Discover Canada date table
Canadian Citizenship Test Important Dates
A study-friendly timeline of dated facts from the official Discover Canada guide, grouped by major event themes so you can remember what happened and why it matters.
How to use it
Read one category at a time. Each section is ordered from oldest to newest, so you can follow the story instead of memorizing scattered dates.
Memory clue
Learn the year first, then attach it to a story: rights, settlement, Confederation, war, modern Canada, symbols, holidays, or regions.
Source check
Every row has a Discover Canada page link so users can jump back to the official guide for context.
Important note
This page is a study aid. It paraphrases dated facts from Discover Canada and should be used together with the official guide, not as a replacement for it.
Before Confederation
Early rights, exploration, settlement, New France, British North America, and the road toward self-government.
| Date / Year | Major Event | Theme | What Happened | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 496 | Fleur-de-lys | Symbols, Honours, Languages, And Holidays | The lily flower is said to have been adopted by the French king and later became a major French symbol. | Page 38 |
| About 1,000 years ago | Vikings reached Canada | First Peoples, Exploration, And New France | Vikings who had colonized Greenland reached Labrador and Newfoundland; L'Anse aux Meadows remains a World Heritage site. | Page 14 |
| 1215 | Magna Carta | Rights, Citizenship, And Identity | Magna Carta was signed in England, beginning a long tradition of ordered liberty that influenced Canadian rights. | Page 8 |
| 1497 | John Cabot | First Peoples, Exploration, And New France | John Cabot mapped Canada's East Coast and claimed the New Founde Land for England. | Page 14 |
| 1534-1542 | Jacques Cartier voyages | First Peoples, Exploration, And New France | Cartier made three Atlantic voyages, claimed land for France, and explored the St. Lawrence River. | Page 14 |
| 1550s | Name Canada on maps | First Peoples, Exploration, And New France | The name Canada began appearing on maps after Cartier heard the word kanata. | Page 14 |
| 1576 | Martin Frobisher in the Arctic | First Peoples, Exploration, And New France | Martin Frobisher entered the Arctic while exploring for Queen Elizabeth I. | Page 51 |
| 1600s | French settler ancestry | First Peoples, Exploration, And New France | Many Quebecers trace ancestry to French settlers from the 1600s and 1700s. | Page 11 |
| Early 1600s | Atlantic English colonies | First Peoples, Exploration, And New France | English colonies along the Atlantic seaboard began growing into wealthy competitors to New France. | Page 15 |
| 1604 | Acadian settlement begins | First Peoples, Exploration, And New France | French colonists began settling in the Maritime region; the first European settlement north of Florida was also established. | Page 11 |
| 1608 | Quebec City fortress | First Peoples, Exploration, And New France | Samuel de Champlain built a fortress at what is now Quebec City. | Page 15 |
| 1610 | English settlement begins | First Peoples, Exploration, And New France | English settlement began after Cabot's earlier claim for England. | Page 14 |
| 1670 | Hudson's Bay Company | First Peoples, Exploration, And New France | King Charles II granted the Hudson's Bay Company trading rights in the Hudson Bay watershed. | Page 15 |
| 1690 | Frontenac defends Quebec | First Peoples, Exploration, And New France | Count Frontenac refused to surrender Quebec to an English attack. | Page 15 |
| 1700s | French and British struggle | First Peoples, Exploration, And New France | France and Great Britain battled for control of North America. | Page 15 |
| 1700s | Maple leaf symbol | Symbols, Honours, Languages, And Holidays | French Canadians adopted maple leaves as a symbol. | Page 38 |
| 1701 | French-Iroquois peace | First Peoples, Exploration, And New France | The French and the Iroquois made peace after a long period of conflict. | Page 15 |
| 1755-1763 | Great Upheaval | First Peoples, Exploration, And New France | Many Acadians were deported during the war between Britain and France. | Page 11 |
| 1758 | First elected assembly | Democracy, Confederation, And Expansion | The first representative assembly in what is now Canada was elected in Halifax, Nova Scotia. | Page 16 |
| 1759 | Battle of the Plains of Abraham | First Peoples, Exploration, And New France | Britain defeated France at Quebec City, marking the end of France's empire in America. | Page 15 |
| 1763 | Royal Proclamation | Rights, Citizenship, And Identity | King George III's Royal Proclamation recognized territorial rights and became a basis for treaty-making with Aboriginal peoples. | Page 10 |
| 1773 | Prince Edward Island assembly | Democracy, Confederation, And Expansion | Prince Edward Island followed Nova Scotia by establishing a representative assembly. | Page 16 |
| 1774 | Quebec Act | First Peoples, Exploration, And New France | The Quebec Act protected Catholic religious freedom and restored French civil law while keeping British criminal law. | Page 15 |
| 1775 | American invasion of Quebec | First Peoples, Exploration, And New France | Sir Guy Carleton helped defeat an American military invasion of Quebec. | Page 15 |
| 1776 | United States independence | First Peoples, Exploration, And New France | Thirteen British colonies south of Quebec declared independence and formed the United States. | Page 15 |
| 1780s | Black Loyalists | First Peoples, Exploration, And New France | Black Loyalists and other people of African origin fled north to Canada while slavery remained legal in the United States. | Page 13 |
| 1782-1783 | Loyalist migration | First Peoples, Exploration, And New France | Sir Guy Carleton supervised Loyalist migration to Nova Scotia and Quebec. | Page 15 |
| 1785 | New Brunswick assembly | Democracy, Confederation, And Expansion | New Brunswick established a representative assembly. | Page 16 |
| 1791 | Constitutional Act | Democracy, Confederation, And Expansion | The Province of Quebec was divided into Upper and Lower Canada, and the name Canada became official. | Page 16 |
| 1792 | Freetown settlement | First Peoples, Exploration, And New France | Some Black Nova Scotians moved to establish Freetown in Sierra Leone. | Page 15 |
| 1793 | Upper Canada and slavery | Democracy, Confederation, And Expansion | Upper Canada became the first province in the British Empire to move toward abolishing slavery. | Page 16 |
| January 21, 1793 | Lower Canada Assembly debate | Democracy, Confederation, And Expansion | The elected Assembly of Lower Canada debated whether to use both French and English. | Page 16 |
| 1798 | Sir William Logan | Economy, Regions, And The North | Sir William Logan, namesake of Mount Logan and a major Canadian geologist, was born in Montreal. | Page 50 |
| 1800s to 1980s | Residential schools | Rights, Citizenship, And Identity | The federal government placed many Aboriginal children in residential schools during this long period. | Page 10 |
| 1805 | Battle of Trafalgar | Wars, Service, And Remembrance | Britain's naval victory helped set the stage for tensions that later affected the War of 1812. | Page 17 |
| 1807 | Slave trade prohibited | Democracy, Confederation, And Expansion | The British Parliament prohibited buying and selling enslaved people. | Page 16 |
| 1812-1814 | War of 1812 | Wars, Service, And Remembrance | British troops, First Nations, and Canadian volunteers defended Canada from American invasion. | Page 17 |
| June 1812 | War of 1812 begins for Canada | Wars, Service, And Remembrance | The United States launched an invasion, believing Canada would be easy to conquer. | Page 17 |
| 1813 | Chateauguay and York | Wars, Service, And Remembrance | French-Canadian troops helped turn back an American force at Chateauguay; Americans also burned government buildings in York. | Page 17 |
| 1813 | Laura Secord | Wars, Service, And Remembrance | Laura Secord warned Lieutenant James FitzGibbon of a planned American attack. | Page 17 |
| 1814 | War of 1812 invasion fails | Wars, Service, And Remembrance | By 1814, the American attempt to conquer Canada had failed. | Page 17 |
| 1814 | White House burned | Wars, Service, And Remembrance | A force from Nova Scotia burned public buildings in Washington, D.C., after the burning of York. | Page 17 |
| 1815 | Wellington defeats Napoleon | Wars, Service, And Remembrance | The Duke of Wellington, later linked to Ottawa's defence planning, defeated Napoleon. | Page 17 |
| 1832 | Montreal Stock Exchange | Democracy, Confederation, And Expansion | The Montreal Stock Exchange opened as Canada's economy and institutions developed. | Page 16 |
| 1833 | Slavery abolished in the Empire | Democracy, Confederation, And Expansion | Slavery was abolished throughout the British Empire. | Page 16 |
| 1834 | Beaver emblem | Symbols, Honours, Languages, And Holidays | The beaver became an emblem of the St. Jean Baptiste Society and was adopted by other groups. | Page 39 |
| 1837-1838 | Rebellions in Upper and Lower Canada | Democracy, Confederation, And Expansion | Rebellions near Montreal and Toronto failed but led to reform discussions about responsible government. | Page 17 |
| 1840 | Province of Canada | Democracy, Confederation, And Expansion | Upper and Lower Canada were united as the Province of Canada. | Page 18 |
| 1842-1869 | Geological Survey of Canada | Economy, Regions, And The North | Sir William Logan founded and directed the Geological Survey of Canada. | Page 50 |
| 1847-1848 | Responsible government in Nova Scotia | Democracy, Confederation, And Expansion | Nova Scotia became the first British North American colony with full responsible government. | Page 18 |
| 1848-1849 | Responsible government in United Canada | Democracy, Confederation, And Expansion | Lord Elgin introduced responsible government in United Canada. | Page 18 |
| 1849 | La Fontaine leads responsible government | Democracy, Confederation, And Expansion | Sir Louis-Hippolyte La Fontaine became the first leader of a responsible government in the Canadas. | Page 18 |
| 1850s | Maple leaf on uniforms | Symbols, Honours, Languages, And Holidays | Canadian soldiers began using the maple leaf on uniforms and insignia. | Page 38 |
| 1853 | Mary Ann Shadd Cary | Democracy, Confederation, And Expansion | Mary Ann Shadd Cary became Canada's first woman publisher. | Page 16 |
| 1854 | Victoria Cross for a Canadian | Symbols, Honours, Languages, And Holidays | Alexander Roberts Dunn became the first Canadian awarded the Victoria Cross after Balaclava. | Page 41 |
| 1857 | William Hall Victoria Cross | Symbols, Honours, Languages, And Holidays | William Hall became the first Black man awarded the Victoria Cross for his role at Lucknow. | Page 41 |
| 1857 | Ottawa chosen | Economy, Regions, And The North | Queen Victoria chose Ottawa as the capital, an important regional and government fact. | Page 44 |
| 1857 | Ottawa chosen as capital | Democracy, Confederation, And Expansion | Queen Victoria chose Ottawa as Canada's capital. | Page 44 |
| 1860s | Parliament Buildings completed | Symbols, Honours, Languages, And Holidays | The Parliament Buildings were completed in Ottawa. | Page 39 |
| 1863 | Slavery in the United States | First Peoples, Exploration, And New France | The guide notes that slavery remained legal in the United States until 1863, one reason people fled north earlier. | Page 13 |
| 1864 | Dominion of Canada idea | Democracy, Confederation, And Expansion | Sir Leonard Tilley suggested the term Dominion of Canada. | Page 18 |
| 1864-1867 | Confederation talks | Democracy, Confederation, And Expansion | Representatives from Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, and the Province of Canada worked to create a new country. | Page 18 |
Confederation And Expansion
The birth of Canada, provinces and territories joining, the railway, western settlement, and national institutions.
| Date / Year | Major Event | Theme | What Happened | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1867 | Peace, Order and Good Government | Rights, Citizenship, And Identity | The British North America Act included the phrase Peace, Order and Good Government, a key Canadian constitutional idea. | Page 10 |
| 1867 | British North America Act | Democracy, Confederation, And Expansion | The British Parliament passed the British North America Act, creating the constitutional framework for Confederation. | Page 18 |
| July 1, 1867 | Dominion of Canada born | Democracy, Confederation, And Expansion | Ontario, Quebec, Nova Scotia, and New Brunswick formed the new Dominion of Canada. | Page 18 |
| 1867 | Canada's first prime minister | Democracy, Confederation, And Expansion | Sir John A. Macdonald became the first Prime Minister of Canada. | Page 19 |
| 1867 | Constitutional monarchy since Confederation | Symbols, Honours, Languages, And Holidays | Canada has been a constitutional monarchy in its own right since Confederation. | Page 38 |
| 1869 | Northwest transfer | Democracy, Confederation, And Expansion | Canada took over the northwest region from the Hudson's Bay Company, leading to Metis resistance at Red River. | Page 19 |
| 1870 | Manitoba and Northwest Territories | Democracy, Confederation, And Expansion | Manitoba and the Northwest Territories joined Canada after Ottawa retook Fort Garry. | Page 19 |
| 1870 | Northwest Territories formed | Economy, Regions, And The North | The Northwest Territories were originally made from Rupert's Land and the North-Western Territory. | Page 50 |
| 1871 | British Columbia joins Canada | Democracy, Confederation, And Expansion | British Columbia joined Confederation after Ottawa promised a railway to the West Coast. | Page 20 |
| 1873 | North West Mounted Police | Democracy, Confederation, And Expansion | Prime Minister Macdonald established the NWMP to bring order to the West and assist treaty negotiations. | Page 19 |
| 1873 | Prince Edward Island joins Canada | Democracy, Confederation, And Expansion | Prince Edward Island entered Confederation. | Page 19 |
| 1876 | Royal Military College | Symbols, Honours, Languages, And Holidays | The Royal Military College in Kingston was founded; its flag pattern influenced Canada's flag colours. | Page 38 |
| 1880 | Arctic Islands transferred | Democracy, Confederation, And Expansion | The Arctic Islands were transferred to the Northwest Territories. | Page 19 |
| 1880 | O Canada first sung | Symbols, Honours, Languages, And Holidays | O Canada was first sung in Quebec City. | Page 40 |
| 1885 | Second Metis resistance | Democracy, Confederation, And Expansion | A second resistance in present-day Saskatchewan led to Louis Riel's trial and execution. | Page 19 |
| November 7, 1885 | CPR last spike | Democracy, Confederation, And Expansion | The Canadian Pacific Railway was completed, creating a symbolic rail link from sea to sea. | Page 20 |
| 1885 | Banff National Park | Economy, Regions, And The North | Banff National Park was established in Alberta. | Page 49 |
| 1890s | Yukon Gold Rush | Economy, Regions, And The North | Thousands of miners came to Yukon during the Gold Rush. | Page 50 |
| 1891 | Basketball invented | Modern Canada, Society, Arts, And Sports | Canadian James Naismith invented basketball. | Page 26 |
| 1892 | Stanley Cup | Symbols, Honours, Languages, And Holidays | Lord Stanley donated the Stanley Cup for hockey. | Page 39 |
| 1895-1896 | Quebec City Hall | Economy, Regions, And The North | The guide notes the construction period of Quebec City Hall. | Page 35 |
| July 11, 1896 to October 6, 1911 | Sir Wilfrid Laurier | Modern Canada, Society, Arts, And Sports | The guide's quote page identifies Laurier's period as Canada's seventh prime minister. | Page 66 |
| 1898 | Yukon Territory | Democracy, Confederation, And Expansion | Yukon became a territory of Canada. | Page 19 |
| 1899-1902 | South African War | Wars, Service, And Remembrance | More than 7,000 Canadians volunteered in the South African War, also called the Boer War. | Page 21 |
| 1900 | Paardeberg and Lillefontein | Wars, Service, And Remembrance | Canadians fought in victories that strengthened national pride. | Page 21 |
| 1900 | White Pass and Yukon Railway | Economy, Regions, And The North | The railway opened between Skagway and Whitehorse. | Page 50 |
| 1905 | Alberta and Saskatchewan | Democracy, Confederation, And Expansion | Alberta and Saskatchewan became provinces. | Page 19 |
| 1909 | Grey Cup | Symbols, Honours, Languages, And Holidays | Lord Grey donated the Grey Cup for Canadian football. | Page 26 |
Wars, Voting Rights, And National Memory
The First World War, women's suffrage, the Depression, the Second World War, and remembrance facts.
| Date / Year | Major Event | Theme | What Happened | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Before 1914 | Western settlement | Democracy, Confederation, And Expansion | The railway helped many immigrants settle in the West before the First World War. | Page 20 |
| 1914 | First World War | Wars, Service, And Remembrance | Germany attacked Belgium and France; Britain declared war and Canada formed the Canadian Expeditionary Force. | Page 21 |
| 1914-1920 | Wartime internment | Wars, Service, And Remembrance | Ottawa interned more than 8,000 former Austro-Hungarian subjects, mainly Ukrainian men. | Page 21 |
| 1915 | In Flanders Fields | Wars, Service, And Remembrance | Lieutenant-Colonel John McCrae composed the poem often recited on Remembrance Day. | Page 22 |
| 1916 | Manitoba women's vote | Wars, Service, And Remembrance | Manitoba became the first province to grant voting rights to women. | Page 21 |
| 1916 | Centre Block fire | Symbols, Honours, Languages, And Holidays | The Centre Block of Parliament was destroyed by an accidental fire. | Page 39 |
| 1917 | Federal vote for some women | Wars, Service, And Remembrance | The federal government granted voting rights first to nurses at the front and women related to men in wartime service. | Page 21 |
| April 9, 1917 | Vimy Ridge | Wars, Service, And Remembrance | The Canadian Corps captured Vimy Ridge, a major moment of national pride and sacrifice. | Page 21 |
| 1917 | Filip Konowal Victoria Cross | Symbols, Honours, Languages, And Holidays | Filip Konowal earned the Victoria Cross during the Battle of Hill 70. | Page 41 |
| 1918 | Most women gain federal vote | Wars, Service, And Remembrance | Most Canadian female citizens aged 21 and older were granted voting rights in federal elections. | Page 21 |
| August 8, 1918 | Battle of Amiens | Wars, Service, And Remembrance | Canadian troops helped win at Amiens during the final hundred days of the First World War. | Page 21 |
| November 11, 1918 | Armistice | Wars, Service, And Remembrance | The First World War ended with Germany and Austria's surrender. | Page 21 |
| 1920 | Group of Seven | Modern Canada, Society, Arts, And Sports | The Group of Seven was founded and developed a major Canadian landscape painting style. | Page 25 |
| 1921 | National colours | Symbols, Honours, Languages, And Holidays | King George V assigned red and white as Canada's national colours. | Page 18 |
| 1921 | Agnes Macphail | Wars, Service, And Remembrance | Agnes Macphail became Canada's first woman Member of Parliament. | Page 21 |
| 1922 | Centre Block rebuilt | Symbols, Honours, Languages, And Holidays | The Centre Block was rebuilt after the 1916 fire. | Page 39 |
| 1923 | Dominion of Canada dollar bill | Symbols, Honours, Languages, And Holidays | The guide shows a Dominion of Canada one-dollar bill with King George V. | Page 18 |
| 1927 | Old Age Security idea | Modern Canada, Society, Arts, And Sports | Old Age Security was devised as an early social support program. | Page 24 |
| 1927 | Peace Tower completed | Symbols, Honours, Languages, And Holidays | The Peace Tower was completed in memory of the First World War. | Page 39 |
| 1928, 1932, 1936 | Phil Edwards Olympics | Wars, Service, And Remembrance | Phil Edwards won Olympic bronze medals for Canada before serving in the Second World War. | Page 22 |
| 1929 | Stock market crash | Modern Canada, Society, Arts, And Sports | The crash helped trigger the Great Depression, known in the guide as the Dirty Thirties. | Page 22 |
| 1933 | Great Depression unemployment | Modern Canada, Society, Arts, And Sports | Unemployment reached 27 percent during the Depression. | Page 22 |
| 1934 | Bank of Canada | Modern Canada, Society, Arts, And Sports | The Bank of Canada was created to help manage money supply and financial stability. | Page 22 |
| 1935-1940 | Governor General Tweedsmuir | Rights, Citizenship, And Identity | John Buchan, Lord Tweedsmuir, served as Governor General and spoke about unity in diversity. | Page 11 |
| 1937 | Unity in diversity speech | Rights, Citizenship, And Identity | Tweedsmuir's Canadian Club of Halifax remarks are used in the guide to explain cultural contribution and shared loyalty. | Page 11 |
| 1939 | Refugees turned away | Wars, Service, And Remembrance | The guide notes that many refugees, including Jews fleeing Nazi Germany, were turned away. | Page 22 |
| 1939 | Second World War begins | Wars, Service, And Remembrance | The Second World War began when Nazi Germany invaded Poland. | Page 23 |
| 1940 | Quebec women's vote | Wars, Service, And Remembrance | Quebec granted women the right to vote. | Page 21 |
| 1940 | Unemployment insurance | Modern Canada, Society, Arts, And Sports | The federal government introduced unemployment insurance, now called employment insurance. | Page 24 |
| 1941 | Hong Kong | Wars, Service, And Remembrance | Canadians suffered losses defending Hong Kong from Imperial Japan. | Page 23 |
| 1942 | Dieppe raid | Wars, Service, And Remembrance | Canadian forces suffered losses in a failed raid on Nazi-controlled Dieppe. | Page 23 |
| 1943-1944 | Liberation of Italy | Wars, Service, And Remembrance | Canadians took part in the Allied liberation of Italy. | Page 23 |
| 1943 | Paul Triquet Victoria Cross | Symbols, Honours, Languages, And Holidays | Paul Triquet earned the Victoria Cross while leading an attack at Casa Berardi in Italy. | Page 41 |
| 1944-1945 | Liberation of the Netherlands | Wars, Service, And Remembrance | The Canadian Army helped liberate the Netherlands. | Page 23 |
| June 6, 1944 | D-Day and Juno Beach | Wars, Service, And Remembrance | Canadian troops landed in Normandy and captured Juno Beach. | Page 23 |
| August 14, 1945 | Japan surrenders | Wars, Service, And Remembrance | Japan surrendered, ending the Pacific war. | Page 23 |
| May 8, 1945 | German surrender | Wars, Service, And Remembrance | Germany surrendered, ending six years of war in Europe. | Page 23 |
| 1945-1970 | Postwar economic growth | Modern Canada, Society, Arts, And Sports | Canada experienced strong growth while drawing closer to the United States and other trading partners. | Page 24 |
| August 1945 | Robert Hampton Gray Victoria Cross | Symbols, Honours, Languages, And Holidays | Robert Hampton Gray was killed bombing a Japanese warship and became the last Canadian Victoria Cross recipient noted in the guide. | Page 41 |
Modern Canada
Postwar prosperity, rights expansion, Quebec and Canada, symbols, sport, science, trade, and modern milestones.
| Date / Year | Major Event | Theme | What Happened | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1947 | Alberta oil discovery | Modern Canada, Society, Arts, And Sports | Oil discovery in Alberta began Canada's modern energy industry. | Page 24 |
| 1947 | Modern energy industry | Economy, Regions, And The North | Oil discovery in Alberta began Canada's modern energy industry. | Page 24 |
| 1948 | Japanese Canadians gain vote | Modern Canada, Society, Arts, And Sports | Japanese Canadians gained voting rights, the last Asian Canadian group noted in the guide to receive them. | Page 25 |
| 1948 | Quebec flag | Symbols, Honours, Languages, And Holidays | Quebec adopted a flag based on the cross and fleur-de-lys. | Page 38 |
| 1949 | Newfoundland and Labrador | Democracy, Confederation, And Expansion | Newfoundland and Labrador joined Canada. | Page 19 |
| 1950-1953 | Korean War | Modern Canada, Society, Arts, And Sports | Canada participated in the UN operation defending South Korea. | Page 24 |
| 1951 | Postwar living standards | Modern Canada, Society, Arts, And Sports | For the first time, a majority of Canadians could afford adequate food, shelter, and clothing. | Page 24 |
| 1952 | Queen Elizabeth II | Modern Canada, Society, Arts, And Sports | Queen Elizabeth II became Queen of Canada. | Page 38 |
| 1956 | Hungarian refugees | Modern Canada, Society, Arts, And Sports | Canada welcomed about 37,000 people who escaped Soviet tyranny in Hungary. | Page 25 |
| 1957 | 23rd Parliament | Modern Canada, Society, Arts, And Sports | Queen Elizabeth II opened Canada's 23rd Parliament, as shown in the guide. | Page 28 |
| June 21, 1957 to April 22, 1963 | John Diefenbaker | Modern Canada, Society, Arts, And Sports | The guide's quote page identifies Diefenbaker's period as Canada's thirteenth prime minister. | Page 66 |
| 1960s | Quebec Quiet Revolution | Modern Canada, Society, Arts, And Sports | Quebec experienced rapid social and political change known as the Quiet Revolution. | Page 24 |
| 1960 | Aboriginal voting rights | Modern Canada, Society, Arts, And Sports | Aboriginal people were granted the vote. | Page 25 |
| 1960s | Changing Canadian diversity | Modern Canada, Society, Arts, And Sports | By this period, about one-third of Canadians had origins that were neither British nor French. | Page 25 |
| 1963 | Royal Commission on Bilingualism and Biculturalism | Modern Canada, Society, Arts, And Sports | Parliament established the commission that later helped lead to the Official Languages Act. | Page 24 |
| 1965 | Canada and Quebec Pension Plans | Modern Canada, Society, Arts, And Sports | The Canada Pension Plan and Quebec Pension Plan were created. | Page 24 |
| 1965 | Canadian flag | Symbols, Honours, Languages, And Holidays | The red and white maple leaf flag was raised for the first time. | Page 38 |
| 1967 | Order of Canada | Symbols, Honours, Languages, And Holidays | Canada started its own honours system with the Order of Canada during the Confederation centennial. | Page 40 |
| 1969 | Official Languages Act | Modern Canada, Society, Arts, And Sports | The Act guaranteed federal services in English and French across Canada. | Page 24 |
| 1969 | Official Languages Act | Symbols, Honours, Languages, And Holidays | Parliament passed the Official Languages Act, affirming equality of English and French in federal institutions. | Page 39 |
| 1970s | First Nations term | Rights, Citizenship, And Identity | The term First Nations began to be used for Aboriginal peoples who are not Inuit or Metis. | Page 10 |
| 1970s | Immigration from Asia | Modern Canada, Society, Arts, And Sports | Most immigrants to Canada have come from Asian countries since this decade. | Page 12 |
| 1970 | La Francophonie | Modern Canada, Society, Arts, And Sports | Canada helped found the international association of French-speaking countries. | Page 24 |
| 1972 | Canada-Soviet Summit Series | Modern Canada, Society, Arts, And Sports | Paul Henderson scored the winning goal for Canada. | Page 26 |
| 1973 | Oscar Peterson and the Order of Canada | Symbols, Honours, Languages, And Holidays | The guide shows Oscar Peterson receiving the Order of Canada from Governor General Roland Michener. | Page 40 |
| 1975 | Vietnamese refugees | Modern Canada, Society, Arts, And Sports | After the Communist victory in the Vietnam War, many Vietnamese refugees came to Canada. | Page 25 |
| 1978 | Montreal Canadiens image | Symbols, Honours, Languages, And Holidays | The guide includes the Montreal Canadiens as Stanley Cup champions in an image caption. | Page 39 |
| 1979-1988 | Wayne Gretzky and the Oilers | Modern Canada, Society, Arts, And Sports | Wayne Gretzky played for the Edmonton Oilers during this period. | Page 26 |
| 1980 | Quebec referendum | Modern Canada, Society, Arts, And Sports | Quebec sovereignty was defeated in a provincial referendum. | Page 24 |
| 1980 | Terry Fox | Modern Canada, Society, Arts, And Sports | Terry Fox began the Marathon of Hope to raise money for cancer research. | Page 26 |
| 1980 | O Canada national anthem | Symbols, Honours, Languages, And Holidays | O Canada was proclaimed Canada's national anthem. | Page 40 |
| 1982 | Charter of Rights and Freedoms | Rights, Citizenship, And Identity | Canada amended the Constitution and entrenched the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms. | Page 8 |
| 1982 | Canada Day name | Symbols, Honours, Languages, And Holidays | July 1 stopped being officially called Dominion Day and became Canada Day. | Page 18 |
| 1982 | Constitution amended | Modern Canada, Society, Arts, And Sports | Canada's Constitution was amended without the agreement of Quebec. | Page 24 |
| 1985 | Rick Hansen | Modern Canada, Society, Arts, And Sports | Rick Hansen circled the globe in a wheelchair to raise funds for spinal cord research. | Page 26 |
| 1988 | Apology to Japanese Canadians | Wars, Service, And Remembrance | The Government of Canada apologized and compensated victims of wartime wrongs against Japanese Canadians. | Page 23 |
| 1988 | Canada-U.S. free trade | Economy, Regions, And The North | Canada enacted free trade with the United States. | Page 42 |
| 1989 | Canadian Space Agency | Modern Canada, Society, Arts, And Sports | The Canadian Space Agency and Canadian astronauts began participating in space exploration. | Page 26 |
| 1994 | NAFTA | Economy, Regions, And The North | Mexico joined Canada and the United States in the North American Free Trade Agreement. | Page 42 |
| 1995 | Second Quebec referendum | Modern Canada, Society, Arts, And Sports | Quebec sovereignty was defeated again in a second referendum. | Page 24 |
| 1996 | Donovan Bailey | Modern Canada, Society, Arts, And Sports | Donovan Bailey became a world-record sprinter and double Olympic gold medallist. | Page 26 |
| 1999 | Nunavut | Democracy, Confederation, And Expansion | Nunavut was created from the eastern part of the Northwest Territories. | Page 19 |
| 1999 | Nunavut established | Economy, Regions, And The North | Nunavut was established from the eastern part of the Northwest Territories. | Page 51 |
| 2002 | Catriona Le May Doan | Modern Canada, Society, Arts, And Sports | Catriona Le May Doan carried the flag after winning Olympic speed-skating gold. | Page 26 |
| 2002 | Golden Jubilee | Symbols, Honours, Languages, And Holidays | Queen Elizabeth II marked her Golden Jubilee as Queen. | Page 38 |
| 2005 | Red Ensign and Clarkson Cup | Symbols, Honours, Languages, And Holidays | Veterans have carried the Red Ensign officially since 2005, and the Clarkson Cup for women's hockey was established. | Page 38 |
| 2006 | Quebecois nation recognition | Rights, Citizenship, And Identity | The House of Commons recognized that the Quebecois form a nation within a united Canada. | Page 11 |
| 2008 | Residential schools apology | Rights, Citizenship, And Identity | Ottawa formally apologized to former residential school students. | Page 10 |
| 2008 | North American trade scale | Economy, Regions, And The North | The guide uses 2008 trade figures to show the size of North American commerce. | Page 42 |
| 2012 | Diamond Jubilee | Symbols, Honours, Languages, And Holidays | Queen Elizabeth II celebrated 60 years as Sovereign. | Page 38 |
Public Holidays And Recurring Dates
Annual dates and movable holidays from the Discover Canada public holidays table.
| Date / Year | Major Event | Theme | What Happened | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| January 1 | New Year's Day | Symbols, Honours, Languages, And Holidays | National public holiday. | Page 41 |
| January 11 | Sir John A. Macdonald Day | Symbols, Honours, Languages, And Holidays | Important date recognizing Canada's first prime minister. | Page 41 |
| Friday immediately before Easter Sunday | Good Friday | Symbols, Honours, Languages, And Holidays | National public holiday observed before Easter Sunday. | Page 41 |
| Monday immediately after Easter Sunday | Easter Monday | Symbols, Honours, Languages, And Holidays | Holiday observed after Easter Sunday. | Page 41 |
| April 9 | Vimy Day | Symbols, Honours, Languages, And Holidays | Important date connected to Canada's victory and sacrifice at Vimy Ridge. | Page 41 |
| Monday before May 25 | Victoria Day | Symbols, Honours, Languages, And Holidays | Holiday marking the Sovereign's birthday. | Page 41 |
| June 24 | Fete nationale in Quebec | Symbols, Honours, Languages, And Holidays | Quebec's national holiday, also linked to the Feast of St. John the Baptist. | Page 41 |
| July 1 | Canada Day | Symbols, Honours, Languages, And Holidays | National holiday marking Confederation. | Page 41 |
| First Monday of September | Labour Day | Symbols, Honours, Languages, And Holidays | National public holiday. | Page 41 |
| Second Monday of October | Thanksgiving Day | Symbols, Honours, Languages, And Holidays | National public holiday. | Page 41 |
| November 11 | Remembrance Day | Symbols, Honours, Languages, And Holidays | Canadians remember veterans and war dead at the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month. | Page 41 |
| November 20 | Sir Wilfrid Laurier Day | Symbols, Honours, Languages, And Holidays | Important date recognizing Canada's seventh prime minister. | Page 41 |
| December 25 | Christmas Day | Symbols, Honours, Languages, And Holidays | National public holiday. | Page 41 |
| December 26 | Boxing Day | Symbols, Honours, Languages, And Holidays | Holiday observed after Christmas Day. | Page 41 |
| Third Monday in October every four years | Federal election timing | Democracy, Confederation, And Expansion | Federal elections are normally scheduled for this timing after the most recent general election, unless called earlier. | Page 30 |