1967: The Last Good Year

Pierre Berton chronicles Canada's centennial year in this historical account focused on the pivotal events and social changes of 1967. The book covers major national celebrations, including Expo 67 in Montreal and the Centennial Voyageur Canoe Pageant. The narrative tracks significant developments in Canadian sports, politics, and culture, from the Toronto-Montreal Stanley Cup finals to the emergence of Pierre Trudeau on the national stage. Berton documents the transformation of Canadian society as traditional conservative values gave way to more progressive attitudes about divorce, sexuality, and personal freedom. The book maintains a dual focus, balancing coverage of national celebrations and achievements with examination of social movements that reshaped Canadian identity. Berton incorporates his firsthand observations and interviews from his career as a broadcaster and journalist. The work stands as both historical record and cultural commentary, presenting 1967 as a watershed moment when Canada's traditional past met its modern future.

Readers describe this as a nostalgic look at Canada's centennial year, highlighting cultural and social changes. The book resonates with those who lived through 1967, particularly in Toronto and Montreal. Readers appreciated: - Personal anecdotes and details that captured daily life - Coverage of Expo 67 and its impact - The contrast between optimism and coming social upheaval - Clear writing style and pacing Common criticisms: - Too Toronto-centric, lacking broader Canadian perspective - Some factual errors noted by historians - Focus on pop culture over political events - Repetitive stories and examples Ratings across platforms: Goodreads: 3.8/5 (216 ratings) Amazon.ca: 4.2/5 (31 ratings) "Brings back memories of what it felt like to be Canadian that year" - Goodreads reviewer "Too much emphasis on Toronto at the expense of other regions" - Amazon reviewer "The research seems shallow compared to Berton's other works" - LibraryThing review

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🍁 The book's central focus, Expo 67 in Montreal, attracted over 50 million visitors during its six-month run, making it the most successful World's Fair of the 20th century. 📚 Pierre Berton wrote 50 books during his lifetime and won the Governor General's Award for non-fiction three times, cementing his place as one of Canada's most prolific and respected authors. 🏒 1967 marked the last time the Toronto Maple Leafs won the Stanley Cup, defeating their arch-rivals the Montreal Canadiens in what would become a historic moment frozen in time. 🎭 The year witnessed the creation of the Order of Canada, now the country's highest civilian honor, with the first recipients including pianist Glenn Gould and author Hugh MacLennan. 🗞️ During his career spanning the events covered in the book, Berton was both a panelist on the popular TV show "Front Page Challenge" and a distinguished newspaper editor at the Toronto Star.