Introduction

Lesson Four - Pierre Elliott Trudeau
Duration - 3 blocks (3x 80 min + homework)

trudeau"It is true that our will to live together has sometimes appeared to be in deep hibernation; but it is there nevertheless, alive and tenacious, in the hearts of Canadians of every province and territory. I wish simply that the bringing home of our Constitution marks the end of a long winter, the breaking up of the ice-jams and the beginning of a new spring." - Pierre Elliott Trudeau

Often when things in life aren't right, we wait for them to change. Can we always depend on someone else to take a stand and begin the process that will set things right or make our lives better? What inspires some individuals to be bold, to sacrifice, to risk to make important changes?

Pierre Elliott Trudeau served as prime minister of Canada from 1968-1979 and again from 1980 to 1984.  As prime minister, he pushed strongly for changes to the Canadian Constitution. He achieved his goals with the proclamation of the Constitution Act on April 17, 1982. The proclamation added the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms to the Constitution.