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Sep 1, 1492
Christopher Columbus
When Christopher Columbus "discovered" America in 1492, the New World was opened up to all Europeans. This is a very important event concerning immigration to Canada because without that, it would have been a very long time before America would be home to Europeans. Columbus was on an exploratory expedition to India sent by the Spanish king when he came across land that wasn't India. This was the first step in colonizing the Americas. -
Jan 1, 1497
John Cabot
John Cabot was the first European to discover the east coast of what is now Canada, and claiming it for England. It cannot really be considered immigration because they didn't stay, but it is what started the curiosity of Canada and the reason for people to immigrate. -
Jan 1, 1534
Jacques Cartier
When Jacques Cartier traveled to Newfoundland in 1534, he was the first European to do fur trade with the First Nations people. Even though he did not stay in Canada and establish a settlement, he carved the path for future relations between and Europeans and First Nations. -
Aug 13, 1574
Samuel de Champlain
Samuel de Champlain is known as the "Father of New France" because he took a big part in starting the settlement of New France. He was also the first cartographer to make an accurate map of the coast line and New France. He founded Québec City in 1608 and had good relations with many First Ntions tribes. He continued in exploring west of New France and encouraging French settlement in the area. -
Acadia
The first colony established in what is now Canada was Acadia, a French colony. It was also inhabited by First Nations people which led to the two communties inter-marrying and created the Métis people of Canada. -
Quebec City
Samuel des Champlains founded Quebec City which was the first permanent settlement in Canada. It had a very low population for a long time until immigration started to become more popular. By the time the British gained control in 1763, the city and surrounding area still only had 8,000 people. -
John Guy
John Guy was granted a charter to go and start the first British colony in what is now Canada. It was created at Cuper's Cove and started with 39 people. -
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Louis Hébert
Louis Hébert was considered to be the first true settler in New France because he actually lived off the land and didn't depend completely on supplies from France. He lived permanently in Québec City for 10 years with his wife and three children. -
Nova Scotia
Sir William Alexander's fourth attempt of Scottish settlement in the Americas was finally successful when the boat arrived in Nova Scotia in 1629. Nova Scotia wasn't a Scottish colony for a very long time. This was the start of Scottish immigration to Canada and the Americas in general. -
First Census of New France
In 1666, Jean Talon conducted the first census of New France. The results of the census gave 3215 people in New France but that did not include any First Nations people or anyone from religious orders. This census was conducted becuase the leaders of New France wanted to be the center of the French Colonial Empire, which needed a census to be considered for the spot. The creation of this census demonstrates that people were beginning to be serious about wanted to colonize what is now Canada. -
The Nonsuch
The Nonsuch was a boat sent from England with the task of reaching Canada through Hudson's Bay. They succeeded and set up trading posts along James Bay to do fur trade with the aboriginals. They stayed for one winter and took their fur back to Europe. -
Hudson's Bay Company
The Hudson's Bay Company was a large fur trade between the British and the First Nations near Hudson's Bay. In that time the company owned 15% of North America. It eventually came to rival the North West Company. It was a way for Europeans to form relationships with First Nations. -
Battle of the Plains of Abraham
The Battle of the Plains of Abraham was a battle between and French and British people of what is now Canada. The British won the 15 minute battle which eventually led to the creation of Canada. -
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The North West Company
This was the French fur trading company based out of Montreal. It's biggest competition was The Hudson's Bay Company. The fur was supplied by the coureurs des bois who went further inland to do trading with the Aboriginal people. -
Red River Colony
Lord Selkirk sent 83 homeless Scots to the Red River Colony. They were able to settle and start farming on the 100 acre lots they were given. This was one many ships that arrived from Scotland with people to settle the land. -
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The Great Migration of Canada
Due to population growth decreasing job opportunities in Europe, over 800,000 Europeans immigrated to Canada. About 60% of those immigrants were British and they settled all over Canada. A big variety of people came for different reasons. The Potato Famine in Ireland forced people to leave, lower class Europeans needed jobs, upper class Europeans were interested in the land and everyone knew that there was land being offered for free or very little. -
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The Underground Railroad
Throughout the 19th century, possibly 100,000 slaves escaped from the United States to Canada through the Underground Railroad. The majority of the slaves crossed the border between the years 1840 and 1860. -
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The Potato Famine
Starting in 1845, Ireland was hit with hardships that continued for 6 years. Potatoes, being the main crop in Ireland, were essential to the well-being of every family. The potatoes caught a disease and were inedible. People were unable to survive without making a living so many fled to Canada to get a new start. Although the Irish people went all over the world, the Canadian ships were cheaper and therefore a more popular option. -
Creation of Canada
Sir John A. MacDonald became the first Prime Minister of Canada in 1867. It was created without the spilling of blood. After Canada was created, the government did many things to encourage immigration. -
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Canadian Pacific Railway
The building of the Canadian Pacific Railway in British Columbia caused a major immigration of Chinese to Canada because the Canadian government refused to build the railroad unless unfair labour by Chinese people was used. Over 12,000 Chinese worked on the railroad for 1$ a day and had terrible working conditions. After all the work that went into the railroad by the Chinese, Canada decided to put a head tax on Chinese immigration in 1885. -
Dominion Lands Act
In 1872, the Canadian Government used the Dominion Lands Act to appeal to immigrants. For a registration fee of 10$, any man of at least 21 years would recieve 160 acres of free land to use as he pleased. The conditions were : minimum 40 acres must be farmed and a residence must be built on the land within the first 3 years of owning it, -
Journey Regulation of 1908
The Canadian government passed an immigration law with the goal of limiting immgration from India. The law stated that anyone whose journey included a stop along the way was not allowed to enter into Canada. This pretty much only meant India. This law was made at a time when thousands of immigrants entered Canada every year.
