Tommy Douglas Memorial Plaque Installed

Plaque installed on Front Street near the Bastion

NEWS RELEASE - Distributed March 12, 2018 3:30 PM

A memorial plaque dedicated to the memory of the Honourable Tommy Douglas has been installed downtown on City-owned land in a planter next to the Bastion (facing onto Front Street).

"The City was pleased to provide a site for the installation of this donated plaque commemorating one of Canada's most iconic politicians and his service as a member of parliament for the Nanaimo region," said Mayor Bill McKay.

In 2017, the City of Nanaimo was approached by a local citizen with a request to install a donated memorial plaque recognizing the service of the Honourable Tommy Douglas both locally and nationally, and to remember the positive, lasting impression he left both as a federal representative of Nanaimo and as a Canadian politician.

Council considered the request and directed the City's Community Vitality Committee, with the assistance of staff, to find a suitable location to place the plaque. After due consideration, a site was identified in a planter bed near the Bastion and the donated plaque installed, with installation funding provided by the donor. The plaque recognizes Tommy Douglas' following accomplishments:

-- His role as first leader of the New Democratic Party from 1961-1971; -- His role as Member of Parliament for the Nanaimo-Cowichan-Islands riding from 1969-1979; -- His receipt of “Freedom of the City” by the City of Nanaimo on May 25, 1981; and -- His selection as the “Greatest Canadian” through a Canada-wide CBC poll in January, 2004.

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