1774
Quebec Act Passed
The British Parliament passes the Quebec Act, extending the boundaries of Quebec and restoring French civil law and Catholic religious rights, a landmark moment for French Canadians.
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The British Parliament passes the Quebec Act, extending the boundaries of Quebec and restoring French civil law and Catholic religious rights, a landmark moment for French Canadians.
British Lieutenant James FitzGibbon, warned by Laura Secord, ambushes American forces at the Battle of Beaver Dams, capturing nearly 500 American soldiers and securing a key victory in the War of 1812.
The Manitoba Act comes into effect, making Manitoba Canada's fifth province. The act also established land rights for Métis people, though these were later violated.
News of the Klondike gold discovery reaches the outside world when the steamship Excelsior arrives in San Francisco carrying Yukon miners with bags of gold, triggering one of the largest gold rushes in history.
The first Canadian contingent of soldiers fighting in the South African War (Boer War) returns home to a heroes' welcome, Canada's first major overseas military engagement as an independent force.
Prime Minister Arthur Meighen's Conservative government loses a confidence vote in Parliament, resolving the constitutional crisis that began when Governor General Lord Byng refused to grant PM Mackenzie King a dissolution.
The federal government allows women to enlist in the Canadian Army for the first time, leading to the formation of the Canadian Women's Army Corps.
The people of Newfoundland celebrate their first Dominion Day as a Canadian province, having joined Confederation on March 31, 1949, with Joey Smallwood as the province's first premier.
Parliament amends the Canada Elections Act to allow First Nations people to vote in federal elections without losing their Indian Status, ending decades of disenfranchisement.
Canadian Armed Forces begin reducing their presence in Quebec following the kidnapping crisis, as negotiations over the FLQ's demands continue after the murder of Pierre Laporte.
Prime Minister Brian Mulroney and President Ronald Reagan hold their famous 'Shamrock Summit' in Quebec City, where they agree to pursue a comprehensive free trade agreement between the two countries.
Prime Minister Brian Mulroney formally apologizes in Parliament for the internment of Japanese Canadians during World War II and announces a redress payment of $12,000 to surviving internees.
Canada, the United States and Mexico finalize the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA), the largest free trade zone in the world at the time, succeeding the Canada-US Free Trade Agreement.
The Canadian Alliance party is officially founded, merging Reform Party members and others who seek a right-of-centre alternative to the governing Liberal Party, setting the stage for future Conservative reunification.
The Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada releases its final report detailing the history and legacy of the residential school system, with 94 Calls to Action for reconciliation.