Historical Marker To Honour Canada's Role In Ending The Cold War
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Mikhail Gorbachev and his most democratic strategist, Aleksandr Yakovlev, are together responsible for the reforms of perestroika and glasnost, which led to the end of the Communist Party's dictatorship over the Soviet Union and helped conclude the Cold War. The two men first discussed their plans for reform in Canada.
The conversation happened on May 19, 1983, at the Essex County, Ontario, farm of Canadian Agriculture Minister Eugene Whelan. Gorbachev, then the Soviet Party Secretary for Agriculture, was in Canada for an official tour. Also in the delegation was Yakovlev, then the Soviet ambassador to Canada. The occasion was a dinner at Whelan's home. As they waited for Whelan to arrive for the dinner, Yakovlev and Gorbachev slipped out the home's back entrance to get some air. Realizing they were separated from their handlers for the first time, the two men spoke frankly about the challenges facing their country as they strolled along a tractor path behind Whelan's home.
"This was [a] free country, where people feel like people in the conditions of freedom and work in the conditions of freedom... people could show initiative, which in our country was often punished. And it's from that point of view that our conversation with Yakovlev definitely took place. It was a conversation about the Canadian experience, about using it as an example." -- Mikhail Gorbachev
"The most important common understanding was the idea that we could not live this way anymore. We talked about absolutely everything, openly, and it was clear to me that this was a new kind of leader. It was a thrilling experience, politically and intellectually." -- Aleksandr N. Yakovlev
Yakovlev would identify this as the conversation in which perestroika was born, explaining that 80\% of what came to be known as perestroika was mentioned in Eugene Whelan's backyard. I believe the historical importance of this world-changing conversation should be recognized. I support the construction of a historical marker at the Whelan home to honour the location where Mikhail Gorbachev and his adviser and eminence grise, Aleksandr Yakovlev, discussed for the first time the perestroika reforms.
The conversation happened on May 19, 1983, at the Essex County, Ontario, farm of Canadian Agriculture Minister Eugene Whelan. Gorbachev, then the Soviet Party Secretary for Agriculture, was in Canada for an official tour. Also in the delegation was Yakovlev, then the Soviet ambassador to Canada. The occasion was a dinner at Whelan's home. As they waited for Whelan to arrive for the dinner, Yakovlev and Gorbachev slipped out the home's back entrance to get some air. Realizing they were separated from their handlers for the first time, the two men spoke frankly about the challenges facing their country as they strolled along a tractor path behind Whelan's home.
"This was [a] free country, where people feel like people in the conditions of freedom and work in the conditions of freedom... people could show initiative, which in our country was often punished. And it's from that point of view that our conversation with Yakovlev definitely took place. It was a conversation about the Canadian experience, about using it as an example." -- Mikhail Gorbachev
"The most important common understanding was the idea that we could not live this way anymore. We talked about absolutely everything, openly, and it was clear to me that this was a new kind of leader. It was a thrilling experience, politically and intellectually." -- Aleksandr N. Yakovlev
Yakovlev would identify this as the conversation in which perestroika was born, explaining that 80\% of what came to be known as perestroika was mentioned in Eugene Whelan's backyard. I believe the historical importance of this world-changing conversation should be recognized. I support the construction of a historical marker at the Whelan home to honour the location where Mikhail Gorbachev and his adviser and eminence grise, Aleksandr Yakovlev, discussed for the first time the perestroika reforms.
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50 signatures
Goal: 50
Latest Signatures
15 August 2015
21 June 2015
1 June 2015
48.
Rhys T
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Mr. Whelan is a hell of a character and statesman. No surprise at all he contributed in such a significant way to international politics of the time.
16 April 2015
5 March 2015
46.
Todd B
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I was in grade 11 at General Amherst High School in Amherstburg at the time. The Soviets being in Amherstburg was quite the talk at the time.
25 February 2015
29 August 2014
22 July 2014
6 April 2014
25 March 2014
1 March 2014
17 February 2014
39.
Kathleen Wilcox
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I knew about the Whelan - Gorbechev - Canadian connection many years ago. But I did not know about the walk. How wonderful that Eugene was late getting home that day. Thanks
27 October 2013
29 August 2013
22 August 2013
29 March 2013
35.
George B
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Absolutely correct thing to do, when one considers the magnitude of the events in the Soviet Union and Europe, following Gorby's time with Mr. Whelan. The ending of the Cold War was as signal as the Russian revolution of 1917 -- both amongst the half-doze
28 November 2012
27 April 2012
33.
Vadim Mikhaylov
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In early 90-s I acted as a formal inetrpreter in talk between Mr. Yakovklev and Mr. Whelan which took place in Kremlin. Both of them are great persons!
6 April 2012
3 February 2012
10 December 2011
25 November 2011
29.
Colette M
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I am proud to know that it was through demonstrating our agricultural system that wise reforms were born
7 August 2011
1 July 2011
10 December 2010
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