Tommy Douglas (Signed & inscribed by Tommy Douglas)

"Before Tommy Douglas died in 1986, he gave his medals to a constituent named Jimmy White. When White died a decade later, his family sold the medal at auction..." quoted from, Regina Leader-Post · 18 Apr 2012

Doris French has had an active career as a journalist, broadcaster and commentator in Ottawa. She has worked as a freelance journalist, as an editor for the Department of Labour, as a CBC journalist and as public relations assistant for the NDP caucus. She had a close collaboration with her subject, Tommy Douglas resulting in a vivid account of the man and the political movement he helped found.

In November 2004 a nation wide vote by over one million Canadians selected Tommy Douglas as "The Greatest Canadian of all Time." Known as the 'Father of Medicare' - he launched it in Saskatchewan when he was premier of that province, first universal hospital insurance in 1947, then medicare in 1959. He has been described as, "the most influential politician never to be elected Prime Minister. Tommy Douglas made an invaluable contribution to political life," says Xavier Gélinas, Curator of Canadian Political History at the Canadian Museum of Civilization. "In total, he provided the impetus for about a hundred pieces of legislation, several of which can be said to have shaped the Canadian identity." In recognition of this immense contribution, in 1980 he was named a Companion of the Order of Canada.