1535
Cartier Crosses the Atlantic
Jacques Cartier and his fleet cross the Atlantic on his second voyage, heading for the Gulf of St. Lawrence and the opportunity to explore further inland via the St. Lawrence River.
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Jacques Cartier and his fleet cross the Atlantic on his second voyage, heading for the Gulf of St. Lawrence and the opportunity to explore further inland via the St. Lawrence River.
General James Wolfe orders the bombardment of Quebec City from across the St. Lawrence River, beginning a siege that will culminate in the decisive Battle of the Plains of Abraham on September 13, 1759.
The first telegraph line in British North America, connecting Toronto and Hamilton, Ontario, is opened, marking the beginning of the telegraph era in Canada.
Delegates from the British North American colonies finalize plans for the historic Charlottetown Conference to be held in September 1864, which will lay the groundwork for Canadian Confederation.
Wilfrid Laurier becomes Canada's first French-Canadian Prime Minister by winning the federal election, beginning a 15-year tenure that ushers in the 'Laurier Era' of economic growth and immigration.
The Ontario government establishes the Hydro-Electric Power Commission of Ontario, a pioneering public utility that will transform the province's economy and electricity supply.
As part of the Versailles Peace Conference, Canada signs the peace treaty as a separate signatory, demonstrating its growing autonomy from Britain and its new status as an international actor.
The Bank of Canada, having opened in 1935, takes on expanded monetary policy functions as the federal government seeks to manage the Canadian economy during the latter years of the Great Depression.
Canada is among the founding nations signing the United Nations Charter in San Francisco, marking Canada's emergence as a significant voice in international affairs following World War II.
Queen Elizabeth II and U.S. President Dwight Eisenhower jointly open the St. Lawrence Seaway, a major binational engineering achievement that connects the Great Lakes to the Atlantic Ocean.
Parliament passes the Canadian Bill of Rights under Prime Minister John Diefenbaker, the first federal statutory protection of human rights in Canada, though it applies only to federal law.
The CN Tower in Toronto is completed, becoming the world's tallest freestanding structure at 553 metres and an iconic symbol of Canada's largest city.
Joe Clark's Progressive Conservative minority government survives its first weeks in office following its May 22 election win, as Clark attempts to govern with less than a majority of seats in the House of Commons.
The Royal Canadian Mint introduces the new one-dollar coin, quickly nicknamed the 'loonie' for the common loon depicted on its face, as Canada phases out the paper dollar bill.
The newly elected Liberal government of Jean Chrétien cancels a $5.8 billion contract to purchase EH-101 helicopters for the Canadian military, costing hundreds of millions in cancellation fees.
Manitoba authorities coordinate emergency response as the 1997 Red River flood, known as the 'Flood of the Century', forces thousands from their homes in the Winnipeg region.
The G20 Summit is held in Toronto, Ontario, marking the largest and most expensive security operation in Canadian history. Protests and police actions result in over 1,000 arrests.
Doug Ford's Progressive Conservative Party wins the Ontario provincial election, forming a majority government and signaling a shift in political direction for Canada's most populous province.