Disasters | The Canadian Encyclopedia

Browse "Disasters"

Displaying 1-15 of 41 results
  • Macleans

    Bus Tragedy in Quebec

    In Liboire Lefebvre’s four years as mayor, St-Bernard-de-Beauce has enjoyed small triumphs. Local residents have racked up honors in provincial flower competitions.This article was originally published in Maclean's Magazine on October 27, 1997

    "https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/images/tce_placeholder.jpg?v=e9dca980c9bdb3aa11e832e7ea94f5d9" // resources/views/front/categories/view.blade.php
    
    https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/images/tce_placeholder.jpg?v=e9dca980c9bdb3aa11e832e7ea94f5d9 Bus Tragedy in Quebec
  • Article

    9/11 and Canada

    The terrorist attacks in the United States on 11 September 2001 had an immediate and profound impact on Canada. Twenty-four Canadians died in what became known as the "9/11" attacks. When the US closed its airspace, hundreds of planes carrying thousands of passengers were diverted to Canadian airports. In the weeks following, Canada passed controversial anti-terrorism laws and sent its first troops to Afghanistan as part of the “War on Terror.”

    "https://d3d0lqu00lnqvz.cloudfront.net/media/media/e924ba5e-1db8-4d44-9110-b2187f89724a.jpg" // resources/views/front/categories/view.blade.php
    
    https://d3d0lqu00lnqvz.cloudfront.net/media/media/e924ba5e-1db8-4d44-9110-b2187f89724a.jpg 9/11 and Canada
  • Macleans

    Charlottetown Bombing

    Even for a symbolic act of violence it was a particularly cynical target - the tiny, perfect Prince Edward Island legislature in Charlottetown where the Fathers of Confederation once thrashed out the terms for the formation of Canada.This article was originally published in Maclean's Magazine on May 1, 1995

    "https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/images/tce_placeholder.jpg?v=e9dca980c9bdb3aa11e832e7ea94f5d9" // resources/views/front/categories/view.blade.php
    
    https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/images/tce_placeholder.jpg?v=e9dca980c9bdb3aa11e832e7ea94f5d9 Charlottetown Bombing
  • Article

    Clement Ligoure

    Clement Courtenay Ligoure, physician (born 13 October 1887 in Trinidad; died 23 May 1922 Port of Spain, Trinidad). Dr. Ligoure was Halifax’s first Black doctor and an unsung hero of the Halifax Explosion, as he treated hundreds of patients free of charge in his home medical office. Dr. Ligoure was also instrumental in the formation of the No. 2 Construction Battalion, Canada’s first and only all-Black battalion (see Black Canadians; Caribbean Canadians).

    "https://d3d0lqu00lnqvz.cloudfront.net/clementligoure/clementcourtenayligoure.jpg" // resources/views/front/categories/view.blade.php
    
    https://d3d0lqu00lnqvz.cloudfront.net/clementligoure/clementcourtenayligoure.jpg Clement Ligoure
  • Article

    Coal Mining Disasters

    Coal mining involves deep workings, soft rock, dust, poisonous and flammable gases, explosives, machinery, transport and ventilation systems, and, in early times, open-flame lamps. Each has been a factor in the many Canadian coal mine tragedies, the worst of which are detailed here.

    "https://d3d0lqu00lnqvz.cloudfront.net/media/media/10dac7dd-3569-432a-8cb3-c5ad5f082f3f.jpg" // resources/views/front/categories/view.blade.php
    
    https://d3d0lqu00lnqvz.cloudfront.net/media/media/10dac7dd-3569-432a-8cb3-c5ad5f082f3f.jpg Coal Mining Disasters
  • Article

    Collapse of the Peace River Bridge

    ​The spectacular suspension bridge across the Peace River south of Fort St. John, British Columbia, was opened in the summer of 1943, replacing a ferry crossing on the Alaska Highway.

    "https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/images/tce_placeholder.jpg?v=e9dca980c9bdb3aa11e832e7ea94f5d9" // resources/views/front/categories/view.blade.php
    
    https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/images/tce_placeholder.jpg?v=e9dca980c9bdb3aa11e832e7ea94f5d9 Collapse of the Peace River Bridge
  • Macleans

    Dunblane Massacre

    Dumpy, balding and bespectacled, he did not look like a demonic angel of death.This article was originally published in Maclean's Magazine on March 25, 1996

    "https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/images/tce_placeholder.jpg?v=e9dca980c9bdb3aa11e832e7ea94f5d9" // resources/views/front/categories/view.blade.php
    
    https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/images/tce_placeholder.jpg?v=e9dca980c9bdb3aa11e832e7ea94f5d9 Dunblane Massacre
  • Editorial

    The Parliament Hill Fire of 1916

    The following article is an editorial written by The Canadian Encyclopedia staff. Editorials are not usually updated.

    "https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/images/tce_placeholder.jpg?v=e9dca980c9bdb3aa11e832e7ea94f5d9" // resources/views/front/categories/view.blade.php
    
    https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/images/tce_placeholder.jpg?v=e9dca980c9bdb3aa11e832e7ea94f5d9 The Parliament Hill Fire of 1916
  • Article

    Great Fire of Toronto (1904)

    On 19 April 1904, a fire swept through 20 acres of Toronto’s industrial core. By the time firefighters contained it, the blaze had destroyed at least 98 buildings. The fire incurred around $10 million in losses and left thousands unemployed. One person died in its aftermath. The disaster is known as the Great Fire of Toronto or the Second Great Fire of Toronto (the first major fire occurred in 1849). It exposed the city’s need for safer building codes and a high-pressure water system.

    "https://d3d0lqu00lnqvz.cloudfront.net/media/new_article_images/GreatFireofToronto1904/Bay_Wellington.jpg" // resources/views/front/categories/view.blade.php
    
    https://d3d0lqu00lnqvz.cloudfront.net/media/new_article_images/GreatFireofToronto1904/Bay_Wellington.jpg Great Fire of Toronto (1904)
  • Macleans

    Great Ice Storm of 1998

    Then, Margaret's son, Allan, urged her to stay with him in Ottawa - but all trains in and out of the two cities were cancelled, and roads closed. Meanwhile, Allan, his wife, Lori, and their three young sons hosted nine neighborhood boys whose own homes were without power.This article was originally published in Maclean's Magazine on January 19, 1998

    "https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/images/tce_placeholder.jpg?v=e9dca980c9bdb3aa11e832e7ea94f5d9" // resources/views/front/categories/view.blade.php
    
    https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/images/tce_placeholder.jpg?v=e9dca980c9bdb3aa11e832e7ea94f5d9 Great Ice Storm of 1998
  • Editorial

    Great Western Rail Disaster

    The following article is an editorial written by The Canadian Encyclopedia staff. Editorials are not usually updated.

    "https://d3d0lqu00lnqvz.cloudfront.net/media/media/d0b89dde-a8ae-4d68-8ae3-f47b1ddefbf2.jpg" // resources/views/front/categories/view.blade.php
    
    https://d3d0lqu00lnqvz.cloudfront.net/media/media/d0b89dde-a8ae-4d68-8ae3-f47b1ddefbf2.jpg Great Western Rail Disaster
  • Article

    Motor Vehicle Disasters in Canada

    Numerous tragedies have unfolded on Canadian roads and highways, the deadliest being a bus crash that killed 44 people in Quebec in 1997. Despite the death toll in such headline-grabbing disasters, Canada’s motor vehicle fatality and injury rates are steadily declining, thanks to engineering improvements in vehicles, and the increasing promotion and awareness of safe driving practices.

    "https://d3d0lqu00lnqvz.cloudfront.net/media/Twitter_Cards/humboldt-1.png" // resources/views/front/categories/view.blade.php
    
    https://d3d0lqu00lnqvz.cloudfront.net/media/Twitter_Cards/humboldt-1.png Motor Vehicle Disasters in Canada
  • Article

    Historic Rockslides in Canada

    Historic Rockslides in Canada Site Date Volume m³ Damage Rubble Creek, BC 1855? 25 million unknown Frank, Alberta 29 April 1903 30 million 70 deaths, half a town destroyed Brazeau Lake, Alberta July 1933 5 million telephone lines Hope, BC 9 January 1965 47 million 4 deaths; road buried English Chief River, NWT 5 October 1985 7 million None

    "https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/images/tce_placeholder.jpg?v=e9dca980c9bdb3aa11e832e7ea94f5d9" // resources/views/front/categories/view.blade.php
    
    https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/images/tce_placeholder.jpg?v=e9dca980c9bdb3aa11e832e7ea94f5d9 Historic Rockslides in Canada
  • Article

    HMCS Kootenay Disaster

    ​HMCS Kootenay was a destroyer in the Canadian Navy. In 1969, an accident at sea killed 9 sailors and injured 53 others. It was the worst peacetime disaster in the history of the navy.

    "https://d3d0lqu00lnqvz.cloudfront.net/media/media/ced5f338-fcf3-463a-9627-1da6d7794b5e.jpg" // resources/views/front/categories/view.blade.php
    
    https://d3d0lqu00lnqvz.cloudfront.net/media/media/ced5f338-fcf3-463a-9627-1da6d7794b5e.jpg HMCS Kootenay Disaster
  • Article

    Ice Storm of 1998

    The ice storm of 1998 was one of the largest natural disasters in Canadian history. Between 4 and 10 January 1998, sections of the St. Lawrence Valley from Kingston to Québec’s Eastern Townships received up to 100 mm of ice pellets and freezing rain — more than double the icy precipitation normally received in those areas in a whole year. The storm claimed as many as 35 lives, injured 945, and resulted in the temporary displacement of 600,000 people. Several roads were shut down and massive power outages occurred, cutting off electricity for nearly 1.4 million customers in Québec and over 230,000 in eastern Ontario. The total financial cost of the storm is estimated at $5.4 billion.

    "https://d3d0lqu00lnqvz.cloudfront.net/media/media/50883f65-a6e7-4f26-9c7b-ffd9ab7625ee.jpg" // resources/views/front/categories/view.blade.php
    
    https://d3d0lqu00lnqvz.cloudfront.net/media/media/50883f65-a6e7-4f26-9c7b-ffd9ab7625ee.jpg Ice Storm of 1998