Communication and Transportation

August 07, 1679

Communication and Transportation 

Griffon Launched

Cavelier de La Salle launched the Griffon, a boat armed with 7 cannon, on Lake Erie near the mouth of the Niagara River. It was the first European vessel on the Great Lakes.

August 03, 1751

Communication and Transportation 

First Printing Press

Bartholomew Green established the first printing press in Canada at Halifax.

March 23, 1752

Communication and Transportation 

Halifax Gazette Printed

Canada's first newspaper, the Halifax Gazette, was printed by John Bushell. He also published the first book in Canada on 6 December; it was an 8-page pamphlet for the government.

December 09, 1755

Communication and Transportation 

First Post Office

The first post office in Canada was opened in Halifax.

June 21, 1764

Communication and Transportation 

Québec Gazette Published

The first edition of the Québec Gazette/La Gazette de Québec was published, by William Brown and Thomas Gilmore.

June 02, 1779

Communication and Transportation 

Gazette Littéraire Ceases Publication

The Gazette Littéraire pour la ville et district de Montréal ceased publication. It was the first entirely French newspaper in Canada.

June 02, 1779

Communication and Transportation 

Newspapermen Arrested

Newspapermen Fleury Mesplet and Valentin Jautard were arrested by order of the governor after criticizing a judge''s rulings in their paper Gazette Littéraire.

December 12, 1783

Communication and Transportation 

First Newspaper in NB

The first newspaper in New Brunswick, the Royal Saint John Gazette and Nova Scotian Intelligencer, was published by William Lewis and John Ryan at Parrtown.

August 25, 1785

Communication and Transportation 

Montreal Gazette Published

Fleury Mesplet published the Montreal Gazette/La Gazette de Montréal, the oldest newspaper still in existence in Canada.

September 20, 1788

Communication and Transportation 

North West America Launched

The North West America, the first European vessel built on the BC coast, was launched by John Meares, sea captain, entrepreneur and fur trader. The ship was used in the trade for sea otter pelts.

December 27, 1789

Communication and Transportation 

First Stagecoach Service

The first stagecoach service was established between Queenston and Fort Erie.

February 20, 1796

Communication and Transportation 

Yonge Street Opened

Yonge Street was opened from York to Pine Fort Landing on Lake Simcoe, a distance of about 55 km.

March 14, 1802

Communication and Transportation 

Parliamentary Library Established

The Parliamentary Library of Lower Canada was established when clerk Samuel Phillips was placed in charge of the House's entire holdings, about 25 books.

January 05, 1805

Communication and Transportation 

Quebec Mercury Published

The first edition of the Quebec Mercury newspaper was published.

November 22, 1806

Communication and Transportation 

Le Canadien Published

The Parti canadien newspaper, Le Canadien, was first published in Québec City

March 10, 1810

Communication and Transportation 

Le Vrai Canadien Founded

The political newspaper Le Vrai Canadien was founded by Jonathan Sewell and Pierre-Amable De Bonne.

March 17, 1810

Communication and Transportation 

Kingston Gazette Published

The first issue of the Kingston Gazette (now the Whig-Standard) was published.

January 04, 1817

Communication and Transportation 

Kingston and York Linked

Stagecoach service began between Kingston and York, Upper Canada.

November 30, 1823

Communication and Transportation 

Welland Canal Initiated

Construction began on the first Welland Canal, joining Lakes Erie and Ontario, with a sod-turning ceremony that included its chief promoter William Hamilton Merritt.

September 21, 1826

Communication and Transportation 

Rideau Canal Begun

Construction began on the Rideau Canal. It was completed in 1832 after five working seasons.

November 30, 1829

Communication and Transportation 

Welland Canal Opened

Two schooners passed from Port Dalhousie to Port Robinson, Upper Canada, symbolically opening the Welland Canal and linking Lakes Erie and Ontario for the first time. The canal opened the way to the west and countered the threat of the US Erie Canal.

February 25, 1832

Communication and Transportation 

First Railway Incorporated in Canada

The Champlain and St Lawrence Railroad Company was incorporated, the first railway legislation in Canada.

March 18, 1836

Communication and Transportation 

First Steamer on the Pacific

The Hudson's Bay Company steamer Beaver, the first on the Pacific Coast, arrived at Fort Vancouver (near present-day Portland, Oregon).

April 10, 1836

Communication and Transportation 

First Steamer Arrives on Pacific Coast

The Hudson's Bay Co steamer Beaver, the first on the Pacific coast, arrived at Fort Vancouver, near present-day Portland, Oregon.

July 21, 1836

Communication and Transportation 

First Railway Opens in Canada

Canada's first railway, the Champlain and St Lawrence Railroad, officially opened; it began operations on July 25. The railway heralded the most important change in transportation in Canadian history.

September 19, 1839

Communication and Transportation 

Albion Mines Railway

A celebration marked the opening of the first 4 kilometers of the Albion Mines Railway in Pictou County, NS. It was the second steam railway in Canada, and the first to use standard gauge.

July 04, 1840

Communication and Transportation 

Britannia Sails

The Britannia sailed from Liverpool, England. It was the maiden voyage of Cunard's steam packet mail service across the Atlantic.

January 12, 1842

Communication and Transportation 

First Edition of The Islander

The first edition of the PEI newspaper The Islander was published.

March 05, 1844

Communication and Transportation 

Brown Founds Globe

George Brown founded the Toronto Globe newspaper.

March 17, 1845

Communication and Transportation 

St Lawrence and Atlantic RR

The St Lawrence and Atlantic Railroad was chartered to build a line between Montréal and Portland, Maine, giving Montréal year-round access to the Atlantic.

July 15, 1846

Communication and Transportation 

First Hamilton Spectator

The first issue of the Hamilton Spectator newspaper was published.

October 11, 1850

Communication and Transportation 

Railway to Longueuil Opens

The St Lawrence and Atlantic Railroad was opened from Longueuil to Richmond, Québec.

April 07, 1851

Communication and Transportation 

First Canadian Stamp

The first Canadian postage stamp, a Three-Pence Beaver, was issued. It was followed by a Twelve-Pence Black, showing Queen Victoria at the age of 19, and a Six-Pence Prince Consort, which carried a portrait of Prince Albert.

April 17, 1851

Communication and Transportation 

Marco Polo Launched

The clipper Marco Polo was launched at Saint John, NB. It was the fastest ship in the world in its day, and set records on the run from Liverpool to Australia.

August 05, 1853

Communication and Transportation 

First propeller-driven Steamship

The Otter, the first propeller-driven steamship in the North Pacific, arrived and went into general trading and tow-boating service.

October 01, 1853

Communication and Transportation 

Globe Issued as Daily

The Toronto Globe was first issued as a daily newspaper.

January 27, 1854

Communication and Transportation 

Great Western Railway Opens

The Great Western Railway opened its main line between London and Windsor, Ont.

March 08, 1855

Communication and Transportation 

Bridge Over Niagara

A suspension bridge was opened across the Niagara River, at Niagara Falls.

October 27, 1856

Communication and Transportation 

First Passenger Train

The first passenger train travelled from Montréal to Toronto on the Grand Trunk line.

November 17, 1856

Communication and Transportation 

Grand Trunk Completed

The Grand Trunk Railway was completed from Guelph to Stratford, Ont; the last stretch from St Marys to Sarnia was finished on November 21. The GTR was a significant factor in the economic development of Canada.

March 12, 1857

Communication and Transportation 

Desjardins Canal Train Disaster

A Great Western Railway passenger train crashed through the rotting timber bridge over the Desjardins Canal, near Hamilton, Ont, killing 59 people.

February 08, 1858

Communication and Transportation 

Railway to Truro Opens

A railway opened from Halifax to Truro and Windsor in Nova Scotia.

August 12, 1858

Communication and Transportation 

Telegraph Message to Valencia

The first telegraph message was sent from Trinity Bay, Newfoundland, to Valencia, Ireland, on cable laid by USS Niagara and HMS Agamemnon.

April 15, 1859

Communication and Transportation 

Steamship Arrives at Red River

Captain Anson Northrup brought the first steamship, the Anson Northrup (formerly the North Star) to Red River.

December 28, 1859

Communication and Transportation 

First Newspaper in Red River

The Nor'Wester was published at Fort Garry, the first newspaper in the Red River district.

September 11, 1861

Communication and Transportation 

Street Railway in Toronto

The first horse-drawn street-railway line in Toronto opened.

June 29, 1864

Communication and Transportation 

Rail Disaster at St Hilaire

A Grand Trunk Railway train plunged off the Beloeil Bridge into the Richelieu River at St-Hilaire, Qué, killing 99 people and injuring another 100. It was Canada's worst train wreck.

July 27, 1866

Communication and Transportation 

Great Eastern Lays Cable

The ship Great Eastern completed the laying of the first transatlantic cable at Heart's Content, Nfld.

January 16, 1869

Communication and Transportation 

First Montreal Star

The first issue of the Montreal Star newspaper was published.

October 24, 1869

Communication and Transportation 

Canadian Illustrated News

Georges Desbarats founded the Canadian Illustrated News at Montréal. On October 24 it became the first periodical in the world to carry halftone photographs.

March 31, 1872

Communication and Transportation 

First Issue of the Toronto Mail

The first issue of the Toronto Mail was published.

October 15, 1872

Communication and Transportation 

CPR Formed

The Canadian Pacific Railway Company was formed. The company was given a charter on 5 February 1873. Methods used by Sir Hugh Allan to secure the charter led to the defeat of Sir John A. Macdonald's government.

November 05, 1873

Communication and Transportation 

Pacific Scandal Forces Resignations

In the Pacific Scandal, the Macdonald government resigned over the evidence that members of the government had accepted campaign funds from Sir Hugh Allan in return for the Canadian Pacific Railway contract.

October 27, 1874

Communication and Transportation 

William D. Lawrence Launched

The William D. Lawrence, the largest wooden ship built in the Maritimes, was launched at Maitland, NS.

January 14, 1875

Communication and Transportation 

Halifax Herald Established

The first issue of the Halifax Herald newspaper was published.

June 01, 1875

Communication and Transportation 

Construction Begins on CPR

At the Kaministiquia River, near present-day Thunder Bay, Ont, construction began on the CPR.

March 10, 1876

Communication and Transportation 

Bell Speaks First Words

Alexander Graham Bell spoke the first words ever heard on the telephone when working on the device in his attic room in Boston, Mass; he made the first call from one building to another at Mt Pleasant, Ont, on Aug 3 when he called his uncle at Brantford.

February 09, 1879

Communication and Transportation 

North Shore Railway Complete

The North Shore Railway between Montréal and Québec City was completed.

December 23, 1879

Communication and Transportation 

Fraser Canyon Rail Extension

Railway contractor Andrew Onderdonk signed an agreement with the Canadian government to extend the CPR through the Fraser Canyon.

May 14, 1880

Communication and Transportation 

CPR Enters British Columbia

Construction of the CPR began in BC under the direction of Andrew Onderdonk.

February 16, 1881

Communication and Transportation 

CPR Incorporated

The Canadian Pacific Railway Company was incorporated.

June 01, 1883

Communication and Transportation 

CPR Arrives in Alberta

The Canadian Pacific Railway arrived in Alberta, at Medicine Hat.

August 31, 1883

Communication and Transportation 

Calgary Herald First Issue

The Calgary Herald newspaper was first published by Andrew Armour and Thomas Braden as the Calgary Herald, Mining and Ranche Advocate and General Advertiser Inc.

October 20, 1884

Communication and Transportation 

La Presse Published

The first issue of La Presse newspaper was published in Montréal.

September 15, 1885

Communication and Transportation 

Death of Jumbo

A Grand Trunk Railway locomotive struck and killed Jumbo, beloved circus elephant in Barnum and Bailey’s “Greatest Show on Earth,” near St. Thomas, ON. The autopsy showed that Jumbo’s stomach contained “a hat-full” of English pennies, gold and silver coins, metal trinkets and a police whistle, among other things. The death of the elephant made headlines world-wide.

October 15, 1885

Communication and Transportation 

First Train to Lethbridge

The first train rolled into Lethbridge.

November 07, 1885

Communication and Transportation 

Last Spike Driven for CPR

The “last spike” of the Canadian Pacific Railway was hammered by Lord Strathcona at Craigellachie, British Columbia. This fulfilled a government promise to connect BC to Eastern Canada via a transcontinental railway. Among the workers who built the railway were 15,000 labourers from China, many of whom died during the railway’s construction.

July 04, 1886

Communication and Transportation 

First Transcontinental Passenger Train

The first scheduled CPR transcontinental passenger train reached Port Moody, after travelling "from sea to sea" for five days, 19 hours.

August 13, 1886

Communication and Transportation 

Macdonald Drives Last Spike

Prime minister Sir John A. Macdonald, on his only visit to BC, drove the last spike on the Esquimalt and Nanaimo Railway at Cliffside near Shawnigan Lake.

December 03, 1887

Communication and Transportation 

Saturday Night Founded

Saturday Night magazine was founded in Toronto by Edmund Ernest Sheppard.

January 04, 1889

Communication and Transportation 

Granville Street Bridge Opened

The first Granville Street Bridge opened in Vancouver. (The current bridge is the third built at that site.)

April 28, 1891

Communication and Transportation 

Empress of India Arrives at Vancouver

The CPR steamer Empress of India first arrived at Vancouver, carrying 486 passengers and 1839 t of tea, silk and rice. This steamer continued to make regular trips around the world by way of the Suez Canal.

August 10, 1891

Communication and Transportation 

First CPR Train Reaches Edmonton

The CPR built a spur line from Calgary to Edmonton. The first train arrived in 1891.

November 27, 1891

Communication and Transportation 

Railroad Opens from Seattle to New Westminster

A subsidiary of the Great Northern Railroad, an American competitor to the Canadian Pacific Railway, opened from Seattle to New Westminster, BC.

April 24, 1895

Communication and Transportation 

Slocum Sails Around World

Nova Scotia-born Joshua Slocum set out in his small boat Spray from Boston, Mass, on his voyage around the world. He completed his journey on 27 June 1898, making him the first man to sail around the world alone.

July 29, 1900

Communication and Transportation 

White Pass and Yukon Railway

The last spike was driven on the White Pass and Yukon Railway, which ran from Skagway to Whitehorse.

September 01, 1900

Communication and Transportation 

Minto Opens Canal

Governor General Lord Minto opened an irrigation canal, which ran 184 km between Kimball and Lethbridge, Alberta.

December 23, 1900

Communication and Transportation 

Fessenden's Wireless

Reginald Aubrey Fessenden of Québec transmitted the first wireless voice broadcast near Washington, DC. On December 24, 1906, he made the first radio voice broadcast from Brant Rock, Mass.

August 27, 1901

Communication and Transportation 

Copper Mountain Trail

The Rossland Miner reported that Mines Minister Richard McBride had visited the Similkameen and had ordered the expenditure of $300 on the Copper Mountain trail.

December 12, 1901

Communication and Transportation 

First Transatlantic Wireless

At Signal Hill, St John's, Nfld, Italian inventor Guglielmo Marconi received the first transatlantic wireless (radio) message from Poldhu, Cornwall, England.

October 31, 1902

Communication and Transportation 

Completion of trans-Pacific Telegraph Cable

The trans-Pacific telegraph cable was completed from Bamfield to Brisbane, Australia, with the first message sent by Canadian innovator-engineer Sir Sandford Fleming.

December 15, 1902

Communication and Transportation 

First Transatlantic Radio Report

The first transatlantic radio press report was filed from Glace Bay, NS, by a Times correspondent.

March 31, 1904

Communication and Transportation 

Cars in Montréal

A city-wide survey revealed that there were 45 cars in Montréal. That number would increase to 102 the next year, forcing the Québec government to change its law on cars.

July 23, 1904

Communication and Transportation 

First Bridge Opens at New Westminster

The first bridge built across the lower reaches of the Fraser River opened at New Westminster. To mark the occasion, residents held a civic luncheon, watched Aboriginal canoe races and set off fireworks from the bridge's upper deck.

November 24, 1905

Communication and Transportation 

Canadian Northern Completed

The Canadian Northern Railway was completed to Edmonton.

May 17, 1906

Communication and Transportation 

Grand Trunk Pacific Railway Begun

Construction on the Grand Trunk Pacific Railway began at Prince Rupert with the construction of a tool shed and the erection of tents as accommodation.

October 17, 1907

Communication and Transportation 

British Wireless

Transatlantic wireless (radio) service for the public to Britain was begun.

August 25, 1909

Communication and Transportation 

CPR Opens New Lines

The CPR opened its new line over Kicking Horse Pass near Field, BC. The route featured 2 spiral tunnels, bypassing the former switchback with its steep grades.

January 10, 1910

Communication and Transportation 

Le Devoir First Published

The newspaper Le Devoir was first published in Montréal, by Henri Bourassa.

February 12, 1912

Communication and Transportation 

Vancouver Morning Sun Published

The first issue of the Vancouver Morning Sun was published. Later, it became an afternoon newspaper, the Vancouver Sun.

March 12, 1912

Communication and Transportation 

Fraser River Railway Strikes

Railway workers organized by the Industrial Workers of the World (IWW) walked out of construction camps on the Canadian Northern line to protest conditions.

October 14, 1912

Communication and Transportation 

First Crossing of Canada by Automobile

Thomas Wilby and Jack Haney arrived in Vancouver after completing the first crossing of Canada by automobile.

November 25, 1912

Communication and Transportation 

Point Atkinson Lighthouse

The present Point Atkinson Lighthouse at West Vancouver, BC, became operational. It was recognized as a structure of national historic significance on September 18, 1994.

August 06, 1913

Communication and Transportation 

First Aviation Fatality in Canada

The first death involving an airplane in Canada occurred in Victoria, BC, when American barnstormer John M. Bryant was killed. He was instantly killed when one of the wings of his airplane collapsed and he crashed onto the roof of a building.

November 17, 1913

Communication and Transportation 

National Transcontinental Complete

The last spike was driven on the National Transcontinental Railway, which had begun work in 1903 and ran from Winnipeg, via Sioux Lookout, Kapuskasing, Cochrane and Québec City, to Moncton, NB.

April 07, 1914

Communication and Transportation 

Grand Trunk Pacific Completed

The Grand Trunk Pacific Railway was completed to Nechako, BC. The first train arrived at Prince Rupert on April 9.

January 23, 1915

Communication and Transportation 

Canadian Northern Railway

The last spike was driven on the Canadian Northern Railway at Basque, BC.

September 01, 1917

Communication and Transportation 

Canadian Press Founded

The Canadian Press, a co-operative news agency, was founded.

September 09, 1919

Communication and Transportation 

Bell's Hydrofoil

The hydrofoil created by Alexander Graham Bell, his wife Mabel Bell and the engineer F.W. Casey Baldwin set a record for speed over water on the tranquil waters of the Bras d'Or, NS. At a time when the greatest steamships of the world made less than 60km/h, the HD-4 hydrofoil vessel was clocked at 114km/h.

May 14, 1920

Communication and Transportation 

Canadian Forum Founded

The Canadian Forum magazine was founded; it is Canada's oldest continually published political periodical.

November 02, 1920

Communication and Transportation 

First Radio Station

Station KDKA in Pittsburgh became the first radio broadcasting station in the world.

March 26, 1921

Communication and Transportation 

Bluenose Launched

The schooner Bluenose was launched at Lunenburg, Nova Scotia.

May 01, 1922

Communication and Transportation 

First Alberta Radio Broadcast

Radio station CJCA made its first broadcast in Edmonton, Alberta.

February 05, 1925

Communication and Transportation 

Postal Workers

Post office employees were brought under civil service regulations.

January 22, 1931

Communication and Transportation 

First Radio Drama

The first episode of "The Romance of Canada" was broadcast from Montréal; it was the first series of radio dramas produced in Canada.

May 26, 1932

Communication and Transportation 

CRBC (future CBC) Established

Parliament passed an Act establishing the publicly funded Canadian Radio Broadcasting Commission, the forerunner of the Canadian Broadcasting Corp of 1936. Before the CRBC almost the only programs available to Canadians were from the US.

June 22, 1934

Communication and Transportation 

Honoré Mercier Bridge

The Honoré Mercier Bridge over the St Lawrence River was inaugurated. It united the city of LaSalle to the Caughnawaga Reserve (now Kahnawake).

November 02, 1936

Communication and Transportation 

CRBC Becomes CBC

The Canadian Broadcasting Corporation was created to replace the Canadian Radio Broadcasting Commission.

November 18, 1936

Communication and Transportation 

Globe and Mail Formed

The Toronto Globe purchased the Mail and Empire newspaper to form the Globe and Mail.

July 30, 1937

Communication and Transportation 

Dawn to Dusk Across Canada

C.D. Howe and H.J. Symington flew to Vancouver in the "Dawn to Dusk" cross-Canada flight to publicize the new service.

September 01, 1937

Communication and Transportation 

Trans-Canada Air Lines

The first regular flight of Trans-Canada Air Lines (now Air Canada) took place.

November 12, 1938

Communication and Transportation 

Lions Gate Bridge Opens

The Lions Gate Bridge in Vancouver was opened to pedestrian traffic. The first across was R.F. Hearns of West Vancouver.

March 01, 1939

Communication and Transportation 

First Transcontinental Airmail

Trans-Canada Air Lines (now Air Canada) began the first transcontinental airmail service.

June 27, 1939

Communication and Transportation 

First Transatlantic Air Service

The first transatlantic air service began with a Pan American flight between Botwood, Nfld, and Southampton, England.

January 01, 1941

Communication and Transportation 

CBC Introduces News Service

The CBC introduced its own national news service, with Lorne Greene as the first announcer.

September 09, 1942

Communication and Transportation 

Wartime Information Board

The Wartime Information Board was established to influence the public's interpretation of the war.

November 20, 1942

Communication and Transportation 

Alaska Highway Opens

The Alaska Highway, which winds across 2,451 km of mountain wilderness from Dawson Creek to Fairbanks, Alaska, was opened to military traffic.

June 24, 1943

Communication and Transportation 

BC Commits to Link with Alaska Highway

BC premier John Hart announced that the government had allocated $6 million to link Prince George with the Alaska Highway.

February 24, 1945

Communication and Transportation 

CBC Shortwave Radio Service

The CBC began its international shortwave radio service. The first broadcasts were directed mainly to Canadian forces overseas.

March 08, 1945

Communication and Transportation 

Halt to Canol Project

The United States announced that it was abandoning the $134 million Canol project, a pipeline to carry oil from Norman Wells to a Yellowknife refinery.

January 31, 1946

Communication and Transportation 

Bluenose Sinks

The once-famous schooner Bluenose hit a reef and sank off the coast of Haiti. The crew of 8 men was rescued.

January 15, 1949

Communication and Transportation 

First Non-stop Trans-Canada Flight

A Canadair North Star aircraft from the Experimental and Proving Establishment based in Rockcliffe, Ontario, completed the first non-stop trans-Canada flight, from Vancouver to Halifax.

August 10, 1949

Communication and Transportation 

Jetliner Flies

The first commercial jet transport in North America, the Jetliner, built by Avro Canada of Toronto, flew from an airport outside the city. Exceeding speeds of 800 km/h, the Jetliner aroused interest in the US, particularly from Howard Hughes, and was one of the outstanding aeronautical achievements of its day. It never saw production, as the government concentrated efforts on the CF-100 Canuck.

October 01, 1950

Communication and Transportation 

Family Rosary Hour

The Family Rosary Hour aired for the first time on CKAC radio, led by Cardinal Paul-Émile Léger. It aired every night at 7 pm following the 6:00 news. Over 65% of the population tuned in. Léger led the broadcast until 1967, when he left for Africa. The program continued until 1970.

December 12, 1951

Communication and Transportation 

St Lawrence Seaway Authority

The St Lawrence Seaway Authority was established.

May 24, 1952

Communication and Transportation 

Lethbridge Herald Building Completed

With the completion of construction of the Lethbridge Herald Building, the most modern newspaper facility in Western Canada opened, replacing the old facility that had stood for 42 years.

August 10, 1952

Communication and Transportation 

Children's Programs on Radio Canada

Radio-Canada began to air children's programs.

September 06, 1952

Communication and Transportation 

Canada's First TV Station

Canada's first television station, CBFT in Montréal, began transmitting. English-language CBLT in Toronto began operations September 8.

January 01, 1953

Communication and Transportation 

National Library Established

The National Library of Canada was established in Ottawa.

September 26, 1953

Communication and Transportation 

Freedom Road Completed

The Freedom Road (now Highway 20) linking the Bella Coola Valley to interior BC was completed.

October 15, 1953

Communication and Transportation 

Pipeline Completed

The Trans Mountain oil pipeline from Edmonton to Vancouver was completed.

December 16, 1953

Communication and Transportation 

CBUT Launched

Western Canada's first television station, CBC-owned and operated CBUT, was launched in a remodelled auto showroom on West Georgia Street in Vancouver.

January 08, 1954

Communication and Transportation 

First Pipeline Oil in Ontario

The first crude oil reached Sarnia, Ont, through the pipeline from Edmonton.

March 30, 1954

Communication and Transportation 

First Subway in Canada

The Yonge Street subway, the first subway line in Canada, was opened by the Toronto Transit Commission.

August 10, 1954

Communication and Transportation 

Seaway Groundbreaking

An international ceremony was held at Cornwall, Ont, and Massena, NY, for the groundbreaking for the St Lawrence Seaway.

April 02, 1955

Communication and Transportation 

Bridge Links Halifax and Dartmouth

The Angus L. Macdonald Bridge linking Halifax and Dartmouth opened.

April 24, 1955

Communication and Transportation 

Last Streetcar in Vancouver

The last streetcar ran in Vancouver, ending 65 years of street-rail service in the city.

May 08, 1956

Communication and Transportation 

Pipeline Debate

A bill to provide an $80 million loan to TransCanada PipeLines was introduced in the House of Commons. The government invoked closure at each stage of the Pipeline Debate, the first time it had been used in this way.

November 22, 1957

Communication and Transportation 

First Ship in the Seaway

The first ship passed through the Iroquois Lock, the first lock of the St Lawrence Seaway to be completed.

June 02, 1958

Communication and Transportation 

Orson Welles Interviewed

Journalist Judith Jasmin interviewed Orson Welles on Radio-Canada television.

July 18, 1958

Communication and Transportation 

BC Ferries Assume Passenger Service

Premier Bennett announced that the British Columbia Ferry Authority (BC Ferries) would assume passenger service from the islands to the mainland.

November 18, 1959

Communication and Transportation 

Canadian Content Rules

The Board of Broadcast Governors announced that television programs must have 45% Canadian content from 1 April 1961 and 55% from 1 April 1962.

October 04, 1964

Communication and Transportation 

This Hour Has Seven Days

The controversial CBC television public affairs program This Hour Has Seven Days was first broadcast. It was discontinued after 8 May 1966.

January 01, 1965

Communication and Transportation 

Air Canada Named

The name of Trans-Canada Airlines was changed by Act of Parliament to Air Canada.

September 09, 1965

Communication and Transportation 

Fowler Report Released

The Fowler Report on Canadian broadcasting recommended more Canadian content and the creation of an independent authority to replace the Board of Broadcast Governors of 1958.

November 09, 1965

Communication and Transportation 

Electrical Blackout

The failure of a relay device of Ontario Hydro's Queenston generating station triggered a massive power failure extending from the Atlantic coast of the US to Chicago, and from Florida to southern Ontario, lasting up to 12 hours.

September 01, 1966

Communication and Transportation 

CBC's First Colour TV

Colour television broadcasting was inaugurated by the CBC.

June 20, 1967

Communication and Transportation 

National Library Opens

PM Pearson opened the National Library and Archives Building in Ottawa.

November 16, 1967

Communication and Transportation 

National Museum of Science

The National Museum of Science and Technology opened to the public in Ottawa.

January 27, 1968

Communication and Transportation 

Death of Carl Agar

Carl Agar, who pioneered techniques for flying helicopters in mountainous terrain, died at Victoria.

February 22, 1968

Communication and Transportation 

Radio Québec Formed

Radio Québec was created by the Government of Quebec.

April 01, 1968

Communication and Transportation 

CRTC Formed

The Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission was formed under the Broadcasting Act.

May 02, 1969

Communication and Transportation 

Telesat Canada Formed

The federal government and Trans-Canada Telephone Systems concluded an agreement to form Telesat Canada, for the development of communications satellites.

May 28, 1969

Communication and Transportation 

Alberta Resources Railway

Alberta premier Harry Strom opened the Alberta Resources Railway, a 378 km line from Grande Prairie north to Solomon.

August 24, 1969

Communication and Transportation 

Manhattan in the Canadian Arctic

The US oil tanker Manhattan left Chester, Penn, on a trial voyage through the Northwest Passage. With the assistance of the Canadian icebreaker CCGS John A. Macdonald, the Manhattan reached Sachs Harbour, NWT, on September 15.

May 22, 1970

Communication and Transportation 

CRTC Introduces Content Rules

The Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC) announced the introduction of 50% Canadian program content requirements for radio and television, effective in September 1970 for the CBC and September 1971 for the private sector.

September 09, 1970

Communication and Transportation 

First Deep-water Terminal

North America's first deep-water terminal for supertankers officially opened, at Mispec Point, New Brunswick, near Saint John.

May 22, 1971

Communication and Transportation 

Ontario Place Opens

Ontario Place opened on the Toronto lakeshore.

June 03, 1971

Communication and Transportation 

Spadina Expressway Cancelled

The Ontario government halted construction of the Spadina Expressway due to intense public opposition to the project.

July 29, 1971

Communication and Transportation 

Bluenose II Presented

The Oland family presented the Bluenose II to the province of Nova Scotia as a floating maritime museum.

November 01, 1971

Communication and Transportation 

Toronto Sun Published

The Toronto Sun newspaper began publication.

December 03, 1971

Communication and Transportation 

Subway Trains Collide

Two Montréal subway trains collided, killing one person and destroying 36 subway cars.

January 01, 1972

Communication and Transportation 

Cigarette Advertising Ends

Cigarette manufacturers ceased to broadcast advertising.

July 21, 1972

Communication and Transportation 

CRTC Grants Licence to Global

The CRTC granted a licence to Global to operate a TV network in southern Ontario.

November 09, 1972

Communication and Transportation 

Anik A-1 Launched

Canada launched the world's first geostationary domestic satellite, Anik A-1

February 06, 1973

Communication and Transportation 

CN Tower Begins Construction

Construction began on the CN Tower.

February 19, 1973

Communication and Transportation 

Data-route in Operation

Trans-Canada Telephone System inaugurated Data-route, the world's first national digital system in commercial operation.

April 20, 1973

Communication and Transportation 

Anik A-2 Launched

The telecommunications satellite Anik A-2 was launched from Cape Canaveral, Fla. With its launch, Canada became the first country in the world to employ satellites for domestic communications.

June 01, 1973

Communication and Transportation 

Marshall McLuhan Appointed

Marshall McLuhan was appointed to the Papal Commission for Social Communication.

January 06, 1974

Communication and Transportation 

Global TV On Air

Global TV aired its first broadcast.

January 23, 1975

Communication and Transportation 

Foreign-owned Magazine Tax

The government announced plans to end tax concessions to Canadian companies advertising in Canadian editions of foreign-owned magazines.

March 03, 1975

Communication and Transportation 

Mackenzie Valley Pipeline

Justice Thomas Berger opened hearings in the Mackenzie Valley Pipeline Inquiry.

April 02, 1975

Communication and Transportation 

CN Tower Complete

The last section of the CN Tower, the world's highest free-standing structure at the time, was put in place.

May 01, 1975

Communication and Transportation 

Anik A-3 Launched

Communications satellite Anik A-3 was launched.

May 20, 1975

Communication and Transportation 

Pipeline Extension

Inter-provincial Pipelines Ltd received approval to extend its pipeline from Sarnia to Montréal.

October 04, 1975

Communication and Transportation 

Mirabel Airport Opens

Mirabel airport in Montréal opened.

March 02, 1976

Communication and Transportation 

Last Canadian Edition of Time

The last Canadian edition of Time magazine was published.

April 01, 1976

Communication and Transportation 

CRTC Given Regulatory Power

The CRTC was given regulatory power over telecommunications.

June 20, 1976

Communication and Transportation 

Pilots and Air-traffic Strike

Pilots and air-traffic controllers went on strike over bilingualism at Québec airports.

June 25, 1976

Communication and Transportation 

CN Tower Opens

The CN Tower, at 553 m the world's tallest free-standing structure at that time, was officially opened.

February 28, 1977

Communication and Transportation 

Via Rail Established

The federal government established Via Rail.

August 18, 1979

Communication and Transportation 

Dempster Highway Opens

The Dempster Highway officially opened in Flat Creek, Yukon. The first all-weather road to cross the Arctic Circle took 20 years to build and required the assistance of the Canadian Forces.

October 23, 1980

Communication and Transportation 

Globe's Satellite Edition

The Globe and Mail printed its new national edition using satellite communications, the first Canadian newspaper to do this.

December 31, 1980

Communication and Transportation 

Death of Marshall McLuhan

Marshall McLuhan, the communications philosopher, died.

August 16, 1982

Communication and Transportation 

Anik-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.

October 31, 1982

Communication and Transportation 

TurboTrain Makes Last Run

The TurboTrain was an early, high-speed passenger train that made its final run in 1982. Meant to revolutionize travel, it ran from 1968 to 1982 on the Montreal–Toronto route. It suffered from technical problems and declining interest from travellers in its first years of service, which led to it being replaced by Bombardier’s LRC.

June 23, 1983

Communication and Transportation 

Fuel-less Boeing Glides to Gimli

A Boeing 767 ran out of fuel and was guided by its pilot, with luck and skill, to a safe landing at Gimli, Manitoba.

May 02, 1986

Communication and Transportation 

Expo 86 Opens

Expo 86 at Vancouver, BC, was opened by the Prince and Princess of Wales. It ran to 13 October 1986 and had 20 million visitors.

October 13, 1986

Communication and Transportation 

Vancouver's Expo 86 Closes

Vancouver's Expo 86 closed.

January 14, 1990

Communication and Transportation 

Canadian's Final Trip

Via Rail's premier transcontinental passenger train, the Canadian, began its final trip across Canada before massive cuts to Via Rail service took effect on the 15th.

January 05, 1995

Communication and Transportation 

Rogers Withdraws Scheme

Rogers Cablesystems withdrew a proposed new fee system for its service packages following consumer protests.

March 31, 1995

Communication and Transportation 

Beatty Heads CBC

Perrin Beatty was appointed president and chief executive of the CBC, accepting a mandate to absorb a 25% cut in the corporation's funding.

April 13, 1995

Communication and Transportation 

Front Page Challenge Dropped

The CBC announced that it was dropping the program Front Page Challenge, which had been on the air since 1957.

April 26, 1995

Communication and Transportation 

Satellite-to-home Television

The federal government introduced a bill instructing the CRTC to begin licensing satellite-to-home television services.

July 27, 1995

Communication and Transportation 

Thomson Sells Newspapers

The Thomson Corporation announced that it had agreed to sell 19 newspapers to Conrad Black's Hollinger Inc.

November 03, 1995

Communication and Transportation 

Magazine Bill Passed

The House of Commons passed a bill designed to prevent foreign magazines from publishing "split-run" regional editions in Canada. The bill passed the Senate on December 14.

November 03, 1995

Communication and Transportation 

Thomson Sells Last British Paper

Thomson Corp announced the sale of the last of its British newspaper holdings. It had owned 66 newspapers at the beginning of 1995.

November 23, 1995

Communication and Transportation 

CBC Drops American TV Shows

The CBC announced that it would drop all American-produced television programs from its prime-time schedule.

November 28, 1995

Communication and Transportation 

CNR Goes Public

The Canadian government announced a stock offering of the publicly owned CNR. The issue earned $2.6 billion.

February 14, 1996

Communication and Transportation 

Mr Dressup Quits

Ernie Coombs did his last show as Mr Dressup, after 31 years on the air.

March 14, 1996

Communication and Transportation 

CRTC Demands Violence Rating

The CRTC ruled that television broadcasters must devise a system to rate the levels of violence in programs.

May 24, 1996

Communication and Transportation 

Hollinger Takes over Southam

Conrad Black's Hollinger Inc increased its holdings in Southam Inc, publisher of 20 Canadian newspapers, to 41%.

July 23, 1996

Communication and Transportation 

Internet Use Survey

A research company in Toronto reported the results of a survey showing that 29% of Canadian adults have used the Internet.

July 25, 1996

Communication and Transportation 

Coach House Press Closes

The literary publisher Coach House Press of Toronto announced that it would cease operations as a result of cuts by the Conservative government of Mike Harris. It reopened in 1997 with a new focus on electronic editions.

September 04, 1996

Communication and Transportation 

New Cable Licenses

The CRTC announced the award of broadcast licences for 23 new channels, including a new History and Entertainment Network. CHUM Ltd of Toronto received 6 licences.

September 16, 1996

Communication and Transportation 

Canadian Information Office

Heritage Minister Sheila Copps opened the Canadian Information Office, a new national unity agency.

October 13, 1996

Communication and Transportation 

New Bombardier Jet Flies

Bombardier's new Global express business jet made its first test flight.

January 16, 1997

Communication and Transportation 

Canada Loses Magazine Dispute

The World Trade Organization panel rejected Canada's excise tax on "split run" publications, American magazines with Canadian advertising.

May 01, 1997

Communication and Transportation 

CRTC Lifts Ban

The CRTC announced that it was lifting its ban on local telephone service competition, effective 1 January 1998.

June 18, 1997

Communication and Transportation 

CRTC Rating System

The CRTC approved a new television rating system grading programs in 6 categories from those appropriate to children (C) to those for adults only (18+).

February 10, 1998

Communication and Transportation 

CN Buys US Railway Company

Canadian National announced plans to acquire US rail company Illinois Central Corp for $2.4 billion, making CN the 5th largest railway company in North America with 30 000 km of track.

February 24, 1999

Communication and Transportation 

Canadian Singers Clean Up at Grammys

Three Canadian singers won major Grammy Awards: Céline Dion (Best Female Pop Vocal Performance, Record of the Year), Alanis Morissette (Best Female Rock Vocal Performance, Best Rock Song) and Shania Twain (Best Female Country Vocal Performance, Best Country Song).

June 04, 1999

Communication and Transportation 

Magazine Agreement

Canada and the US signed an agreement in which US magazines issuing Canadian editions would be allowed to sell a restricted amount of advertising to Canadian advertisers. The agreement staved off a trade war.

August 05, 1999

Communication and Transportation 

Bell Buys BCE

Bell Canada announced that it would buy the remaining 35% stake in BCE Mobile Communications Inc.

December 21, 1999

Communication and Transportation 

Air Canada Takes Over Canadian

The federal government approved Air Canada's plan to take over struggling Canadian Airlines International.

January 06, 2000

Communication and Transportation 

CBC Rejects CRTC Order

The CRTC ordered the CBC to stop airing foreign films in prime time and to cut sports programs by 20% while devoting more time to cultural programming. The CBC refused.

February 06, 2000

Communication and Transportation 

BC Ferries' Collide

A high-speed catamaran, The Royal Vancouver, collided with the BC Ferries' Queen of Saanich in the fog in Active Pass, injuring 23 catamaran passengers.

February 07, 2000

Communication and Transportation 

Rogers Buys Vidéotron

Rogers Communications announced plans to acquire Groupe Vidéotron Ltée in a $6 billion stock deal. The merger linked the 2 companies' cable and fibre optic networks.

February 08, 2000

Communication and Transportation 

BC Film Revenues Hit Peak

The BC government announced that the province's film and television industry earned more than $1 billion in 1999, ranking the province third in North America after Los Angeles and New York.

February 15, 2000

Communication and Transportation 

Thomson to Sell Newspapers

Thomson Corp announced that it had put all but one of its 130 newspapers up for sale in order to move the company to electronic content.

July 31, 2000

Communication and Transportation 

Black Sells Newspapers to CanWest

Hollinger CEO Conrad Black announced plans to sell most of his Canadian newspapers to CanWest Global in a $3.5 billion deal.

September 14, 2000

Communication and Transportation 

BC Ferry Collides with Powerboat

BC Ferries' Spirit of Vancouver Island collided with a powerboat near the Swartz Bay ferry terminal at Victoria, killing two in the powerboat.

August 24, 2001

Communication and Transportation 

Black Sells National Post

Conrad Black announced plans to sell the ailing National Post newspaper to CanWest Global.

March 22, 2006

Communication and Transportation 

BC Ferry Sinks

BC Ferries' Queen of the North hit a rock near Gil Island and sank while traveling south from Prince Rupert. Two of the 101 passengers were never found.

June 05, 2006

Communication and Transportation 

BC Ferries Report

The Transportation Safety Board declared that human error caused BC Ferries' Queen of the North to sink on 22 March 2006, killing 2.

January 22, 2012

Communication and Transportation 

RIM Execs Resign

Mike Lazaridis and Jim Balsillie, co-chief executives of Research in Motion, stepped down as heads of the technology company after months of pressure from shareholders.

October 06, 2014

Communication and Transportation 

Last Major Business Deal in Canadian Print?

Postmedia announced its purchase of 175 English-language publications from Quebecor Media Inc., including the Sun chain of dailies, for $316 million. Reporting on the deal, Maclean's speculated that it was "likely the last-ever blockbuster deal in Canadian print."

May 13, 2021

Communication and Transportation 

Greyhound Ends Bus Service in Canada

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After shutting down its services in Western Canada in 2018 and suffering a year without revenue due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Greyhound Canada permanently ceased operations after almost 100 years in business. The company’s American affiliate said that it would continue to operate cross-border bus routes to and from the US.