Heritage of John A. MacDonald

Remember those “Heritage Minutes” you used to see on TV? Well, they’re back. Two new segments will be released Saturday, one in honour of Sir John A. MacDonald’s birthday.

Right in the middle of downtown Hamilton stands this statue of Sir John A. Some people walk by it every day and don’t even recognize him. Maybe because he and the story of confederation haven’t been featured in heritage minute until now. There are minutes about syrup, basketball, Laura Secord. And finally, on the eve of his 199th birthday, one about our first Prime Minister.

He’s the founder of our country, but many Canadians can’t even recognize his face.

A 2008 poll showed that 42 per cent of Canadians didn’t know who Sir John A. MacDonald was. We asked some people in downtown Hamilton and got pretty much the same response.

“I’m just wondering if you know who that guy up there is?” “No, no idea.”

“Abraham Lincoln?”

“I don’t know. That’s sad for a Canadian, isn’t it?”

Historica Canada is hoping to change that in time for MacDonald’s 200th birthday next year, Starting at his namesake school in downtown Hamilton.

Student: “I thought it was awesome. it made history look really fun!”

Student: “I think it was amazing.”

Students at Sir John A. MacDonald Secondary School were the first in the world to watch this new heritage minute.

Don Bennie is a history teacher at SJAM: “They’re really true lovers of history. they see the bigger picture.”

Davida Aronovitch is a Manager with the Heritage Minutes Program: “They all gave up their lunch hour to learn more about Canadian history and watch our heritage minutes.”

History teacher Don Bennie hopes his students and all Canadians can draw inspiration from our first Prime Minister and his new on-screen tribute: “Like most of our school, he wasn’t born in this country. He came over here, sought out what he wanted and worked at getting it.”

Sir John A’s Heritage Minute, and one about George Etienne Cartier will be posted online Saturday. Go to www.historicacanada.ca. And while Saturday is MacDonald’s actual birthday, Hamilton won’t be celebrating until Sunday. The Sir John A MacDonald Society is hosting a ceremony here at MacDonald’s statue Sunday afternoon in case you’ve been inspired by his new heritage minute.