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First Wireless Transmission
Reginald Fessenden created the first 2-way radio in 1906. He invented a number of components for transmission of speech (Encyclopædia Britannica). It was transmitted between Scotland and Massachusetts (Phillipson, Canadian Encyclopedia). It's important because it was the first stepping stone towards the invention of the cell phone as it is how a cell phone works. Martin Cooper, the man who invented the cell phone, was almost a century behind Reginald's invention. -
GATT
GATT stands for General Agreement On Tariffs & Trade. It was meant to reduce tariffs on international trade (Wilkinson, Canadian Encyclopedia). It was in effect January 1948 until 1955 & it included Canada & 22 other countries (Wilkinson, Canadian Encyclopedia). GATT was made to boost economic recovery after war (Wilkinson, Canadian Encyclopedia). GATT contributed to generalizing world trade which meant more trades for Canada & paved the way for NAFTA & WTO (Wilkinson, Canadian Encyclopedia). -
Avro Arrow
The CF105 was Canada's advanced interceptor, built by Avro, started production after the threat of Soviet bombers in Canadian Skies in 1949 (Kirton, Canadian Encyclopedia). It was built in the victory plant in Malton,ON (Orchard, Avroland). It is important because everything was designed by Canadians including the amazing delta wing (Whitcomb, ADA). It was the best plane of its time and better than most today. Avro also had to invent new parts which contributed to Canada's technological growth. -
Alouette 1 satellite
The Alouette I scientific satellite was launched on September 29, 1962. It marked Canada's entry into the space age (Canadian Space Agency). Nasa accepted a proposal by John Chapman and Eldin Warren, scientists at Canada's Defence and Research Telecommunications Establishment (DRTE), to design & build a Canadian satellite that could monitor the ionosphere from above. It was a tremendous success because it was a one-year design life that stretched into a 10-year mission (Canadian Space Agency). -
The Auto Pact
The Autopact was a free trade agreement between Canadian & US automotive industry signed in 1965(Crane, Canadian Encyclopedia). It was made to balance Canada's auto trade deficit & troubled economy(Crane, Canadian Encyclopedia). This was mutually beneficial as Canadian auto exports & imports grew & US imports & exports grew as well(Crane, Canadian Encyclopedia). This helped trade between the two countries until Japanese manufacturers wanted to come into Canada(Crane, Canadian Encyclopedia). -
First Electric Prosthetic Hand
Helmut Lucas created the prosthetic electric hand in Canada in 1971. The electric prosthetic detect signals from the user's nervous or muscles systems, this then leads to a controller located inside the devise that processes feedback such as position and force. With many people living with no hand from trauma or disease, Helmut Lucas was able to help them to live their life as normally as possible again (Caudle, Canadian Achievements). -
Canadarm
The Canadarm is a 15m robotic arm built in Toronto by SPAR Aerospace in 1974 for use in space(Doetsch, Canadian Encyclopedia). It was built as Canada's contribution to NASA's space shuttle program(Canadian Space Agency). It is important to Canadian history because it was the first robotics to be used in space(Dunbar, NASA). It established Canada as a key player in the robotics field(Dunbar, NASA). -
Blackberry
Blackberry is a Canadian mobile communications and software company founded in 1984 by Mike Lazaridis(Leung, Canadian Encyclopedia). It was first launched as a computer science & consulting business(Leung, Canadian Encyclopedia). It is important to Canadian technology because today it is the most trusted & secure software used by big businesses(Leung, Canadian Encyclopedia). Blackberry made cell phones for a while but with apple & android competition, stopped making phones to make software. -
Brian Mulroney
Brian Mulroney was Canada’s prime minister from 1984 to 1993. The Uruguay Round of multilateral trade negotiations was launched shortly after Mulroney came to power & the World Trade Organization was in place just over a year after his departure as prime minister. The Canada/U.S. relationship was being transformed by two trade agreements negotiated during Mulroney’s tenure. As a result, Canadians were much better off as a consequence of the massive increases in trade (Policy Options). -
NAFTA
NAFTA stands for North American Free Trade Agreement and is an economic pact between the three countries that eliminates all trade barriers which was signed in 1994 (Macdonald, Canadian Encyclopedia). It is important to Canadian history because it beneficially changed trade throughout North America as it has generated economic growth in each of the three countries and rising the standards of living in each of the three countries (Macdonald, Canadian Encyclopedia).
