31 Facts About Don Johnston

Don Johnston was the first non-European to head that organization.

From 1978 to 1988, Johnston was a Liberal Party member of the Canadian parliament and served in the cabinets of prime ministers Pierre Trudeau and John Turner.

Don Johnston was an Officer of the Order of Canada, and an Officer of the French National Order of the Legion of Honour.

Don Johnston was born on June 26,1936, in Ottawa, Ontario, to Florence and Wilbur Don Johnston in a rural family with limited financial means.

Don Johnston's father held multiple jobs, including serving as a flying officer during World War I and as a surveyor in Canada's north and in Alaska, before returning to Montreal to work as an athletics facilities supervisor at McGill University.

Don Johnston attended the same university receiving his Bachelor of Arts degree before transferring to the university's Faculty of Law and graduating in 1958 with a faculty gold medal.

In 1958, Don Johnston went on to pursue advanced studies in economics and political science in Grenoble.

In 1961, Don Johnston joined the Montreal-based law firm of Stikeman Elliott at the invitation of John Turner, practicing business and tax law.

Don Johnston partnered with Roy Heenan in 1972 to found their own law firm.

Don Johnston was first elected to the House of Commons of Canada in a 1978 by-election in Westmount in Montreal, Quebec, as a candidate of the Liberal Party of Canada.

When Trudeau announced his retirement in 1984, Don Johnston ran to succeed him as Liberal leader and prime minister in that year's Liberal leadership convention.

Don Johnston came in third in a field of seven, behind John Turner and Jean Chretien.

Don Johnston served as Minister of Justice and Attorney General in the short-lived Turner government until its defeat in the 1984 federal election.

Don Johnston was opposed to the Accord and for free trade, and on January 18,1988, he resigned from the Liberal caucus to sit as an "Independent Liberal" until he retired from Parliament when the 1988 general election was called.

Don Johnston returned to the Liberal fold in 1990, after Turner's resignation as leader, and he served two terms as president of the Liberal Party of Canada from 1990 to 1994, seeing the party through its victory in the 1993 general election.

Don Johnston was elected to the post in November 1994 by the organization's member governments.

The Organisation championed the correction of international harmful tax practices and the international harmonization of competition policy, while at the same time fostering sustainable development, which Don Johnston introduced to the OECD shortly after his arrival.

Don Johnston created the Education Directorate which introduced the Program of International Student Assessment, now the leading reference for international educational comparisons.

Don Johnston stepped down from his position at the OECD on May 31,2006.

In 2006, Don Johnston rejoined Heenan Blaikie as a member of the International Business Law Group.

Don Johnston focused his practice on national and international business law, working with clients to expand their businesses in an increasingly complex and competitive global environment.

Don Johnston was a frequent speaker around the world, addressing a broad range of issues including climate change and energy initiatives.

Don Johnston died in Quebec on February 4,2022, at the age of 85.

In recognition of his accomplishments at the OECD, Johnston was awarded the Grand Cordon of the Order of the Rising Sun, the second most prestigious Japanese decoration and the highest one that can be bestowed on a non-Japanese citizen.

Don Johnston received the Grand-Croix de l'Ordre de Leopold II, one of the highest honorific distinctions in Belgium, given by royal decree and generally reserved for heads of state.

Don Johnston was presented with the Commander's Cross with the Star of the Order of Merit of the Republic by the president of Hungary and the Order of the White Double Cross, First Class, by the president of the Slovak Republic.

In July 2008, Don Johnston was appointed as an Officer of the Order of Canada, in recognition of his contributions to public service in Canada as well as his achievements at the OECD.

Don Johnston was made an Officer of the National Order of the Legion of Honour in 2011.

Don Johnston was given the Canadian version of the Queen Elizabeth II Golden Jubilee Medal in 2002 and the Canadian version of the Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal in 2012 for service to Canada.

Don Johnston was the chair of and an advisor to the McCall MacBain Foundation in Geneva.

Montreal, composed by Donald Johnston ; arranged, orchestrated and adapted by Marc Beaulieu ; based on an earlier setting for piano and string quartet by Rafael Zaldivar.