Lotta was nominated for Nobel Peace Prize!

I made a recent discovery: humanitarian Lotta Hitschmanova was nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize, not once, but twice, in 1961 and in 1962!

A second discovery, the name of the nominator: Calgary resident, Arthur Smith, at the time a Conservative Member of Parliament.

Here is how he framed the nomination:

Profession: Czech-Canadian philanthropist. Motivation: Lotta Hitschmanova was nominated for her opposition to the Nazi regime during the second world war, her work with refugees, and organizing the small beginnings of the Unitarian Service Committee.

Why did Smith nominate Lotta, did he have a Unitarian connection, was he a friend of Lotta’s? If anyone has any background information, please add it in the comments section below.

What is clear from a CBC obituary is that like Lotta, Arthur Smith (1919-2008) himself made significant contributions to Canadian society: he was a WWII war hero, an entrepreneur, MP, local politician, was known as Mr. Calgary and in 2003 was named an officer of the Order of Canada.

Though Lotta did not win the Nobel Peace Prize, her work was recognized around the world: in France, Greece, South Korea, India and Lesotho. And she received the Royal Bank of Canada Award in 1979, was made a Companion of the Order of Canada in 1980, and received the Rotary International Award for World Understanding in 1983.

David Rain

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