Canada 1957-1967

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Volume XIX of the Canadian Centenary Series is now available as an e-book, offering a comprehensive history of Canada’s peoples and lands. Each of the nineteen volumes is complete in itself, yet designed to form a unified narrative. In the tenth decade of Canada’s Confederation, the post-war boom led to rapid change and conflicting choices, marked by the leadership of John Diefenbaker and Lester Pearson. J.L. Granatstein analyzes this pivotal decade, beginning with Canada in 1957, ready to embrace Diefenbaker’s grand “Vision.” He details the Progressive Conservative promise, which ultimately could not be fulfilled. This era saw Canada join NORAD and the controversial cancellation of the Avro Arrow jet fighter, alongside internal strife within the Diefenbaker Cabinet over nuclear arms. Cultural growth is highlighted, particularly through the formation of the Canada Council and its influence on the nation’s artistic and intellectual landscape. The mid-1960s reflected public sentiment as governments confronted new challenges, including armed forces unification, medicare, and bilingualism, especially amid rising political and cultural tensions in Quebec. Drawing from government records, private papers, and interviews, Granatstein provides a thoughtful and engaging account of this tumultuous period, crucial to understanding Canada’s journey toward its Centennial. First published in 1986, this significant work is now accessible as a