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The First Canadian Tulip was Celebrated
Cultural Events. The first Canadian Tulip Festival happened in 1953. It was opened with an inauguration ceremony located in Parliament Hill which featured a staggering 750,000 tulips planted throughout the whole National Capital Region. This festival proved popular and hence, became an annual event. Accordingly, this events preserves the memory of the liberation of Netherlands and Europe, and commemorates the Dutch Princess Margriet in Ottawa, the only royal personage ever born in Canada. -
Lester B. Pearson's Peace Plan
International Events. Lester B. Pearson and his colleagues at the United Nations won General Assembly support for an international force to secure the chain of arguments in the Suez Canal crisis in Egypt. Canadian General Eedson Louis Millard Burns was named commander of the UN Emergency Force, and this established Canada’s reputation as a peacekeeping nation and earns Pearson a Nobel Peace Prize. -
Bomarc Missile Crisis
International Events. As part of Canada's responsibilities in alliance, Prime Minister John Diefenbaker stated that government would purchase 56 CIM-10B Bomarc missiles. On 20 February 1959, Diefenbaker announced that he won't continue Avro Arrow and instead buy Bomarc missiles from the US. Thus, negative reactions to the Arrow decision led to criticism of the Bomarc missiles, and others argued that nuclear weapons should never be allowed in Canada and should, in fact, be abolished altogether. -
St. Lawrence Seaway Formally Opened
Economic Events. The St Lawrence Seaway (Great Lakes Waterway) is the system of canals and channels connecting the Great Lakes and St. Lawrence River with the Atlantic Ocean. The construction of the St. Lawrence Seaway gave a path to progressively larger canals that completes the effective and efficient navigation and transportation of the business industry. It began as early as 1783 until 1900 and now serves as one of the significant connecting paths between two places that surround Canada. -
Charest's Liberals Win Majority in Quebec
Political Events. In the provincial election of Quebec, Canada, Candidate Jean Lesage Charest won. With this result, Charest finally broke the hold of the Union Nationale and proves the time for change and reformation of Canada known as the “Quiet Revolution. Accordingly, Charest was sworn in as premier on July 05. -
Canadian Bill of Rights Approved
Political Events. The first federal law for human rights protection and freedom fundamentals, the “Canadian Bill of Rights”, was approved by the House of Commons. It was considered ‘groundbreaking’ by the Canadian Government by John Diefenbaker in 1960. But, it was too limited and ineffective as it didn’t apply to provincial statutes and only the federal ones. But, this bill is still in effect, although superseded by the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms in 1982. -
Plant Gene Resources of Canada is Established
Economic Events. Plant Gene Resources of Canada (PGRC) has been established as part of Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada. As Canada’s national seed gene bank, it protects, preserves, and enhances the genetic diversity of Canada’s important agricultural plants and their wild relative. Ever since 1970, PGRC has played a major role in protecting Canada’s agricultural crops. Also, it also helps protect biodiversity and benefits food security around the world. -
Toronto International Film Festival
Cultural Events. The Toronto International Film Festival was considered as the “Festival of Festivals” back in 1976. Festival founders Bill Marshall, Dusty Cohl, and Henk Van Der Kolk brought the best films from other festivals around the world to Toronto. In this festival, it benefited Hollywood Productions to make attractive appearances to the world. The festival highlighted hospitality to production and bolstered Canada’s fledgling films and hence, stimulate creative and commercial interests. -
Free Trade Goes Into Effect
Economic Events. In pursuance of the proposal, Free Trade Agreement, the Conservative government of Prime Minister Brian Mulroney supported the proposal’s purpose and won the election. Hence, the deal came into effect on 1 January 1989. As a result, the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) was signed and came into effect on 1 January 1994, creating a huge free trade zone of about 370 million people. It extended and superseded the Canada-US Agreement after which it was modeled. -
Kanesatake Resistance (Oka Crisis)
Political Events. The Kanesatake Resistance, a.k.a the Oka Crisis or the “Mohawk Resistance” at Kanesatake, was a 78-day standoff between Mohawk protesters and the Quebec Police, RCMP, and the Canadian Army. The crisis occurred due to the proposed expansion of a golf course and the development of houses on disputed land in Kanesatake that included a burial ground. And, the army was called in and the protest ended. The expansion was canceled, and the land was purchased by the federal government. -
Mary Simon Becomes First Indigenous Person To Be Governor General
Political Events. Mary Simon is Canada’s 30th Governor General who was an Inuk Leader, making her the first-ever Indigenous person to obtain Canada's vice-regal position. On July 6, 2021, Queen Elizabeth II appointed Simon to be Canada’s Governor General. With this appointment, Simon refocused attention on systemic racial injustice. Speaking in Inuktitut and English, Simon observed, “My appointment reflects our collective progress toward building a more inclusive, just, and equitable society.” -
The Death of Queen Elizabeth II
The most recent significant happening in Canada is none other than the death of Queen Elizabeth II, who died at age 96 at Balmoral Castle in Scotland. It’s one of the biggest historical events as the Queen has occupied the throne for 70 years and 214 days, which made her Britain’s longest-reigning monarch and the second-longest monarch in monarchial history. Queen Elizabeth II reigned for almost half of the country’s existence which gave her massive significance in Britain’s history.
