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(Colonies & Settlements) German Immigration 1750
German immigrants begin to arrive in numbers at Halifax. They were drawn to Canada by the prospect of farming on abundant and cheap land and preserving distinct religious lifestyles. -
Period: to
Canadian History
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(Exploration Discovery) Anthony Henday 1754
Anthony Henday travelled farther into western Canada than any white person had before him, and his journal contained important glimpses of how the indigenous population lived at that time. -
(Notable Event) Expulsion of the Acadians July 28, 1755
The Acadians Deportation
Acadian delegates who refused the oath of allegiance were dispersed from Minas and over the next few months most of the Acadian population of Nova Scotia was rounded up and transported away. About one half of the Acadians perished. -
(Wars & Battles) Battle of the Plains of Abraham Sept 13, 1759
On the night of Sept 12-13, General James Wolfe led his soldiers up an unguarded footpath and set for battle before the fortress walls. Montcalm attacked in the morning but his line broke, and Québec fell into British hands. Both generals perished. -
HISTORICAL SIGNIFICANCE (Battle of the Plains of Abraham Sept 13, 1759)
This battle marked a turning point in the history of New France and eventually Canada. By defeating and securing the French stronghold at Québec, the British established a strong presence in New France. However, the removal of France as a North American power increased the confidence of British colonies which subsequently agitated for greater independence from Great Britain. The Battle indirectly led to the American Revolution, the creation of the United States, and the migration of Loyalists. -
(Documents Acts & Treaties) The Treaty of Paris Feb 10, 1763
The Treaty of Paris ended the Seven Years’ War between France, Britain and Spain. It marked the end of that phase of European conflict in North America, and created the basis for the modern country of Canada. France surrenders New France, now known as Quebec, to Britain. -
(Wars & Battles) Pontiacs War May 9, 1763
An ally of the French, Ottawa chief Obwandiyag, whom the English called Pontiac, began a series of raids against English forts. Their attempt to drive the English away from the area killed both soldiers and settlers. -
ETHICAL DIMENSIONS (Pontiacs War May 9, 1763)
The Pontiac's War was the most successful First Nations resistance to the European invasion. Though it failed to oust the British from native lands, the conflict forced British authorities to recognize native rights. The Pontiac's military successes played a major role in demonstrating to the British that aboriginal peoples were still masters of their own ancestral lands. -
(Notable Event) Royal Proclamation Oct 7, 1763
Royal Proclamation of 1763
The Royal Proclamation of 1763 was issued by King George III to establish a basis of government administration in the North American territories formally ceded by France to Britain in the Treaty of Paris, 1763, following the Seven Years War. -
(Provincial Notes) Prince Edward Island Separates 1769
Prince Edward Island, formerly part of Nova Scotia, becomes separate British colony. -
(Documents Act & Treaties) Quebec Act Passed June 22, 1774
The Quebec Act was passed (effective May 1, 1775); it established French civil law, British criminal law, freedom of worship for Roman Catholics and government by appointed council. It extended the boundaries of the province to the Ohio Valley. -
HISTORICAL PERSPECTIVES (Quebec Act Passed June 22, 1774)
The Quebec Act angered the Americans and was termed one of the Intolerable Acts by the Patriots, and contributed to the coming of the American Revolution. Following the victory of the American forces and the signing of the Treaty of Versailles in 1783, 50,000 loyalists arrived in Québec. The newly arrived Anglophones were dissatisfied with the privileges granted by the Quebec Act to the Francophones and they put pressure on the British administration. -
(Wars & Battles) American Invasion Fails December 31, 1775
American forces laying siege to Québec launched a desperate night attack. American general Richard Montgomery was killed as the attack was repulsed with heavy casualties. The French habitants had failed to support the Americans and Canada remained British. -
(Colonies & Settlements) First Loyalists Arrive April 1st , 1776
The first United Empire Loyalists - 1124 refugees from New England - arrived in Halifax, NS. Another 40 000 or so followed them to NS and to Quebec. The immigration resulted in the formation of New Brunswick and Upper Canada. -
(Notable Events) The North West Company April 24, 1779
The fur traders of Montreal band together in the North West Company to compete with the traders of the Hudson's Bay Company. -
(Colonies & Settlements) More Loyalists Immigrate 1783
Around 40 000 United Empire Loyalist from the Thirteen Colonies start immigrating to Canada. Most settle in Nova Scotia, Quebec, and New Brunswick (established as a colony separate from Nova Scotia in 1784). Three thousand Black Loyalists settle near Shelburne, Nova Scotia. -
(Provincial Notes) New Brunswick and Cape Breton Island Formed January 1, 1784
The British government created two new colonies, New Brunswick and Cape Breton Island. Many Loyalists were residing in the Atlantic. -
(Notable Event) The Iroquois 1784
After helping the British during the American Revolution, the Iroquois are given two land grants. Thayendanegea (Joseph Brant) settles his followers at the Six Nations Reserve, near Brantford. -
(Exploration Discovery) Alexander Mackenzie Journeys to the Beaufort Sea 1789
Sir Alexander Mackenzie, propelled by the fur trade was the first European to traverse the North American continent north of Mexico. His 6,400 km trek to the Pacific on behalf of the North West Company revealed the promise of the Canadian Northwest and much of the geography of western North America. -
HISTORICAL SIGNIFICANCE (Alexander Mackenzie Journeys to the Beaufort Sea 1789)
When Alexander Mackenzie reached the Pacific from Canada, by land, he played a momentous role in forging lucrative trading partnerships for Canada. However, his more significant contribution was his role in establishing a great nation. -
ETHICAL DIMENSIONS (Constitutional Act December 26, 1791)
The new Constitution gave women, aboriginals, Jews, and Catholics the right to vote. However, as was the custom in Great Britain, the right to vote was only granted to landowners; English merchants in Lower Canada opposed giving the colony the right to vote. They knew that, in Lower Canada, landowners were more common than in Great Britain: they made up an eighth of the population. This pitted the land-rich Canadian seigneurs against the capital-rich English merchants. -
(Documents Act & Treaties) Constitutional Act December 26, 1791
The Constitutional Act of 1791 was an Act of the British Parliament creating Upper Canada and Lower Canada. Although it was a first step towards Canadian Confederation, its rigid colonial structures also set the stage for rebellion in the two Canadas. The Act was also notable for a voting franchise that was inclusive by the standards of the late 18th and early 19th centuries, particularly as it included women in Lower Canada who owned property. -
(Governors & Prime Ministers) York Founded by John Graves Simcoe 1793
The province’s first governor, John Graves Simcoe, planned a centrally located town at Toronto. Simcoe saw the site as a commanding position for a naval and garrison base to guard a troubled American boundary. He had a little town laid out by the harbour, which he named York in honour of the Duke of York, son of King George III. Soon he was using York as a capital of Upper Canada, erecting parliament buildings and cutting roads inland. -
(Exploration Discovery) Mackenzie Reaches the Pacific July 22, 1793
Alexander Mackenzie party reached the Pacific via the Bella Coola River, the first explorer to complete the journey overland. Though a physical triumph, Mackenzie's achievement failed to provide the fur traders with a viable route. -
(Notable Event) Jay's Treaty November 19, 1794
An American diplomat, John Jay, oversees the signing of Jay's Treaty between the United States and Great Britain.It promises British evacuation of the Ohio Valley forts and marks the beginning of international arbitration to settle boundary disputes. -
(Notable Event) First Paper Mill 1803
First paper mill established in Lower Canada, producing paper from cloth rags. -
HISTORICAL SIGNIFICANCE (American Slaves Escape Route 1805)
American slaves were able to escape to Canada via the Underground Railroad. British North America (present-day Canada), where slavery was prohibited, was a popular destination, as its long border gave many points of access. Most former slaves settled in Ontario. More than 30,000 people were said to have escaped there via the network during its 20-year peak period. By 1850, 100,000 slaves had escaped using the Underground Railroad. -
(Exploration Discovery) Simon Fraser Discovers Fort McLeod 1805
British explorer Simon Fraser founds Fort McLeod as the region's first permanent white settlement. -
(Colonies & Settlements ) American Slaves Escape Route 1805
Vermont passed an act to establish the line between the State and Canada and played an important geographical role in the Underground Railroad, which helped American slaves escape to Canada. -
(Documents Act & Treaties) The Upper Canada Militia Act 1808
The Upper Canada Militia Act states that all males between ages of sixteen and sixty are required to enroll as militiamen and are to be called out once a year for exercises. -
(Colonies & Settlements) Selkirk's Red River Grant June 12, 1811
The HBC granted an area of about 185 000 km² to Lord Selkirk for formation of a colony at Red River. His first settlers arrived in the summer of 1812. Despite tribulations the settlement grew into the first European colony in the North-West. -
(Wars & Battles) Battle of Queenston Heights October 13, 1812
Battle of Queenston Heights American crossed the Niagara River and attacked the high ground of Queenston Heights. His sword drawn, Major-General Brock led troops into battle and was fatally wounded by an American sniper. The battle essentially lost, Grand River Mohawk warriors led by John Norton (Teyoninhokarawen) prevented American forces from retreating for several hours until reinforcements led by Major-General Roger Sheaffe arrived and forced over 1,000 American soldiers to surrender. -
HISTORICAL SIGNIFICANCE (Laura Secord June 22, 1813)
After Laura Secrod alerted the Lieutenant of the surprise attack, two days later, on June 24, 1813, British and Native troops intercepted the Americans and forced their surrender at the Battle of Beaver Dams. In 1814, the peace treaty came into effect, and the border between the United States and Canada has never seen hostility since. Although Laura Secord received 100 pounds from England’s Prince of Wales in 1860, many years would elapse before her heroism was recognized. -
(Notable Event) Laura Secord June 22, 1813
Laura Secord
A Queenston Ontario woman, Laura Secord, aided by Indians, treks more than 19 kilometres to warn British forces of plans she overheard of an American attack. Two days later, the Americans are ambushed and surrender to FitzGibbon. -
(Documents Acts & Treaties) The Treaty of Ghent December 24, 1814
The Treaty of Ghent is signed, ending the War of 1812 and restoring Canada-U.S. borders. Both Britain and the United States agree to re-establish the "status quo ante bellum" and return to the pre-1812 state of affairs. -
(Notable Event) The Hudson’s Bay Company and the North West Company Merger March 21, 1821
The Hudson’s Bay Company and the North West Company merge after decades of often-fierce rivalry. -
(Documents Acts & Treaties) Louis-Joseph Papineau the Act of Union 1822
Louis-Joseph Papineau, a member of the legislative assembly since 1814, travels from Montréal to England to oppose an Act of Union identifying the French Canadians as a minority without language rights. The act is not passed in the British Parliament. -
(Provincial Note) Miramichi Fire Oct 7, 1825
Miramichi Fire kills more than 160 persons and consumes 6,000 square miles of forest in New Brunswick. The preceding summer was a particularity hot one, with bush fires common. -
CAUSE AND CONSEQUENCE (Miramichi Fire Oct 7, 1825)
Before the Miramichi Fire, people made their living in the forests and obtained their food by hunting and trapping. This all changed after the fire. The tops of the trees had burned and the bottoms were used to build cabins and shelters for the homeless. The tallest of trees that survived were sold to the ship builders for masts. Fortunately, enough of the forest survived for the lumber industry to carry on. -
(Exploration Discovery) Welland Canal Opened Nov 30, 1829
Two schooners passed from Port Dalhousie to Port Robinson, Upper Canada, symbolically opening the Welland Canal and linking Lakes Erie and Ontario for the first time. The canal opened the way to the west and countered the threat of the US Erie Canal. -
(Provincial Notes) Cholera Epidemic Spreads 1832
Immigrants with Cholera land at Quebec. Grosse Île, near Québec, was opened as a quarantine station during the cholera epidemics and all ships stopped there for inspection. This station was a futile attempt by the government to control the disease that killed up to 10% of the population. -
(Notable Event) First Railway Opens in Canada July 21, 1836
Canada's first railway, the Champlain and St Lawrence Railroad, officially opened; it began operations on July 25. The railway heralded the most important change in transportation in Canadian history. -
CONTINUITY AND CHANGE (First Railway Opens in Canada July 21, 1836)
The creation of a railroad network that would reach from the Atlantic to the Pacific, opening up vast regions to settlement and virtually building Canada, began with the Champlain and Saint Lawrence Railroad. It served as a way for those travelling between Montreal and New York to avoid a bumpy journey that bypassed a series of difficult rapids on the Richelieu. The construction of more rail lines in all directions soon followed, following a period of unprecedented growth in Canada. -
(Wars & Battles) Rebellion in Upper Canada December 5, 1837
William Lyon Mackenzie led a rag-tag contingent of 800 men down Yonge Street toward Toronto. Government loyalists dispersed the rebels with a few shots, ending Mackenzie's erratic attempt to overthrow the colonial government. -
(Documents Acts & Treaties) Durham Report Submitted Feb 4, 1839
Lord Durham submitted his Report on the Affairs of British North America following his trip to Canada after the Rebellions. He recommended a legislative union of the two Canadas and responsible government, as well as assimilation of the French Canadians. -
(Documents Acts & Treaties) The Act of Union Feb 10, 1841
The Act of Union was passed by the British Parliament in July 1840 and proclaimed 10 February 1841. It united the colonies of Upper Canada and Lower Canada under one government, creating the Province of Canada. -
(Exploration Discovery) Franklin Voyage Ends in Disaster 1845
In 1845 Sir John Franklin led a British team in an attempt to find the passage. Neither he, nor any of his men, returned. The many expeditions that searched for the lost crew over the next 12 years finally defined the coastal outlines of most of the Arctic islands, and reported an uncertain ice-free period for ships of only 1-2 months in August and September. -
(Notable Event) Responsible Government in Nova Scotia Feb 2, 1848
James Boyle Uniake became leader of a new Reform government. Nova Scotia was thus the first colony in the British Empire in which responsible government was in effect. Responsible government meant that a colony enjoyed complete self-government in domestic affairs and that a government ruled only with the support of the majority of the elected Assembly (the origins of today's cabinet government). -
CONTINUITY AND CHANGE (Responsible Government in Nova Scotia Feb 2, 1848)
Joseph Howe in Nova Scotia, along with Baldwin and Louis LaFontaine in the Province of Canada, built up strong, moderate reform parties to gain responsible government. It was achieved first in Nova Scotia in January 1848, then it was granted to PEI in 1851, New Brunswick in 1854 and Newfoundland in 1855. This control of government was increased by degrees, so that Canadians gradually acquired command of their own political concerns and achieved national self-direction without revolution. -
The burning of the Parliament Buildings in Montreal April 25, 1849
The burning of the Parliament Buildings in Montreal was an important event in pre-Confederation Canadian history. It is considered a crucial moment in the development of the Canadian democratic tradition, largely as a consequence of how the matter was dealt with by then co-prime ministers of the united Province of Canada, Sir Louis-Hippolyte Lafontaine and Robert Baldwin. -
(Documents Acts & Treaties) Reciprocity Treaty June 6, 1854
Canada and the U.S. sign a Reciprocity Treaty, ensuring reduction of customs duties -
(Provincial Notes) Ottawa becomes the Capital of Canada 1857
Queen Victoria chooses Ottawa as the new capital of the United Province of Canada. -
(Exploration Discovery) Fraser River Gold Rush April 25, 1858
1858 Fraser River Gold Rush The first wave of miners from California arrived at Victoria, en route to the Fraser River Gold Rush. The Gold Rush caused a precipitous decline in the Native population and politically unified British Columbia. -
CAUSE AND CONSEQUENCE (Fraser River Gold Rush April 25, 1858)
The richest discoveries of fine flour gold occurred between Hope and Yale in the Fraser River Canyon. This region was controlled by Americans who provoked conflicts between whites and aboriginals prior to the assertion of British sovereignty from the adjacent colony of Vancouver Island. All aboriginal lands of southern BC were invaded by large companies of miners that triggered the Indian Wars of Washington and Oregon, and by extension the Fraser River War of 1858. -
(Notable Event) Great Reform Convention Nov 9,1859
A convention of scattered reform elements of Upper Canada met in Toronto. Under George Brown's leadership the convention voted to support a legislative union of the Canadas and set the stage for closer collaboration between English and French. -
(Colonies and Settlements) Charlottetown Conference September 1st, 1864
The Charlottetown Conference was held in Charlottetown, PEI. At the conference Maritime union was virtually dropped, and the delegates agreed to meet a new conference in Québec to discuss a Canadian scheme for a union of all the colonies. -
(Documents Act & Treaties) British North America Act March 8, 1867
The British North America Act was passed by the British Parliament and given royal assent by Queen Victoria on March 29. It came into effect on July 1. The Act joined the colonies of Canada, Nova Scotia and New Brunswick in one federal union. -
(Governors & Prime Ministers) John A. Macdonald Becomes First PM of Canada July 1, 1867
Sir John A. Macdonald
The Dominion of Canada, uniting Ontario, Quebec, New Brunswick and Nova Scotia, comes into existence, with John A. Macdonald as first prime minister. -
(Governors & Prime Ministers) John A. Macdonald Becomes First PM of Canada July 1, 1867
Sir John A. MacdonaldThe Dominion of Canada, uniting Ontario, Quebec, New Brunswick and Nova Scotia, comes into existence, with John A. Macdonald as first prime minister. -
(Notable Event) Red River Resistance November 2nd, 1869
With 120 men, Louis Riel occupied Fort Garry in the Red River Colony to block the transfer of the Northwest from the HBC to Canada. The resistance resulted in the formation of the new province of Manitoba but Riel was exiled. -
HISTORICAL PERSPECTIVES (Red River Resistance November 2nd, 1869)
Métis concerns were exacerbated by Canadian attempts to re-survey the settlement's river-lot farms, which had been laid out according to the seigneurial system of New France, in contrast to the square lots preferred by the English. Many Métis did not have clear title to their land, and although Ottawa intended to respect Métis occupancy rights, no assurances were given by the government. The Métis therefore feared the loss of their farms. The appointment of William McDougall also fuelled tension -
(Provincial Notes) Manitoba Becomes a Province July 15, 1870
Manitoba is carved from the Rupert's Land territory to become the fifth province of Canada. The remaining land becomes known as the Northwest Territories. -
(Notable Events) The Northwest Mounted Police 1873
The Northwest Mounted Police (NWMP) - later the RCMP, were created and formed. Their task was to keep peace, look over the CPR, stop whiskey trade and cease the Americans from attacking Canada. -
(Governors & Prime Ministers) Prime Minister Sir John Macdonald Resigns Nov, 5, 1873
Prime Minister Sir John Macdonald resigns as a result of scandal over the partial financing of the Conservative election campaign by the Canadian Pacific Railway Company. -
(Documents Act & Treaties) Treaty No. 7 September 22, 1877
Treaty No. 7 was signed at Blackfoot Crossing in southern Alberta by the Blackfoot, Blood, Peigan, Sarsi and Stoney. Canadian officials understood that by the treaty First Nations surrendered some 35,000 sq miles of land to the Crown in return for reserves, payments and annuities. -
CAUSE AND CONSEQUENCE (Treaty No. 7 September 22, 1877)
The immediate response of the Indians to the treaty was one of great happiness. The Blackfoot believed that nothing happened by chance; If a disaster occurred, there had to be a reason for it. A rapid decline in the number of buffalo occurred and the winter of 1877-78 was an open one, virtually without snow, and prairie fires drove the remaining buffalo far into Montana Territory. By spring, starvation was already haunting the bands that had failed to go south. -
(Governers and Prime Ministers) 1880 Dominick Edward Blake
Dominick Edward Blake, known as Edward Blake, was the second Premier of Ontario, Canada, from 1871 to 1872 and leader of the Liberal Party of Canada from 1880 to 1887. He is one of theonly three federal permanent Liberal leaders never to become Prime Minister of Canada, the others being Stéphane Dion and the latter's immediate successor Michael Ignatieff. He served in the national politics of what developed as the affairs of three nationalities: Canadian, British, and Irish. -
(Exploration Discovery) 1883 Murry Mine
In 1883, nickel-copper ore was discovered near this site during construction of the Canadian Pacific Railway. The discovery led to development of the nearby Murray Mine. Within a few years many more discoveries were made and Sudbury became Canada’s first major mining camp. -
(Wars and Battles) Nov 6, 1885 North-West Rebellion
The North-West Rebellion (or North-West Resistance) was a violent, five-month insurgency against the Canadian government, fought mainly by Métis militants and their Aboriginal allies in what is now Saskatchewan and Alberta. -
(Notable Event) November 16, 1885 Louis Riel Hanged
Québec History 24 -
Canada Hanged Louis Riel
Louis Riel was hanged for treason at the Regina jail. He had been convicted after a trial held in Regina from 28 July to 1 August. Macdonald's refusal to grant leniency made Riel a symbol of English-Canadian oppression. -
HISTORICAL SIGNIFICANCE (November 16, 1885 Louis Riel Hanged)
Métis leaders in Saskatchewan, articulate their grievances to the Canadian government, called upon Riel. Instead, he organized a military resistance, known as the North-West Rebellion of 1885. Ottawa used the new rail lines to send in combat soldiers, which ended with Riel getting arrested for treason. Rejecting many protests and popular appeals, Prime Minister MacDonald decided to hang him. Riel was seen as a heroic victim by Francophones and his execution had lasting negative impact on Canada. -
(Provincial Notes) March 31, 1890 Manitoba School Act
The Manitoba School Act abolished publicly funded support for separate schools for Catholics. The aggrieved French minority argued that the Act violated the agreements under which Manitoba
entered Confederation. -
(Notable Event) 1895 Hydroelectricity
Electrical power started to be generated from the falling water of Niagara Falls making cheap power available for industries and homes. The first time in the world that hydro-electricity was used to power a plant was at John Barber's paper mill in Georgetown, Ontario in 1888. -
(Colonies and Settlements) 1896 Sifton Encourages Immigration
Clifford Sifton removed red tape, broadened the selection of potential immigrants and offered incentives to those who would come to settle the Canadian West, "the last, best West." The result was an influx of immigrants from eastern and southern Europe that changed the composition of the Canadian population forever. -
CAUSE AND CONSEQUENCE (1896 Sifton Encourages Immigration)
Helped Canada's population soar to 2 million in the first decade of the 20th Century. Advertisements attracted Germans, Americans, Swedes, British, Ukrainians, Dutch, Icelanders, Norwegians, Russians and many others to Canada. Increased the diversity and population of Canada, making it more Multicultural. -
(Governors and Prime Ministers) June 23, 1896 Liberal Victory-Laurier PM
In the federal election, the Liberals defeated the Conservatives with 118 seats to 88. Wilfrid Laurier became Canada's first French-Canadian prime minister and marked a turning point in Canadian politics after years of Conservative Party rule. -
(Notable Event) May 14, 1904 First Olympics
Canada competes in the Olympics, in St. Louis, for the first time. -
(Provincial Note) July 20, 1905 Newest Provinces
Acts proclaiming Alberta and Saskatchewan as Canada’s newest provinces receive royal assent. -
CAUSES AND CONSEQUENCES (September 7, 1907 Anti-Asian race riot in Chinatown)
The riots that broke out were the accumulation of growing enmity toward the waves of Asian immigrants that were flooding parts of Canada. By the end of October 1907, new arrivals totaled 11,440. Of these immigrants, the Japanese accounted for 8,125. Labour Minister MacKenzie-King was detailed to write a Royal Commission into the events. He also recompensed the damage with $36,000 to the injured communities. The Vancouver race riot resulted in bans on immigration for the Japanese race. -
(Wars and Battles) September 7, 1907 Anti-Asian race riot in Chinatown
Anti-Asian race riot in Chinatown. A white supremacist crowd marched to alberta Vancouver city hall to demand a White Canada. They proceeded to attack Chinatown and then the Japanese community around Powell Street. -
(Exploration Discovery) April 6,1909 North Pole Discovery
Many of the polar explorers of this age barely made it back alive, and some didn’t make it back at all. After World War I, polar expeditions were generally organized on a more sensible basis. Robert Peary reached the North Pole on Apr.06.1909 - or so he claimed. -
(Documents Acts and Treaties) 1910 The British Royal Navy Bill Introduced
Naval Service Act of 1910 was the federal act that gave rise to the Royal Canadian Navy to replace the role of Royal Navy in protecting the sovereignty of the Canadian waters. The Naval Service Act established the Royal Canadian Navy, 4 May 1910.The Naval Service Bill of 1910 was a piece of Canadian government legislation, which was put forward by Prime Minister Sir Wilfrid Laurier. -
HISTORICAL SIGNIFICANCE (1910 The British Royal Navy Bill Introduced )
Prior to the bill's introduction Canada did not have a navy of its own, a state of affairs that left the Dominion dependent on the British Royal Navy for maritime defence. The Naval Service Bill was intended to provide Canada with a separate naval force, but one that, if needed, could be placed under British control during time of war. -
(Notable Events) Feb. 4. 1916 Fire Destroys Parliament Building
While World War I was raging in Europe, the Canadian Parliament Buildings in Ottawa caught fire on a freezing February night in 1916. With the exception of the Library of Parliament, the Centre Block of the Parliament Buildings was destroyed and seven people died. -
(Wars and Battles) April 9, 1917 Battle of Vimy Ridge
On Easter Monday, four Canadian divisions and one British brigade captured Vimy Ridge, near Arras, France, with a loss of 3578 killed and 7000 wounded. It was a brilliant victory for the Canadians, who sensed a new national awareness. -
(Provincial Notes) Dec 6, 1917 Halifax Explosion
The Halifax Explosion 1917 Nova Scotia, Canada
At Halifax, the French munitions ship Mont Blanc collided with the Belgian relief ship Imo. The resulting explosion, the largest before the advent of the atomic bomb, killed more than 1600 people and injured 9000 in Canada's worst disaster. -
(Provincial Notes) April 24, 1921 The Beginning of the Suffrage Movement
Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, and Prince Edward Island authorized women to vote in 1918, 1919 and 1922 respectively. For its part, Newfoundland and Labrador, which joined Canada in 1949, granted women the right to vote in 1925.Only Québec women remained excluded from political life and they would have to wait several more years to regain their right to vote. -
(Notable Event) 1922 Discovery of the Insulin
The discovery of a life-saving treatment for diabetes at the University of Toronto in 1921 made headlines worldwide and was formally acknowledged just two years later when the Nobel Prize for Medicine was awarded to two of the team members. -
HISTORICAL SIGNIFICANCE (1922 Discovery of the Insulin)
Although insulin doesn't cure diabetes, it's one of the biggest discoveries in medicine. When it came, it was like a miracle. People with severe diabetes and only days left to live were saved. And as long as they kept getting their insulin, they could live an almost normal life. -
(Documents Acts and Treaties) 1923 Halibut Treaty
The Halibut Treaty was a 1923 Canadian–American agreement concerning fishing rights in the northern Pacific Ocean. It was the first treaty negotiated by Canada, independent of Britain. Before this time Canada had always looked to Britain to ratify any international agreements they made. -
(Governors & Prime Ministers) 1926 Mackenzie King and WWII
Mackenzie King had the distinction to take Canada through the Second World War (1939-1945). Under his leadership, Canada fought an effective war, putting into the field around 1,000,000 men, while equipping and feeding many others. -
(Governors and Prime Ministers) 1930 R.B. Bennett and the Great Depression
R.B. Bennett was the Prime Minister (Conservative Party) of Canada from 1930 to 1935, during the worst of the Great Depression years. -
HISTORICAL SIGNIFICANCE (1930 R.B. Bennett and the Great Depression)
The Great Depression assured his victory in the 1930 election. He promised aggressive action to combat the Depression, but found it difficult to develop a coherent program. His business instincts did not serve his political interests. His major initiative, to persuade the British Empire to adopt preferential tariffs, brought economic relief to Canada but not enough. His establishment of relief camps for single men lost him popularity. -
(Notable Events) June 26, 1930 John B. King Explosion
The John B. King Explosion was a Canadian maritime disaster on June 26, 1930, when a drill boat containing dynamite was struck by lightning near Brockville, Ontario. 30 people were killed. -
(Provincial Notes) Oct. 1, 1930 Alberta Gains Control of its Natural Resources
After negotiations with Ottawa, Alberta gains control of its natural resources. Saskatchewan and Manitoba also receive the same power that same year. -
(Documents Acts and Treaties) Dec 11, 1931 Statute of Westminster Passes
The Statute of Westminster received royal assent after being passed by the British Parliament. By establishing complete legislative equality between the parliaments of Britain and Canada, it is the closest Canada has come to a declaration of independence. -
(Wars & Battles) December 7, 1941 Attack on Pearl Harbor
A surprise attack on Pearl Harbor. The Royal Rifles of Canada from Québec and the Winnipeg Grenadiers - and they had arrived in Hong Kong only three weeks before as part of an attempt to strengthen the island colony's defences. -
(Colonies and Settlements) December 7,1941 Japanese Relocation
The federal government announced that all people of Japanese origin living in the coastal regions of British Columbia would be relocated to the BC interior or inland farming areas. -
ETHICAL DIMENSIONS (December 7,1941 Japanese Relocation)
Many men were separated from their families and sent to road camps in Ontario and on the BC/Alberta border. To stay together, some families agreed to work on sugar beet farms in Alberta and Manitoba. Those who resisted and challenged the orders of the Canadian government were rounded up by the RCMP and incarcerated in a barbed-wire prisoner-of-war camp in Angler, T Ontario. This event demonstrates what Canadian society was like in 1941-Canadians of Asian descent were viewed as racially inferior. -
(Documents Acts and Treaties) May 14, 1946 The Canadian Citizenship
The Canadian Citizenship Act is passed, meaning a Canadian citizen is no longer classified as British subject first. -
(Provincial Notes) March 31, 1949 Newfoundland Becomes a Province
Newfoundland entered the Dominion of Canada as the 10th province through an Act of Westminster. The first session of the legislature was held at St John's on July 13. -
(Documents Acts and Treaties) May 7, 1951 Pension Constitutional Amendment
Parliament passes a motion seeking a constitutional amendment that would create pensions for all Canadians over 70. -
(Governors and Prime Ministers) Nov 26, 1952 Vincent Massey becomes Governor General
Vincent Massey was Canada's first native-born governor general. In 1952 Massey became governor general, a post he filled with distinction and in a manner that minimized the break with the past that the appointment of a Canadian represented. -
(Wars and Battles) 1953 Canada Joins the Korean War
The Canadian Forces were involved in the 1950–1953 Korean War conflict and its aftermath. Canada participated on the side of the United Nations in the Korean War, with 26,000 Canadians participating in the Korean War, and Canada sending eight destroyers. Canadian aircraft provided transport, supply and logistics. 516 Canadians died in the conflict, 312 of the deaths were from combat. -
(Governors and Prime Ministers) Oct 13 1957 Lester B. Pearson
Pearson, previously a career diplomat and then the Minister for External Affairs, had pulled off what seemed to be impossible. On October 13, 1957, it was announced that Lester B. Pearson had won the Nobel Peace Prize for his work in resolving the Suez Canal Crisis. -
HISTORICAL SIGNIFICANCE (Oct 13 1957 Lester B. Pearson)
Pearson's and his Liberal minority governments introduced universal health care, student loans, the Canada Pension Plan, the Order of Canada, and the new Flag of Canada. Pearson also convened the Royal Commission on Bilingualism and Biculturalism, and he struggled to keep Canada out of the Vietnam War. In 1967, his government passed Bill C-168, which abolished capital punishment in Canada by restricting it to a few capital offenses for which it was never used and which themselves were abolished -
(Governors and Prime Ministers) June 22, 1960 Liberals Win Québec Election Under Jean Lesage
The Liberals under Jean Lesage won the Québec provincial election, finally breaking the hold of the Union Nationale, and signalling a time for change and reform that has become known as the Quiet Revolution. Lesage was sworn in as premier on 5 Jul. -
(Documents Act and Treaties) Aug 4, 1960 Canadian Bill of Rights Approved
The House of Commons approved the Canadian Bill of Rights, which received royal assent on August 10. Although the Bill did not bind the provinces, it obliged the federal government to guarantee civil rights and freedoms to all Canadians. -
(Provincials Notes) July 1, 1962 Medical Care Insurance Act
Saskatchewan’s Medical Care Insurance Act takes effect, creating Canada’s first comprehensive public health-care program. -
HISTORICAL SIGNIFICANCE (Dec 15, 1964 New Flag Adopted)
Pearson acted on a long-standing complaint in Québec that Canada’s symbols were too British he suggested a new Canadian flag. The Maple Leaf was chosen as a symbol for the new flag because it seemed to represent all Canadians. However, it increased tensions in Canada because many English Canadians opposed the new flag because they felt Pearson was pandering to Quebec. There was a heated debate which split the country but it is now accepted by both English Canadians and Quebeckers. -
(Notable Events) Dec 15, 1964 New Flag Adopted
A new national flag of Canada was adopted after much debate. The Senate gave its approval on 17 December. Queen Elizabeth signed the royal proclamation on 28 January and the new flag, with its red maple leaf and side bars, flew officially for the first time on 15 February 1965. -
(Governors and Prime Ministers) May 12, 1970 Jean-Robert Bourassa
Jean-Robert Bourassa,July 14, 1933 – October 2, 1996) was a politician in Quebec, Canada. He served as the 22nd Premier of Quebec in two different mandates, first from May 12, 1970, to November 25, 1976, and then from December 12, 1985, to January 11, 1994, serving a total of just under 15 years as Provincial Premier. The span between his two mandates is the longest of any Premier, Bourassa also has the longest span between his first and last day as a Quebec Premier. -
(Notable Events) Oct. 5, 1970 October Crisis
The October Crisis begins as the Front de Liberation du Quebec kidnaps British diplomat James Cross and, later, Labour Minister Pierre Laporte. Trudeau invokes the War Measures Act, which allows government to temporarily suspend civil liberties. Cross is released 60 days later but Laporte is found dead. -
CAUSE AND CONSEQUENCE (October Crisis Oct. 5, 1970)
This is the only time that the War Measures Act had been put in place during peacetime in Canada. The events of October 1970 marked a significant loss of support for the violent wing of the Quebec separatist movement that had gained support over nearly ten years and increased support for political means of attaining independence, including support for the separatist Parti Québécois, which went on to take power at the provincial level in 1976. -
(Provincial Notes) Nov. 15, 1976 Victory in Quebec
Rene Levesque’s separatist Parti Quebecois wins a stunning election victory in Quebec. -
(Documents Acts and Treaties) Aug 26 1977 Bill 101
Québec passes Bill 101, restricting English schooling to children of parents who had been educated in English schools (Aug. 26). -
(Provincial Notes) May 20, 1980 Québec Referendum
In the Québec referendum on sovereignty-association, Quebecers voted 60 per cent against giving the provincial government the right to negotiate sovereignty. -
HISTORICAL PERSPECTIVES (Québec Referendum May 20, 1980)
Since Confederation, French-speaking Catholic Canadians had been struggling to protect their cultural and traditional values. The idea of sovereignty has been part of Québec’s political landscape for over 45 years. The polls show that voters were not only considered protecting their values via the independence of Quebec, but also the potential future issues regarding Quebec’s economy, industry, and defense. -
(Documents Acts and Treaties) April 17, 1982 The Signing of the Proclamation
The signing of the proclamation on April 17, 1982, marked the end of efforts by many successive governments. The new Constitution was accompanied by The Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms, and an amending formula that would no longer require an appeal to the British Parliament. -
(Governors and Prime Ministers) Jan. 2, 1988 Canada U.S. Free Trade Agreement
The Free Trade Agreement was a trade agreement reached by negotiators for Canada and the United States on October 4, 1987 and signed by the leaders of both countries on January 2, 1988. The agreement phased out a wide range of trade restrictions in stages over a ten-year period. This trade eliminated barriers to trade goods and services between Canada and the United States. -
(Notable Events) Jan. 28, 1988 Abortion on Demand
The Supreme Court overturns the law that required a panel at an accredited hospital to determine if a woman’s life or health was endangered before allowing her to have an abortion. The decision paves way for abortion on demand. -
(Governors and Prime Ministers) 1993 Kim Campbell
Kim Campbell replaces Brian Mulroney as the head of the Progressive Conservatives, becoming Canada's first female Prime Minister. -
(Wars & Battles) July 11, 1990 The Oka Crisis
The Oka Crisis was a standoff between Mohawk protesters, police, and army. People living in the neighbouring Mohawk community of Kanesatake rose up in defence of what they said was their land, when the town of OKA wanted to expand their golf course on dispted terrritory. -
(Documents Acts and Treaties) 1997 The Nuclear Safety and Control Act
The Nuclear Safety and Control Act (NSCA) of Canada replaced the Atomic Energy Control Act of 1946 with new, more effective and explicit legislation to regulate the activities of the Canadian nuclear industry. The NSCA also provided for the establishment of the Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission (CNSC), which replaced the Atomic Energy Control Board (AECB). -
(Notable Events) June 11, 1998 Apology Statement to Former Students of Residential Schools
The Prime Minister of Canada, the Right Honourable Stephen Harper, made a Statement of Apology to former students of Indian Residential Schools, on behalf of the Government of Canada. -
EVIDENCE ( June 11, 1998,Apology Statement to Former Students of Residential Schools)
Apology Statement
The treatment of Aboriginal children in Residential Schools is a sad chapter in Canadian history. For more than a century, Residential Schools separated over 150,000 Aboriginal children from their families and communities. The prime minister of Canada issued an apology letter to the aboriginal people of Canada.
