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Gouzenko Affair
Gouzenko offered the Canadian government secret documents exposing Soviet spies. In return for protection. He went into hiding; when he went out in public he wore a bag over his head to protect his new identity. Gouzenko warned the western world of Soviet Communism. -
Berlin Blockade
Blocked the movement of information, products and people between Western and Eastern Europe. The existence of the Cold war could no longer be denied. The blockade succeeded in raising tensions between the Soviets and it's former allies. -
International Alliances: NATO
Soviets spreading communist system as far as possible, Canada and America became concerned for national security as did other countries. Several nations formed NATO (North Atlantic Treaty Organization) -
The Korean War
Communist North Korea, supported by communist China decided to attack South Korea. United Nations gave assistance. Of all the members only 16 gave assistance. United Nations ensured the independence of South Korea. -
The Suez Crisis
United Nations accepted Israel as a state. Arabs were very unhappy and refused to accept this and wanted to destroy it. Jewish people immigrated to Israel. Truce was arranged and monitored by United Nations observers, the truce lasted until 1967. -
The Avro Arrow
The Avro Arrow was a technically advanced fighter jet developed by Canadians; Diefenbaker put a stop to production, destroyed all the plans and dismantled those that were already produced. The cancellation of the Avro Arrow cost 14,000 Canadians their jobs. The first Avro Arrow came out on October 4th 1957. -
Nobel Prize for Pearson
Lester B. Pearson found the solution for the Suez Crisis 1956. United Nations peacekeeping force patrolled borders until 1967 when they were asked to leave by the Egyptian Government. Pearson won the Nobel Peace Prize in 1957 -
Continental Alliances: NORAD and DEW line
North America needed a better defence against attack from enemy missiles. The North American Air Defence Agreement (NORAD) was signed in 1958. Canada let the Americans build several defence installations in the Northwest Territories. Creating DEW line (Distant Early Warning) -
The Cuban Missile Crisis
American spy planes had capture images of soviet missile sites on the island of Cuba. President Kennedy set up a blockade around Cuba preventing the Soviets from reaching Cuba. The Canadian government suggested that all missile sites should be inspected rather than a blockade. Though the blockade remianed. -
Bomarc missiles and nuclear warheads in Canada
Bomarc Missiles
The nuclear weapons controversy had very serious implications for North American defence. Initially, the United States had planned to deploy a line of Bomarc air defence missile sites along the Canadian border, a location that was extremely problematic from a Canadian perspective. -
Draft Dodgers in Canada
Draft dodgers were men who fled to Canada to avoid having to fight in the Vietnam war. They had to go into hiding or go to jail facing treason. Canada accepted many draft dodgers; many of whom still live here today. The first Draft was held on December 1st 1961. http://www.neabigread.org/teachers_guides/handouts/thethingstheycarried/handout2.pdf -
Canada-Soviet Hockey Series
1972 Summit Series "Millions of Canadians rejoyced in a scene that was reminiscent of the celebrations at the end of World War II. Never has a single sporting moment meant so much to so many Canadians a sense of unparalleled nationalism." -
The Fall of the Berlin Wall
Rise and fall of the Berlin WallThe Berlin wall seperated west Berlin and easy Berlin from 1961 to 1989 also seperating Democracy and Communism during the Cold War. The wall went up almost over night and the fall happened almost as quickly. The boarders were open and relocation was now possible after decades. -
The Fall of the Soviet Union
20 years ago"Mikhail Gorbachev resigned as president of the Soviet Union, declaring the office extinct and dissolving the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (USSR) By December of 1991, 16 Soviet republics had declared their independence, and Gorbachev handed over power to Russian president Boris Yeltsin, ending the USSR"
