It is Arab Heritage Month and I am looking at the history of Arab-Canadians in Canada. Today, it is the story of Joe Ghiz! Joe Ghiz was born on Jan. 27, 1945 to Atallah and Marguerite Ghiz. His father was from Lebanon and owned a corner store in Charlottetown, PEI. In 1977, Ghiz became the president of the Prince Edward Island Liberal Party and then the party leader in 1981. In 1982, he was elected to the Prince Edward Island Legislature and became the Leader of the Opposition. In 1986, he became Premier of Prince Edward Island. He was the first premier of a Canadian province to be of non-European descent. As premier, he held a plebiscite on the question of building a fixed link to mainland Canada. This became the start of the Confederation Bridge. He also supported the Meech Lake Accord but opposed NAFTA, and his participation in the debates on both made him a national figure. In 1989, his government was re-elected, winning 30 of 32 seats in the Legislature. In 1993, Ghiz retired as premier and became the dean of Dalhousie Law School. He served in that post until 1995. He was then appointed as a justice on the Supreme Court of Prince Edward Island. In 1996, Ghiz was diagnosed with cancer. That same year, a construction crew drove him across the largest completed section of the Confederation Bridge. Ghiz died on Nov. 9, 1996 at the age of 51. His son, Robert, went on to become Premier of Prince Edward Island from 2007 to 2015. If you enjoy my Canadian history content, you can support my work with a donation at buymeacoffee.com/craigU *** C'est le Mois du patrimoine arabe et je regarde l'histoire des Arabes-Canadiens au Canada. Aujourd'hui, c'est l'histoire de Joe Ghiz ! Joe Ghiz est né le 27 janvier 1945 d'Atallah et de Marguerite Ghiz. Son père était originaire du Liban et possédait un dépanneur à Charlottetown, à l'Île-du-Prince-Édouard. En 1977, Ghiz devient président du Parti libéral de l'Île-du-Prince-Édouard, puis chef du parti en 1981. En 1982, il a été élu à l'Assemblée législative de Prince Edward et est devenu chef de l'opposition. En 1986, il devient premier ministre de l'Île-du-Prince-Édouard. Il a été le premier premier ministre d'une province canadienne à être d'origine non européenne. En tant que premier ministre, il organise un plébiscite sur la question de la construction d'une liaison fixe avec le Canada continental. Ce fut le début du pont de la Confédération. Il a également soutenu l'Accord du lac Meech mais s'est opposé à l'ALENA, et sa participation aux débats sur les deux a fait de lui une figure nationale. En 1989, son gouvernement a été réélu, remportant 30 des 32 sièges de l'Assemblée législative. En 1993, Ghiz a pris sa retraite de son poste de premier ministre et est devenu doyen de la faculté de droit de Dalhousie. Il a occupé ce poste jusqu'en 1995. Il a ensuite été nommé juge à la Cour suprême de l'Île-du-Prince-Édouard. En 1996, Ghiz a reçu un diagnostic de cancer. La même année, une équipe de construction lui fait traverser la plus grande section achevée du pont de la Confédération. Ghiz est décédé le 9 novembre 1996 à l'âge de 51 ans. Son fils, Robert, est devenu premier ministre de l'Île-du-Prince-Édouard de 2007 à 2015. Si vous appréciez mon contenu sur l'histoire canadienne, vous pouvez soutenir mon travail avec un don à buymeacoffee.com/craigU
@CraigBaird A trivial recollection perhaps, but a lasting one: cbc.ca/player/play/1.…
@CraigBaird Today is the Assyrian/Chaldean new year. Where would Canada be without the Sumerian invention of the wheel? cbc.ca/news/canada/wi….
@CraigBaird Andy Kim and Paul Anka are pretty cool and its hard not to have love/hate with Kevin O' Leary.
@CraigBaird Was unaware of his Arab heritage. I DO remember that he was vaunted for his Caesar salads! (I don't access FB, but this should help get you there...)
@CraigBaird Pity he didn't get to see it completed and opened but taking him onto the finished section before he passed is nice.