How Did Tommy Douglass Impact Society

Being able to produce social change while also maintaining valuable followers is an ability that few people exhibit. Tommy Douglas was one of those people. Known as “The Father of Medicare,” Douglas had a lasting impact on society through his work as a social activist, minister, and Premier, along with other political roles, all of which took place in Canada from the mid 1930’s until the late 1970’s. As someone who spent half of his adult-life dedicating his time and fighting for what he believed in for Canada, it is hard to refer to Tommy Douglas as anything other than a hero as far a Canadian history goes. In his younger years, Douglas suffered with an infection at the age of six due to osteomyelitis, which could have led to the loss of his leg if it was not for the orthopedic surgeon offering to treat him for free if his students could sit in on the surgery. As you can infer, this would have had a huge impact on Douglas’ decision to fight for what he believed to be right – free health care. Reflecting back on his younger years, Douglas comments on this experience, “I think it was out of this …show more content…
Having made a great deal of change as Premier, he decided to continue as a political figure, hoping to keep making a positive change for Canadians. After resigning as Premier in 1961 , he then took on the role as leader of the New Democratic Party and remained an NDP member of parliament until the late 70’s . During this time, although he did not win the federal election mainly because of the controversy with Doctors concerning the new Medicare program , Douglas still managed to have his voice heard while Lester B. Pearson was in power. Douglas’ beliefs revolved around making the country a better place for not just some, but all members of Canada. He was a strong believer of social activism and felt strongly about promoting this, knowing he was working to better the