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Canadian History Timeline
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German Immigration to Canada (Colonies & Settlements)
The first major influx of German immigration to New France began in about 1751, primarily in the service of French military forces. The Little Dutch Church in Halifax, located on German-speaking community land in 1752, was desiginated as a National Historic Site of Canada as the oldest known surving church in Canada associated with the German Canadian community in 1997. Even to this day the South Shore of Nova Scotia is filled with German town names. -
Canada's First Newspaper (Notable Events)
On Monday March 23, 1752, Canada established its first newspaper in Halifax, Nova Scotia. John Bushell's 'Halifax Glazette' was published weekly and relied entirely on the government for funding. This reliance on funding from others other than readers remains a characteristic of Canadian newspapers to date. -
The Treaty of Paris (Document Acts and Treaties)
The Treaty of Paris was signed on February 10, 1763, and ended the Seven Years' War between between France, Spain and Britian. This marked the end of European conflict in North America and created the basis for modern-day Canada. By the terms of the treaty, Britain obtained control of Cape Breton Island, Quebec, and the Great Lakes Basin and the east bank of the Mississippi River. France acquired the Gulf islands of Saint Pierre and Miquelon, and maintained fishing rights in Newfoundland. -
James Murray Becomes First Civil Governor of Quebec (Governors & Prime Ministers)
On August 10, 1764, James Murray, military governor and governor of Quebec, was sworn in as the first civil governor of the province of Quebec. As governor, he favoured the French-Canadians over the newly-arrived British merchants.His willingness to allow the continuance of Fench civil law and customs in fear of discontent or rebellion lead to his recall in 1766. -
Quebec Act (Document Acts & Treaties)
The Quebec Act of 1774 was an act of the Parliament of Great Britian which recieved royal assent on June 22, 1774, and became effective on May 1, 1775. The Act set procedures of governance in the province of Quebec by expanding the province's boundaries, guaruanteeing the free practice of the Catholic faith, restoring the Catholic church's right to impose tithes, and restoring the use of French civil law for matters of private law. -
Battle and Seige of Queben
During a snowstorm of December 31, 1775, the Americans assaulted Quebec. The city of Quebec was defended by a garrison of 1800 British soldiers and militia under Canadian Governor Sirr Guy Carleton. The battle was the first major defeat of the Americans early in the American Revolutionary War. -
Loyalists (Colonies & Settlements)
Loyalists were American colonists who supported the British during the American Revolution. Over 100,000 settlers left the Thirteen Colonies, since they were no longer welcome, to return to England or settle in other British colonies. The main waves of Loyalist came to what is now Canada between 1783 and 1784. This boosted the population and heavily influenced the politics and culture of what would become Canada. -
Province of New Brunswick Formed (Provincial Notes)
In 1874, the British divided Nova Scotia at the Chignecto Isthmus. The west north portion was named New Brunswick in honour of Biritsh monarch, King George III, and is now the only officially bilingual province of Canada. -
The Canadas (Provincial Notes)
The Canadas is the collective name of the historical colonies of Upper and Lower Canada which were created by the Constitutional Act of 1791. Lower Canada covered the south-eastern portion of modern-day Quebec, and the Labrador region of modern-day Newfoundland and Labrador. Upper Canada covered the southern part of modern-day Ontario, and the lands bordering Georgian Bay and Lake superior. The colonies were later abolished in 1841 with the union of Upper and Lower Canada. -
Mackenzie Crosses North America (Expolaration Discovery)
Sir Alexander Mackenzie was one of Canada's greatest explorers. In 1973, he set out to find a route to the Pacific Ocean. By foot and canoe, Mackenzie arrived in the Bella Coola Gorge 12 days and 285km later, making him the first man to cross North America north of Mexico. -
Le Canadien (Notable Events)
Le Canadien was a weekly French nationalist newspaper published in Lower Canada from November 22, 1806 to March 14, 1810. Its motto translates to English as, "Our institutions, our language, our rights." -
Slavery Abolished in British Colonies of Canada (Documents Acts &Treaties)
The Salve Trade Act of 1807 was an act of the Parliament of the United Kingdom passed on March 25, 1807. The Act abolished slave trade in the British Empire. -
Battle of Queenston Heights
The Battle of Queenston Heights was fought in modern-day Ontario, and was the first and one of the most famous battles in the War of 1812, which resulted in a Canadian/British victory against the invading Americans. However, a devestating loss of one of their most important leaders, Issac Brook. He was shot just above his heart and died almost instantly. -
Treaty of Ghent (Documents Acts &Treaties)
The Treaty of Ghent was signed on Christmas Eve 1814 in the city of Ghent to end the War of 1812 between the United States and the United Kingdom. All captured territory in Upper and Lower Canada and the US was returned to the original owner, and war prisoners were to be returned to their home countries. -
Louis-Joseph Papineau Travels to Englad (Documents Acts & Treaties)
In 1823, Joseph-Louis Papineau, a member of the legislative assembly since 1814, travelled from Montreal to England to present a patition of 60 000 signatures against the Union Bill of 1822, which identified French Canadians as minorities without language rights. The Union was rejected and the victory was used to reinforce his idea of reform in Lower Canada. -
The Great Miramichi Fire (Notable Events)
The Miramichi Fire was a massive fire the spread through much of Northern New Brunswick in October 1825, which devestated forests and communities. To esacpe the fire, many residents took refuge with animals in the Miramichi River. About 160 people died around Newcastle area, however, totals elsewhere were probably higher given the number of lumbermen in the forests. -
Renaming York (Provincial Noates)
Residents petitioned to change the name of York to Toronto, and in 1834 the city was incorported with its original name. -
Canada's First Railway (Notable Event)
On July 21, 1836, Canada's first train travelled out of La Grand Prairie on the first public railroad in Canada. The success of the small railway stilumlatied the creation of many other railways within in Canada. -
Act of Union (Documents Acts & Treaties)
British Parliament pass the Act of Union in July 1840 and proclaimed Febuary 10, 1840. The Act united the colonies of Upper and Lower Canada under one governement, creating th eprovince of Canada. -
Franklins Lost Expedition (Exploration Discovery)
On May 19 ,1845, the Franklin expedition left the River Thames to find the Northwest Passage. Aboard the 2 ships were 134 officers and men, as well as provision for 3 years, research instruments, photographic equipment, hand organs, and libraries. It was a well-provisioned and well-equipped expedition. However, after sailing into Baffin Bay the expedition was never heard of again. By April 22, 1848 the ships were abandoned and all on board would perish. -
The Reciprocity Treaty (Documents Acts & Treaties)
On behalf of Great Britian and the British North American colonies, Governor Elgin signed reprocrity treaty with the United states on June 5, 1854 to eliminate custom tariffs. Although trade between the two countries increased greatly in the following years, the treaty ended was ended by the Americans in 1866. -
The First Governor of British Colombia (Governors & Prime Ministers)
In 1858, James Douglas, Governor of the Colony of Vancouver Island, also became the first Governor of the Colony of British Columbia. This was in order to assert British authority during the Fraser Canon Gold Rush , which had the potention to turn the British Columbia mainland into an American state. -
The Quebec Conference(Documents Acts & Treaties)
The Quebec Conference was the second meeting held to discuss Canadian Confederation. The major sources of conflict at the conference was between those who favoured a legislative union and those who favoured stronger privincial rights. The 32 delegates eventually compromised by dividing the powers between a general parliament and local provincial legislatures. A prosed structure of government was written out in the forn of the seventy-two resolutions at the end of the conference. -
First Prime Minister of Canada (Governors & Prime Ministers)
A Canadian politican and Father of Confederation, Sir John A. Macdonald became Canada's first prime minister in 1867. As prime minister, he saw the expansion of the Dominion from sea to sea, and his government dominated politics for half a century and set policy goals for future generations of political leaders. -
Battle of the Belly River (Wars & Battles)
The Battle of the Belly River was the last major battle between First Nations of Canadian soil. The battle took place on the banks of the belly river between the Cree and the Blackfoot Confederacy over hunting territories, as the bison were become scarce. -
Prince Edward Island joins Confederation (Provincial Notes)
In 1873, Prince Edward Island joined Confederation when Canada offered to take on the crippling debt of the Island's railway. Canada also bought land from absentee landlords and promised to maintain a year-round communication link with island. -
The Battle of Batoche (Wars & Battles)
The Battle of Batoche was the battle of the North-West Rebellion, fought from May 9 to May 11, 1885. Fewer than 300 Metis and First Nations people led by Louis Riel and Gabriel Dumont faced more than 800 North West Field Force , commanded by Major General Fredrick Middleton. The defeat of the Metis lead to the surrender of Riel and the collapse of the Provisional Government. -
Louis Riel Hanged
Riel was executed on a public gallow in Regina on November 16, 1885. Riel died as a martyr of the Metis people. He has been recognized as a Father of Confederation, a wronged man, as a defender of his people, and as a protector of minority rights in Canada. -
The Yukon is made into a Provisional District
In June 1989, the Yukon was made a seperate territory for the Northwest Territories and Dawson was named its capital. -
First Canadian Troops sent Overseas (Wars & Battles)
The South African war was Canada's first foreign war fought between Britian and its colonies, and the Afrikaner republics of Transvaal and Orange Free State. 7000 Canadians volunteered to fight on Britian's side and 270 died. The was was significant because it marked the first time Canadian troops distinguished themselves overseas. Additionally, it fuelled a sense the Canada could stand apart from the British Empire. -
Alberta and Saskatchewan join Confederation
Alberta and Saskatchewan joined Confederation in 1905 when both provinces were created out of a section of the Northwest Territories. Immigrants rushed to settle in the plains, mainly as wheat farmers. -
The Gjoa Expedition (Exploration Discovery)
In 1903, Roald Amundsen led the first successful expedition through Canada's Northwest Passage between the Atlantic and Pacific oceans. Two years were spent on the way in Gjoa Haven when the North Magnetic Pole was then established, proving that the Magnetic Pole moves over time. -
Robert Borden and the Conservatives Win Federal Election (Governors & Prime Ministers)
The Canadian Federal ecection of 1911 was held to elect members of the Canadian House of Commons of the 12th Parliament of Canada. The main issue was Liberal support of reciprocity . The Conservatives denounced it because it threatened to weaken ties with Britian and lower the Candian econoomy and identity. The Conservatives won and Robert Border became Prime Minister. -
Britian Declares War on Germany (Notable Events)
When Britian declared war on German in August of 1914, the British declaration of war automatically brought Canada in to the war. Although it was the bloodiest conflict in Canadia history, the great achievements of Canadian soldiers on the battlefields gave Canadians a sense of national pride, and a confidence that Canada could stand alone, apart from the British Empire. The war also deeped the seperation between French and British Canadians. -
Women Compete in the Olympics for the First Time (Notable Events)
Canada completed at the 1928 summer Olympics in Amsterdam, Netherlands where women were allowed to compete for the first time. Ethel Smith, a Canadian woman, won bronze in the 100m sprint and helped the Canadian 4x100 relay team win gold. -
The Great Crash and the Beginning of the Great Depression (Notable Events)
The 1929 crash of the Wall Street stock market is argueable the event that sparked the worldwide Great Depression. The Great Depression was a social and economic shock that left millions of Canadians unemployed, hungry, and homeless. Losses of jons and savings ultimately transformed the nation by triggering th ebirth of social welfare, a variety of political movements, and a move activist role for government in the economy. -
The Ottawa Agreements (Documents Acts and Treaties)
The Ottawa Agreements were 12 bilateral trade agreements providing mutual trade tariffs between Britian, Canada, and Commonwealth Dominions and Territories. Canadian industries that may have benefited from the agreements include wheat growing, lumbering and milling, apple growing, automobile manufactuering and the nonferrous metals industry. -
1936 North American heat wave (Notable Events)
The 1936 North American heat wave was the deadliest heat wave in modern history North America. It took place during the Great Depression and Dust Bowl in the 1930s. 780 Canadians died when the temperatures exeeded 42 degrees Celsius from Alberta to Ontario. -
The Dieppe Raid (Wars & Battles)
During the Second World War, the Allies launched a major raid on the small French coast of Dieppe. Operation Jubilee was the first Canadian Army engagement in the War. The raid was disasterous, more than 900 Canadians were killed and thousands more were wounded and taken prisoner. -
Newfoundland and Labrador join Confederation (Provincial Notes)
The Great Depression of the1930s hit hard, and in turn for economic guaruntees, Newfoundland gave up its independence to the Commission of Governement. With the addition of Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada covered more territory than all of Europe. John A Macdonald's dream of "sea to sea" was fufilled. -
The Korean War (Wars & Battles)
The Korean War began in June 1950 when North Korean armed forces invaded South Korea. As part of the United Nations, nearly 2700 Canadian military personnel served in the war, during both the combat phase and peacekeeping phase afterward. Korea is Canada's third bloodiest overseas conflict, with 516 Cnadian death and over 1200 wounded. -
Charles Vincent Massey Becomes Governor General
In 1952, Vincent Massey was appointed as governor general by King George VI, on the recommendation of Prime Minister Louis St. Laurent. Massey was the first Canadian-born governor general and proved to be successful in transitioning the office away from occupants who had consistently been born overseas. -
The Trans-Canada Highway Formally Opens (Notable Event)
The 7821km Trans-Canada Highway was formally opened on Rogers Pass on July 30, 1962. It is now the longest national highway in the world. -
Official Languages Act (Documents Acts & Treaties)
The Official Languages Acts is a Canadian law that recognizes both English and French as both official languages of Canada, and under which all federal institutions must provide their services in English or French at the customer's choice. Both languages are equal in Canada's government and in all services it controls. -
Pierre Laporte Murdered (Notable Event)
Pierre Laporte, a Quebec cabinet minister, was kidnapped by the Front de Liberation du Queben on October 10, 1970. He was killed on October 17,1970 and his body was found in the trunk of a car in St-Hubert , Quebec. -
The War Measures Act (Documents Acts & Treaties)
The War Measures Act was a a federal statute that gave broad powers to the Canadian government to maintain security and order during war and insurrection. The only use of the Act occured in Pctober and November of 1970 when a state of "apprehended insurrection" was declared to exist in Quebec. More than 450 were detained under the powers of the Act, most of which were later released without the laying or hearing of charges. -
Terry Fox Dies of Cancer (Notable Events)
Not long after losing his right leg to cnacer, Fox decided to run across Canada to raise awareness and money for cancer research. He ran from St. Johns to Thunder Bay before he was forced to stop when cancer invaded his lung. He died shortly before his 23rd birthday. Fox's example eventually raised 25 million dollars. His courage and determination have inspired those all around the world. -
Canadian Multiculturalism Act (Documents Acts & Treaties)
The Canadian Multiculturalism Act was passed in July 1988 to preserve and enhance multiculuralism in Canada. This idea is seen as fundamental of Canadian identity at many levels. -
The Charlottetown Accord (Documents Acts & Treaties)
The Charlottetown Accord of 1992 was a failed attempt by the Cnadian federal government and provincial governments to amend the Canadian Constitution, specifically to obtain Quebec's consent to the Constitution Act of 1982. The Accord would have also decentralized many federal powers to the provinces, but was rejected by Canadian voters in a referendum. -
Kim Campbell Becomes First Female Prime Minister (Governors & Prime Ministers)
Kim Campbell served as the 19th Prime Minister of Canada, from June 25, 1993 to November 4, 1993. She was the first, and to date, only female prime minister of Canada.
