Son of a Methodist minister, ‘Mike’ Pearson and his family did a lot of moving during his youth. Several happy formative years were spent in Peterborough; the Right Honourable gentleman remains Central Public School’s most famous alumnus.
Beginning his adult life as a history professor, he moved into the Canadian diplomatic service, where, as Ambassador to the United Nations, Pearson won the Nobel Peace Prize for his efforts in diffusing the Suez Canal crisis. He entered federal politics in 1956, becoming Liberal leader in 1958, and Prime Minister from 1963 to 1968.
As Prime Minister in two, successive minority governments, Lester B. Pearson’s major accomplishments included the adoption of the Canadian Flag in 1965, the Canada Pension Plan and the National Medicare Plan.