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May 1, 1497
John Cabot lands in Newfoundland
In 1497 John Cabot landed in Newfoundland while searching for the Northwest Passage. He did not find the Northwest Passage but what he did find was plenty of fish (cod) off the Grand Banks. He told the Europeans about this new land with exceptional fishing which persuaded many to immigrate to Canada. -
Canada's first settlement
In 1608 Samuel de Champlain declared Canada's first ever settlement in what is now known as Quebec City. Tadousac had altready existed but this settlement was the first ever where the settler had full intent for it's permanent establishment. This settlement would open the door for new settlements for years to come and it undeniably affected immigartion in Canada for years to come. It had an impact on immigrants because the fact that it was something permanent was very persuasive. -
Henry Hudson getting stranded in a large bay with his crew members
Henry Hudson was a European explorer. He discovered a large bay on his final expedition while in search for the Northwest Passage. After exploring what is now the Hudson's Bay from August to November, Hudson's ship got caught in the James Bay in November. While trapped Hudson and his crew made trades with Indians for fur, which was the beginning of the fur trade motion in Canada which would beging a cycle of immigration for years to come. -
The coming of the Jesuits
The Jesuits, also known as Black Robes, came to New France in 1625 with the goal of converting First Nations to catholisism. The immigration of the Jesuits to Canada would forever change the religious and cultural development of Canada and had a great impact on religion in Canada today -
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The Filles de Roi or the King's Daughter
The Fille de Roi were sent to New France by Louis XIV between 1663 and 1673. Their purpose was to boost Canada's population as they were encouraged to have kids with the men in Canada and to marry nice Canadian boys. They were paid a pension of 300 pounds a year for every 10 living children and 400 for every 12 to ensure they had plenty of kids. The Filles de Roi surely impacted immigration in Canada, as many of the kids produced were the first generation in Canada with European mothers. -
Pierre Gaultier de la Vérendrye heads west with his four sons
In 1732 Pierre and his 4 sons headed westward havin 8 forts or trading posts built between Lake Superior and present day Manitoba. 2 of his sons are said to be the first Frenchmen to see and describe the rocky mountains. Pierre & his sons provided fur trading posts westward where they had never been, encouraging Europeans to head west which would contribute to the population growth westward. Pierre and his 4 sons contributed largely to westward immigration in Canada and its expansion in general -
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The Loyalists coming to Canada during the American revolution
The Loyalists were American colonists who supported the British and their views during the American revolution. They were loyal to the Britsh, hence the name. Tens of thousands of Loyalists migrated to Canada during this time as they were linked and still are today to the British Empire. This immigration boosted the population and heavily influenced politics and culture for what would go on to become Canada. -
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Great Migration to Canada
The Great Migration to Canada was a period of time with a high immigration to Canada. Between 1815 and 1850, over 800 000 immigrants came to Canada from Europe. Due to the industrial revolution, less and less jobs were beginning to become available in Europe and there were job oppurtunities in Canada for those Europeans. Clearly, this timespan affected immigration to Canada immensely as more than 800 000 immigrants arrived. -
Slavery is abolished for the British Empire (involving Canada)
The British had abolished the slave trade in 1807 but slavery in Canada had not been totally abolished until 1833. In the United States slavery was not abolished until 1865. Therefore, slaves had a desire to migrate to Canada. The abolishment of slavery in Canada opened the door for the underground railway and surely impacted immigration in Canada largely. As Canada had many slaves migrating to them. -
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Irish Immigration
During the 1840's many Irish individuals immigrated to Canada due to a failure of crop causing a potato famine in Ireland. Disease and a lack of potatoes persuaded the Irsih to come here which is one of the reasons that Canada is so rich with an Irish ethnicity today. During these 40's many Irish natives came to Canada oversea, lots of these Irish natives sadly caught scurvy on the way here and had to go to the Grosse-Isle quarantine station to ensure no spreading of disease in Canada. -
Implementation of the Dominion Lands Act
The Dominon Lands act aimed to encourage the settlement of the Canadian praries. Also in attempt to prevent the Americans from stealing their western land. Canada invited mass emigration by European and American pionners by offering 160 acres for a small fare to all of those who were older than 18 or any woman heading a household. This act changed westward immigration (especially the praires) in Canada forever. -
Chinese arrive to work in BC on the Canadian Pacific Railway
In 1881 as many as 17 000 chinese men came to work on the railway in BC. The Chinese were treated poorly and received a lower wage then the white men. Following the completion of the railway, the chinese needed to find new jobs. Several thousands returned to China. However, many couldn't afford to return. Those chinese people who stayed were the first group of Chinese to live in Canada, changing Canadian Immigration forever. -
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The Construction of the Canadian Pacific Railway
British Columbia wished for a railway to take them to the more populated east as part of joining confederation. This task was undertaken by John A McDonald. Building this railway would persuade immigrants for years to come. The railway contributed largely to the population increase in western Canada which was previously under populated or lacking population. This railway had an immense effect on immigration to Canada. -
Implementation of the Chinese head tax
In 1885, the federal government passed the Chinese Immigration Act which has now come to be known as the head tax. The head tax meant that the Chinese had to pay a fee to enter Canada. In 1885 the fee was 50$. However, in 1903 the fee increased to its maximum of 500$ (2 years of salary). This head tax essentially put Chinese immigration on hold. The numbers of Chinese people immigrating to Canada dropped substantially after the head tax was implemented. In 2006 Stephen Harper formally apologized -
The Komagata Maru
The Komagatu Maru was a Japanese ship full of 376 immigrants from colonial India with full intent to come to Canada and stay here. On May 23rd, 1914 the ship sailed into Vancouver Harbour. However they were turned away and sent away (in exception to a few). The door was slammed shut on South Asian immigrants for decades to come. This was a dark time in Canadian immigration history as some resorted to violence.
