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The Honourable Maurice Bourget, 1963-1966

The Senate commissions a portrait of every Speaker in recognition of the procedural and protocol importance of that role — a tradition that predates Confederation.

The subject of this portrait, the Honourable Maurice Bourget, served Canadians in Parliament for 38 years. Before his election to the House of Commons, he was a semi-professional baseball player in Quebec and a civil engineer.

In 1963, Mr. Bourget was appointed to the Senate and named Speaker at the same time — a rare event. He stood out for his meticulous review of legislation and his deep concern for Canada’s future.

The Speaker can choose the artist for whom they would like to sit; Mr. Bourget selected Kenneth Forbes, a notable Canadian landscape and portrait painter. Mr. Forbes served as an official war artist during the First World War and received the Order of Canada in 1967 for his artistic contributions.

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