Wilfrid Laurier

:Laurier re-directs here. For the Canadian federal electoral district see Laurier (electoral district). For the university in Waterloo, Ontario, see Wilfrid Laurier University.

Opposition and War

Laurier led the opposition during World War I. He was an influential opponent of conscription, which led to the Conscription Crisis of 1917 and the formation of a Union government, which Laurier refused to join. However, many Liberals, particularly in English Canada, joined Borden as Liberal-Unionists and the "Laurier Liberals" were reduced to a mostly French-Canadian rump as a result of the 1917 election.

Related Topics:
World War I - Conscription - Conscription Crisis of 1917 - Union government - Liberal-Unionist - Laurier Liberals - Rump - 1917 election

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Laurier died on February 17, 1919, and was buried in Notre Dame Cemetery, Ottawa, Ontario. The Sir Wilfrid Laurier National Historic Site of Canada is in Saint-Lin-Laurentides, a town 60 km north of Montreal. Another site is Laurier House, his residence in Ottawa at the corner of Somerset and what is now Laurier Street.

Related Topics:
February 17 - 1919 - Notre Dame Cemetery - Ottawa, Ontario - Montreal - Laurier House - Ottawa

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Laurier is depicted on the Canadian five-dollar bill. On November 1, 1973, Waterloo Lutheran University, one of Ontario's publicly funded universities, was renamed Wilfrid Laurier University. There are also many high schools in Canada named after him.

Related Topics:
Dollar bill - 1973 - Wilfrid Laurier University

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Laurier is also the personal hero of former Prime Minister Jean Chrétien who saw in Laurier's abilities at conciliation and at winning majority governments an ideal model to follow.

Related Topics:
Jean Chrétien - Majority government

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