Philippe Gigantès
Encyclopedia
Philippe Deane Gigantès was a veteran of the Second World War, journalist
, war correspondent
, POW of the Korean War
, author, television commentator, Greek minister of culture, and Canadian senator.
during the Second World War. After the war, he became a journalist, working for the London Observer
, in Greece, North Africa, and South Asia, from 1946 to 1961.
Whilst covering the Korean War
he was taken prisoner, and spent 33 months in a North Korea
n prison camp. After his release he wrote the book I was a Captive in Korea and returned to his career in journalism. He became the Washington correspondent for the London Observer and the Globe and Mail.
official and then as Secretary-General to King Constantine II of Greece
. He was appointed to the post of Greek Minister of Culture. He later resumed his career in the media as a television commentator.
. In 1984 while working as an editorialist at the Montreal Gazette he was appointed to the Senate of Canada by Pierre Trudeau
, for whom he had worked between 1978 and 1980 as a researcher then head of the Liberal
Caucus Research Office. He served in the Senate until his 75th birthday in 1998.
While in the Senate he served on many committees but was particularly proud of his work as chair of an adhoc committee on the future of work. His report of this work was published by Parliament under the title Only Work Works and in French under the title "Il n'y a que le Travail qui Vaille.
In his book "Nice Work: The Continuing Scandal Of Canada's Senate", journalist and author Claire Hoy wrote that the late Philippe Gigantes, during a filibuster in the Senate, read one of his books into the record; another senator suggested that he did this to get the work translated into French by parliamentary staff responsible for Hansard
.
. He left behind three daughters Eleni, Claire and Eve Marie, two grandsons and a granddaughter.
Journalist
A journalist collects and distributes news and other information. A journalist's work is referred to as journalism.A reporter is a type of journalist who researchs, writes, and reports on information to be presented in mass media, including print media , electronic media , and digital media A...
, war correspondent
War correspondent
A war correspondent is a journalist who covers stories firsthand from a war zone. In the 19th century they were also called Special Correspondents.-Methods:...
, POW of the Korean War
Korean War
The Korean War was a conventional war between South Korea, supported by the United Nations, and North Korea, supported by the People's Republic of China , with military material aid from the Soviet Union...
, author, television commentator, Greek minister of culture, and Canadian senator.
War and Journalism
Gigantès served in the British Royal NavyRoyal Navy
The Royal Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the British Armed Forces. Founded in the 16th century, it is the oldest service branch and is known as the Senior Service...
during the Second World War. After the war, he became a journalist, working for the London Observer
The Observer
The Observer is a British newspaper, published on Sundays. In the same place on the political spectrum as its daily sister paper The Guardian, which acquired it in 1993, it takes a liberal or social democratic line on most issues. It is the world's oldest Sunday newspaper.-Origins:The first issue,...
, in Greece, North Africa, and South Asia, from 1946 to 1961.
Whilst covering the Korean War
Korean War
The Korean War was a conventional war between South Korea, supported by the United Nations, and North Korea, supported by the People's Republic of China , with military material aid from the Soviet Union...
he was taken prisoner, and spent 33 months in a North Korea
North Korea
The Democratic People’s Republic of Korea , , is a country in East Asia, occupying the northern half of the Korean Peninsula. Its capital and largest city is Pyongyang. The Korean Demilitarized Zone serves as the buffer zone between North Korea and South Korea...
n prison camp. After his release he wrote the book I was a Captive in Korea and returned to his career in journalism. He became the Washington correspondent for the London Observer and the Globe and Mail.
Greek Minister of Culture
After his career in journalism he worked as a United NationsUnited Nations
The United Nations is an international organization whose stated aims are facilitating cooperation in international law, international security, economic development, social progress, human rights, and achievement of world peace...
official and then as Secretary-General to King Constantine II of Greece
Constantine II of Greece
|align=right|Constantine II was King of Greece from 1964 until the abolition of the monarchy in 1973, the sixth and last monarch of the Greek Royal Family....
. He was appointed to the post of Greek Minister of Culture. He later resumed his career in the media as a television commentator.
Canadian Senator
In 1980 he ran for MP in the Canadian riding of Broadview-Greenwood, but was defeated by Bob RaeBob Rae
Robert Keith "Bob" Rae, PC, OC, OOnt, QC, MP is a Canadian politician. He is the Member of Parliament for Toronto Centre and interim leader of the Liberal Party of Canada....
. In 1984 while working as an editorialist at the Montreal Gazette he was appointed to the Senate of Canada by Pierre Trudeau
Pierre Trudeau
Joseph Philippe Pierre Yves Elliott Trudeau, , usually known as Pierre Trudeau or Pierre Elliott Trudeau, was the 15th Prime Minister of Canada from April 20, 1968 to June 4, 1979, and again from March 3, 1980 to June 30, 1984.Trudeau began his political career campaigning for socialist ideals,...
, for whom he had worked between 1978 and 1980 as a researcher then head of the Liberal
Liberal Party of Canada
The Liberal Party of Canada , colloquially known as the Grits, is the oldest federally registered party in Canada. In the conventional political spectrum, the party sits between the centre and the centre-left. Historically the Liberal Party has positioned itself to the left of the Conservative...
Caucus Research Office. He served in the Senate until his 75th birthday in 1998.
While in the Senate he served on many committees but was particularly proud of his work as chair of an adhoc committee on the future of work. His report of this work was published by Parliament under the title Only Work Works and in French under the title "Il n'y a que le Travail qui Vaille.
Author
He was the author of 15 books including I Should Have Died, Is the Free Trade Deal Really for You? (1988) and Power and Greed: A Short History of the World (2002).In his book "Nice Work: The Continuing Scandal Of Canada's Senate", journalist and author Claire Hoy wrote that the late Philippe Gigantes, during a filibuster in the Senate, read one of his books into the record; another senator suggested that he did this to get the work translated into French by parliamentary staff responsible for Hansard
Hansard
Hansard is the name of the printed transcripts of parliamentary debates in the Westminster system of government. It is named after Thomas Curson Hansard, an early printer and publisher of these transcripts.-Origins:...
.
Death
Gigantès died on December 9, 2004 of prostate cancerProstate cancer
Prostate cancer is a form of cancer that develops in the prostate, a gland in the male reproductive system. Most prostate cancers are slow growing; however, there are cases of aggressive prostate cancers. The cancer cells may metastasize from the prostate to other parts of the body, particularly...
. He left behind three daughters Eleni, Claire and Eve Marie, two grandsons and a granddaughter.