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Terry Fox begins his Marathon of Hope run across Canada in support of cancer research
Terry Fox begins his Marathon of Hope run across Canada in support of cancer research -
"O Canada" becomes the official national anthem
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Due to a return of his cancer Terry Fox curtails his run
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Gasoline and diesel are sold by the litre rather than the gallon.
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Named a peak after Terry Fox
The government of British Columbia named a 2,639-metre (8,658 foot) peak in the Rocky Mountains after Terry Fox. -
The Canadarm is first deployed aboard the Space Shuttle
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First reported cases of AIDS in Canada
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The first drawing of Lotto 6/49 occurs
jackpot of $500,000 ($1092896.17 today). Winning numbers are 03, 11, 12, 14, 41, 43, bonus 13 -
Anik 1, Canada's first communications satellite, is retired
10 years of service -
The metric system of weights and measures is officially adopted
The metric system of weights and measures is officially adopted by the federal government although Imperial units are still used. -
Pay television begins operating in Canada
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Canada's first female Supreme Court justice
Bertha Wilson is appointed Canada's first female Supreme Court justice -
Canada's first female Governor General
Jeanne Sauvé is appointed Canada's first female Governor General -
Pierre Trudeau announces he will retire
Pierre Trudeau announces he will retire as soon as the Liberal Party of Canada can elect another leader -
MuchMusic first airs
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The Sports Network (TSN) first airs.
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First Canadian in space
- Marc Garneau becomes the first Canadian in space, aboard the Space Shuttle Challenger.
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The Canadian Encyclopedia is launched
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First black lieutenant-governer of ON
Lincoln Alexander becomes the Lieutenant-Governor of Ontario, the first Black person to hold a vice regal position in Canadian history -
The worst airplane accident in Canadian history
The worst airplane accident in Canadian history occurs when Arrow Air Flight 1285 crashes on take-off from Gander International Airport. 256 people are killed. -
The Canadian dollar hits an all time low
The Canadian dollar hits an all time low of 70.2 U.S. cents on international money markets -
MPs elect the Speaker by secret ballot for the first time.
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Canada receives a United Nations award for sheltering refugees
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Frobisher Bay changes its name to Iqaluit.
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Canada introduces a $1 coin
Canada introduces a $1 coin, commonly called loonie; the dollar bill is withdrawn in 1989. -
UNESCO World Heritage Site
Quebec City becomes the first city in North America to become a UNESCO World Heritage Site. -
Several new Canadian specialty channels are licensed
Several new Canadian specialty channels are licensed: YTV, VisionTV, CBC Newsworld, The Weather Network/MeteoMedia, and one pay-television channel: The Family Channel -
Canada's abortion laws are repealed by the Supreme Court.
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Channels now signed on
Several new cable channels sign-on: YTV, VisionTV, Family, WeatherNow, MétéoMédia, TV5 Québec Canada -
Prime Minister Brian Mulroney officially apologizes
Prime Minister Brian Mulroney officially apologizes for the World War II internment of Japanese Canadians -
The Canadian-American Free Trade Agreement
The Canadian-American Free Trade Agreement comes into effect -
The Canadian Space Agency is created
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Blackout
2:44 AM ET: A solar coronal mass ejection causes a blackout across all of Quebec, as it hits the Hydro-Québec power grid, affecting 6 million people for more than 9 hours -
Cable television network CBC Newsworld is launched.
