T.C. DOUGLAS MEDALS PRESENTED TO PROVINCE

Released on June 11, 1998

At a ceremony in the Legislative Building in Regina today,

internationally-known actress Shirley Douglas presented to the

province of Saskatchewan the Order of Canada and Saskatchewan Order of

Merit medals of her father, the late T.C. Douglas, premier of

Saskatchewan from 1944 to 1961 and leader of the federal New

Democratic Party from 1961 to 1971.



At the same time Douglas' former secretary, Eleanor McKinnon of

Regina, donated an oil sketch of the former premier. Premier Romanow

accepted the gifts on behalf of the province for permanent display in

the Legislative Building.



"In recognition of his leadership and of his lifelong commitment to

the well-being of the people, the governments of Saskatchewan and

Canada awarded Tommy with their highest honours," Romanow said.

"Today, the medals that accompany investiture as a Companion of the

Order of Canada and as a Member of the Saskatchewan Order of Merit

return to the Legislature where Tommy Douglas served with such

distinction."



Born in Scotland in 1904, Tommy Douglas emigrated to Canada at the age

of six, living first in Manitoba, then in Saskatchewan, where he

served as a Baptist minister in Weyburn.



Douglas was elected as CCF member of parliament for Weyburn in

1930. He moved to provincial politics in 1944, leading the CCF

to its first election victory the same year and beginning his

seventeen years as premier.



After his retirement from leadership of the federal NDP in 1971,

Mr. Douglas resided in Ottawa. He was made a Companion of the

Order of Canada in 1981, Privy Councillor in 1984 and Member of

the Saskatchewan Order of Merit in its first year, 1985. He died

in 1986.



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