13 Facts About Mel Hurtig

Mel Hurtig was a Canadian publisher, author, political activist, and political candidate.

Mel Hurtig described himself as a Canadian nationalist, while he wrote several books critical of Canadian government policy.

Mel Hurtig's parents were Jewish immigrants: his father from Romania and his mother from Russia.

Mel Hurtig's stores featured staging of plays, poetry readings, encouraged social interaction, and unusually, permitted drinking coffee.

In September 1990, Mel Hurtig published the five-volume Junior Encyclopedia of Canada, the first encyclopedia for young Canadians.

In 1967 Mel Hurtig became interested in politics when the Liberal Party was looking for a new leader in the wake of Prime Minister Pearson's impending retirement.

Mel Hurtig ended up supporting Justice Minister Pierre Trudeau's successful bid for Liberal leadership.

Mel Hurtig finished second to longtime Progressive Conservative incumbent Marcel Lambert.

Mel Hurtig served as Chair for the first year of the CIC.

In 1985, Mel Hurtig established the Council of Canadians, another nationalist organization, five years after the demise of the CIC.

In 1992, Mel Hurtig was elected leader of the National Party of Canada and led it in the 1993 federal election.

Mel Hurtig ran in the riding of Edmonton Northwest, but with 4,507 votes and 12.8 per cent of the popular vote, finished a distant third to Liberal Anne McLellan.

In 2005, Mel Hurtig moved from Edmonton to Vancouver, British Columbia, in order to be closer to his four daughters.