1960’s A Change in Human Rights Trudeau, A Symbol of His Time

1960s Canada   December 15, 1964- After emotional debates over developing a new Canadian flag, the liberal government was able to change the flag from the British Union Jack to the Maple leaf we know today. French wanted no similarities to Britain, English wanted some connection

Canada turned 100 in 1967- Committees across Canada worked on Centennial dedications and projects.   Queen Elizabeth came to cut the biggest birthday Cake ever made in Canada (July 1, 1967)

EXPO ‘67- One of the most successful world fairs in history, took place in Montreal. Had exhibits from around the world (areas: science, technology, and arts).   Significance of Expo ‘67: French and English Canadians were able to temporarily set aside differences -Put Canada front and center on the world stage (over 50 million visitors came to Montreal in 1967)

Feminist Movements- Women began seeing themselves as equal, demanding equal pay and rights, and a movement towards equality began.   Aboriginal Movement- Native Canadians also began trying to get equal rights and their own distinction as a distinct society (like the French had been doing for years)

New Morality- emerged, producing a more permissive society, especially when it came to sex. Concerns of overpopulation led to medical science to develop birth control pills. Sex was in books and magazines, and less Canadians were going to Church and believing in organized religion.   Although first coming out in the 1950s, Playboy magazine became a symbol of a sexual revolution: Although it was objectifying women, Hefner wanted to make a serious journalistic vehicle and often took a progressive stance for women It discussed abortion rights, civil rights movement, the war in Vietnam, the emerging drug culture, feminist issues, and it is also claimed that the playboy lifestyle showed women were free to live and love as they liked.

Trudeau Arrives In the 1960s the baby boomers were now teenagers, and were looking for a change from old-fashion politicians.   Trudeau came to Ottawa in 1965. He was ‘scandalise’ in style and attitude. Trudeau wore capes, sandals, sports jackets. He partied with celebrities, danced, dove into hotel pools with clothing on, jumped on trampolines and ran and pirouetted in the streets. John Lennon and Yoko Ono with Pierre Trudeau, December 22, 1969 In his 50s he married a beautiful ‘free spirited’ woman, Margaret, who was only 22. She was always in tabloids and newspapers, where they would question her morality (would later run off with the Rolling Stones)

Trudeau appealed to youth and those wanting social change.   1968 Trudeau becomes leader of Liberal party and calls an election (wanted to create a majority government- would give him more power to make drastic changes in Canada). Election campaign grew quickly and was like a rock concert. Cheering crowds swarmed their new ‘hero’, girls would scream and chase him through the streets, etc.

Trudeaumania was a name the media had gave to the Canadian reactions to Trudeau, because of its similarity to the reception the Beatles received (Beatlemania 1964-5).

Trudeau would become one of the most influential and one of the longest serving Prime Ministers of Canada.   He believed in a ‘just society’. He made reforms to Divorce Laws, abortion and birth control, and Laws on Homosexuality, claiming that “The state does not belong in the bedrooms of the nation” (Pierre Elliot Trudeau)

Implementation of War Measures Act, 1970 (“Just watch me...”) During his 16 years as prime minister he also made the following changes: Official Languages Act, 1969 (French and English are Canada’s two languages) Implementation of War Measures Act, 1970 (“Just watch me...”) Wage and Price controls, 1977 Appointed Jeanne Sauve first woman speaker of House of Commons, 1980 Canadian Charter of Rights, 1982 Partition of Canadian Constitution, 1982 Appointed Jeanne Sauve first woman Governor General, 1984