Timeline Description: Canada is one of three countries in North America. It borders the Arctic Ocean to the north, the Pacific Ocean to the west, and the Atlantic Ocean to the east. It is the second-largest country in the world.
| Date | Event |
|---|---|
| 1000 | Explorer Leif Erickson arrives in Newfoundland. Norse explorer Leif Erickson arrives in the part of Canada that is now known as Newfoundland. He is believed to be the first European in North America. |
| 1534 | French explorer Jacques Cartier claims Canada for France. Jacques Cartier explores the St. Lawrence region of Canada, claiming the territory for France. He also gives Canada its name, taken from the Iroquois word "kanata," which means "village." |
| 1670 | Hudson's Bay Company is formed. Established by Royal Charter from Great Britain, the fur trading business Hudson's Bay Company is formed. It is now a retail company and is the oldest business in North America. |
| 1783 | American Loyalists arrive Canada. After the United States defeats Great Britain in the Revolutionary War, people who are loyal to Britain flee to Canada. Many Americans still consider themselves British subjects and leave to escape harassment and even possibly death. |
| July 1, 1867 | The Canadian Confederation is formed. The federal Dominion of Canada is created when three British colonies become four provinces. The first provinces in Canada are Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, Ontario, and Quebec. |
| 1917 | The National Hockey League begins play. After the National Hockey Association, ends, the National Hockey League is formed. The NHL included the Boston Bruins, the first team from the U.S., in 1924. Hockey is one of the most popular sports in Canada. |
| 1919 | (Summer 1919)The city of Winnipeg, Manitoba is crippled by a strike. Workers throughout the city go on strike because of frustration with a poor economy and high unemployment. Two people are killed and several others are injured when the Royal Mounted Police attack peaceful protestors. |
| September 1939 | Canada joins World War II. After England declares war on Germany, it is expected that Canada will do the same right away because it is part of the British Empire. Canada does join World War II a week later, but by delaying, it is showing that it believes that it is becoming a country separate from Great Britain. |
| April 25, 1959 | The St. Lawrence Seaway opens. A seaway stretching over 2,500 miles from the Atlantic Ocean to the Great Lakes in Minnesota is used for the first time. The seaway, which is a system of locks and channels that made shipping cargo much easier, is a joint project between the United States and Canada. |
| April 27, 1967 | The World's Fair open in Montreal. Known as Expo 67, the World's Fair begins in Montreal. It was the most successful World's Fair in the 20th century and was also held to remember Canada's 100th anniversary. |
| April 8, 1969 | The Montreal Expos win their first game. The Montreal Expos beat the New York Mets 11-10. It is the first win for the Expos, the first Major League Baseball team outside of the United States. |
| 1982 | Canada breaks away from Great Britain. With the signing of the Constitution Act of 1982, Canada officially separates from Great Britain by taking control of its own constitution. The act says that Canada no longer needs the approval of Great Britain to change its constitution. |
| April 1, 1999 | Nunavut becomes Canada's newest province. The arctic region called Nunavut is made Canada's newest province. It is the largest state or province in North America and the fifth largest in the world. |
| 2000 | The Clarity Bill outlines terms for Quebec if it tries to leave Canada. The Clarity Bill provides the people of Quebec protection from action that will permit Quebec to secede = or leave = Canada to form its own country. The bill says that there must be a clear majority of citizens who want secession in order for Quebec to leave Canada. |
| February 2010 | Canadian athletes set a record for Olympic gold medals. Competing in Vancouver, the host country of Canada sets a record by winning 14 gold medals. The total is more than any country had won before and Canadian athletes won 26 medals in all. |