Canada in the 1980s

Terry Fox Marathon of Hope

Apr 12, 1980

Terry Fox satrt his cross country Marathon of Hope in support of cancer research. On September 1 in Thunder Bay Ontario his Marathon is cut short by the return of his own cancer

Quebec Referendum

Jun 9, 1980

The 1980 Quebec Referendum was a pursuit put forward by the Parti Québécois that porposed that Quebec be remove from Canadian laws and taxes but would remain as part of Canada's economic associatuin.
"The Government of Quebec has made public its proposal to negotiate a new agreement with the rest of Canada, based on the equality of nations; this agreement would enable Quebec to acquire the exclusive power to make its laws, levy its taxes and establish relations abroad — in other words, sovereign

"Oh Canada" Becomes the National Anthem

Jul 1, 1980

Toronto Bathhouse Raids (Operation Soap)

Feb 5, 1981

Operation soap was a Toronto police raids that arrested over three hundred gay members from four different gay bathhouses in Toronto. This was the largest mass arrest since 1970 October crisis. The event marked a major turning point in gay and lesbian rights in Canada and evolved into today Toronto’s Pride week which is the world largest gay pride festival. Most of the charges where eventually dropped, only several of the bathhouse where fined.

First case of AIDS reported in Canada

Feb 4, 1982

Constitution Act

Jun 9, 1982

Canada's first female in the Supreme Court

Mar 4, 1983

Bertha Wilson becomes Canada's first ever female in the Supreme Court of Justice

Canada's first female Govener General

Dec 23, 1983

Jeanne Sauvé is appointed as Canada's first female Govener General.

Pierre Trudeau announces his retirment

Feb 29, 1984

Pierre Trudeau announces that he will retire as soon as a new leader for the Liberal Party is found.

First Canadian in Space

Mar 27, 1984

Marc Garneau becomes the first Canadian to enter space, aboard the Space Shuttle Challenger.

Air India Flight 182

Jun 23, 1985

Air India Flight 182 was a flight that flew between Montreal, London and Delhi but was blown up by a bomb by Sikh terrorists. It crashed into the Atlantic Ocean in Irish waters. 329 people were killed, 268 Canadians, 27 British citizens and 24 Indians proving to be the biggest mass murder in Canadian history. The investigation and prosecution of the Sikh terrorists is Canada longest lasting and most expensive court case in its history. Singh Reyat a member of the Babbar Khalsa was arrested and c

First black Lietenant Govener

Sep 20, 1985

Lincoln Alexander became the first black man to hold the position of vice regal in Ontario

Arrow Air Flight 1285 crashes

Dec 12, 1985

The worst plane crash in Canadian history occured when a fire occured onboard Arrow Air Flight 1285 produced from icing. Every person onboard was killed in the crash including the crew.

The Canadian dollar hit an all time low

Jan 31, 1986

The Canadian dollar hit an all time low of 70.2 cents US

Canada receives an awards for sheltering refugees

Oct 6, 1986

Canada-United States Free Trade Agreement

Oct 4, 1987

Negotations for the free trade agreement ended with the leaders of both sides signing the agreement on January 2, 1988. The agreement removed many of the trade restrictions over a ten year period that had governed across border trading. The agreement ended with a great increase in across border trading.

Canadian Centre on Substance Abuse

Mar 26, 1988

The Canadian Centre on Substance Abuse opens. It's mandate is to reduce the damage from drug and achohol related harm.

Apologies for Japanese Canadians Internment Camps

Sep 22, 1988

Prime Minister Brian Mulroney offers an offical apology to those Japanese Canadians that were placed in internment camps during World War II

Blackout across Quebec

Mar 13, 1989

At 2:44 AM a mass ejection of solar coronal caused a blackout across Quebec. Affecting 6 million people for more than 9 hours