📅Timeline

Timeline

1215

The signing of Magna Carta in England, also known as the Great Charter of Freedoms — the start of an 800-year tradition of ordered liberty.

496

The fleur-de-lys is said to have been adopted by the French king, becoming the symbol of French royalty for more than 1,000 years.

1497

John Cabot draws the first map of Canada's East Coast and claims the New Founde Land for England.

1534–1542

Jacques Cartier makes three voyages across the Atlantic, claiming the land for King Francis I of France.

1576

Martin Frobisher penetrates the uncharted Arctic for Queen Elizabeth I. Frobisher Bay — now Iqaluit — carries his name.

1604

The first European settlement north of Florida is founded by Pierre de Monts and Samuel de Champlain. The Acadians begin settling the Maritime provinces.

1608

Champlain builds a fortress at what is now Québec City.

1670

King Charles II grants the Hudson's Bay Company exclusive trading rights over the watershed draining into Hudson Bay.

1701

The French and the Iroquois make peace after a century of conflict.

1755–1763

More than two-thirds of the Acadians are deported — the "Great Upheaval".

1758

The first representative assembly is elected in Halifax, Nova Scotia.

1759

The British defeat the French at the Battle of the Plains of Abraham at Québec City — the end of France's empire in America. Both commanders, Wolfe and Montcalm, are killed.

1763

The Royal Proclamation of King George III first guarantees Aboriginal territorial rights and sets the basis for negotiating treaties.

1774

The Quebec Act allows religious freedom for Catholics, lets them hold public office, and restores French civil law alongside British criminal law.

1776

The 13 British colonies declare independence. More than 40,000 Loyalists flee north to Nova Scotia and Quebec.

1791

The Constitutional Act divides Quebec into Upper Canada and Lower Canada and grants the first legislative assemblies elected by the people.

1793

Upper Canada, led by John Graves Simcoe, becomes the first province in the Empire to move toward abolishing slavery.

1812–1814

The War of 1812. The American invasion fails, ensuring Canada would remain independent of the United States.

1833

The British Parliament abolishes slavery throughout the Empire.

1837–1838

Rebellions in Upper and Lower Canada are defeated. Lord Durham recommends responsible government.

1847–1849

Nova Scotia is the first colony to attain responsible government; La Fontaine becomes its first leader in the Canadas.

1857

Queen Victoria chooses Ottawa as the capital.

1864–1867

The Fathers of Confederation work to establish a new country, creating federal and provincial levels of government.

July 1, 1867

The Dominion of Canada is born under the British North America Act, with Ontario, Quebec, Nova Scotia and New Brunswick. Sir John A. Macdonald becomes the first Prime Minister.

1869–1870

The Métis of the Red River are not consulted; Louis Riel leads an uprising. Canada creates the province of Manitoba.

1873

Macdonald establishes the North West Mounted Police — today the RCMP. Prince Edward Island joins Canada.

1885

The last spike of the Canadian Pacific Railway is driven on November 7. Riel is executed for high treason. Banff National Park is established.

1899–1902

Over 7,000 Canadians volunteer in the South African (Boer) War; over 260 die.

1914–1918

The First World War. More than 600,000 Canadians serve; 60,000 are killed. The Armistice comes on November 11, 1918.

April 9, 1917

The Canadian Corps captures Vimy Ridge — 10,000 killed or wounded. Celebrated as Vimy Day.

1916–1918

Manitoba is the first province to grant women the vote (1916); most Canadian women aged 21 and over gain the federal vote (1918).

1921

Agnes Macphail becomes the first woman MP. Red and white become Canada's national colours.

1929–1939

The stock market crash leads to the Great Depression. Unemployment reaches 27% in 1933. The Bank of Canada is created in 1934.

1939–1945

The Second World War. More than one million serve; 44,000 are killed. Canada ends the war with the third-largest navy in the world.

June 6, 1944

D-Day. 15,000 Canadian troops storm and capture Juno Beach. About one in ten Allied soldiers that day is Canadian.

1947

The discovery of oil in Alberta begins Canada's modern energy industry.

1949

Newfoundland and Labrador joins Canada — the last province to do so.

1950–1953

Canada joins the UN operation defending South Korea in the Korean War — 500 dead, 1,000 wounded.

1960

Aboriginal people are granted the vote. Today every citizen over 18 may vote.

1965

The new Canadian flag is raised for the first time.

1967

Canada starts its own honours system with the Order of Canada, in the centennial of Confederation.

1969

Parliament passes the Official Languages Act, guaranteeing French and English services in the federal government across Canada.

1980

O Canada is proclaimed the national anthem. Quebec sovereignty is defeated in a referendum. Terry Fox begins the Marathon of Hope.

1982

The Constitution is amended to entrench the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms — without the agreement of Quebec. Dominion Day becomes Canada Day.

1988

Canada enacts free trade with the United States. The government apologizes for the wartime treatment of Canadians of Japanese origin.

1994

Mexico joins the broader North American free trade agreement.

1995

Quebec sovereignty is defeated in a second referendum.

1999

Nunavut is established from the eastern part of the Northwest Territories — the most recent addition to the federation.

2006

The House of Commons recognizes that the Québécois form a nation within a united Canada. Canada apologizes for the Chinese Head Tax.

2008

Ottawa formally apologizes to former residential school students.

2021

The Oath of Citizenship is amended to name the Aboriginal and treaty rights of First Nations, Inuit and Métis peoples.