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SIR MACKENZIE BOWELL (1823-1917)
PLAQUE TEXT:
Born in England, this printer and publisher represented North Hastings in Parliament from 1867 to 1892, and thereafter held a seat in the Senate until 1917. He served in the cabinets of Macdonald, Abbott, and Thompson, and became Prime Minister in 1894. Past Grand Master of the Orange Lodge of British North America, he nevertheless proposed to the House of Commons in 1896, remedial action that would settle the Manitoba Schools Question. In that same year, division with his cabinet and disenchantment with his leadership forced his resignation. He died in Belleville.
GPS Co-ordinates: 44° 09' 29.51" N 77° 22' 47.99" W (44.15805556, -77.37972222)
Street Address: Parkette at Pinnacle Street and St. Paul Street
Note: A key word in this plaque is "nevertheless". Although Mackenzie was deeply involved in the Orange Lodge, an opponent of Catholicism, nevertheless as prime minister he introduced legislation to protect Catholic education rights in Manitoba. His party divided over the issue and lost the next election.
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