Jaiz J.

Tommy Douglas

Jaiz J.
Anglophone South School District Regional Heritage Fair – Saint John
Saint John, NB

Tommy Douglas was a Canadian politician who believed that everyone should be able to see a doctor, even if they didn’t have money. When he was young, he almost lost his leg because his family couldn’t afford treatment. A kind doctor helped him for free, and that changed his life. He promised to help others the same way.

When Tommy became Premier of Saskatchewan, he started the first free hospital care plan. At first, many people didn’t agree, and doctors even went on strike. But soon, people realized it worked, and other provinces followed. In 1966, Canada made Medicare for the whole country, thanks to the idea Tommy Douglas started. 

I used pictures of health cards, quotes, comics, and photos of Tommy Douglas to tell his story. I learned that one person can make a big difference. Because of him, people in Canada can get help when they are sick, without worrying about the cost.

My final answer to my inquiry question is: Tommy Douglas helped Canada by creating Medicare so that everyone could get medical care. He believed no one should suffer or die just because they couldn’t pay.

What sources and evidence did you consult for your project? What different perspectives did they provide on your topic?

I used:

• CBC Kids and other history websites
• Wikipedia
• Photos of health cards
• A comic called Mouse Land
• A speech quote from Tommy Douglas

These showed both what he believed and how people reacted at the time. Some people didn’t like the idea of free healthcare at first, but most were thankful after it helped them.

What is the historical significance of your topic?

Tommy Douglas changed Canadian history by making healthcare free.

Short-term impact: He helped people in Saskatchewan first.

Long-term impact: All Canadians got free healthcare.

Who was affected: Everyone in Canada, especially families who couldn’t afford doctors before.

What changed: Now, if you’re sick or hurt, you can go to the hospital without paying a big bill.

Why did you choose this topic? 

I chose this topic because I wanted to learn who made healthcare free in Canada. I thought it was cool that someone helped so many people, and I wanted to know more about him.