A brief history of
CANADA
IMPORTANT DATES AND EVENTS
c. 10,000 BC
FIRST PEOPLES ARRIVE
Early descendants of Canada's aboriginal people cross the Bering land bridge from east Asia into North America
c. 900 AD
EARLY VIKING VISITORS
Viking explorers are believed to be the first Europeans to visit North America and establish L'Anse aux Meadows settlement on the island of Newfoundland.
c. 1400s
10,000BCTO 1700
IROQUOIS CONFEDERACY
Foundation of the Iroquois Confederacy, considered the high point of "pre-contact" aboriginal civilisation.
June 24, 1497
FIRST BRITISH CLAIM
Italian explorer John Cabot claims the island of Newfoundland for England.
July 24,1534
FIRST FRENCH CLAIM
French explorer Jacques Cartier sails into the Gulf of St. Lawrence and claims the Gaspé Peninsula for France. Early attemtps to found permanent French settlements fail.
July 3, 1608
FOUNDING OF QUEBEC
Founding of Quebec City on the St Lawrence River heralds first permanent French settlement in North America.
1702-1713
QUEEN ANNE'S WAR
French and British forces battle for control of Atlantic colonies on the east coast of North America. In the end, France cedes the island of Newfoundland, the colony of Acadia and its settlements on Hudson's Bay territory to England.
18th CENTURY
1755
EXPULSION OF THE ACADIANS
British expel French settlers from Acadia.
1756-1763
FRENCH AND INDIAN WAR
France and England battle for New France which is surrendered to the British as Quebec.
Oct. 7, 1763
ROYAL PROCLAMATION ON INDIANS
A Royal Proclamation by Britain's King George III establishes general procedures for obtaining British control of aboriginal land.
July 1, 1776
FOUNDING OF THE USA
13 British colonies in eastern North America revolt against colonial rule and form an independent country known as the United States of America. Loyalists flee to Quebec and Britain's Atlantic colonies.
18thCENTURY
Dec. 26, 1791
ESTABLISHMENT OF UPPER AND LOWER CANADA
Britain passes Constitution Act, dividing Quebec into two colonies: Upper Canada (English), Lower Canada (French)
July 22, 1793
BRITISH CLAIM PACIFIC COAST
British explorer Alexander Mackenzie crosses the Rocky Mountains and claims the Pacific coast of North America for Britain.
1812-1815
WAR OF 1812
Britain and the USA battle for control of eastern North America.
1831
RESIDENTIAL SCHOOLS
Mohawk Indian Residential School opens in Branrford, Ontario.
Aug. 1, 1834
19thCENTURY
SLAVERY ABOLISHED
Britain's Slavery Abolition Act takes effect, emancipating all slaves within the British Empire.
Feb. 10, 1841
UPPER AND LOWER CANADA REUNITED
Following the Durham Report, Britain passes an Act of Union uniting Upper and Lower Canada into the United Province of Canada with a single-parliamentary-style government.
July 1, 1867
DOMINION OF CANADA ESTABLISHED
The British North America Act takes effect, uniting the former United Province of Canada (now split into Quebec and Ontario) with Nova Scotia and New Brunswick and forming a self-governing colony, the Dominion of Canada. The modern constitution of Canada takes effect.
1870
CANADIAN MONEY INTRODUCED
France and England battle for New France which is surrendered to the British as Quebec.
May 8, 1871
BRITISH ARMY LEAVES NORTH AMERICA
The treaty of Washington removes all remaining British troops from North America.
April 12, 1876
19th CENTURY
INDIAN ACT
The Indian Act is passed by the Parliament of Canada, founding the modern system of Indian reservation. It identifies who is an Indian and establishes related legal rights.
1883
RESIDENTIAL SCHOOLS
Sir John A. Macdonald authorises the creation of residential schools in the Canadian West. Sir Hector Langevin (Secretary of State for the Provinces) tells Parliament " In order to educate the children properly we must seprate them from their families. Some people may say this is hard, but if we want to civilise them we must do that"
1885
INDIAN ACT - AMENDMENT
Traditional Indian ceremonies, such as potlaches and the Sun Dance are prohibited.
1907
RESIDENTIAL SCHOOLS - HEALTH
Medical inspector for Indian Affairs, Dr. PH Bryce, reports that health conditions in residential schools are a |national crime".
1914-1918
WW1
Canadian troops fight under British command during the First World War.
20th CENTURY
June 7, 1917
FIRST WOMEN ELECTED
Roberta MacAdams Price of Alberta becomes the first woman elected to sit in a Canadian provincial parliament.
May 24, 1918
WOMEN GET THE RIGHT TO VOTE
Women were granted the right to vote in Canadian federal elections. Provinces follow suit at different imes between 1916 and 1940
1920
RESIDENTIAL SCHOOLS - COMPULSORY
Duncan Campbell Scott, Deputy Superintendent of Indian Affairs, makes residential school attendance compulsory for children between the ages of 7 and 15.
Dec.11, 1931
CANADIAN GETS FULL INDEPENDENCE
The Statue of Westminster grants Canada political independence from Britain, including the right to an independent foreign policy,.
Sept. 10, 1939
CANADA ENTERS WW2
Canada declares war on Germany and sends troops to fight in World War II.
1951
REVISIONS ON THE INDIAN ACT
MAjor revisions are made to the Indian Act: women are allowed to participate in band democracy, prohibitions on traditional Aboriginal practices and ceremonies are removed.
Feb. 28, 1952
FIRST CANADIAN GG
Vincent Massey is sworn in as the first Canadian-born governor general of Canada.
1958
RESIDENTIAL SCHOOLS
20thCENTURY
Indian Affairs regional inspectors recommend the abolition of residential schools.
1961
INDIAN ACT AMENDMENT
Amendment to the Indian Act - Status Indians can vote without having to give up their status.
Feb. 15, 1965
A NEW FLAG
The Maple Leaf becomes Canada's official flag.
July 1, 1967
CANADIAN TURNS 100
Canada celebrates its centennial.
1969
BILINGUALISM
The passage of the Official Languages Act makes Canada an officiailly bilingual country with French and English as its two official languages.
July 17, 1976
MONTREAL OLYMPICS
Montreal becomes the first Canadian city to host the summer Olympics games.
APR. 17, 1982
CONSTITUTIONAL INDEPENDENCE
Queen Elizabeth II signs the Canadian Constitution Act, transferring control of the former British North America Act (Canada's constitution) to Canada, thereby ending any remaining British political power over Canada.
1982
AMENDMENT
The Constitution Act is amended and now recognises and affirms the rights of "Indian, Inuit and Métis peoples of Canada.
1986-1994
FORMAL APOLOGIES
The United Church, the Catholic Missionary Oblates of Mary Immaculate, the Anglican Church, and the Presbyterian Church all issue formal apologies for their participation in the residential school system.
Mar. 29, 1993
20thCENTURY
FIRST FEMALE PREMIER
Catherine Callbeck of Prince Edward Island becomes the first woman to be elected premier of a Canadian province.
1996
FINAL REPORT
The Final Report of the Royal Commission on Aboriginal Peoples is released. It calls for a public inquiry into the effects of residential schools on generations of Aboriginal peoples.
1996-1998
LAWSUITS
Class action lawsuits begin to appear following the Final Report of the Royal Commision on Aboriginal Peoples.
2005
CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT
Assembly of First Nations National Chief Phil Fontaine annoucnes a class action lawsuit agains the Government of Canada over the legacy of the residential schools.
2008
PM APOLOGIES
Prime Minister Stepehn Harper apologises to First Nations, Inuit and Métis for the reseidential school system.
21stCENTURY
2009
TRUTH AND RECONCILIATION COMMISSION
As part of the Indian Residential School Settlement Agreement, the Truth and Reconciliation Commision is launched and hosts events all across the country to listen to Canadians who want to share their residnetial school stories.
2015
CLOSING CEREMONIES
Cermonies to close the Truth and Reconciliation Commission
July 1, 2017
CANADA TURNS 150
Canada celebrates its 150th birthday.
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Transcript
A brief history of
CANADA
IMPORTANT DATES AND EVENTS
c. 10,000 BC
FIRST PEOPLES ARRIVE
Early descendants of Canada's aboriginal people cross the Bering land bridge from east Asia into North America
c. 900 AD
EARLY VIKING VISITORS
Viking explorers are believed to be the first Europeans to visit North America and establish L'Anse aux Meadows settlement on the island of Newfoundland.
c. 1400s
10,000BCTO 1700
IROQUOIS CONFEDERACY
Foundation of the Iroquois Confederacy, considered the high point of "pre-contact" aboriginal civilisation.
June 24, 1497
FIRST BRITISH CLAIM
Italian explorer John Cabot claims the island of Newfoundland for England.
July 24,1534
FIRST FRENCH CLAIM
French explorer Jacques Cartier sails into the Gulf of St. Lawrence and claims the Gaspé Peninsula for France. Early attemtps to found permanent French settlements fail.
July 3, 1608
FOUNDING OF QUEBEC
Founding of Quebec City on the St Lawrence River heralds first permanent French settlement in North America.
1702-1713
QUEEN ANNE'S WAR
French and British forces battle for control of Atlantic colonies on the east coast of North America. In the end, France cedes the island of Newfoundland, the colony of Acadia and its settlements on Hudson's Bay territory to England.
18th CENTURY
1755
EXPULSION OF THE ACADIANS
British expel French settlers from Acadia.
1756-1763
FRENCH AND INDIAN WAR
France and England battle for New France which is surrendered to the British as Quebec.
Oct. 7, 1763
ROYAL PROCLAMATION ON INDIANS
A Royal Proclamation by Britain's King George III establishes general procedures for obtaining British control of aboriginal land.
July 1, 1776
FOUNDING OF THE USA
13 British colonies in eastern North America revolt against colonial rule and form an independent country known as the United States of America. Loyalists flee to Quebec and Britain's Atlantic colonies.
18thCENTURY
Dec. 26, 1791
ESTABLISHMENT OF UPPER AND LOWER CANADA
Britain passes Constitution Act, dividing Quebec into two colonies: Upper Canada (English), Lower Canada (French)
July 22, 1793
BRITISH CLAIM PACIFIC COAST
British explorer Alexander Mackenzie crosses the Rocky Mountains and claims the Pacific coast of North America for Britain.
1812-1815
WAR OF 1812
Britain and the USA battle for control of eastern North America.
1831
RESIDENTIAL SCHOOLS
Mohawk Indian Residential School opens in Branrford, Ontario.
Aug. 1, 1834
19thCENTURY
SLAVERY ABOLISHED
Britain's Slavery Abolition Act takes effect, emancipating all slaves within the British Empire.
Feb. 10, 1841
UPPER AND LOWER CANADA REUNITED
Following the Durham Report, Britain passes an Act of Union uniting Upper and Lower Canada into the United Province of Canada with a single-parliamentary-style government.
July 1, 1867
DOMINION OF CANADA ESTABLISHED
The British North America Act takes effect, uniting the former United Province of Canada (now split into Quebec and Ontario) with Nova Scotia and New Brunswick and forming a self-governing colony, the Dominion of Canada. The modern constitution of Canada takes effect.
1870
CANADIAN MONEY INTRODUCED
France and England battle for New France which is surrendered to the British as Quebec.
May 8, 1871
BRITISH ARMY LEAVES NORTH AMERICA
The treaty of Washington removes all remaining British troops from North America.
April 12, 1876
19th CENTURY
INDIAN ACT
The Indian Act is passed by the Parliament of Canada, founding the modern system of Indian reservation. It identifies who is an Indian and establishes related legal rights.
1883
RESIDENTIAL SCHOOLS
Sir John A. Macdonald authorises the creation of residential schools in the Canadian West. Sir Hector Langevin (Secretary of State for the Provinces) tells Parliament " In order to educate the children properly we must seprate them from their families. Some people may say this is hard, but if we want to civilise them we must do that"
1885
INDIAN ACT - AMENDMENT
Traditional Indian ceremonies, such as potlaches and the Sun Dance are prohibited.
1907
RESIDENTIAL SCHOOLS - HEALTH
Medical inspector for Indian Affairs, Dr. PH Bryce, reports that health conditions in residential schools are a |national crime".
1914-1918
WW1
Canadian troops fight under British command during the First World War.
20th CENTURY
June 7, 1917
FIRST WOMEN ELECTED
Roberta MacAdams Price of Alberta becomes the first woman elected to sit in a Canadian provincial parliament.
May 24, 1918
WOMEN GET THE RIGHT TO VOTE
Women were granted the right to vote in Canadian federal elections. Provinces follow suit at different imes between 1916 and 1940
1920
RESIDENTIAL SCHOOLS - COMPULSORY
Duncan Campbell Scott, Deputy Superintendent of Indian Affairs, makes residential school attendance compulsory for children between the ages of 7 and 15.
Dec.11, 1931
CANADIAN GETS FULL INDEPENDENCE
The Statue of Westminster grants Canada political independence from Britain, including the right to an independent foreign policy,.
Sept. 10, 1939
CANADA ENTERS WW2
Canada declares war on Germany and sends troops to fight in World War II.
1951
REVISIONS ON THE INDIAN ACT
MAjor revisions are made to the Indian Act: women are allowed to participate in band democracy, prohibitions on traditional Aboriginal practices and ceremonies are removed.
Feb. 28, 1952
FIRST CANADIAN GG
Vincent Massey is sworn in as the first Canadian-born governor general of Canada.
1958
RESIDENTIAL SCHOOLS
20thCENTURY
Indian Affairs regional inspectors recommend the abolition of residential schools.
1961
INDIAN ACT AMENDMENT
Amendment to the Indian Act - Status Indians can vote without having to give up their status.
Feb. 15, 1965
A NEW FLAG
The Maple Leaf becomes Canada's official flag.
July 1, 1967
CANADIAN TURNS 100
Canada celebrates its centennial.
1969
BILINGUALISM
The passage of the Official Languages Act makes Canada an officiailly bilingual country with French and English as its two official languages.
July 17, 1976
MONTREAL OLYMPICS
Montreal becomes the first Canadian city to host the summer Olympics games.
APR. 17, 1982
CONSTITUTIONAL INDEPENDENCE
Queen Elizabeth II signs the Canadian Constitution Act, transferring control of the former British North America Act (Canada's constitution) to Canada, thereby ending any remaining British political power over Canada.
1982
AMENDMENT
The Constitution Act is amended and now recognises and affirms the rights of "Indian, Inuit and Métis peoples of Canada.
1986-1994
FORMAL APOLOGIES
The United Church, the Catholic Missionary Oblates of Mary Immaculate, the Anglican Church, and the Presbyterian Church all issue formal apologies for their participation in the residential school system.
Mar. 29, 1993
20thCENTURY
FIRST FEMALE PREMIER
Catherine Callbeck of Prince Edward Island becomes the first woman to be elected premier of a Canadian province.
1996
FINAL REPORT
The Final Report of the Royal Commission on Aboriginal Peoples is released. It calls for a public inquiry into the effects of residential schools on generations of Aboriginal peoples.
1996-1998
LAWSUITS
Class action lawsuits begin to appear following the Final Report of the Royal Commision on Aboriginal Peoples.
2005
CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT
Assembly of First Nations National Chief Phil Fontaine annoucnes a class action lawsuit agains the Government of Canada over the legacy of the residential schools.
2008
PM APOLOGIES
Prime Minister Stepehn Harper apologises to First Nations, Inuit and Métis for the reseidential school system.
21stCENTURY
2009
TRUTH AND RECONCILIATION COMMISSION
As part of the Indian Residential School Settlement Agreement, the Truth and Reconciliation Commision is launched and hosts events all across the country to listen to Canadians who want to share their residnetial school stories.
2015
CLOSING CEREMONIES
Cermonies to close the Truth and Reconciliation Commission
July 1, 2017
CANADA TURNS 150
Canada celebrates its 150th birthday.