A timeline of important events in Canadian history
Canadian history is a lot of fun. There are heroes and villains, tragedies and triumphs, great battles and sudden betrayals, loyal refugees and long struggles for social justice.
The interpretation of Canadian history may vary ―radically, at times ―but there are still core events from our past that every Canadian should know. Brush up on your Canadian history with the following timeline of important events.
| 30,000–10,000 BC | Prehistoric hunters cross over into Canada from Asia |
| circa 1000 AD | Leif Ericsson leads a Viking expedition to the New World |
| 1451 | The Iroquois Confederacy is formed |
| 1497 | John Cabot reaches Newfoundland (or perhaps Cape Breton) |
| 1534 | Jacques Cartier first explores the St. Lawrence region |
| 1608 | Samuel de Champlain establishes a French colony at Québec City |
| 1670 | Hudson’s Bay Company is formed |
| 1755 | Expulsion of the Acadians |
| 1759 | Battle of the Plains of Abraham: Québec City is captured |
| 1763 | New France is formally ceded to Britain; Pontiac Rebellion erupts |
| 1783 | Loyalist refugees begin arriving after the American Revolution |
| 1812–14 | War of 1812: U.S. invades Canada |
| 1837–38 | Rebellions against British rule in Upper and Lower Canada |
| 1848 | Responsible government is won, first in Nova Scotia, then in Canada |
| 1867 | Confederation (first four provinces: Québec, Ontario, N.S., and N.B.) |
| 1870 | Red River Resistance; province of Manitoba is created |
| 1871, 1873 | B.C. and P.E.I. join Canada |
| 1885 | North-West Rebellion; the Canadian Pacific Railway is completed |
| 1905 | The provinces of Alberta and Saskatchewan are created |
| 1914–18 | World War I |
| 1916 | Women win the vote in Manitoba, Saskatchewan, and Alberta |
| 1919 | The Winnipeg General Strike |
| 1929–39 | The Great Depression |
| 1939–45 | World War II |
| 1949 | Newfoundland joins Canada |
| 1950–53 | Korean War |
| 1959 | St. Lawrence Seaway (major transportation route) officially opens |
| 1960 | Québec’s Quiet Revolution begins; Native Canadians given the vote |
| 1967 | Canada’s 100th birthday; Expo 67 World’s Fair in Montréal |
| 1970 | October Crisis: political kidnappings, Ottawa suspends civil rights |
| 1980 | Québec referendum on “sovereignty-association” defeated 60% to 40% |
| 1982 | Constitution comes home — with a Charter of Rights and Freedoms |
| 1987–90 | Meech Lake Accord is put forward — and collapses |
| 1992 | Charlottetown Accord is rejected by a national referendum |
| 1995 | Québec referendum on sovereignty is narrowly defeated |
| 1999 | The new Arctic territory of Nunavut is created |
| 2000 | Clarity Bill outlines the terms of Québec separation |
| 2003 | Canada says “no” to joining the war in Iraq |
| 2005 | Former PM Jean Chrétien and sitting PM Paul Martin testify at the Gomery Inquiry |
| 2010 | Canada sets record for gold medals at the Vancouver Winter Olympic Games |
The prime ministers of Canada
Some of the most notable Canadian prime ministers were John A. Macdonald, Robert Borden, William Lyon Mackenzie King, Lester “Mike” Pearson, Pierre Trudeau, and Brian Mulroney. But there were many others. From John Abbott to Stephen Harper, here’s a complete list of Canada’s 22 Prime Ministers and the political parties that they led.
| 1867–73, |
| 1878–91 | Sir John A Macdonald | Conservative |
| 1873–78 | Alexander Mackenzie | Liberal |
| 1891–92 | Sir John Abbott | Conservative |
| 1892–94 | Sir John Thompson | Conservative |
| 1894–96 | Sir Mackenzie Bowell | Conservative |
| 1896 | Sir Charles Tupper | Conservative |
| 1896–1911 | Sir Wilfrid Laurier | Liberal |
| 1911–20 | Sir Robert Borden | Conservative/Union |
| 1920–21, 1926 | Arthur Meighen | Conservative |
| 1921–26, 1926–30, 1935–48 |
William Lyon Mackenzie King | Liberal |
| 1930–35 | R.B. (Richard Bedford) Bennett | Conservative |
| 1948–57 | Louis St. Laurent | Liberal |
| 1957–63 | John Diefenbaker | Conservative |
| 1963–68 | Lester “Mike” Pearson | Liberal |
| 1968–79, 1980–84 |
Pierre Trudeau | Liberal |
| 1979–80 | Joe Clark | Conservative |
| 1984 | John Turner | Liberal |
| 1984–93 | Brian Mulroney | Conservative |
| 1993 | Kim Campbell | Conservative |
| 1993–2003 | Jean Chrétien | Liberal |
| 2003–2006 | Paul Martin | Liberal |
| 2006-present | Stephen Harper | Conservative |
The kings and queens who ruled over Canada
The following list shows the reigning kings and queens of what ultimately would become Canada, before and after the conquest of New France in 1763.
| French (1534–1763) | British (1763–present) |
|---|---|
| Francis I (1515–47) | George III (1760–1820) |
| Henry II (1547–59) | George IV (1820–30) |
| Francis II (1559–60) | William IV (1830–37) |
| Charles IX (1560–74) | Victoria (1837–1901) |
| Henry III (1574–89) | Edward VII (1901–10) |
| Henry IV (1589–1610) | George V (1910–36) |
| Louis XIII (1610–43) | Edward VIII (1936) |
| Louis XIV (1643–1715) | George VI (1936–52) |
| Louis XV (1715–74) | Elizabeth II (1952–present) |
Provinces and territories and when they became part of Canada
Canadian confederation didn’t happen in a day. The provinces of Ontario, Quebec, New Brunswick, and Nova Scotia were the first to come onboard in 1867, but it wasn’t until 1999 that the territory of Nunavut was created. For quick reference, here’s a handy list of Canadian provinces and the year in which each joined confederation.
| 1867 | Ontario, Québec, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia |
| 1870 | Manitoba |
| 1871 | British Columbia |
| 1873 | Prince Edward Island |
| 1898 | Yukon Territory |
| 1905 | Alberta, Saskatchewan |
| 1949 | Newfoundland |
| 1999 | Nunavut |