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Jun 24, 1497
John Cabot Comes to Canada
1497/06/24: This date marked the arrival of the first European explorer (John Cabot) to Canada. Instead of finding the Northwest passage (a waterway that was believed to pass through North America), he found Cape Cod. This discovery of fish-filled waters off the coast of modern-day Newfoundland resulted in the arrival of large numbers of European fisherman. -
1541
Jacques Cartier Founds a Settlement
1541: Jacques Cartier and the Sieur de Roberval founded the first French settlement in North America. They name this settlement Charlesbourg-Royal. A lot of French people immigrated to this settlement so the founding of this settlement is an important event in Canadian history. -
French Traders Immigrate to Canada to Trade for Beaver Pelts
1600s to mid-1800s: Wide-brimmed felt hats made with beaver pelts were a fashion trend in the early 1600s. Many French traders came to Canada to get these prized furs, setting up permanent bases on the eastern coasts of Canada. These French traders traded with Indigenous peoples for beaver pelts in exchange for metal tools and weapons. The fur trade contributed to the immigration of French traders. -
Samuel de Champlain founds New France
1608-1760: In 1608, "Father of New France" Samuel de Champlain founded the permanent French settlement of New France, modern day Quebec City. Champlain received the title of Governor of New France about 4 years later (1612). 65,000 Europeans arrived in New France between 1608-1760. -
The First Jesuits Arrive in New France
1611: The First Jesuits arrive at Port Royal in New France. Their mission was to convert the Indigenous tribes to Christianity. To do so, they learned Indigenous languages and customs and many lived alongside the Indigenous tribes. They were one of the first Europeans to document and preserve the traditions and history of Indigenous tribes. Their arrival is a monumental part of Canadian immigration history because they altered the course of Indigenous-European relationships. -
German Settlers Arrive in Nova Scotia
1753/06/17: About 1.5 thousand settlers from Germany arrived in Lunenburg, Nova Scotia. Though they had no marine skills when they arrived, they learned quickly and their children were known for being expert fishermen, boat builders, and sailors. -
The Battle of the Plains of Abraham Indirectly Caused Migration of Loyalists to Canada.
1759/09/13: The British invasion (led by General James Wolfe) defeated the French (led by Marquis de Montcalm) resulting in Quebec's surrender to British control. This victory increased the confidence of British Colonies in (modern-day) America who yearned for independence from Great Britain. The Battle of the Plains of Abraham is a pivotal event in Canadian immigration history because it kickstarted the sentiments behind the American Revolution and the migration of Loyalists to Canada. -
The Quebec Act Promoted French Immigration to Canada.
1774/05/03: The Quebec Act was enacted this day. The purpose of this act was to gain the loyalty and favour of French Canadians by giving them desired rights. Rights included the restoration of French civil law and right to their religion. The Quebec Act would have affected immigration as more people of French origin would want to come to Canada and less would want to leave as their rights were being respected. -
Loyalists Migrated to Canada from America.
1775-1783: Loyalists were American colonists that allied themselves with the British. Countless Loyalists migrated to British North America during the American Revolution. A mass wave of about 35 thousand Loyalist migrants arrived to Canada from New York (state), US in 1783. -
Black Loyalists Arrive in Canada
1776: That year, about 3,000 Black slaves became Black Loyalists. The British offered African-Americans "Freedom and a Farm" if they fought in British regiments against the US. Though Black migrants (many of them ex-slaves) to the US pledged their loyalty to King George III, they soon found out that the land grant system was flawed and corrupt. Many didn't ever receive the land they were promised. Poor and betrayed, a lot of Black Loyalists sold themselves to wealthy Canadian merchants. -
African-Americans are Offered Transportation to Canada by British Vice-Admiral.
1813: The Black population in the US are notified about Alexander Cochrane's (British Vice-Admiral) offer for transportation for anyone wanting to leave the US. Four thousand former slaves immigrate to Canada. Two thousand refugees sail to Nova Scotia from September 1813 to August 1816. -
The Great Migration Brings Many Immigrants to Canada
1815-1850: The Great Migration of Canada was a period where over 800 thousand immigrants came to Canada and the US in search of jobs because the Industrial Revolution in Europe caused the number of jobs to decline as machine-based manufacturing replaced manual labour in many industries. Though many jobs were lost during this time, the standard of living rose significantly. -
Scottish Immigrants Come to Canada.
1815-1870: 170,000 Scots arrived from Scotland to Canada. Around 14 percent of migrants around that time were Scots. By 1871, 33.7 percent of Nova Scotians were of Scottish descent. Most migrants ended up being farmers and artisans though quite a few became teachers and clergymen too. Most were English-speaking Presbyterian. -
Irish Migrants Come to Canada.
1825-1850: About 759 thousand migrants of Irish descent settled in the Maritimes region, moving inland when they were financially able to. Unlike the Scots, the Irish tended to seek employment, providing cheap labour and working on construction projects rather than setting up farms. A lot of them came to escape the Great Potato Famine of Ireland during the 1840s. -
Black Slaves Escape to Upper and Lower Canada.
1850-1860: Around 40,000 Black slaves arrive to Upper and Lower Canada through the Underground Railroad, escaping enslavement. This event is regarded as the largest anti-slavery movement in North America. -
Chinese Immigrants Come to Canada.
1858-1900: 29 thousand Chinese immigrants came to Canada between 1858-1900. Many came in 1858 from San Francisco as gold prospectors. Most came to B.C. from southern China. About 50% of the immigrants came between 1880-1885 to work on the Canadian Pacific Railway, the large trans-Canada railway. In the early 1900s, Chinese immigration decreased rapidly because head tax was increased and imposed on Chinese migrants to Canada and from 1923-1947, Chinese people weren't allowed to immigrate. -
Dutch Immigrants Come to Canada.
1890-1930: 25,000 Dutch or Dutch Americans came to the Canadian prairies to take homestead/railway lands. Most of these immigrants were scattered around the prairies as many owned farms. However, concentration of Dutch immigrants did occur- around Winnipeg, Calgary and Edmonton. Winnipeg had the largest Dutch population in Canada before WW1. -
Ukrainian Immigrants Come to Canada.
1891-1913: 170,000 Ukrainians came to Canada between this period, most of them from poor, rural areas with a background in farming. They first arrived because Canada began promoting immigration of Eastern European farmers. -
Italians Immigrate to Canada.
1901-1920: About 120,000 Italians (primarily from northern Italy) immigrated to Canada, most of them artists, musicians, and teachers. Most of them ended up settling in Montreal and Toronto. -
Creation of Alberta and Saskatchewan Promotes Immigration to the Prairies.
1905: Alberta and Saskatchewan were created as individual provinces in 1905. This helped the economy because the smaller provincial governments could handle taxes better. Alberta and Saskatchewan both had a lot of cheap farmland that attracted immigrants. Before 1905, the area that is now referred to as Alberta and Saskatchewan was part of the Northwest Territories.
