John G. Diefenbaker High School at a Glance
As a learning community, we promote excellence, provide opportunity, and value diversity. We believe students have the right to access meaningful education that will provide them with opportunities to become productive citizens and pursue desired futures.
Key Elements for Student Success
- Partnerships among students, teachers, parents and community to support meaningful education
- Instruction and programming that recognizes the diversity of student needs
- Focus on success and promotion of excellence, life-long learning and independent thinking
- International Student Program
- Honours and International Baccalaureate Program
- Fine Arts, Computers and Athletic programming
- English Language Learners Levels 2 through 5
- Work Experience Program
- Athletic and Citizenship Awards
- Scholarship Program
- Integration of technology for teaching and learning
- Comprehensive co-curricular and extra-curricular programs
John G. Diefenbaker
"I am the first prime minister of this country of neither altogether English or French origin. So I determined to bring about a Canadian citizenship that knew no hyphenated consideration....I'm very happy to be able to say that in the House of Commons today in my party we have members of Italian, Dutch, German, Scandinavian, Chinese and Ukrainian origin -- and they are all Canadians."
-- John Diefenbaker, March 29, 1958
John George Diefenbaker was born in Neustadt, Ontario in 1895; his parents were of German and Scottish descent. His family moved to Fort Carlton, north of Saskatoon in 1903 where the Diefenbakers homesteaded. Diefenbaker attended the University of Saskatchewan, graduating with a general B.A. in 1915 and an M.A. in political science and economics in 1916. He enlisted in the army in 1916 and served briefly in Britain, before being invalided home the following year.
Returning to university to study law, he graduated with an LL.B. in 1919. He set up a law practice in Wakaw, near Prince Albert. Diefenbaker quickly established himself as a successful criminal lawyer. Over his 20-year career, he defended 18 men from the death penalty. In the 1957 election, Canadians saw for the first time Diefenbaker's remarkable campaign style. Part circus barker, part vaudeville actor, Diefenbaker's theatrical delivery entertained Canadians, and his appeal to the farmer, store-owner and factory-worker won their hearts and their votes. He became "Dief, the Chief."
He championed human rights outside Canada by supporting the independence of many non-white Commonwealth countries. His anti-apartheid statement in 1961 contributed to the withdrawal of South Africa from the Commonwealth. Diefenbaker antagonized the Americans by refusing to support their hostilities against Cuba.
Source: Canada's Prime Ministers, 1867 - 1994: Biographies and Anecdotes. [Ottawa]: National Archives of Canada, [1994]. 40 p.
Check out the Diefenbaker Virtual Museum from the Diefenbaker Centre at the University of Saskatchewan
