Edna Diefenbaker

Edna May Brower Diefenbaker (Born November 30,1899 in Wawanesa, Manitoba - Died in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan on February 7, 1951) was the first wife of Prime Minister John Diefenbaker. They were married from 1929 to 1951.

Before marrying Diefenbaker, Edna was a schoolteacher in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan." [http://www.biographi.ca/EN/ShowBio.asp?BioId=42125 DIEFENBAKER, JOHN GEORGE] ," "Dictionary of Canadian Biography Online", Library and Archives Canada, URL accessed 5 January 2007.] 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.Jim Romahn, "Author paints colorful portrait of PMs, their wives and lovers," "Kitchener - Waterloo Record", Kitchener, Ontario: November 16, 1991. pg. E.8.] 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 indefatigably 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.Denis Smith, "Rogue Tory: The Life and Legend of John G. Diefenbaker". Toronto: Macfarlane Walter & Ross, 1995, pp. 111-112.]

She died of leukemia. MPs in the Canadian House of Commons gave her "unprecedented eulogies" for a non-MP. Diefenbaker later married Olive Palmer. 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 Holt'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).

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