Canada timeline

Newfoundland Hurricane of 1775

A storm struck the eastern coast of Newfoundland on September 9, 1775. It is uncertain if this storm was the remnants of the hurricane that had... Read more

War of 1812

The War of 1812, between the United States of America and the British Empire (particularly Great Britain and British North America), was fought... Read more

Battle Of Canada

The Battle of Cañada was part of the Taos Revolt, a popular insurrection against the United States by Mexicans. It took place on January 24, 1847,... Read more

Sinking of the SS Arctic

Sudden and heavy fog causes two ships to collide, killing 322 people off the coast of Newfoundland on this day in 1854. The Arctic was a luxury... Read more

Jeannette's Creek Train Wreck

The scene presented after the collision was a horrible one. Intermixed with the fragments of the broken cars, dead bodies lay in profusion, many of... Read more

Prince Edward Island

Oscar Wilde Begins Lecture Tour of the United States and Canada

I have nothing to declare except my genius. Read more

Jumbo the Elephant is Killed by a Locomotive

Jumbo's private car was some distance down the main line, and it was while walking to this that a shrill whistle signaled the approach of an... Read more

Nanaimo Mine Explosion

The Nanaimo mine explosion on May 3, 1887, in Nanaimo, British Columbia killed 150 miners. Only seven miners survived and the mine burned for one... Read more

Skookum Party Discovers Gold Deposits in Bonanza Creek, Yukon

In August 1896, three people led by Keish (Skookum Jim Mason), a member of the Tagish First Nations, headed north, down the Yukon River from the... Read more

Frank Rockslide

30 million cubic metres of limestone broke free from the mountain and crashed down towards the sleeping populace of Frank. In a mere minute and a... Read more

Wreck of the SS Valencia

On Monday, January 22, 1906, the coastal passenger liner SS Valencia, en route from San Francisco to Seattle with 108 passengers and 65 crew... Read more

Sinking of the RMS Empress of Ireland

Only 14 minutes after having being struck by the Storstad, the Empress keeled over. Captain Kendall was thrown from the bridge and was eventually... Read more

Hillcrest Mine Disaster

On the morning of June 19th of 1914, a massive methane and coal dust explosion rocked the Hillcrest Collieries coal mine in the Crowsnest Pass of... Read more

Second Battle of Ypres

Canadian Forces, 30,000 First Brigade, Gen. Mercer Second Brigade, Gen. Currie Third Brigade, Gen. Turner Artillery, Gen. Burstall British... Read more

German Destruction of Factories in Canada and the United States Begins

Germany had mobilized an immense army of spies, dynamiters, assassins and conspirators in the United States at the outbreak of War in Europe. These... Read more

The Halifax Explosion

The Halifax Explosion occurred on Thursday, December 6, 1917, when the city of Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada, was devastated by the huge detonation... Read more

Wreck of the SS Princess Sophia

Princess Sophia, was built for the Alaska run, and made her maiden voyage on June 7, 1912. She was not a fancy ship, her hull was short and had... Read more

Laurier Palace Theatre Fire

About 800 children were enjoying a Sunday matinée at the Laurier Palace Theater on St Catherine Street in Montreal. Panic struck when at 2 p.m. a... Read more

Parliament of Canada Declares War on Nazi Germany

September 10, 1939 the Parliament of Canada declared war against the German Reich, marking the beginning of Canada's participation in the Second... Read more

Knights of Columbus Hostel Fire

The most deadly structural fire in what is now Canada consumed the Knights of Columbus hostel in St John's, Nfld, on 12 December 1942. An arsonist... Read more

Allied Invasion of Sicily (Operation Husky) Begins

The Allied invasion of Sicily, codenamed Operation Husky, was a major World War II campaign, in which the Allies took Sicily from the Axis (Italy... Read more

Allied Forces Invade Southern France through Operation Dragoon

The assault troops were formed of three American divisions of the VI Corps, reinforced with the French 5th Armoured Division, all under the command... Read more

Canadian Forces Retake Dieppe Unopposed in Operation Fusilade

The World War II Operation Fusilade, was the planned set piece assault on the French port of Dieppe, by the 2nd Canadian Infantry Division. In the... Read more

Herzogenbusch Concentration Camp is Liberated by the 4th Canadian Armored Division and the 96th Battery of the 5th Anti-Tank Division

Due to hunger, sickness and abuse at least 749 children, women and men died in the concentration camp. 329 of them were executed at the execution... Read more