History of Canada in Timeline

Canada is a North American country spanning from the Atlantic to the Pacific and into the Arctic Ocean, making it the second-largest country by area and possessing the longest coastline. It shares the world's longest land border with the United States. Canada features diverse meteorological and geological regions. Its population exceeds 41 million, primarily concentrated in urban centers like Toronto, Montreal, and Vancouver, while vast areas remain sparsely populated. Ottawa is the nation's capital.

1905: Alberta and Saskatchewan Become Provinces

In 1905, Alberta and Saskatchewan officially became provinces within Canada.

1908: Publication of Anne of Green Gables

In 1908, L. M. Montgomery produced the first of a series of children's novels with "Anne of Green Gables".

1914: Canada Enters World War I

In 1914, Canada automatically entered the First World War following Britain's declaration of war due to the British North America Act, 1867.

1917: Conscription Crisis

In 1917, the Conscription Crisis erupted as a result of the Unionist Cabinet's proposal to introduce conscription to augment the military's dwindling active members, which was met with objections from French-speaking Quebecers.

1919: Canada Joins League of Nations

In 1919, Canada joined the League of Nations independently of Britain.

1920: Foundation of the Group of Seven

In 1920, the Group of Seven was founded in Canada, aiming to capture the wilderness in their artwork.

1921: Landed immigrant or permanent resident in Canada

In 2021, the census indicated that 8.3 million people reported themselves as being or having been a landed immigrant or permanent resident in Canada—above the 1921 census previous record of 22.3 percent.

1931: Statute of Westminster Affirms Canada's Independence

In 1931, the Statute of Westminster affirmed Canada's independence.

1931: Statute of Westminster

In 1931, the Statute of Westminster granted Canada full autonomy.

1934: Newfoundland Relinquishes Responsible Government

In 1934, the Dominion of Newfoundland relinquished responsible government due to the financial crisis of the Great Depression.

September 10, 1939: Canada Declares War on Germany

On September 10, 1939, Canada declared war on Germany, seven days after the United Kingdom, underscoring Canada's independence.

December 1939: First Canadian Army Units Arrive in Britain

In December 1939, the first Canadian Army units arrived in Britain to participate in the Second World War.

1942: Dieppe Raid

In 1942, Canadian troops played a role in the Dieppe Raid, which was ultimately unsuccessful.

1944: Conscription Crisis in Quebec

In 1944, Canada experienced another conscription crisis in Quebec, during the Second World War.

1945: Canada founding member of the UN

In 1945, Canada was a founding member of the United Nations (UN).

1948: Ratified the Universal Declaration of Human Rights

In 1948, Canada ratified the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR).

1948: Increase in Canada's Average Temperature

Since 1948, Canada's annual average temperature over land has risen by 1.7 °C (3.1 °F).

1949: Newfoundland Joins Canada

In 1949, Newfoundlanders voted to join Canada as a province after two referendums.

1958: Formed North American Aerospace Defense Command

In 1958, Canada, along with the United States, formed the North American Aerospace Defense Command.

1961: Visible minority groups

In 1961, about 300,000 people, less than two percent of Canada's population, were members of visible minority groups.

1962: Alouette 1

In 1962, Canada launched its first satellite, Alouette 1.

1965: Adoption of the Maple Leaf Flag

In 1965, Canada adopted the maple leaf flag, marking the emergence of a new Canadian identity.

1969: Implementation of Official Bilingualism

In 1969, Canada implemented official bilingualism (English and French), reinforcing a new Canadian identity.

1970: October Crisis

In 1970, the radical Front de libération du Québec (FLQ) ignited the October Crisis with bombings and kidnappings.

1971: Institution of Official Multiculturalism

In 1971, Canada instituted official multiculturalism, further shaping its evolving national identity.

1974: Official Language Act

Quebec's 1974 Official Language Act established French as the only official language of the province.

1976: 1976 Summer Olympics

Canada hosted the Summer Olympics in 1976.

1976: Parti Québécois Elected

In 1976, the sovereigntist Parti Québécois was elected in Quebec.

1980: Adoption of "O Canada" as the official anthem

In 1980, "O Canada", originally composed in French in 1880, was officially adopted as Canada's national anthem.

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1980: Referendum on Sovereignty-Association

In 1980, the Parti Québécois organized an unsuccessful referendum on sovereignty-association.

1982: Constitution Act

In 1982, Section 35 of the Constitution Act reaffirmed Aboriginal law and the rights it supports in Canada.

1982: Canada Act and Change to Canada Day

In 1982, the Canada Act brought the Constitution of Canada fully under Canadian control. Also, later that year, the national holiday was renamed from Dominion Day to Canada Day.

1982: Canada Act 1982

In 1982, the Canada Act patriated Canada's constitution from the United Kingdom and created the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms, establishing complete sovereignty.

1982: Constitution Act Election Requirements

The Constitution Act, 1982, requires that no more than five years pass between elections.

1982: Enactment of the Constitution Act

With the enactment of the Constitution Act in 1982, the British concept of parliamentary supremacy was all but completely superseded by the American concept of the supremacy of the law.

1984: Canada Health Act

Healthcare in Canada is guided by the provisions of the Canada Health Act of 1984 and is universal.

1985: Air India Flight 182 Explosion

In 1985, Air India Flight 182 exploded, marking the largest mass murder in Canadian history.

1988: 1988 Winter Olympics

Canada hosted the Winter Olympics in 1988.

1988: Canada – United States Free Trade Agreement (FTA)

In 1988, the Canada – United States Free Trade Agreement (FTA) eliminated tariffs between the two countries.

1989: Founding member of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation forum (APEC)

In 1989, Canada was a founding member of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation forum (APEC).

1989: École Polytechnique Massacre

In 1989, the École Polytechnique massacre occurred, a university shooting targeting female students.

1990: Increase in Greenhouse Gas Emissions

Between 1990 and 2022, Canada's greenhouse gas emissions increased by 16.5 percent.

1990: Joined the Organization of American States (OAS)

In 1990, Canada joined the Organization of American States (OAS).

1990: Failure of Meech Lake Accord

In 1990, attempts to accommodate Quebec nationalism constitutionally through the Meech Lake Accord failed.

1990: Oka Crisis

In 1990, the Oka Crisis, the first of several violent confrontations between provincial governments and Indigenous groups, took place.

1994: North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA)

In 1994, the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) expanded the free-trade zone to include Mexico.

1995: Second Referendum on Sovereignty

In 1995, a second referendum on sovereignty was held, in which sovereignty was rejected by a narrow margin.

1997: Supreme Court Ruling and Clarity Act

In 1997, the Supreme Court ruled unilateral secession by a province would be unconstitutional, and the Clarity Act was passed by Parliament.

1999: Nunavut Becomes Canada's Third Territory

In 1999, after negotiations with the federal government, Nunavut became Canada's third territory.

2001: Canada Sends Troops to Afghanistan

In 2001, Canada sent troops to Afghanistan, resulting in the largest amount of Canadian deaths for any single military mission since the Korean War.

2003: Canada reluctant to participate in military operations

Canada was reluctant to participate in military operations not sanctioned by the United Nations, such as the 2003 invasion of Iraq.

2008: Reconciliation Commission Formation

In 2008, the Government of Canada formed a reconciliation commission, marking the beginning of a period of redress for historical injustices against Indigenous peoples.

2010: 2010 Winter Olympics

Canada hosted the Winter Olympics in 2010.

2011: Visible minority population

Between 2011 and 2016, the visible minority population in Canada rose by 18.4 percent.

2011: Canadian Forces Participate in Intervention in Libya

In 2011, Canadian forces participated in the NATO-led intervention into the Libyan Civil War.

2015: 2015 FIFA Women's World Cup

Canada hosted the 2015 FIFA Women's World Cup and the 2015 Pan American Games and 2015 Parapan American Games.

2015: OECD country in reading literacy, mathematics, and science

In 2015, Canada is a well-performing OECD country in reading literacy, mathematics, and science, with the average student scoring 523.7, compared with the OECD average of 493.

2016: Homeschooling in Canada

As of 2016, just over 60,000 children are homeschooled in Canada.

2016: Visible minority population

Between 2011 and 2016, the visible minority population in Canada rose by 18.4 percent.

2016: Health Report

In 2016, a report indicated that 88 percent of Canadians reported having good or very good health.

2017: Richard Wagner, the Chief Justice of Canada

In 2017, Richard Wagner became the Chief Justice of Canada, leading the Supreme Court.

2018: Trade deficit

In 2018, Canada had a trade deficit in goods of $22 billion and a trade deficit in services of $25 billion.

January 27, 2020: COVID-19 Pandemic in Canada Begins

On January 27, 2020, the COVID-19 pandemic began in Canada, causing widespread social and economic disruption.

2020: Research and development expenditure

In 2020, Canada spent approximately $41.9 billion on domestic research and development.

2021: Religion

According to the 2021 census, Christianity is the largest religion in Canada.

2021: Non-official language

As of the 2021 census, just over 7.8 million Canadians listed a non-official language as their first language.

2021: Canadian trade in goods and services reached $2.016 trillion

In 2021, Canadian trade in goods and services reached $2.016 trillion.

2021: Commonwealth Fund's report on healthcare systems

In 2021, The Commonwealth Fund's report comparing the healthcare systems of the 11 most developed countries ranked Canada second-to-last.

2021: Average age in Canada

In 2021, the average age in Canada was 41.9 years, while life expectancy was 81.1 years.

2021: Ten largest self-reported ethnic or cultural origins

In 2021, the country's ten largest self-reported ethnic or cultural origins were Canadian, English, Irish, Scottish, French, German, Chinese, Italian, Indian, and Ukrainian.

2021: Discovery of Possible Gravesites of Indigenous Children

In 2021, the discovery of possible gravesites of over 200 Indigenous children near a former Canadian Indian residential school brought renewed attention to the cultural genocide against Indigenous peoples.

2021: Ethnic or cultural origins

Respondents in the 2021 Canadian census self-reported over 450 "ethnic or cultural origins".

2021: Canadian census

The 2021 Canadian census enumerated a total population of 36,991,981, an increase of around 5.2 percent over the 2016 figure.

2022: OECD report on education

According to a 2022 report by the OECD, Canada ranks first worldwide in the percentage of adults having tertiary education, with over 56 percent of Canadian adults having attained at least an undergraduate college or university degree.

2022: Increase in Greenhouse Gas Emissions

Between 1990 and 2022, Canada's greenhouse gas emissions increased by 16.5 percent.

2022: Refugee resettlement

In 2022, Canada resettled more than 47,600 refugees.

2022: Military expenditure

In 2022, Canada's military expenditure totalled approximately $26.9 billion, or around 1.2 percent of the country's gross domestic product (GDP).

2022: Per-capita spending on health expenditures

In 2022, Canada's per-capita spending on health expenditures ranked 12th among health-care systems in the OECD.

2022: Supplementary estimates for research and development

In 2022, supplementary estimates put Canada's research and development expenditure at $43.2 billion.

2023: Nobel laureates

As of 2023, Canada has produced 15 Nobel laureates in physics, chemistry, and medicine.

2023: Ninth-largest nominal GDP

As of 2023, Canada has the world's ninth-largest nominal GDP, at approximately US$2.221 trillion.

2023: Signatory to 15 free trade agreements

As of 2023, Canada is a signatory to 15 free trade agreements with 51 different countries.

2023: Corruption Perceptions Index

In 2023, Canada ranked 14th in the Corruption Perceptions Index.

2023: Most commonly reported sport

In 2023, swimming was the most commonly reported sport by over one-third (35 percent) of Canadians.

2024: Global Competitiveness Report

In 2024, Canada ranked 19th in the Global Competitiveness Report.

2024: Healthcare Spending

In 2024, the Canadian Institute for Health Information estimated that healthcare spending reached $372 billion, representing 12.4 percent of Canada's GDP.

February 1, 2025: Trade War with the United States Begins

On February 1, 2025, a trade war involving the United States began after U.S. president Donald Trump imposed tariffs on goods entering the United States.

2025: Canadian Federal Election

In the 2025 Canadian federal election, five parties had representatives elected to Parliament, with the Liberals forming a minority government and the Conservatives becoming the Official Opposition.