Tommy Douglas

Early life and activism

Douglas was born in 1904 in Falkirk, Scotland. In 1910, his family immigrated to Canada, where they settled in Winnipeg. As a child, Douglas injured his leg and developed osteomyelitis. The leg would have been amputated were it not for a doctor who saw the condition as a good subject to teach his students. This rooted Douglas's belief that health care should be free to all. During World War I, the family returned to Glasgow. They came back to Winnipeg in 1919, in time for Douglas to witness the Winnipeg General Strike.

Related Topics:
1904 - Falkirk, Scotland - 1910 - Winnipeg - Osteomyelitis - World War I - Glasgow - 1919 - Winnipeg General Strike

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In 1924, Douglas attended Brandon College to study for the ministry. While there, Douglas was influenced by the social gospel movement, which combined Christian principles with social reform. He graduated from Brandon College in 1930, and completed his Master's degree (MA) in Sociology from McMaster University in 1933. Following this, he became a minister at the Calvary Baptist Church in Weyburn, Saskatchewan. With the onset of the Depression, Douglas became a social activist in Weyburn, joined the new CCF party, and became a freemason. He was elected to the Canadian House of Commons in the 1935 federal election.

Related Topics:
Brandon College - Social gospel - Christian - 1930 - Master's degree - McMaster University - 1933 - Calvary Baptist Church - Weyburn, Saskatchewan - Depression - Freemason - Canadian House of Commons - 1935 federal election

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