younger generation have ever heard of him either. But his campaign was brilliant, using a Much Music VJ as his presenter.

Born in Scotland, he grew up in Manitoba before becoming a Baptist minister in Saskatchewan at the beginning of the Great Depression. His political career began as an advocate for local farmers in Saskatchewan.

Douglas moved on to provincial politics with the CCF party a Labour party in western Canada, and later in Federal politics,he was the first leader of the NDP (New Democratic Party) At the time Douglas was considered a radical , and sometimes termed a communist, however many of the causes he championed are the most cherished rights of Canadians today