Wilfred Laurier a "Nature Nut"

Move over, John Acorn.

Wilfred Laurier was a nature fan as well as a prime minister. Laurier's childhood was spent in a rural setting, and he developed a strong affection for woods, trees and woodland animals.

Arthur Ford, later editor-in-chief of the London Free Press, was for many years parliamentary correspondent for a Winnipeg newspaper. He knew Laurier well and later recounted how Laurier in a spare moment expounded on the various and interesting habits of songbirds of the Ottawa Valley.

A lover of trees, when he was on his road trips , Laurier would even contact local mayors and have them stop any workmen he saw cutting down trees.

That is a side of the national leader you don't often hear about.

And that is the kind of politician we need nowadays.

(source: Arthur R. Ford, As the World Wags On, p. 134)

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