Sir Alexander Tilloch Galt (1817-1893)

This politician was persuaded by the Macdonald-Cartier team in 1858 to join them in politics on the understanding that they would work towards Confederation. As Finance Minister, he introduced the high tariffs of 1859 and served in the great coalition of 1864 that negotiated the terms of Confederation. In 1880, he became the first Canadian High Commissioner in London.

Francis Xavier Garneau (1809-1866)

His book "Histoire du Canada", was intended to be a protest to Lord Durham’s suggestions that French Canadians had neither a history or a culture. His book was instrumental in promoting Quebec nationalism for many years.

Simon Girty (1741-1818)

Simon Girty was born 1741 near Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. When about ten year=s old, Girty=s father was murdered in a fight by another settler. Then in 1756, during the Seven Year=s War, he and his family were captured in a raid by the Seneca. Simon was adopted into a Seneca family, and lived with them for eight years. He learned many native languages and was taught the skills to survive in the woods. Girty was also taught to understand the native view of the world, a lesson that would remain with him for the rest of his life. In 1764, Simon and his brothers went to live at Fort Pitt (present day Pittsburgh). Here he worked as a guide and interpreter. In 1776, when the American Revolution broke out, he sided with the rebel Americans against the loyalist settlers. However, when he realized the Americans were continuing to settle native territory, even though native lands had been protected under the Fort Stanwix Treaty, he deserted back to his old friends among the natives, most of whom were fighting for the British against the Americans. He fought with the British until the end of the war in 1783. Although blamed for the murder of the American Colonel William Crawford, captured by the natives in 1782, Girty had actually tried to save him. The natives executed Crawford in revenge for an earlier massacre of 91 Delaware men, women and children carried out by American soldiers. Unable to return home, he settled in what would become the Canadian province of Ontario in 1784 at Amherstburg. Girty had fought for the native=s rights to keep their land, and although he lost his own home, he became one of the earliest settlers of southern Ontario. He died in 1818.

Adelard Godbout (1892-1956)

In the 1939 election, he defeated Maurice Duplessis and the Union Nationale to become Liberal Leader of Quebec. Five years later he placed the Montreal Light, Heat and Power Company in public ownership. This was seen as the first move in breaking free from English-Canada’s hold on the economy.

Sir (Jean) Lomer Gouin (1861-1929)

He was the Liberal Premier of Quebec from 1905 to 1920. He was said to be dominated by the English-speaking business community who had control over the hydro-electric power, transport and manufacturing industries. He later became Minister of Justice under Mackenzie King.

Robert Fleming Gourlay (1778-1863)

He was a Scottish immigrant who agitated reform. Gourlay became disappointed when he was unable to secure a large land grant. He was angered by the bitterness of settlers at the crown and Clergy Reserves of Upper Canada, and the lack of an immigration policy. When he organized a meeting of town delegates to discuss concerns, he was arrested and imprisoned.

Grand Trunk Railway (GTR)

The Grand Trunk Railway was incorporated in 1852 and designed to link Canada West and Canada East. The Montreal to Levis section was opened in 1854 and the trunk from Toronto to Montreal in 1856. At the time of Confederation, it was the longest railway in the world. It kept acquiring other lines and set up the GTR Pacific. The line was forced into bankruptcy in 1919 and became part of the Canadian National Railways in 1923. Both the GTR and its rival Canadian Pacific Railway were essential in the achievement of a continental union.

Abbe Lionel Groulx (1878-1967)

A historian and novelist, this French Canadian depicted the struggle of French Canada with English domination in his book, Notre maitre le passé.

Marie Guyart de l=Incarnation (1599-1672)

Born in Tours, France, Marie Guyart was the daughter of master baker. She married at the age of 17, and had one child, a son, but her husband died less than two years later. Shortly after, she had a mystical experience and devoted her life to religion. In 1633 she joined the Ursuline Order of Nuns, and in 1639, arrived in the French colony of New France. Here she established one of the first schools in Canada. She was also a prolific writer and student of native customs. Among here writings is a French-Algonkin and French-Iroquois dictionary. A portrait of Marie done around 1660 is the Archives des Ursulines in Québec City.