The woman who stood up to the Premier
Zellers #Zellers
Secret Life of Canada
In 1934, after years of being assaulted by the Premier of Alberta John Edward Brownlee, Vivian did the unthinkable. She sued him … and won.
Vivian MacMillan’s true story among topics that fascinate Secret Life of Canada listeners
CBC Podcasts · Posted: May 12, 2021 1:56 PM ET | Last Updated: May 12
Vivian MacMillan, pictured here in 1934, endured years of assault and harassment at the hands of Alberta Premier John Edward Brownlee. (Provincial Archives of Alberta)
Why are treaties numbered? Who was Vivian MacMillan? When was the department store Zellers formed? These are just some of the questions that listeners had for The Secret Life of Canada team.
Co-hosts Leah Simone-Bowen and Falen Johnson answer questions from across the country in their final episode of the season. They explain the history behind the word “unceded” and journey to Calgary to tell the story of one of the most talked about court cases in the 1930s. Then, they dive into the ongoing love affair that Canadians have with the now defunct discount chain Zellers.
One of the last Zellers locations clears out its inventory after most of the stores were sold to Target in 2011. (Michael Wilson/CBC) What you’ll hear this episode
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