Olive Evangeline Diefenbaker (néeFreeman; April 14, 1902 – December 22, 1976) was the second wife of John Diefenbaker, the 13th Prime Minister of Canada. Diefenbaker proposed to her in Paddockwood, Saskatchewan, while she was a school teacher, and they were married on December 8, 1953. They had no children together,[1] but they raised a daughter from her previous marriage to Torontosolicitor Harry Palmer, who died less than three years after the birth of the child. On her husband's death in 1979, her remains, buried in 1976 in Ottawa, were reburied in Saskatoon in 1979.
Olive was born to two Nova Scotian parents. Her father was a Baptist Minister from Canning, Nova Scotia.[2] Due to her father's occupation she grew up moving around the Canadian Prairies.[3] Olive first met her second husband John Diefenbaker in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan at a church where her father was working. John had just gotten back from fighting in World War I and was studying law at this time.
She attended McMaster University and the Ontario College of Education and in 1933 she started her career as a high school teacher.[2] She taught French at the Guelph Collegiate Vocational Institute in Ontario.[4] She wore a steel back brace due to several slipped disks.[3]
She met her first husband Harry Palmer during 1933. He was a Toronto Barrister and lawyer. He later died in 1936 after three years of marriage and one child.[3] During her marriage to Harry, she stepped away from her profession but after his untimely death she started a new career as the director of child guidance for the Ontario Department of Education.[2][5] Olive reunited with John Diefenbaker in 1951 and they married in 1953 in Toronto.[2] Diefenbaker's first wife, Edna Brower, had died in 1951. Olive Freeman was born in 1902 in Roland, Manitoba.[6]
Political influenceedit
Olive Diefenbaker was a known supporter of the suffrage movement.[2] During 1964 she spoke to a group of 600 people belonging to the Progressive Conservative Women's Association about the power of the unification of women in politics. During a visit to the Fraser Valley, Olive addressed a group of her followers about her preference of flats over heels after following her husband's two campaigns.[7] She spoke French and considered her French grammar better than her English grammar, she would even address the French-speaking voters in French. She was a very talented conversationalist.[3][5]
John considered Olive an asset to his campaign team because of her ability with the voters and remember names. She would write her husband notes during his speeches with advice on how to appeal to the voters, for instance, during 1963 while John was delivering a speech in Cape Breton, Nova Scotia, Olive wrote him a note to mention the painting they had hung over their fireplace back at home which is a landscape of Cape Breton to help appeal to his audience.[3]
Although she was very politically active, she was very humble about her participation and considered her and John to be a strong team.[3] She was well known for her grace when hosting at 24 Sussex Drive.[2]
Interestsedit
Olive had several hobbies including; sewing, leather work and metal work.[2] She also would give items from her closet to local bazaars supporting women's institutes. An example is her white fitted floral hat bought by Mrs Bell Hall, an Ontario Councillor.[7]
^Smith, Denis (2016). "Diefenbaker, John George". In Cook, Ramsay; Bélanger, Réal (eds.). Dictionary of Canadian Biography. Vol. XX (1971–1980) (online ed.). University of Toronto Press.
^ abcdefgLarge, Brenda (October 27, 1965). "Mrs. Dief In Action For Husband's Battles". Winnipeg Free Press.
^ abcdef"A Gallery of Women". The Globe and Mail. December 4, 1958.
^ abAbbotsford, B.C. (May 30, 1962). "P.M's Wife Changes Shoes". Winnipeg Free Press. p. 21. Retrieved April 5, 2018.
External linksedit
Elizabeth Long fonds, Series: 4, File: Diefenbaker, Olive, ID: File 163. Dana Porter Library University of Waterloo.
January 01, 1970
olive, diefenbaker, olive, evangeline, diefenbaker, née, freeman, april, 1902, december, 1976, second, wife, john, diefenbaker, 13th, prime, minister, canada, diefenbaker, proposed, paddockwood, saskatchewan, while, school, teacher, they, were, married, decemb. Olive Evangeline Diefenbaker nee Freeman April 14 1902 December 22 1976 was the second wife of John Diefenbaker the 13th Prime Minister of Canada Diefenbaker proposed to her in Paddockwood Saskatchewan while she was a school teacher and they were married on December 8 1953 They had no children together 1 but they raised a daughter from her previous marriage to Toronto solicitor Harry Palmer who died less than three years after the birth of the child On her husband s death in 1979 her remains buried in 1976 in Ottawa were reburied in Saskatoon in 1979 Olive DiefenbakerDiefenbaker in 1957BornOlive Evangeline Freeman 1902 04 14 April 14 1902Roland Manitoba CanadaDiedDecember 22 1976 1976 12 22 aged 74 Ottawa Ontario CanadaResting placeSaskatoon Saskatchewan CanadaNationalityCanadianSpousesHarry Palmer m 1933 died 1936 wbr John Diefenbaker m 1953 wbr Children1 Contents 1 Life 2 Political influence 3 Interests 4 Legacy 5 See also 6 References 7 External linksLife editOlive was born to two Nova Scotian parents Her father was a Baptist Minister from Canning Nova Scotia 2 Due to her father s occupation she grew up moving around the Canadian Prairies 3 Olive first met her second husband John Diefenbaker in Saskatoon Saskatchewan at a church where her father was working John had just gotten back from fighting in World War I and was studying law at this time She attended McMaster University and the Ontario College of Education and in 1933 she started her career as a high school teacher 2 She taught French at the Guelph Collegiate Vocational Institute in Ontario 4 She wore a steel back brace due to several slipped disks 3 She met her first husband Harry Palmer during 1933 He was a Toronto Barrister and lawyer He later died in 1936 after three years of marriage and one child 3 During her marriage to Harry she stepped away from her profession but after his untimely death she started a new career as the director of child guidance for the Ontario Department of Education 2 5 Olive reunited with John Diefenbaker in 1951 and they married in 1953 in Toronto 2 Diefenbaker s first wife Edna Brower had died in 1951 Olive Freeman was born in 1902 in Roland Manitoba 6 Political influence editOlive Diefenbaker was a known supporter of the suffrage movement 2 During 1964 she spoke to a group of 600 people belonging to the Progressive Conservative Women s Association about the power of the unification of women in politics During a visit to the Fraser Valley Olive addressed a group of her followers about her preference of flats over heels after following her husband s two campaigns 7 She spoke French and considered her French grammar better than her English grammar she would even address the French speaking voters in French She was a very talented conversationalist 3 5 John considered Olive an asset to his campaign team because of her ability with the voters and remember names She would write her husband notes during his speeches with advice on how to appeal to the voters for instance during 1963 while John was delivering a speech in Cape Breton Nova Scotia Olive wrote him a note to mention the painting they had hung over their fireplace back at home which is a landscape of Cape Breton to help appeal to his audience 3 Although she was very politically active she was very humble about her participation and considered her and John to be a strong team 3 She was well known for her grace when hosting at 24 Sussex Drive 2 Interests editOlive had several hobbies including sewing leather work and metal work 2 She also would give items from her closet to local bazaars supporting women s institutes An example is her white fitted floral hat bought by Mrs Bell Hall an Ontario Councillor 7 Legacy editOlive Diefenbaker Drive in Prince Albert Saskatchewan is named in her honour See also editSpouse of the prime minister of CanadaReferences edit Smith Denis 2016 Diefenbaker John George In Cook Ramsay Belanger Real eds Dictionary of Canadian Biography Vol XX 1971 1980 online ed University of Toronto Press a b c d e f g Large Brenda October 27 1965 Mrs Dief In Action For Husband s Battles Winnipeg Free Press a b c d e f A Gallery of Women The Globe and Mail December 4 1958 Gcvialumni com a b Elizabeth Long Series 4 File Diefenbaker Olive ID File 163 Dana Porter Library University of Waterloo Our Legacy digital scaa sk ca a b Abbotsford B C May 30 1962 P M s Wife Changes Shoes Winnipeg Free Press p 21 Retrieved April 5 2018 External links editElizabeth Long fonds Series 4 File Diefenbaker Olive ID File 163 Dana Porter Library University of Waterloo Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Olive Diefenbaker amp oldid 1180744550, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
