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1497
John Cabot found Newfoundland
He is an Italian navigator hired by England to find the route(The Northwest Passage) leading to China. Unfortunately, he landed on Newfoundland, where he claimed a land for England. He also came across the Grand Banks, where he found tons of fishes. -
1534
Jacques Cartier's First Voyage
Cartier is a French explorer, who convinced the king of France to fund his expedition to North America. He entered Canada through the Gulf of St. Lawrence, where he encountered the Haudenosaunee People(an Iroquois Group) and it's leader, Donnacona. At Gaspé Peninsula, he planted a cross claiming the land for the King of France. He is the first European who map the Gulf of St. Lawrence. -
Period: 1534 to
The New France
The establishment of New France creates a mass development in Canada. Ranging from population growth to the creation of Quebec. The existence of the colony opens Canada's immigration. This includes opportunity for Frenchmen to build up business such as fur trading and discovery of New lands. This timespan also includes the migration of "The King's Daughters". -
The First Settlement in Acadia
Pierre Du Gua, Sieur de Monts and Samuel de Champlain built the first French settlement in St. Croix Island. Due to the vulnerability of the location to enemy attack and the outbreak of scurvy due to lack of fresh foods, they deserted the settement -
Samuel Champlain arrived in Canada
Champlain is a geographer and cartographer who found established a long lasting colony in Stadacona( an abandoned village). He chose Quebec as a site for the French Colony, since it is an advantageous place for trading, has a fertile ground and could be defended if ever under attack. This became a foundation to French Colonial Power in North America. Later on, he renamed Stadacona to Quebec derived
kébec an Algonquian word meaning "where the river narrows" -
Henry Hudson's Expedition
Henry Hudson led the voyage to North America to find the Northwest Passage. However, they encounter an inland sea known today as the Hudson's Bay. -
The Coming of Christianity in Canada
The Jesuits, famously known as the Black Robes, are missionaries who came from France whose primary goal is to convert the First Nation people to Christianity. Their intense determination led them to even live among the First Nation, learn the culture and language; and establish settlements. Eventually, they we're driven out by the First Nations because of the spread of the diseases they brought such as small pox, influenza and measles, known as the "spells of the Black Robes". -
Period: to
Les Filles du Roi
At this period, New France only have 1 woman in 6 men, therefore the probability of men to marry is low. The government of France decided to search for single or widowed women to be send off to New France to address the gender imbalance. Upon their arrival, they are expected to be married with the men in
New France. With this plan, the population of New France increased exponentially. -
Pierre La Vérendrye
He is a French Canadian Military officer, an explorer and fur trader. He and his sons explored the west area of the Lake Superior and later established a trading post. -
Period: to
The Seven Years' War
This is the first global war between Europe, India and America. This battle concluded by the Treaty of Paris of 1763 and Great Britain capturing Louisbourg, Quebec and Montreal. This also caused the -
Battle of the Plains of Abraham
This battle is the climax of the seven year war between France and Britain. This battle concludes the French rule over canada and opens for the British power. -
The Arrival of the First Loyalist
The first United Empire Loyalists include 1,124 refugees from New England. They were sent to Halifax, Nova Scotia. After that, 40,000 followed was sent to Nova Scotia, while some where sent to Quebec. Their mass arrival resulted to the establishment of New Brunswick and Canada. -
Period: to
The United Empire Loyalists
The United Empire Loyalists are originally American colonists who migrated to British North America and loyal to the Crown. Their migration catalyzed the population of British North America and later on the creation of Upper Canada. -
The Discovery of Vancouver Island
An explorer named John Meares arrives in Nootka Sound in Vancouver Island. With him are 2 ships and 50 carpenters and craftsmen. -
Selkirk Settlement
This settlement was established by Thomas Douglas for the Scottish Immigrants.The purpose of the settlement is to develop European agriculture in the Canadian Prairies as a compensation for the Scottish people who lost their land to sheep farmers. This settlement eventually grew into a city named Winnipeg. -
"Black Refugees": From US to British Colonies
4000 former slaves from US left for the British Colonies, since the offer of British Vice-Admiral Alexander to anyone who wants to leave the United States. Cochrane About 2000 refugees were transported to Nova Scotia from US. -
Period: to
The Great Migration
The population density throughout Europe is exponentially increasing due to the booming Industrial Revolution. This result the scarcity of jobs, which forced them to go and migrate to the New World for economic survival. About 800,000 of immigrants came to Canada to look for a job. This results to the spike of population density in British North America. -
Period: to
The Underground Railroad
The level of slavery in the United states forced the African Americans to escape to Canada and start a new life. The Underground Railroad was a secret network of abllitionists who helped African Americans escape enslavement. This resulted the freedom of many African Americans from enslavement and also the growth of African American population in British North America. -
Period: to
Irish Migration to Canada
Due to the famine in Ireland, millions of Irish immigrant went to Canada to start a new life, which easily boosts Canada's population. However, they were not welcomed by many because of religion and the disease they brought over. -
Period: to
Surplus Children
The Great Britain said that they have too much children in their country, this results to the idea of sending a child to Canada for labour. -
Gold Mountain
In 1857, gold was discovered in the lower Fraser Valley, BC. This has attracted tens of thousand of miners, especially the Chinese. They called the Gold Mountain "Gum San". The name lasted until there's no gold left to mine. The gold mined by the Chinese became their push to start businesses back then until now. This include businesses such as farming, fishing, loging, opening cafes, general stores and laundries. -
Icelandic Immigration
Due to the countries extreme natural calamities, the population of the Icelanders reduced to 47,000. Starvation and disease also catalyzed the reduction of the population. A 22-year old Sigtryggur Jonasson arrived in Quebec City became the first Icelander to land in Canadian soil. In a couple of year after ths, the population of Icelandic Canadians grew 50 times. -
Period: to
Chinese Immigration
Chinese were attracted to the gold reserves in Fraser Valley found in Vancouver, BC. In this period includes the legalization of Chinese Head tax. -
Chinese Immigration Act
This act is passed to control the amount of Chinese entering the Canadian territory. The idea of it is to tax Chinese immigrants from their entry to Canada from their way of living in Canada. This idea took place after the success of Chinese in the Gold Mountain. Later on, this act was abolished. -
Period: to
The Last Best West
The government of Canada, led by Cliffor Sifton, promotes the opening of free lands in the prairies(particularly in Saskatchewan, Alberta and Winnipeg today). This result to a mass migration from Upper Canada to the prairies. This result to the development of agricultural and cultural settlements in the west of Canada. -
Period: to
Immigration of South Asians
On about 100-150 immigrants from South Asia arrived in Vancouver. Majority of the immigrants are composed of Sikhs. This immigration also caused the government to raise the Chinese Head Tax.
