By James Bowler

PA remembers iconic resident 35 years later

Aug 16, 2014 | 8:46 AM

On Saturday 35 years ago in Ottawa, a man who meant a lot to the City of Prince Albert, Province of Saskatchewan and the entire country, passed away at the age of 83.

Former Prime Minister John Diefenbaker left a legacy in the wake of his life, with some good and bad moments, but overall he is remembered as a man who wanted to unite all Canadians.

“He wanted an inclusive Canada,” said Michelle Taylor, curator for the Prince Albert Historical Society. “His memoirs are named ‘One Canada,’ he wanted a One Canada where everyone was treated one in the same whether it be the English Canadians, the French Canadians, the immigrants, he just wanted everyone to be the same.”

While originally born in Neustadt, Ont. and having lived in Saskatoon for a short period of time, Taylor said Diefenbaker moved to Prince Albert in 1924, and lived here for 33 years before his rise to leadership in Canada.

“He left, relatively permanently, in 1957,” said Taylor. “When he became prime minister.”

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Before becoming involved in politics, Diefenbaker opened a law practice in the city.

“He received his law degree from the U of S in 1919, and his first practice was in Wakaw,” said Taylor. “For five years he practiced in Wakaw and then he came to Prince Albert.”

What’s now known as ‘Katie’s Closet’ was once the building that housed Diefenbaker’s law practice on the second floor.

“West-Siwak Law Offices are currently on the second floor of that building too,” said Taylor.

While Diefenbaker is widely remembered for his time as prime minister, he actually had a difficult time breaking into politics in the first place.

“He never won locally,” said Taylor. “He could only really win national elections.”

And his first winning election wasn’t even near the Prince Albert region.

“When he was first elected MP that was in 1940, he was elected for Lake Centre down by Regina,” said Taylor.

And politics were not the only thing Diefenbaker had difficulty with, Diefenbaker was married once before marrying Olive Freeman, who he had met more than 30 years prior while spending weekends in Saskatoon with his parents.

“He was married twice, once in 1929-1951 to Edna Brower, and then in 1953 he married Olive,” said Taylor.

According to Taylor, the iconic Diefenbaker Bridge was built in 1960 and named after the prime minister who had left quite an impact on the city his spent a majority of his life in.

Although the cause of his death was never publicly announced, Taylor said was well-known that Diefenbaker was quite ill in the final year before his death.

After his death a train carrying the body of Diefenbaker travelled across Canada, before his remains were buried in Saskatoon on Aug. 22, 1979.

The iconic Diefenbaker House in Prince Albert will be open until Aug. 29 before it closes for the winter, with no winter tours happening this year.

-with files from Sarah Wallace

jbowler@panow.com

On Twitter: @journalistjim