-
The Beginning of WWI (-2)
Canada joined the fight on August 4, 1914, along with the British. -
Battle of Second Ypres (-1)
Canada’s first major battle. The Canadian soldiers were extremely outnumbered and faced the first use of chlorine gas. 6000 soldiers were killed, wounded or captured but the Canadians still kept the Germans from breaking through. -
Period: to
Battle of Vimy Ridge (+1)
Canadian soldiers successfully attacked the German-held strongpoint in Vimy Ridge. This victory has become a post-war symbol for Canadian identity and independence. -
Wartime Elections Act (+1)
Women were now allowed to vote, although some individuals lost their right to vote in changes to enfranchisement. -
Period: to
Battle of Passchendaele (0)
This battle is remembered for its brutal fighting and horrible weather conditions. The Canadian soldiers were able to achieve their goal, although they lost 16,000 soldiers in the process. -
Influenza/Spanish Flu (-1)
The Spanish flu had a huge negative impact on North America. Out of the 8 million people living in Canada at the time, the flu killed 50,000 in just a few months. The Spanish flu was brought into Canada by returning troops and made its way across all of Canada. The Spanish flu was very significant in the evolution of public health in Canada and resulted in the creation of the federal Department of Health in 1919. -
Armistice: The End of WWI (+2)
The war ended at 11:00 am. More than nine million soldiers were killed in this war, along with an estimated 20 million civilians. -
Discovery of Insulin (+1)
Dr. Charles H. Best and Dr. G.R. Williams discovered the use of insulin in diabetic patients after testing on diabetic dogs. The publication of the discovery was delayed until July 23, 1921. This discovery has saved millions of people diagnosed with diabetes. -
The Famous Five/Missing Persons Case (+2)
Emily Murphy, Irene Marryat Parlby, Nellie Mooney McClung, Louise Crummy McKinney and Henrietta Muir Edwards were a group of women who advocated for women and children’s rights across Canada. They fought vigorously in court for women to be recognized as “persons”, and after many attempts at fulfilling this act, it was finally approved. Following this act, Clarine Wilson became the first woman to be sworn into Canadian senate in 1930. -
Stock market Crash (-2)
The stock market collapsed on October 29, 1929, causing the country to plunge into an economic depression, later on known as The Great Depression.