Diefenbaker Canada Centre facts for kids
Diefenbaker Canada Centre
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| Established | 1980 |
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| Location | Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada |
| Type | Prime ministerial museum and archives |
The Diefenbaker Canada Centre is a special place in Saskatoon, Canada. It is a museum and an archive. This centre honors John G. Diefenbaker, who was Canada's 13th Prime Minister. It helps people learn about his life and Canada's history.
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Discover the Diefenbaker Canada Centre
The Diefenbaker Canada Centre is officially known as the Right Honourable John G. Diefenbaker Centre for the Study of Canada. It opened its doors on June 12, 1980. This centre is located on the campus of the University of Saskatchewan. It serves as a lasting tribute to a very important Canadian leader.
Who Was John G. Diefenbaker?
John G. Diefenbaker was a lawyer and politician. He served as Prime Minister of Canada from 1957 to 1963. He was known for his strong beliefs in human rights and equality. He also worked to unite Canada. His time as Prime Minister was a period of big changes for the country.
How the Centre Began
John G. Diefenbaker became the chancellor of the University of Saskatchewan in 1969. He offered to donate his personal items and papers to the university. His condition was that a special building be built to keep them safe. He wanted a place where people could see and learn from his collection.
Diefenbaker was inspired by a similar place in the United States. He had visited the Harry S. Truman Presidential Library and Museum. This visit gave him the idea for his own centre in Canada. The university agreed to his generous offer. Construction on the centre began soon after.
What You Can See at the Centre
The Diefenbaker Canada Centre has two main parts: a museum and an archive. Both parts offer unique ways to explore Canadian history. They focus on the life and work of John G. Diefenbaker.
The Museum Exhibits
The museum has a permanent exhibit about Diefenbaker's life. You can see replica rooms that look just like his offices. These include the Prime Minister's Office and the Privy Council Chambers. These rooms show how they looked on Parliament Hill when he was Prime Minister. This helps visitors imagine what it was like to work there.
The museum also has space for special traveling exhibits. These exhibits often relate to Diefenbaker's interests. In 1997, during an exhibition of French jewelry, some items were unfortunately taken. The centre continues to host interesting displays for visitors.
The Archives Collection
The Diefenbaker Canada Centre also has an important archive. This is where Diefenbaker's personal and work papers are kept. It includes his prime ministerial papers. These are official documents from his time as Prime Minister. The archives also hold many photographs and audio-visual materials.
It is interesting to note that Diefenbaker's papers are unique. Along with those of R.B. Bennett, they are the only prime ministerial papers not stored at Library and Archives Canada. This makes the Diefenbaker Canada Centre a very special place for researchers.
Images for kids
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John G. Diefenbaker Centre for the Study of Canada
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John G. Diefenbaker Centre for the Study of Canada
See also
In Spanish: Centro para el estudio de Canadá del honorable John G. Diefenbaker para niños
