History UsefulNotes / CanadianHistory

'''March 8–April 4, 2023:''' Toronto native Zach Edey became the first Canadian to claim all of the most significant player of the year awards in NCAA Division I men's basketball in the States. In fact, the 7'4" (2.24 m) center for Purdue was the first Canadian to claim ''any'' of those awards.[[note]]The six awards that the NCAA recognizes are, in chronological order of announcement, the ''Sporting News'', NABC (National Association of Basketball Coaches), and AP Player of the Year Awards; the Oscar Robertson Trophy (presented by the US Basketball Writers Association), the Naismith Trophy, and the Wooden Award.[[/note]]

'''May 2, 1670:''' Based on the proposal of trappers Pierre-Esprit Radisson and Médard des Groseilliers (Messers Radishes and Gooseberry), Charles II founds the Hudson's Bay Company, granting it exclusive trade rights (and ''de facto'' control) of the Hudson's Bay watershed, one third of modern-day Canada. The venerable HBC would go on to supply Europe with beaver pelt hats and First Nations with European technology for the next two hundred years, and still exists as a department store chain.

'''November 12, 1931:''' ''Series/HockeyNightInCanada'' debuts on CNR Radio. The broadcast of NHL hockey games moves to CRBC (a predecessor to the CBC) two years later, and the ''Hockey Night'' banner endures to this day as the [[LongRunner longest-running sports broadcast]] in the world. ''Hockey Night'' began television simulcasts in 1952, stopped broadcasting on the radio in 1976, and adopted a Saturday night doubleheader format in 1988.

'''September 7, 1959:''' Maurice Duplessis, who had dominated Québec politics since the mid-1930s along with his party, ''Union Nationale'', dies during his second term as premier of the province. His staunchly conservative, pro-Catholic, pro-business, and anti-unionist stance drew him ardent praise and equally strident criticism; opponents would term his final 15-year tenure as premier ''La Grande Noirceur'' (The Great Darkness).

'''April 14, 1944:''' The legislative assembly of Québec votes to establish Hydro-Québec, a state-owned power company. The next day they nationalize the Montreal Light, Heat and Power company, [[ExactlyWhatItSaysOnTheTin responsible for providing light, heat and power to Montreal]]. This decision came after nearly a decade of popular demand, as power companies were seen as greedy and price-gouged on essential services, and the decision had nationalistic undertones, as these companies were generally handled by Anglophones. Hydro-Québec also has a mandate to modernize existing power grids and provide electricity to the countryside of Québec, as power companies only focused on urban areas, neglecting the surrounding country due to lack of profit. To this day Hydro-Québec is still entirely owned by the province of Québec and generates virtually all its power from hydroelectric dams [[note]] [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tracy_Thermal_Generating_Station One heavy oil-fired power plant near Sorel-Tracy]], used for peak demand, was shut down in 2011 and completely dismantled by September 2015. A nuclear power plant ([[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gentilly_Nuclear_Generating_Station Gentilly-2]]) near Trois-Rivières started its decommission in 2012. Today the only other sources of power are the occasional wind power plant and fossil fuel generators to power the [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Magdalen_Islands Magdalen Islands]].[[/note]] Hydro-Québec offers some of the cheapest electricity costs in North America and contributes heavily to Québec's low greenhouse gas emissions, and generates extra money by selling power to other provinces or New England states. The company has attracted controversy, mostly from First Nation communities who have dams built on their traditional lands, which obviously disrupts rivers and the fish in it.

'''1955:''' CIAU Central collapses due to differences in philosophy among its membership, which expanded greatly in the postwar years.

'''June 23, 2001:''' Yvette Dionne, the oldest of the Dionne quintuplets, dies, leaving Annette and Cécile as the last two (with both still alive in 2023).

'''September 22, 2023:''' Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky speaks to a session of the House of Commons, followed by House Speaker Anthony Rota introducing Yaroslav Hunka, a 98-year-old WWII veteran who fought in a Ukrainian unit before becoming a Canadian citizen after the war, as a Ukrainian hero. A standing ovation follows. The episode becomes a major embarrassment when it comes out that said Ukrainian unit was part of the [[UsefulNotes/NazisWithGnarlyWeapons Waffen-SS]]. Apologies quickly follow from Rota and PM Trudeau (among many others), and Rota resigns as Speaker (though he remains in Parliament). The episide is [[https://babylonbee.com/news/canadian-parliament-gives-standing-ovation-to-mecha-hitler-for-role-in-killing-russians hilariously parodied]] by ''[[Website/BabylonBee The Babylon Bee]]''.

'''Mars 31, 1831:''' Montreal is officially incorporated, and the name Montreal is made official. No more Ville-Marie.

'''2025:''' The Gordie Howe International Bridge, the long-awaited third crossing from Windsor to Detroit, is expected to open.

'''February 3, 1979:''' ''Series/YouCantDoThatOnTelevision'', a sketch comedy series aimed at and starring children and pre-teens, premieres on CJOH-TV in Ottawa. The show moves to the fledgling American kids' network Creator/{{Nickelodeon}} the next year, and become one of the channel's first hits and a cult favorite on both sides of the border. The show originated the “green slime” motif that would later become a trademark of Nickelodeon as a whole, and the 1986 season featured a young actress named Music/AlanisMorissette.

'''2004:''' A third crossing of the Detroit River between Windsor, Ontario and Detroit is first proposed. It meets immediate opposition from Manny Moroun, a Detroit businessman who owns one of the two existing border crossings, the Ambassador Bridge.

'''2012:''' The Windsor–Detroit Bridge Authority, a Canadian crown corporation, is established to coordinate the construction of the third border crossing.

'''April 12, 2013:''' The US government approves a building permit for the third Detroit–Windsor border crossing.

'''May 14, 2015:''' The third Detroit–Windsor crossing is officially named the Gordie Howe International Bridge, honouring the Saskatchewan-born hockey great who played most of his NHL career in Detroit.

'''May 10, 2018:''' The Michigan Court of Appeals, that state's intermediate appellate court, rejects Manny Moroun's attempt to stop purchases of land on the Detroit side of the Gordie Howe International Bridge. This removes the last significant obstacle to construction of the new crossing.

'''1891:''' John A. Macdonald wins his final election, and celebrates by [[OverlyLongGag getting drunk.]][[note]]Not quite a joke: Macdonald was a ''notorious'' drinker, loved his rum, and frequently ''was'' drunk a lot of the time. In fact, he once showed up to Parliament drunk, vomited during a speech, and declared "That's what I think of the opposition", to rousing applause. On a less funny note, he was also remembered for that time he, as minister responsible for the colonial militia, passed out drunk in the middle of the 1866 Fenian invasion of Canada and slept through the whole crisis. His campaign manager once said that Sir John A. had no memory of the entire 1872 election campaign -- and it's probably NotHyperbole. Although, by the 1880s Macdonald has managed (mostly) to sober up, possibly because he realized that his pancreas is about to fail.[[/note]] He dies later that year, and the whole country offers a toast in his honour. The Canadian political scene gets ''really weird'' for the next 4 years, with replacement Prime Ministers suddenly dying in office with disturbing frequency: between 1891 and 1896, Canada goes through ''five'' different Prime Ministers,[[note]]Macdonald and John Thompson died in office and John Abbott resigned due to ill health just before he would have done likewise. Mackenzie Bowell took over after Thompson, but he was forced to resign by his party and replaced by Charles Tupper.[[/note]] until Wilfrid Laurier defeats Charles Tupper in 1896. In December, Dr. James Naismith (former physical education teacher and director of athletics at [=McGill=] University) invents basketball while an expatriate in the US, at the YMCA in Springfield, Massachusetts.

'''2004:''' A third crossing of the Detroit River between Windsor, Ontario and Detroit is first proposed. It meets immediate opposition from Manny Monoun, a Detroit businessman who owns one of the two existing border crossings, the Ambassador Bridge.

'''May 10, 2018:''' The Michigan Court of Appeals, that state's intermediate appellate court, rejects Manny Monoun's attempt to stop purchases of land on the Detroit side of the Gordie Howe International Bridge. This removes the last significant obstacle to construction of the new crossing.

'''September 22, 2023:''' Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky speaks to a session of the House of Commons, followed by House Speaker Anthony Rota introducing Yaroslav Hunka, a 98-year-old WWII veteran who fought in a Ukrainian unit before becoming a Canadian citizen after the war, as a Ukrainian hero. A standing ovation follows. The episode becomes a major embarrassment when it comes out that said Ukrainian unit was part of the [[UsefulNotes/NazisWithGnarlyWeapons Waffen-SS]]. Apologies quickly follow from Rota and PM Trudeau (among many others), and Rota resigns as Speaker (though he remains in Parliament).

'''March/April 2023:''' Toronto native Zach Edey became the first Canadian to claim all of the most significant player of the year awards in NCAA Division I men's basketball in the States. In fact, the 7'4" (2.24 m) center for Purdue was the first Canadian to claim ''any'' of those awards.[[note]]The six awards that the NCAA recognizes are the Naismith Trophy, Wooden Award, Oscar Robertson Trophy (presented by the US Basketball Writers Association), and the AP, NABC (National Association of Basketball Coaches), and ''Sporting News'' Player of the Year awards.[[/note]]

'''September 22, 2023:''' Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky speaks to a session of the House of Commons, followed by House Speaker Anthony Rota introducing Yaroslav Hunka, a 98-year-old WWII veteran who fought in a Ukrainian unit before becoming a Canadian citizen after the war, as a Ukrainian hero. A standing ovation follows. The episode becomes a major embarrassment when it comes out that Hunka had served in a Waffen-SS unit consisting mostly of Ukrainians. Apologies quickly follow from Rota and PM Trudeau (among many others), and Rota resigns as Speaker (though he remains in Parliament).

'''September 22, 2023:''' Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskyy speaks to a session of the House of Commons, followed by House Speaker Anthony Rota introducing Yaroslav Hunka, a 98-year-old WWII veteran who fought in a Ukrainian unit before becoming a Canadian citizen after the war, as a Ukrainian hero. A standing ovation follows. The episode becomes a major embarrassment when it comes out that Hunka had served in a Waffen-SS unit consisting mostly of Ukrainians. Apologies quickly follow from Rota and PM Trudeau (among many others), and Rota resigns as Speaker (though he remains in Parliament).

'''1829:''' With the death of Shanawdithit, the [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Beothuk_people Beothuk people]] of Newfoundland become the first documented extinct people of the New Worlds.

** The town of Ottawa, named Bytown at the time, is founded while the Rideau Canal is being built.

'''November, 1869:''' The newly formed dominion buys the vast Northwest Territories from the Hudson's Bay Company. In response, Métis leader Louis Riel sets up a provisional government in the Red River Settlement. This eventually, after some bloodshed, leads to the inauguration of the postage stamp — I mean, ''province'' — of Manitoba, established in 1870. John A. Macdonald celebrates by getting drunk. Over the next century and a half, the Northwest is divided into new territories and provinces, and established provinces see their territories expanded.

'''July 1912:''' Ontario passes Regulation 17 (French: ''Règlement 17''), a law prohibiting education in French beyond Grade 2. This law passes at a time of heavy immigration from Québec into Eastern Ontario. This is seen as an outrage by Franco-Canadians in Québec and outside, and sours relationships between both linguistic groups, which would complicate matters during World War I, and arguably start the movement for Québec nationalism and independence. The Regulation is repelled in 1927 by the conservative Ontario Premier Howard Ferguson. He personally opposes bilingualism, [[{{Realpolitik}} but wants to form a political alliance with Québec]] [[UsefulNotes/CanadianPolitics against the federal government]], and this is the only way to get Québec on his side.

'''September 20, 2021:''' A snap election had been called by Trudeau, having the election take place ahead of schedule by two years. Little change has been made, the Liberals saw small gains, still leading with a minority government and the Conservatives won the popular vote. The PCC saw a larger voter turnout despite not securing a seat.

'''2020:''' Over 10 000 [[note]]As of November 7, 2020[[/note]] Canadians die during the [[UsefulNotes/COVID19Pandemic COVID-19 pandemic]]. As with most countries, schools, businesses and gathering places around Canada are closed for most of the spring due to the pandemic. Trudeau's wife Sophie is one of 106,100 Canadians to be diagnosed with COVID-19 in 2020, but she is also one of (at least) 69,500 to make a full recovery. As for Justin Trudeau himself, his bold and nimble government policies and his daily public addresses prove a major political shot in the arm, especially compared to the [[UsefulNotes/DonaldTrump Trump Administration]]'s incompetent handling of the pandemic.

'''April 28–October 27 1967:''' Expo 67 is held in Montreal, a watershed moment for the city. On July 24, during an official visit to Canada for the fair, French president UsefulNotes/CharlesDeGaulle shouts "Vive le Québec libre" to a volatile separatist-leaning crowd and is (politely, albeit through clenched teeth) told to go home. His speech was an enormous morale boost to the Quebec separatist movement, and a major headache to most other people. As for consequences, de Gaulle was criticized by the French media for his insult, and he got huffy and exposed his own hypocrisy when the Canadian Justice Minister UsefulNotes/PierreTrudeau publicly mused how the French President would have liked it if the Canadian Prime Minister went to France and said "Brittany for the Bretons!"

'''1983:''' The rock band Music/TheTragicallyHip is founded in Kingston, Ontario. From humble beginnings playing Monkees covers in bars with a shower curtain as a backdrop, they become one of the most popular rock bands in Canada despite not being [[AmericanHateTingle much of a deal in the US or elsewhere]]. To this day, any given commercial rock radio station in Canada can be expected to play at least one song by the Hip within the next hour.

'''March 15, 1991:''' Vancouver-based writer and artist Creator/DouglasCoupland publishes his first novel ''Generation X: Tales for an Accelerated Culture'', popularizing the use of the term “Generation X” to refer to those born between (roughly speaking) 1964 and 1980. The period between the assassination of UsefulNotes/JohnFKennedy and the election of UsefulNotes/RonaldReagan was one of massive and rapid social change, and by this time Gen X-ers were often stereotyped by older generations as being cynical slackers obsessed with “alternative” music and culture and stuck in a state of permanent adolescence. Regardless of one’s opinion on the matter, it shouldn’t be surprising that those who were born and raised in the wake of the UsefulNotes/CivilRightsMovement, the height of the UsefulNotes/ColdWar, UsefulNotes/TheVietnamWar, the rise and fall of the hippie movement, the career of Music/TheBeatles, and the emergence of PunkRock and Creator/{{MTV}} might have a slightly different perspective on things than their parents.

'''April 28––October 27 1967:''' Expo 67 is held in Montreal, a watershed moment for the city. On July 24, during an official visit to Canada for the fair, French president UsefulNotes/CharlesDeGaulle shouts "Vive le Québec libre" to a volatile separatist-leaning crowd and is (politely, albeit through clenched teeth) told to go home. His speech was an enormous morale boost to the Quebec separatist movement, and a major headache to most other people. As for consequences, de Gaulle was criticized by the French media for his insult, and he got huffy and exposed his own hypocrisy when the Canadian Justice Minister UsefulNotes/PierreTrudeau publicly mused how the French President would have liked it if the Canadian Prime Minister went to France and said "Brittany for the Bretons!"

'''July 13, 1961:''' CBC debuts a new children's show, ''Misterogers'', starring -- you guessed it -- Creator/Fred Rogers. The show lasts for a few years, after which Rogers returns to the US to launch [[Series/MisterRogersNeighborhood his now-famous show]] on WQED UsefulNotes/{{Pittsburgh}}. His co-star, fellow American Ernie Coombs, stays behind, finding fame as his boss' Canadian counterpart as a beloved TV icon, "Series/MrDressup".

'''April–October 1967:''' Expo '67 is held in Montreal, a watershed moment for the city. French president UsefulNotes/CharlesDeGaulle shouts "Vive le Québec libre" to a volatile separatist-leaning crowd and is (politely, albeit through clenched teeth) told to go home. His speech was an enormous morale boost to the Quebec separatist movement, and a major headache to most other people. As for consequences, de Gaulle was criticised by the French media for his insult, and he got huffy and exposed his own hypocrisy when the Canadian Justice Minister UsefulNotes/PierreTrudeau publicly mused how the French President would have liked it if the Canadian Prime Minister went to France and said "Brittany for the Bretons!"

'''July 1967:''' Winnipeg is host to the Fifth Pan Am Games. Canada will host the games two more times, in Winnipeg again in 1999, and Toronto (and surrounding area) in 2015.

'''September 22, 2023:''' Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskyy speaks to a session of the House of Commons, followed by House Speaker Anthony Rota introducing Yaroslav Hunka, a 98-year-old WWII veteran who fought in a Ukrainian unit before becoming a Canadian citizen after the war, as a Ukrainian hero. A standing ovation follows. The episode becomes a major embarrassment when it comes out that Hunka had served in a Waffen-SS unit consisting mostly of Ukrainians. Apologies quickly follow from Rota and PM Trudeau (among many others), ans Rota resigns as Speaker (though he remains in Parliament).