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today in canadian history

Aug 16

1971Hurricane Beth

Hurricane Beth hit Nova Scotia, dumping 296 mm of rain.

1654Sedgwick Captures Port-Royal

Robert Sedgwick, commander-in-chief of the New England coast, captured Port-Royal.

1812Tecumseh and Brock Capture Fort Detroit

Forces led by Shawnee chief Tecumseh and Major-General Brock secured the surrender of Fort Detroit, solidifying the alliance between the Western Confederacy and Britain. Some 2000 American defenders surrendered.

1812Brock Captures Detroit

Forces led by Shawnee chief Tecumseh and Major-General Brock, including members of the Shawnee, Delaware, Chippewa, Mississauga, Wyandot and Ottawa, secured the surrender of Fort Detroit, thereby solidifying the alliance between the Western Confederacy and Britain.

1784New Brunswick Separates

New Brunswick was established as a separate colony from Nova Scotia.

1974Cindy Nicholas Breaks Record

Sixteen-year-old Cindy Nicholas, of Toronto, broke the record for fastest swim across Lake Ontario. The crossing took her 15 hours and 10 minutes.

1979Death of John Diefenbaker

John Diefenbaker died in Ottawa. After his state funeral in Ottawa, his body was transported by train across Canada to a burial site in Saskatoon.

1911Birth of Walter Curtin

Photographer Walter Curtin, who became an outstanding photojournalist, was born at Vienna, Austria.

1892Birth of Harold Foster

Artist and author Harold Foster, who was founder of the adventure comic strip Prince Valiant, was born at Halifax.

1760Battle of the Thousand Islands

Guns crack as the Battle of the Thousand Islands wages from 16 to 25 August 1760. Taking place during the latter half of the Seven Years War, the battle was the last major engagement between British and French forces on Canadian soil.

1933Christie Pits Riot in Toronto

A fierce riot erupted at the end of a softball game in Willowvale Park (now Christie Pits) in Toronto, ON. An example of prevalent anti-Semitism in Toronto at the time, the Swastika Club, a pro-Nazi group, unfurled a large swastika banner at the close of the game, instigating Jewish spectators in the crowd. The city's first and largest ethnically based riot lasted six hours. Though there were injuries, some serious, no lives were lost.

1982Anik-D Launched

Anik D-1 was launched, replacing the aging Anik A and B satellites. Anik D-1 was the first commercial satellite built by a Canadian prime contractor, Spar Aerospace Limited.

1963United Nations Security Force in West New Guinea

The United Nations asked Canada to participate in its West New Guinea security force. The mission involved maintaining law and order in the Southeast Asian region while West New Guinea transferred from Dutch colonial control to the Indonesian government. Canadian activities included organizing airlifts, passenger transport and food deliveries.

1992Gros-Louis Elected Grand Chief

The Huron-Wendat Nation of Wendake (located near Québec City) elected Jocelyne Gros-Louis as Grand Chief. She was the first woman to be named as the leader of a First Nation in Canada.

1962Death of Mungo Martin

Mungo Martin (Nakapankam), Kwakwaka'wakw artist and one of the best-known carvers on the coast, died at Victoria, BC. He played a major role in preserving Kwakwaka'wakw artistic traditions.

1916Migratory Bird Convention Signed

The Migratory Bird Convention (later the Migratory Bird Treaty) was signed by the United States and Canada to protect bird species threatened by the plumage trade, farmers who saw them as a threat to their crops, and shrinking habitats. The Convention bound the signatories to protect migratory birds from uncontrolled harvesting and destruction. It did not take into account traditional harvesting by Indigenous peoples, and in 1999 the Convention was amended to allow them to subsistence hunt.

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Birds of Canada as cookies. // Les oiseaux du Canada en biscuits. https://t.co/UPL9GzLERT via flickr/kim coleman http://...

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today in canadian history

1971Hurricane Beth

1654Sedgwick Captures Port-Royal

1812Tecumseh and Brock Capture Fort Detroit

1812Brock Captures Detroit

1784New Brunswick Separates

1974Cindy Nicholas Breaks Record

1979Death of John Diefenbaker

1911Birth of Walter Curtin

1892Birth of Harold Foster

1760Battle of the Thousand Islands

1933Christie Pits Riot in Toronto

1982Anik-D Launched

1963United Nations Security Force in West New Guinea

1992Gros-Louis Elected Grand Chief

1962Death of Mungo Martin

1916Migratory Bird Convention Signed

learning centre

Find resources for teachers, students, and parents including quizzes, downloads, and interactive timelines.

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