Edna Diefenbaker
Encyclopedia
Edna May Brower Diefenbaker (November 30, 1899 – February 7, 1951) was the first wife of Prime Minister John Diefenbaker
.
She was born in Wawanesa, Manitoba
, and worked as a schoolteacher in Saskatoon
before marrying John Diefenbaker in 1929. Outgoing and vivacious, with a genuine concern for others, Edna was an exceptionally popular teacher. Her marriage brought an end to her teaching career, and Edna devoted her energies to the advancement of Diefenbaker's political career. She would visit towns before her husband so that he was prepared with information on the inhabitants. Edna also edited Diefenbaker's speeches, and often acted as chauffeur, driving him to meetings. Perhaps most importantly, Edna helped John to overcome his shyness and develop into a gregarious "man of the people", which would factor greatly in his future political successes.
Upon Diefenbaker's election as a Progressive Conservative
Member of Parliament
Edna worked tirelessly on his behalf, in an unpaid capacity. She was a constant presence in the visitor's gallery in the Canadian House of Commons
, and was crucial in establishing close relationships between John and reporters in the Ottawa press gallery.
She died of leukemia
in 1951. MPs in the Canadian House of Commons
gave her "unprecedented eulogies
" for a non-MP. Diefenbaker later married Olive Palmer
, his wife during his term as Prime Minister. Edna is interred at Woodlawn Cemetery beside Diefenbaker's mother Mary, his father, brother and an uncle.
's book The Other Mrs. Diefenbaker, which, among other things, described Edna being subject to shock therapy
, and also made disobliging comments about the character of John Diefenbaker
; it is noted that the author was a former Liberal
Member of Parliament. Author Heather Robertson also wrote on her and other spouses of the Prime Ministers of Canada
in the book More Than a Rose (1991).
John Diefenbaker
John George Diefenbaker, PC, CH, QC was the 13th Prime Minister of Canada, serving from June 21, 1957, to April 22, 1963...
.
She was born in Wawanesa, Manitoba
Wawanesa, Manitoba
Wawanesa is a community in Manitoba, Canada. It is the birthplace of the The Wawanesa Mutual Insurance Co. The village is surrounded by the Rural Municipality of Oakland....
, and worked as a schoolteacher in Saskatoon
Saskatoon
Saskatoon is a city in central Saskatchewan, Canada, on the South Saskatchewan River. Residents of the city of Saskatoon are called Saskatonians. The city is surrounded by the Rural Municipality of Corman Park No. 344....
before marrying John Diefenbaker in 1929. Outgoing and vivacious, with a genuine concern for others, Edna was an exceptionally popular teacher. Her marriage brought an end to her teaching career, and Edna devoted her energies to the advancement of Diefenbaker's political career. She would visit towns before her husband so that he was prepared with information on the inhabitants. Edna also edited Diefenbaker's speeches, and often acted as chauffeur, driving him to meetings. Perhaps most importantly, Edna helped John to overcome his shyness and develop into a gregarious "man of the people", which would factor greatly in his future political successes.
Upon Diefenbaker's election as a Progressive Conservative
Progressive Conservative Party of Canada
The Progressive Conservative Party of Canada was a Canadian political party with a centre-right stance on economic issues and, after the 1970s, a centrist stance on social issues....
Member of Parliament
Member of Parliament
A Member of Parliament is a representative of the voters to a :parliament. In many countries with bicameral parliaments, the term applies specifically to members of the lower house, as upper houses often have a different title, such as senate, and thus also have different titles for its members,...
Edna worked tirelessly on his behalf, in an unpaid capacity. She was a constant presence in the visitor's gallery in the Canadian House of Commons
Canadian House of Commons
The House of Commons of Canada is a component of the Parliament of Canada, along with the Sovereign and the Senate. The House of Commons is a democratically elected body, consisting of 308 members known as Members of Parliament...
, and was crucial in establishing close relationships between John and reporters in the Ottawa press gallery.
She died of leukemia
Leukemia
Leukemia or leukaemia is a type of cancer of the blood or bone marrow characterized by an abnormal increase of immature white blood cells called "blasts". Leukemia is a broad term covering a spectrum of diseases...
in 1951. MPs in the Canadian House of Commons
Canadian House of Commons
The House of Commons of Canada is a component of the Parliament of Canada, along with the Sovereign and the Senate. The House of Commons is a democratically elected body, consisting of 308 members known as Members of Parliament...
gave her "unprecedented eulogies
Eulogy
A eulogy is a speech or writing in praise of a person or thing, especially one recently deceased or retired. Eulogies may be given as part of funeral services. However, some denominations either discourage or do not permit eulogies at services to maintain respect for traditions...
" for a non-MP. Diefenbaker later married Olive Palmer
Olive Diefenbaker
Olive Evangeline Freeman Palmer Diefenbaker was the second wife of John George Diefenbaker, the 13th Prime Minister of Canada....
, his wife during his term as Prime Minister. Edna is interred at Woodlawn Cemetery beside Diefenbaker's mother Mary, his father, brother and an uncle.
Legacy
In 1982, Edna became the focus of Simma HoltSimma Holt
Simma Holt, is a Canadian journalist, author, and a former member of the Canadian House of Commons.Born in Vegreville, Alberta, she received a Bachelor of Arts degree in 1944 from the University of Manitoba. That same year she joined The Vancouver Sun as a reporter, feature writer, and columnist...
's book The Other Mrs. Diefenbaker, which, among other things, described Edna being subject to shock therapy
Electroconvulsive therapy
Electroconvulsive therapy , formerly known as electroshock, is a psychiatric treatment in which seizures are electrically induced in anesthetized patients for therapeutic effect. Its mode of action is unknown...
, and also made disobliging comments about the character of John Diefenbaker
John Diefenbaker
John George Diefenbaker, PC, CH, QC was the 13th Prime Minister of Canada, serving from June 21, 1957, to April 22, 1963...
; it is noted that the author was a former Liberal
Liberal Party of Canada
The Liberal Party of Canada , colloquially known as the Grits, is the oldest federally registered party in Canada. In the conventional political spectrum, the party sits between the centre and the centre-left. Historically the Liberal Party has positioned itself to the left of the Conservative...
Member of Parliament. Author Heather Robertson also wrote on her and other spouses of the Prime Ministers of Canada
Spouses of the Prime Ministers of Canada
The spouse of the Prime Minister of Canada is the wife or husband of the Prime Minister of Canada. To date, 18 women have been the wife of the Prime Minister of Canada; Kim Campbell, Canada's only female prime minister to date, was unmarried during her time in office...
in the book More Than a Rose (1991).