Quebec
Quebec is the largest Canadian province. At 1.5 million km², its territory accounts for 15.5 per cent of Canada's total area. The province shares borders with Ontario, New Brunswick, and Newfoundland and Labrador.
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June 24, 1636
Sports and Culture
First Saint-Jean-Baptiste Celebrations in New France
The earliest record of Saint-Jean-Baptiste Day celebrations in the colony of New France appears in the Jesuit Relations of 1636. The tradition has its origins in pagan Europe with the lighting of bonfires to mark the summer solstice. With the spread of Christianity in the middle ages, the custom became tied to the feast day of Saint John the Baptist (24 June). Saint-Jean-Baptiste celebrations have endured in French Canada, and the day is now officially known as the Fête nationale du Québec (national holiday of Québec).
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June 22, 1774
People
Quebec Act Passed
The Quebec Act was passed (effective 1 May 1775); it established French civil law, British criminal law, freedom of worship for Roman Catholics and government by appointed council. It extended the boundaries of the province to the Ohio Valley.
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April 01, 1776
People
First Loyalists Arrive
The first United Empire Loyalists — 1,124 refugees from New England — arrived in Halifax, NS. Another 40,000 or so followed them to NS and to Québec. The immigration resulted in the formation of New Brunswick and Upper Canada.
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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.
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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.
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October 01, 1781
People
Loyalist Reverend John Stuart Brings Slaves to Québec
Many Loyalists who settled in Upper Canada saw no conflict between the institution of slavery and their moral beliefs. The Reverend John Stuart of Kingston, the first minister of the Church of England in Upper Canada, recorded in his diary that he brought Black slaves with him from the Mohawk Valley.
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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.
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December 26, 1791
People
Constitutional Act
The Constitutional Act, which created the colonies of Upper and Lower Canada, came into effect. It had been passed 10 June and had received royal assent 19 June. The formal division of the Province of Québec had taken place 21 August.
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January 05, 1805
Communication and Transportation
Quebec Mercury Published
The first edition of the Quebec Mercury newspaper was published.
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November 22, 1806
Communication and Transportation
Le Canadien Published
The Parti canadien newspaper, Le Canadien, was first published in Québec City
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April 11, 1807
People
Hart Elected
Ezekiel Hart was the first Jewish politician to be elected in Québec (Lower Canada at the time), in Trois-Rivières. The session of the Assembly was coming to an end and Hart had to wait until January 1808 to be sworn in. He eschewed the Christian Oath of Office and was denied his seat.
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December 12, 1828
Communication and Transportation
Québec Newspaper Launched
Daniel Tracey launched the bi-weekly newspaper The Irish Vindicator and Canada General Advertiser, later the Vindicator and Canadian Advertiser, in Montreal.
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January 01, 1832
People
Cholera Epidemic Spreads
Grosse Île, near Québec, was opened as a quarantine station during the cholera epidemics and all ships stopped there for inspection. This station was a futile attempt by the government to control the disease that killed up to 10% of the population.
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September 27, 1839
People
Patriotes Banished to Australia
The transport ship Buffalo left Lower Canada carrying 58 Patriotes bound for Australia. The Patriotes were exiled for their involvement in the Lower Canada Rebellion of 1837–38. The rebels were imprisoned at Longbottom Stockade in Sydney, spending their time breaking rocks and collecting oyster shells to make lime. By 1844, all had received pardons. Most returned to Canada.
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June 28, 1845
Disasters
Fire at Saint-Jean (Que)
Fire struck Saint-Jean, Qué, jumping from house to house and destroying 1300 homes. In total, more than 18 000 people were left homeless.
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April 25, 1849
Disasters
Parliament Buildings Burned
The Parliament Buildings in Montréal were burned down in riots protesting Lord Elgin's signing of the Rebellion Losses Bill. The seat of government was removed from Montréal and the Parliament met alternatively in Toronto and Québec City.
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January 27, 1850
Sports and Culture
Birth of Louis-Philippe Hébert
Louis-Philippe Hébert, the principal Québec sculptor of his generation, was born at Ste-Sophie de Mégantic, Qué.
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February 07, 1850
Indigenous Peoples Resources and Environment
Mica Bay Inquiry
The inquiry into the attack at Mica Bay, Quebec began with the testimony of agent John Bonner of the Quebec Mining Company. The Mica Bay Incident occurred in November 1849 when First Nations and Métis people, led by white businessman Allan Macdonell, attacked the company's mining installations in a dispute over mining rights in the area.
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October 11, 1850
Communication and Transportation
Railway to Longueuil Opens
The St Lawrence and Atlantic Railroad was opened from Longueuil to Richmond, Québec.
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June 06, 1853
Disasters
Gavazzi Riots
Riots occurred in Québec against a former Italian priest, Alessandro Gavazzi; another riot in Montréal on June 9 left 10 dead when troops fired on the crowd.
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January 01, 1854
Sports and Culture
Montreal’s First Jewish Cemetery Is Established
Montreal’s first Jewish cemetery — Shearith Israel — was established on Mount Royal. It was followed in 1863 by Shaar Hashomayim.
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January 01, 1857
Indigenous Peoples
Gradual Civilization Act Passed in the Province of Canada
The government attempts to assimilate First Nations men by offering them the right to vote if they voluntarily enfranchise. This means giving up rights, including treaty rights. Only one person elects to do so under this Act. (See also Indigenous Peoples in Canadian Law.)
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June 29, 1864
Disasters
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.
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October 10, 1864
People
Québec Conference
Confederation was debated at the Québec Conference, where the Québec Resolutions were agreed upon, paving the way for Confederation. John A. Macdonald is said to have written 50 of the 72 resolutions.
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July 01, 1867
People
Belleau Appointed Lieutenant-Governor
The Honourable Sir Narcisse-Fortunat Belleau was appointed Québec''s first lieutenant-governor, serving until his death on 11 February 1873.
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July 15, 1867
People
Chauveau Becomes Premier
Pierre-Joseph-Olivier Chauveau, leader of the provincial Conservative Party, became Québec''s first premier.
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September 25, 1871
People
Death of Louis-Joseph Papineau
Politician and defender of French Canada’s national heritage Louis-Joseph Papineau died in Montebello, Québec. Initially a supporter of British government systems, Papineau’s perspective changed, believing that the English merchant class directly opposed French Canadian interests. His increasingly radical approach greatly influenced the actions of the Patriotes in the Rebellion of 1837.
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February 04, 1873
Sports and Culture
Birth of Étienne Desmarteau
Étienne Desmarteau, first Canadian to win an Olympic gold medal, was born at Boucherville, Quebec.
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February 17, 1873
People
Caron Appointed Lieutenant-Governor
The Honourable René-Édouard Caron was appointed Québec''s second lieutenant-governor, serving until his death on 13 December 1876.
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February 27, 1873
People
Ouimet Becomes Premier
Gédéon Ouimet, leader of the provincial Conservative party, became Québec''s second premier.
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September 22, 1874
People
Boucher de Boucherville Becomes Premier
Charles-Eugène Boucher de Boucherville, leader of the provincial Conservative party, became Québec''s third premier.
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February 23, 1875
People
Secret Ballot in Québec
A new electoral law was instated in Québec, enforcing the secret ballot for the first time.
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December 15, 1876
People
Letellier de Saint-Just Appointed Lieutenant-Governor
The Honourable Luc Letellier de Saint-Just was appointed Québec''s third lieutenant-governor, serving until 25 July 1879.
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March 08, 1878
People
Joly De Lotbinière Becomes Premier
Henri-Gustave Joly De Lotbinière, leader of the provincial Liberal party, became Québec''s fourth premier.
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February 09, 1879
Communication and Transportation
North Shore Railway Complete
The North Shore Railway between Montréal and Québec City was completed.
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July 26, 1879
People
Robitaille Appointed Lieutenant-Governor
The Honourable Théodore Robitaille was appointed Québec''s 4th lieutenant-governor, serving until 6 November 1884.
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October 31, 1879
People
Chapleau Becomes Premier
Joseph-Adolphe Chapleau, leader of the provincial Conservative Party, became Québec''s fifth premier.
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July 17, 1880
Sports and Culture
Birth of Mack Sennett
Early Hollywood director, producer and actor Mack Sennett (born Mikall Sinnott) was born in Danville, QC. In 1912, he co-founded the Keystone film company, and in the next few years created there a style of wild and rambunctious comedy that made his name a byword for delirious, uninhibited slapstick.
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July 31, 1882
People
Mousseau Becomes Premier
Joseph-Alfred Mousseau, leader of the provincial Conservative Party, became Québec''s sixth premier.
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October 20, 1884
Communication and Transportation
La Presse Published
The first issue of La Presse newspaper was published in Montréal.
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November 07, 1884
People
Masson Appointed Lieutenant-Governor
The Honourable Louis-François-Rodrigue Masson was appointed Québec''s 5th lieutenant-governor, serving until 24 October 1887.
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January 25, 1887
People
Taillon Becomes Québec's 8th Premier
Louis-Olivier Taillon, leader of the provincial Conservative Party, became Québec''s eighth premier.
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January 29, 1887
People
Mercier Becomes Premier
Honoré Mercier, leader of the Liberal Party, was sworn in as Québec''s ninth premier.
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October 29, 1887
People
Angers Appointed Lieutenant-Governor
The Honourable Auguste-Réal Angers was appointed Québec''s 6th lieutenant-governor, serving until 5 December 1892.
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September 19, 1889
Disasters
Rockslide in Québec
A massive rockslide smashed much of Champlain Street in Québec City, killing 45.
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December 21, 1891
People
Boucher de Boucherville Becomes Premier Again
Charles Eugene Boucher de Boucherville, leader of the Conservative Party, became premier of Québec for the second time.
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December 12, 1892
People
Chapleau Appointed Lieutenant-Governor
The Honourable Joseph-Adolphe Chapleau was appointed Québec''s 7th lieutenant-governor, serving until 29 January 1898.
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December 16, 1892
People
Taillon Becomes Premier
Louis-Olivier Taillon, leader of the Conservative Party, became premier of Québec for the second time.
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May 11, 1896
People
Flynn Becomes Premier
Edmund James Flynn, leader of the Conservative Party, became Québec''s 12th premier.
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May 24, 1897
People
Marchand Becomes Premier
Félix-Gabriel Marchand, leader of the Liberal Party, became Québec''s 13th premier.
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February 01, 1898
People
Jetté Appointed Lieutenant-Governor
The Honourable Louis-Amable Jetté was appointed Québec''s 8th lieutenant-governor, serving until 15 September 1908.
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March 17, 1900
Disasters
Fire at Académie de musique de Québec
The 1600 seat theatre of the Académie de musique de Québec was destroyed by fire.
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April 26, 1900
Disasters
Fire in Hull
Some 15 000 people lost their homes and several died as the worst fire in Canadian history destroyed two-thirds of Hull, Québec.
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October 03, 1900
People
Parent Becomes Premier
Simon-Napoléon Parent, leader of the Liberal Party, became Québec''s 14th premier.
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November 28, 1902
Sports and Culture
First Quebec Symphony Orchestra Concert
The Quebec Symphony Orchestra played its first concert, at Tara Hall on rue Sainte-Anne. Joseph Vézina was the conductor.
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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.
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March 23, 1905
People
Gouin Becomes Premier
Lomer Gouin, leader of the Liberal Party, became Québec''s 15th premier.
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April 23, 1905
People
Death of Gédéon Ouimet
Gédéon Ouimet, premier of Québec from 1873-1874, died at Saint-Hilaire, Québec.
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August 29, 1907
Disasters
Québec Bridge Disaster, 1907
Part of the Québec Bridge, the longest cantilever bridge in the world, collapsed, killing 75 workmen. Blame for the collapse was placed on the American engineer Theodore Cooper and faulty we plates.
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June 12, 1908
Communication and Transportation
Birth of Joseph-Alphonse Ouimet
CBC president Joseph-Alphonse Ouimet, under whose leadership the national television service was established from coast to coast and in both languages, was born at Montréal.
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September 15, 1908
People
Pelletier Appointed Lieutenant-Governor
The Honourable Charles-Alphonse-Pantaléon Pelletier was appointed Québec''s 9th lieutenant-governor, serving until his death on 29 April 1911.
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May 14, 1912
People
Ottawa Transfers Land
The federal government divested itself of responsibility for vast tracks of northern land by granting boundary extensions to Manitoba, Ontario and Québec.
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May 15, 1912
People
Québec Border Extended
The Québec border was extended to incorporate the Ungava district.
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February 12, 1915
People
LeBlanc Appointed Lieutenant-Governor
The Honourable Pierre-Évariste LeBlanc was appointed Québec's 11th lieutenant-governor, serving until his death on 18 October 1918.
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September 08, 1915
People
Birth of Father Benoît Lacroix
Father Benoît Lacroix, a leading religious and intellectual figure in Québec whose career spanned nearly 75 years, was born in Saint-Michel-de-Bellechasse, QC. "Père Lacroix" was a theologian, philosopher, medievalist, journalist and teacher who published some 50 books on science and religion. The popular priest was an Officer of the Order of Canada and the National Order of Québec.
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September 11, 1916
Disasters
Québec Bridge Disaster, 1916
A new centre span of the Québec Bridge fell into the river as it was being hoisted into position, killing 13 men.
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July 05, 1918
Communication and Transportation
Birth of René Lecavalier
Sports announcer René Lecavalier, who called the first hockey game broadcast on television by Radio-Canada, was born at Montréal.
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October 23, 1918
People
Fitzpatrick Appointed Lieutenant-Governor
The Right Honourable Charles Fitzpatrick was appointed Québec''s 12th lieutenant-governor, serving until 31 October 1923.
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December 13, 1918
Communication and Transportation
Birth of Michelle Tisseyre
Mary Jane Michelle Tisseyre (née Ahern), OC, television host, journalist and translator was born in Montréal, QC. The first woman to present a "Grand Journal" newscast for CBC French services (Radio-Canada), Tisseyre also hosted the very first talk show in Canada.
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April 10, 1919
Sports and Culture
Referendum on Alcoholic Drinks
Québec held a referendum on the sale of alcoholic drinks in the province. Over 70 per cent of Quebeckers voted yes to the sale of liquor in the province.
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April 17, 1919
People
Birth of Gilles Lamontagne
Former Québec City mayor and federal Member of Parliament Gilles Lamontagne was born in Montréal. Lamontagne served with the Royal Canadian Air Force during the Second World War and survived two years as a prisoner of war after his plane was shot down over the Netherlands. In addition to his tenure as mayor of Québec City from 1965 to 1977, his distinguished political career included positions as defence minister in Pierre Trudeau’s Liberal government and as lieutenant-governor of Québec. He was named an Officer of the Order of Canada in 1990.
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July 09, 1920
People
Taschereau Becomes Premier
Louis-Alexandre Taschereau, leader of the Liberal Party, became Québec''s 16th premier.
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November 13, 1922
People
Birth of Madeleine Sherwood
Actor Madeleine Sherwood was born in Montréal, Québec. She had a long career in the United States, performing in Broadway shows, plays by Arthur Miller and Tennessee Williams, and the 1960s TV series The Flying Nun. A civil rights activist, she was blacklisted for a time in the 1950s, during the McCarthy era, and was arrested for participating in a Freedom Walk in Alabama in 1963. She returned to Canada later in life.
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October 07, 1923
Sports and Culture
Birth of Jean-Paul Riopelle
Painter Jean-Paul Riopelle, who was an original member of the Automatistes and is the most internationally acclaimed Canadian painter, was born at Montréal.
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October 31, 1923
People
Brodeur Appointed Lieutenant-Governor
The Honourable Louis-Philippe Brodeur was appointed Québec''s 13th lieutenant-governor, serving until his death on 2 January 1924.
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January 10, 1924
People
Pérodeau Appointed Lieutenant-Governor
The Honourable Narcisse Pérodeau was appointed Québec''s 14th lieutenant-governor, serving until 10 January 1929.
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August 31, 1924
Sports and Culture
Cornerstone of Saint Joseph’s Oratory is Laid
Before a crowd of 35,000, the cornerstone of the future Saint Joseph’s Oratory was laid. Located on the northwestern slope of Mount Royal in Montreal, the minor basilica is the tallest church in Canada and one of the largest domed structures in the world. The Oratory is an important landmark and symbol of Montreal and attracts about two million visitors a year.
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January 10, 1929
People
Gouin Appointed Lieutenant-Governor
The Honourable Lomer Gouin was appointed Québec''s 15th lieutenant-governor, serving until his death on 28 March 1929.
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April 04, 1929
People
Carroll Appointed Lieutenant-Governor
The Honourable Henry George Carroll was appointed Québec''s 16th lieutenant-governor, serving until 3 May 1934.
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January 01, 1930
Indigenous Peoples Resources and Environment
Hudson’s Bay Company Beaver Management Program
During the Depression, the HBC saw decreased demand for beaver furs, and realized that to keep the price competitive the number of furs taken in Northern Québec would have to be limited. The company’s main suppliers in the area, the Cree, were also suffering because the beaver had been over-trapped. The company embarked on a conservation program that put the Cree in charge of a sanctuary system, a program that was successful and lasted into the 1950s.
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January 03, 1930
People
Birth of Marcel Dubé
Québec playwright Marcel Dubé, who also wrote for TV and radio, was born in Montréal. In addition to his literary career, Dubé held several distinguished positions related to the promotion of the French language, serving as the first secretary of the Conseil de la langue française from 1977 to 1979.
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August 09, 1930
People
Birth of Jacques Parizeau
Jacques Parizeau, who nearly led Québec to sovereignty in the 1995 referendum as premier and head of the Parti Québécois, was born in Montréal. An economist by training, Parizeau was a key figure in the Quiet Revolution of the 1960s, helping to establish public institutions such as the Québec Pension Plan and the Caisse de dépôt et placement du Québec.
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May 03, 1934
People
Patenaude Appointed Lieutenant-Governor
The Honourable Ésioff-Léon Patenaude was appointed Québec''s 17th lieutenant-governor, serving until 30 December 1939.
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September 21, 1934
People
Birth of Leonard Cohen
Poet, novelist, singer and songwriter Leonard Cohen was born in Westmount, Québec. Cohen was one of the most iconic Canadian artists of the 20th century. A sage, mystic, bohemian and romantic, he built an acclaimed body of literary work and a revered career in pop music.
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June 11, 1936
People
Godbout Becomes Premier
Joseph-Adélard Godbout, leader of the Liberal Party, became Québec''s 17th premier.
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August 12, 1938
People
Birth of Jean-Paul L'Allier
Jean-Paul L'Allier, who served as a Québec's minister of Communications during the October Crisis and later as mayor of Québec City from 1989 to 2005, was born in Hudson, Québec.
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December 30, 1939
People
Fiset Appointed Lieutenant-Governor
The Major General the Honourable Eugène Fiset was appointed Québec''s 18th lieutenant-governor, serving until 3 October 1950.
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April 25, 1940
People
Québec Women Get Vote
Québec women were the last in Canada to earn the rights to vote and run for office in provincial elections.
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January 20, 1941
Sports and Culture
Birth of Pierre Lalonde
Beloved Québec crooner and television personality Pierre Lalonde was born in Montréal. Lalonde began his singing career at age four and started releasing music in the early 1960s. Having mastered English during his studies in the United States as a teen, he achieved success in Canada and across the border, where he performed under the name Peter Martin. In 2011, he was awarded the Québec National Assembly’s Medal of Honour.
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November 08, 1942
People
German Agent Lands
The first German agent landed from a U-boat off New Carlisle, Québec and was promptly arrested by the police.
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January 13, 1943
People
HMCS Ville de Quebec Sinks U-Boat
HMCS Ville de Quebec sank the German submarine U-224 in the western Mediterranean Sea.
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June 29, 1944
Indigenous Peoples People
Birth of Charlie Watt
Inuk leader Charlie Watt, who negotiated the James Bay Agreement, was born at Fort Chimo, Qué.
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August 30, 1944
People
Duplessis Becomes Premier Again
Maurice Le Noblet Duplessis, leader of the Union Nationale, became premier of Québec for the second time.
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January 01, 1949
Indigenous Peoples
First Nations Win Right to Vote Provincially
Except in Nova Scotia and Newfoundland, Status Indians had been barred from voting provincially. Beginning with British Columbia in 1949 and ending with Quebec in 1969, First Nations peoples gradually win the right to vote in provincial elections without losing status or treaty rights.
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September 09, 1949
Disasters
Airliner Sabotaged
Twenty-three people were killed when a Québec Airways DC-3 was sabotaged with a bomb and exploded and crashed near St-Joachim, Québec. J.A. Guay and two accomplices were convicted and hanged for the crime.
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January 26, 1950
Resources and Environment
Record Temperatures in Southern Québec
Unseasonable temperatures across the province of Québec created one of the most erratic fluctuations in the province''s history. Temperatures in the northwestern part of the province hovered near zero while heat records in the 15o C range were set in Montréal, Sherbrooke and Chicoutimi.
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October 03, 1950
People
Fauteux Appointed Lieutenant-Governor
The Honourable Gaspard Fauteux was appointed Québec''s 19th lieutenant-governor, serving until 14 February 1958.
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January 09, 1953
People
Pitre Hanged
Marguerite Pitre, the last woman to be hanged in Canada, was executed at the Bordeaux jail. She was accused of participating in a plot to crash a Québec Airways DC-3 out of l'Ancienne-Lorette (Québec City), which killed 23 people. It was the first plane crash caused by a criminal act in North America.
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June 16, 1955
Sports and Culture
Death of Ozias Leduc
Ozias Leduc, whose paintings of daily life and nature have both a symbolic and spiritual dimension, died at St-Hyacinthe, Qué.
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October 28, 1956
Communication and Transportation
Lévesque's Point de mire
The first episode of René Lévesque's Point de mire aired on Radio-Canada. He quickly became a star journalist, much appreciated by his viewers.
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March 06, 1957
People
Padlock Act Nullified
The Supreme Court of Canada nullified the Québec "Padlock Law" of 1937. The Act was a 1937 law in Québec that allowed police to close, or padlock, for one year any building where "communism or bolshevism" was being promoted.
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August 11, 1957
Disasters
First Civilian Air Disaster
The first major civilian air disaster in Canada occurred during a violent thunderstorm over Issoudun, 40 km southwest of Québec City, when a chartered Maritime Central Airways DC-4 crashed, killing all 79 aboard.
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February 14, 1958
People
Gagnon Appointed Lieutenant-Governor
The Honourable Onésime Gagnon was appointed Québec''s 20th lieutenant-governor, serving until his death on 30 September 1961.
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September 11, 1959
People
Sauvé Becomes Premier
Joseph-Mignault-Paul Sauvé, leader of the Union Nationale, became Québec''s 21st premier.
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January 08, 1960
People
Barrette Becomes Premier
Antonio Barrette, leader of the Union Nationale, became Québec''s 22nd premier.
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September 10, 1960
People
Rassemblement pour l'indépendance nationale Founded
The Rassemblement pour l'indépendance nationale, a left-wing independence movement in Québec, was founded.
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March 24, 1961
Sports and Culture
Parent Commission
The Royal Commission of Inquiry on Education (Parent Commission) was created in Québec. Chaired by Alphonse-Marie Parent, the commission was the impetus for Québec's major school reforms in the 1960s.
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October 11, 1961
People
Comtois Appointed Lieutenant-Governor
The Honourable Paul Comtois was appointed Québec''s 21st lieutenant-governor, serving until his death on 21 February 1966.
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July 06, 1962
Resources and Environment
Société Générale de Financement
The Québec government formed Société générale de financement (SGF) to facilitate industrial development in Québec.
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March 26, 1963
Sports and Culture
Birth of Roch Voisine
Roch Voisine, popular award winning Quebec singer, was born at St Basile, NB.
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April 20, 1963
Disasters
FLQ Bombing
Wilfred O'Neill was killed by a bomb blast at a Montréal army recruiting centre. The bomb was the work of the terrorist group Front de libération du Québec (FLQ).
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November 16, 1963
Resources and Environment
Recycled Paper
Cascades Inc. began producing the first recycled paper in Québec.
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November 29, 1963
Disasters
Airliner Crashes in Québec
A TCA airliner with 111 passengers and a crew of 7 crashed after take-off near Ste-Thérèse-de-Blainville, Qué, killing all 118 persons aboard.
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June 18, 1964
People
Married Women in Québec Gain Legal Capacity
Under Bill 16, Québec women were able to act independently of their husbands, i.e., make decisions without their husband’s approval. This ability to have legal capacity had a huge impact, particularly on contractual transactions. The bill was championed by Marie-Claire Kirkland-Casgrain, Québec’s first female member of the Legislative Assembly.
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October 10, 1964
People
Controversial Visit to Quebec
Until the 1960s, the monarchy was popular in Quebec because the Crown was viewed as a protector of minority rights. However, during the Quiet Revolution of the 1960s, attitudes toward the monarchy changed and the Queen was seen as a symbol of British oppression. After addressing the National Assembly in French, the Queen faced crowds of protesters who turned their backs on her and chanted, “Elizabeth, go home.” The police crackdown on these protests became known as “Truncheon Sunday.”
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February 27, 1965
People
Québec Signs Agreement with France
The first international agreement of Québec was signed with France, beginning periodic clashes with the federal government over the role and presence of Québec in international affairs.
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August 06, 1965
People
City of Laval Charter
The 14 municipalities of Île Jésus merged, creating the new city boundaries of Laval and making it the second largest city in Québec.
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February 22, 1966
People
LaPointe Appointed Lieutenant-Governor
The Honourable Hugues LaPointe was appointed Québec''s 22nd lieutenant-governor, serving until 27 April 1978.
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April 24, 1966
People
Fédération des femmes Convention
The first convention of the Fédération des femmes du Québec opened, with Thérèse Casgrain as president. The group's mission was to gain equal pay for women and an increase in family allowance.
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June 16, 1966
People
Johnson Becomes Premier
Daniel Johnson Sr, leader of the Union Nationale, became Québec''s 24th premier.
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January 01, 1967
Indigenous Peoples
Equal Rights for Indian Women Association Created
Equal Rights for Indian Women (ERIW) was established in Québec. A provincial organization, ERIW was founded by Mohawk women’s rights activist Mary Two-Axe Earley, who fought the loss of Indian status suffered by Indigenous women married to non-Status Indians. ERIW faced strong resistance from male leaders in First Nations communities.
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July 24, 1967
People
De Gaulle Incites Separatists
French president Charles De Gaulle boosted Québec's separatist movement with a speech in Montréal in which he declared "Vive le Québec libre!"
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November 19, 1967
People
Mouvement Souveraineté-Association Formed
René Lévesque formed the Mouvement Souveraineté-Association to promote sovereignty in Québec. Levesque published the organization's manifesto, Option Québec, the following year.
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February 22, 1968
Communication and Transportation
Radio Québec Formed
Radio Québec was created by the Government of Quebec.
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Sports and Culture
Premiere of Les Belles-Sœurs
The Théâtre du Rideau Vert premiered Michel Tremblay's Les Belles-Sœurs, becoming the first play to use Québec joual instead of Parisian French.
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October 02, 1968
People
Bertrand Becomes Premier
Jean-Jacques Bertrand, leader of the Union Nationale, became Québec''s 25th premier.
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August 15, 1969
People
Paul Déjean is Expelled from Haiti
Community leader, secular priest, anti-racism activist and political writer Paul Déjean was expelled from Haiti by the government of dictator François Duvalier. He eventually settled in Montreal, where he became of the great leaders of the entire Haitian diaspora.
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April 29, 1970
People
Québec Liberals Defeat Union Nationale
Robert Bourassa's Liberals defeated the governing Union Nationale in the Québec provincial election.
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October 06, 1970
People
FLQ Issues Demands
The FLQ began sending ransom notes to radio station CKAC, threatening James Cross' life if their demands were not met. Several Québec newspapers published the FLQ manifesto the same day, though none of the ransom demands were met.
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October 10, 1970
People
Pierre Laporte Kidnapped
Québec labour minister Pierre Laporte was kidnapped in the Montréal suburb of St Hubert by FLQ terrorists.
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November 07, 1970
Communication and Transportation
Pierre-Laporte Bridge Opens
The Pierre- Laporte Bridge, over the St Lawrence River, was opened. The bridge originally was to be named the Frontenac Bridge, but it was changed to honour Laporte, Québec minister of labour and immigration, following his murder during the October Crisis.
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April 05, 1971
Resources and Environment
First CANDU
Gentilly nuclear power plant opened in Québec, the world's first nuclear plant with a reactor fuelled by natural uranium and cooled by ordinary water (the CANDU system).
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May 04, 1971
Disasters
Landslide at Saguenay
During the night, the worst landslide in Québec's history destroyed 40 houses in the small city of Saint-Jean-Vianney, Saguenay. There were 31 deaths and hundreds were left homeless.
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October 27, 1971
Communication and Transportation
La Presse Strike
Strikers forced La Presse to close down. Two days later, the unions defied a municipal ban to organize a huge march in solidarity with the newspaper workers. More than 12 000 people clashed with 100 Montréal policemen.
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May 29, 1972
Resources and Environment
Ban on Fishing off Gaspé
Québec banned fishing off the Gaspé Peninsula due to low fish stocks.
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September 04, 1972
Sports and Culture
Skylight Caper (Montreal Art Heist)
In the early morning hours of 4 September 1972, three armed individuals accessed the Montreal Museum of Fine Arts through a skylight and stole 18 paintings, as well as 39 figurines and pieces of jewelry. The so-called Skylight Caper was the most valuable theft in Canadian history. Valued at $2 million in 1972, the artworks were estimated to be worth $20 million in 1992, although a rare Rembrandt landscape alone was estimated to be worth $20 million in 2017.
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September 17, 1972
Sports and Culture
Cartier-Brébeuf Site Opens
Cartier-Brébeuf National Historical Site opened in Québec City.
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April 28, 1973
Sports and Culture
Construction Begins on Montreal’s Olympic Stadium
Montreal’s Olympic Stadium is the largest covered amphitheatre and sports venue in Quebec and is also the largest stadium in Canada. Construction began in 1973, based on designs from renowned French architect Roger Taillibert.
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January 01, 1974
Indigenous Peoples
Quebec Native Women Inc. Established
Québec Native Women Inc. (QNW) was founded. The bilingual QNW represents Indigenous women from Quebec. Working to achieve equal rights for all Aboriginal women, the QNW promotes issues such as non-violence and justice. It is a member organization of the Native Women’s Association of Canada.
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September 11, 1975
People
First Policewoman (Qué)
Nicole Juteau became the first policewoman in Québec. She worked in Shawinigan, had to learn to drive and became a night-time patrol officer.
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June 20, 1976
Communication and Transportation
Pilots and Air-traffic Strike
Pilots and air-traffic controllers went on strike over bilingualism at Québec airports.
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January 31, 1978
Indigenous Peoples
Northeastern Québec Agreement
The Northeastern Québec Agreement was settled. The Agreement was an amendment to the James Bay and Northern Québec Agreement, incorporating the Naskapi of Northern Québec. The Naskapi received funds, lands and rights equal to those obtained by the Cree and Inuit peoples who had signed the original agreement in 1975.
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April 27, 1978
People
Côté Appointed Lieutenant-Governor
The Honourable Jean-Pierre Côté was appointed Québec''s 23rd lieutenant-governor, serving until 28 March 1984.
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January 01, 1979
People
Maternity Leave in Québec
Québec''s maternity leave policy came into effect. It granted women 18 weeks of unpaid maternity leave, with the guarantee that their jobs would be held for them.
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January 09, 1979
Sports and Culture
NHL Merges with WHA
The NHL Players' Association ratified the merger of the National Hockey League and the World Hockey Association. Former WHA teams Québec, Winnipeg, Edmonton and Hartford joined the NHL.
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July 19, 1979
Indigenous Peoples
“Indian Women’s March” Protests the Indian Act
Twenty-eight women from the Tobique First Nation’s women’s group organized a 160 km walk from the Oka Reserve in Québec to Ottawa. They aimed to bring national attention to gender discrimination in the Indian Act.
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November 01, 1979
People
PQ White Paper
The Parti Québécois released its White Paper on Sovereignty Association, titled Québec-Canada: A New Deal. The paper outlined the party''s plans for an upcoming sovereignty referendum.
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December 31, 1979
Disasters
Fire at Le Club Opemiska
Arsonists set fire to Le Club Opemiska in Chapais, Qué, during a New Year's Eve party, killing 42.
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January 01, 1980
Sports and Culture
Ernest Cormier Dies
Architect and engineer Ernest Cormier, whose main building of the Université de Montréal is recognized as the first modern building in Québec, died at Montréal.
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January 09, 1980
People
"Beige Paper" Released in Québec
Québec''s Liberal Party released its Beige Paper, a proposal outlining constitutional reforms for a renewed federation.
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May 20, 1980
People
Québec Referendum
The first of two Quebec referendums is held. Initiated by the Parti Québécois, it asks Quebec voters whether or not to approve negotiations leading to the province’s sovereignty. The “No” side wins with 60 per cent support. After the failure of two constitutional accords, a second vote in 1995 narrowly approves of the province remaining in Canada, with 50.58 per cent support. In 2006, the federal government recognizes that the Québécois form a “nation” within a united Canada.
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October 09, 1980
People
Duchaîne Report Released
The Duchaîne Report was officially released, concluding that politicians did not provoke or prolong the October Crisis in Québec.
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March 06, 1981
People
Keable Report Released
The Keable Report, commissioned by the government of Québec to look into police wrongdoing following the October Crisis, presented its findings. Jean Keable claimed that there had been undue interference by the police.
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June 12, 1981
People
RCMP Charged in October Crisis
Seventeen present or past members of the RCMP were charged with a total of 44 offences following the Keable Report. The offences were connected to illegal operations conducted after the October Crisis.
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May 23, 1982
People
Brother André is Beatified by Pope John Paul II
A lay brother of the Congregation of the Holy Cross, Brother André was widely regarded as a miracle worker, although he attributed his miracles to Saint Joseph, to whom he was devoted. Saint Joseph's Oratory was built on the site of Brother André’s original chapel. In 1982, Brother André was beatified by Pope John Paul II, who prayed at Brother André’s tomb in the basilica in 1984 during his visit to Montreal. Brother André was canonized in 2010, making him Saint André, the first male Catholic saint born in Canada.
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June 09, 1983
People
Bill 101 Violates Charter
The Québec Court of Appeal ruled that Bill 101, Québec's language law, violated the Charter of Rights and Freedoms.
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January 01, 1984
Resources and Environment
Mingan Archipelago National Park Reserve Established
Mingan Archipelago National Park Reserve was established. The park reserve, which consists of some 40 small limestone islands, extends for 155 km between the communities of Longue-Pointe and Aguanish, QC, along the north shore of the Gulf of St. Lawrence.
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March 28, 1984
People
Lamontagne Appointed Lieutenant-Governor
The Honourable Gilles Lamontagne was appointed Québec''s 24th lieutenant-governor, serving until 9 August 1990.
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May 08, 1984
Disasters
Shooting Spree at the National Assembly
Former soldier Denis Lortie went on a shooting spree at the National Assembly in Québec, killing 3 and injuring 13.
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June 20, 1984
Sports and Culture
National Order of Québec Created
The National Order of Québec was created.
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October 03, 1985
People
Johnson Becomes Premier
Pierre Marc Johnson, leader of the Parti Québécois, became Quebec's 28th premier.
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March 18, 1986
People
Death of Priest and Activist Karl Lévêque
Karl Lévêque was born in Haiti, but did his post-secondary studies in theology and became a Jesuit priest in Quebec. He fought the various forms of discrimination experienced by many members of the Haitian community in Montreal and was one of Montreal’s greatest community activists.
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March 19, 1988
People
Parizeau New PQ Leader
Jacques Parizeau became leader of the Parti Québécois. He told party members that their primary goal must be independence for Québec.
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August 08, 1988
Sports and Culture
Death of Félix Leclerc
Singer-songwriter and poet Félix Leclerc, who was a major influence on the Québec chanson, died at Île d'Orléans, Qué.
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March 13, 1989
Disasters
Solar Storm in Québec
A solar magnetic storm caused a province-wide blackout in Québec that lasted nine hours.
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July 11, 1990
Indigenous Peoples
Oka Standoff
A standoff began at Oka, Québec, when police attempted to storm a barricade erected by the Mohawk to block the expansion of a golf course onto land claimed by the Mohawk. The protesters surrendered to soldiers on September 26, after a 2-month-long siege.
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August 09, 1990
People
Asselin Appointed Lieutenant-Governor
The Honourable Martial Asselin was appointed Québec''s 25th lieutenant-governor, serving until 12 September 1996.
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August 17, 1990
Indigenous Peoples
Canadian Forces Called in at Oka
Québec premier Robert Bourassa asked that the Canadian Forces replace the Sûreté du Québec (SQ) to resolve the Oka Crisis, a standoff by the Mohawk of the Kanesatake Reserve who had set up a blockade to protest the expansion of a golf course across land they claimed. Corporal Marcel Lemay, of the SQ, was killed on July 11 when the SQ stormed the blockade. The standoff ended peaceably 78 days after it began.
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June 20, 1991
People
Bill 150 Passed
Robert Bourassa's government passes Bill 150, also known as an Act respecting the process for determining the political and constitutional future of Québec.
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January 06, 1992
People
Nancy B.
The Québec Superior Court gave paralysed patient Nancy B. the right to be disconnected from a respirator, which would result in her death.
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February 20, 1992
Sports and Culture
Women 's Short-Track Speed Skaters Win Olympic Gold
The women's short-track speed skating relay team consisting of Angela Cutrone, Sylvie Daigle, Nathalie Lambert and Annie Perreault won the Olympic gold medal in the 3,000 m race at Albertville. Initially thought to be a contest between Canada and China, a fall by a Chinese skater in the final qualifying round clinched the competition for the women from Québec, who easily beat their nearest competitor, the US, by 1.23 seconds.
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January 01, 1994
People
Québec Civil Code
The Civil Code of Québec, the legal text defining civil laws in the province, came into effect.
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January 11, 1994
People
Johnson (JR) Becomes Premier
Daniel Johnson Jr, leader of the Liberal Party, became Québec''s 30th premier.
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September 12, 1994
People
PQ Victory in Québec
The Parti Québécois won an overall majority in the Québec legislature. Jacques Parizeau was sworn in as premier on 26 September.
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May 25, 1995
Sports and Culture
Nordiques Sold
The Québec Nordiques were sold to Comsat Corporation for US $75 millions. The new team was moved to Denver, Colorado, and renamed the Avalanche. The new team won the Stanley Cup the following year.
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October 24, 1995
Indigenous Peoples
James Bay Cree Referendum
The James Bay Cree held a referendum to decide if their territory should remain a part of Canada should Québec vote to separate in its own forthcoming referendum. With a voter turnout of 77 per cent, 96.3 per cent voted in favour of staying with Canada. The vote was a political statement to the Government of Québec, asserting sovereignty over traditional Cree lands that had been appropriated without consent in 1898 and 1912, and formalizing opposition to Québec separatism.
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October 30, 1995
People
Second Sovereignty Referendum
Québec held its second sovereignty referendum in 15 years. The "no" side won, with a 50.6 per cent majority, in a vote that saw 93.2 per cent of the population participating. In a public speech a shocked Premier Jacques Parizeau blamed the result on money and ethnic voters, and resigned the next day.
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June 24, 1996
Disasters
Québec City Riot
An estimated 2000 people rioted in Québec City after a rock concert, looting shops and damaging the National Assembly building.
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July 19, 1996
Disasters
Saguenay Flooding
Flooding caused by torrential rains killed 10 people, destroyed 22 488 homes and left thousands homeless in the Saguenay region of Québec. An inquiry later reported that the region's system of dams was poorly maintained.
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July 20, 1996
Disasters
Floods Hit Québec
Devastating floods hit the Charlevoix and Lower North Shore regions of Québec after 277 mm of rain fell in a short time onto already saturated earth. The floods killed 7, left 10 000 homeless and destroyed the area's industry.
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December 14, 1996
Sports and Culture
Death of Gaston Miron
Poet Gaston Miron died at Montreal. The first publication of his collection L'homme rapaillé (1970) was the first of 7 editions, as he refined his craft. The official version was completed just before his death. The internationally acclaimed book was a stepping stone for Québec poetry.
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January 20, 1997
Sports and Culture
Jacques Brault wins Prix Gilles-Corbeil
One of Québec's major poets, Jacques Brault, won the Prix Gilles-Corbeil for his body of work.
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January 30, 1997
People
Thibault Appointed Lieutenant-Governor
The Honourable Lise Thibault was appointed Québec''s 27th lieutenant-governor, serving until 7 June 2007.
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October 01, 1997
People
Referendum Law Struck Down
The Supreme Court of Canada struck down Québec's controversial law limiting spending on referenda.
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October 13, 1997
Disasters
Worst Bus Crash in Canada
A bus crashed into a ravine near Saint-Joseph-de-la-Rive, Québec, killing 43 people, leaving only 5 survivors. It was the worst crash in Canadian history.
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November 18, 1997
Sports and Culture
Constitution Act Amended
Parliament voted to amend the 1982 Constitution Act in order to allow Québec to replace its religion-based school system with one drawn along linguistic lines.
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January 04, 1998
Disasters
Ice Storm Hits East
A severe winter ice storm raged across eastern Canada causing an estimated $2 billion damage and leaving 25 dead and 3 million without electric power.
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February 16, 1998
People
Unilateral Secession Dispute
The Supreme Court of Canada began to hear arguments on whether unilateral secession by Québec would be legal.
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March 02, 1998
People
Daniel Johnson Resigns
Québec Liberal leader Daniel Johnson resigned.
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August 20, 1998
People
Supreme Court Rules on Separation
The Supreme Court of Canada ruled that Québec could not secede from Canada without first negotiating the terms of secession with the federal government and the other provinces.
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March 16, 1999
Sports and Culture
Gratien Gélinas Dies
Gratien Gélinas, whose many activities as actor, director and playwright laid the base for contemporary Québec theatre, died at Montréal.
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May 27, 1999
Communication and Transportation
Julie Payette in Space
Canadian astronaut Julie Payette took part in a space shuttle mission. She and a co-worker repaired faulty parts in the Russian space station Zarya's battery pack.
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September 06, 1999
Communication and Transportation
Death of René Lecavalier
Radio-Canada's voice of hockey René Lecavalier died at Montreal. From 1952 to 1985, he was the commentator for La Soirée du hockey at the Montréal Forum. He bid adieu to his beloved Forum when it closed 11 Mar 11, 1999.
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September 15, 1999
People
Church Refuses to Apologize
Québec's Roman Catholic Church refused to apologize to 3,000 orphans who claimed that they were sexually and physically abused in church-run institutions. The children had been declared mentally ill to qualify for federal subsidies.
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October 06, 1999
People
Federalism Conference
The first international conference on federalism was held in Mont-Tremblant, Qué. More than 600 delegates from 25 nations attended. Lucien Bouchard upstaged the conference with his diatribe against Canadian federalism.
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November 30, 1999
Resources and Environment
Freshwater Protest
BC, Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba and Québec rejected a national accord that would have prohibited the export of fresh water.
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March 15, 2000
People
House Passes Clarity Bill
The House of Commons passed its "clarity bill," setting guidelines for a referendum on secession of Québec and stating that the referendum question must be clearly worded and supported by a clear majority.
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June 30, 2001
People
Duplessis Orphans
Some 1500 Duplessis Orphans received an apology and a fault-free offer of compensation. Each received a lump sum payment of $10 000 and an additional $1000 for each year spent in an asylum, roughly $25 000 per person.
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April 14, 2003
People
Charest Wins Election
Jean Charest, leader of the Québec Liberal party, defeated the Parti Québécois led by Bernard Landry. He was sworn in as premier 29 April.
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March 19, 2004
People
Same-Sex Marriage Legalized
A Court of Appeal ruling legalized same-sex marriage in Québec.
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July 01, 2004
Sports and Culture
Montreal Jazz Festival Named World’s Largest
The Festival International de Jazz de Montréal (FIJM), founded by Alain Simard and André Ménard in 1980, set the Guinness World Record as the world’s largest jazz festival. (See also Music Festivals.)
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September 07, 2004
People
Gomery Commission Begins Hearings
The Gomery Commission, appointed by PM Paul Martin, began public hearings into the misuse of funds during the federal sponsorship program. Justice John Gomery of the Superior Court of Québec was the sole commissioner.
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March 16, 2005
People Sports and Culture
Student Protest in Québec
One of the biggest protests ever, involving 80,000 students, took place in downtown Montréal. At issue was a $103 million cut to bursary funds by the government. As many as 200,000 college and university students from nearly every region went on strike for six weeks.
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March 26, 2005
Communication and Transportation
Death of Gérard Filion
Gérard Filion, the former Le Devoir publisher who played an influential role in Québec's Quiet Revolution and helped redefine French Canadian nationalism, died in Saint-Bruno-de-Montarville, QC.
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November 01, 2005
People
Gomery Commission Released
The Commission of Inquiry into the Sponsorship Program and Advertising Activities, which investigated the misuse of funds by the federal sponsorship program, was released. According to the report, the Québec wing of the federal Liberal Party received illegal kickbacks from individuals involved in the sponsorship program, designed to promote federalism in Québec by advertising at community, cultural, and sporting events in the wake of the 1995 Québec referendum.
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July 23, 2006
Sports and Culture
Death of Jean-Paul Desbiens
Jean-Paul Desbiens, whose pseudonym was Frère Untel, died at Château-Richer, Qué. A Marist Brother, he published Les insolences du Frère Untel(1960), in which he denounced Québec taboos, particularly the education system. His book opened the door to the Quiet Revolution and heralded a new era in Québec.
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March 26, 2007
People
Quebec Liberals Win Election
Jean Charest''s Liberal Party won the provincial election and formed the first minority government in Québec in 130 years. The ADQ unseated the Parti Québécois as the official opposition, and for the first time in 30 years the PQ formed neither the government nor the opposition.
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April 30, 2007
Indigenous Peoples Sports and Culture
Death of Mitiarjuk Nappaaluk
Inuk author Mitiarjuk Nappaaluk died in Kangiqsujuaq, Québec. Nappaaluk is best remembered for her novel Sanaaq, the first novel written in Inuktitut syllabics. Published in 1987, Sanaaq follows the life of a young woman who leads a traditional life in Inuvik (northern Québec) in the 1920s. A French translation was published in 2002, and an English translation in 2014.
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June 07, 2007
People
Duchesne Appointed Lieutenant-Governor
The Honourable Pierre Duchesne was appointed Québec''s 28th lieutenant-governor.
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July 03, 2007
Sports and Culture
Commemorative Fountain in Québec
The Simons family offered the Tourny Fountain to Québec City for the 400th anniversary celebrations. One of 6 fountains made in the second half of the 19th century to grace opposite ends of Allées de Tourny in Bordeaux, France, the fountain was dismantled and reconstructed in Québec City.
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November 21, 2007
Indigenous Peoples People
Ouellet Apology
In an open letter to Québec newspapers, Cardinal Marc Ouellet issued an apology for errors committed by the Roman Catholic Church, asking Quebeckers to forgive the institution for its former attitudes toward anti-Semitism and racism, indifference to First Nations, and discrimination against homosexuals and women.
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December 31, 2007
Sports and Culture
400th Anniversary Celebrations (Que)
An outdoor show outside of Québec City involving more than 400 performers kicked off celebrations of the 400th anniversary of the city's founding.
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December 08, 2008
People
Québec Liberals Win Majority
Jean Charest''s Liberal party won a majority in Québec, making him the first Québec premier since Maurice Duplessis to win three successive mandates in the province.
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June 23, 2010
Disasters
Earthquake Near Ottawa
An earthquake measuring 5.0 on the Richter Scale hit 60 km north of Ottawa, causing tremors that shook central Ontario and part of Québec. Though no lives were lost and only minimal damage occurred, the quake was unique in that it was felt as far away as New York.
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April 30, 2011
Disasters
Flooding of the Montérégie Region of Québec
Major flooding began in the Montérégie region as rapid snowmelt and heavy rains caused water levels to rise in Lake Champlain and the Richelieu River. All bordering municipalities would be affected, with nearly 3000 homes and much arable land flooded. In early May, Premier Jean Charest requested assistance from the Canadian Forces.
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January 20, 2013
Communication and Transportation
Death of Richard Garneau
Richard Garneau, Québec sports journalist and writer, died in Montréal, QC. A veteran sports reporter in Québec, Garneau was best-known for his Olympic coverage, having reported 23 Olympic Games.
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February 05, 2013
Resources and Environment
Small Hydropower Plant Program in Québec Ends
The PQ government under Pauline Marois announced the end of the Small Hydropower Plant Program created by the former Liberal government.
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February 24, 2013
Sports and Culture
Québec films nominated for Oscars
Feature length film Rebel by Kim Nguyen and short Henry by Yan England garnered Oscar nominations for Best Foreign Language Film and Best Short Film, respectively.
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February 24, 2013
Sports and Culture
Opening of the 2013 Higher Education Summit in Québec
Following the large student demonstrations of 2012, the Québec government introduced a two day summit on higher education in Québec to examine key issues such as tuition fees and funding.
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March 06, 2013
Sports and Culture
Mikaël Kingsbury named FIS World Champion in Moguls
Québec freestyle skier Mikaël Kingsbury won the World Championship in Moguls in Voss, Norway.
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March 17, 2013
People
Philippe Couillard elected leader of the Québec Liberal Party
Philippe Couillard was elected leader of the Québec Liberal Party with 58.5 per cent of the vote.
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July 06, 2013
Disasters
Lac-Mégantic Oil Train Explosion
A runaway train carrying crude oil exploded in Lac-Mégantic, Québec, killing at least 47 people. Approximately 2,000 were evacuated after explosions and subsequent fires destroyed the centre of town.
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July 09, 2013
Sports and Culture
Death of Gaétan Soucy
Gaétan Soucy, Québécois author of four novels, including The Little Girl Who Was Too Fond of Matches, which has been translated into 18 languages, died in Montréal, QC.
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April 07, 2014
People
Parti Québécois Defeated
The Québec Liberal Party lead by Philippe Couillard defeated the minority Parti Québécois government in early elections called by Premier Pauline Marois. The péquistes called the election in a bid to win a majority government and pass the Québec Values Charter. The Liberal Party won a majority of seats (70) in the National Assembly, reducing the Parti Québécois to 30. Marois resigned as party leader the night of the election.
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May 13, 2014
Disasters
Charges Laid in Lac-Mégantic Oil Train Explosion
Three employees of the Montreal, Maine and Atlantic Railway were charged with criminal negligence in the 6 July 2013 oil train crash that killed 47 people in the town of Lac-Mégantic, Quebec. An investigation into the disaster determined, among other causes, that the handbrakes on the train were insufficient, causing the train to slide down a sloped length of track, derail and explode in downtown Lac-Mégantic. Following a trial, jurors acquitted the three former employees on 19 January 2018.
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May 24, 2014
Sports and Culture
Xavier Dolan Wins the Jury Prize at the Cannes Film Festival
Xavier Dolan’s Mommy tied with Jean-Luc Godard’s Goodbye to Language for the Jury Prize at the Cannes Film Festival.
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July 03, 2014
Sports and Culture
First Canadian Singles Player at Grand Slam Final
Eugenie Bouchard of Westmount, QC, became the first Canadian women's singles tennis player to reach a Grand Slam final after defeating Romania's Simona Halep at Wimbledon.
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October 06, 2014
Communication and Transportation Sports and Culture
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."
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December 21, 2014
Communication and Transportation
Death of Michelle Tisseyre
Mary Jane Michelle Tisseyre (née Ahern), television host, journalist and translator died in Montréal, QC. After 30 years as a journalist and television host, she embraced a new career as a translator at Les Éditions Pierre Tisseyre. In 1975, she received the Governor General’s Literary Award for the translation of Winter by Morley Callaghan. She was also an Officer of the Order of Canada.
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April 06, 2015
Sports and Culture
Death of Dollard St-Laurent
Former Montréal Canadiens defenceman Dollard St-Laurent died in Belœil, QC, at age 85. The Verdun, QC, native won five Stanley Cups in his time with the Canadiens during the 1950s, and one with the Chicago Blackhawks in 1961.
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June 01, 2015
People
Death of Jacques Parizeau
Jacques Parizeau, who nearly led Québec to sovereignty in the 1995 referendum as premier and head of the Parti Québécois, died at age 84 in Montréal. An economist by training, Parizeau was a key figure in the Quiet Revolution of the 1960s, helping to establish public institutions such as the Québec Pension Plan and the Caisse de dépôt et placement du Québec.
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June 22, 2015
Disasters
More Charges Laid in Lac-Mégantic Oil Train Explosion
The Montreal, Maine and Atlantic Railway and six former employees of the railway were charged under the Railway Safety Act and Fisheries Act for their role in the 6 July 2013 oil train crash that killed 47 people in the town of Lac-Mégantic, Quebec. On 5 February 2018, the Montreal, Maine and Atlantic Railway pleaded guilty to violating the Fisheries Act and was fined $1 million. The six former employees pleaded guilty to violating the Railway Safety Act. Five of the former employees were fined $50,000 each. The sixth former employee received a conditional sentence of six months in prison, to be served in the community.
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August 14, 2015
Sports and Culture
Rivard Sets World Record at Parapan Am Games
Swimmer Aurélie Rivard, of St-Jean-sur-Richelieu, QC, set a world record in the 100-metre freestyle S10 at the Parapan American Games in Toronto, completing the race in 59.17 seconds. In total, Rivard won seven medals at the 2015 Games, six of them gold, and set several additional Americas and Parapan Am records.
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October 22, 2015
People
Duceppe Resigns as Leader of the Bloc Québécois
Gilles Duceppe stepped down as leader of the Bloc Québécois in the wake of the October 2015 federal election. Although the Bloc won 10 seats — more than doubling its count from the 2011 election, in which the party was devastated by the NDP's "orange wave" in Québec — Duceppe lost in his own riding and the party emerged two seats short of official party status in the House of Commons. This was Duceppe's second resignation from the Bloc's leadership after stepping down in 2011 and returning in 2015.
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January 05, 2016
People
Death of Jean-Paul L'Allier
Jean-Paul L'Allier, who served as a Québec's minister of Communications during the October Crisis and later as mayor of Québec City from 1989 to 2005, died in Québec City at age 77.
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January 14, 2016
Sports and Culture
Death of René Angélil
René Angélil, Céline Dion's husband and manager, died in Las Vegas, Nevada after a long battle with cancer. He was 73. Angélil's career in the music business began in the early 1960s as a member of the band Les Baronets, who achieved some success in Québec with their French covers of Beatles songs. Angélil later moved into talent management. In 1981, he discovered Céline Dion, then aged 12, and resolved to make her a star. Over time, the two developed a romantic relationship, and they married in 1994. Angélil won a number of awards over the course of his career and was appointed a Member of the Order of Canada in 2012.
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March 02, 2016
People
Death of Father Benoît Lacroix
Father Benoît Lacroix, a leading religious and intellectual figure in Québec whose career spanned nearly 75 years, died in Montréal at age 100. "Père Lacroix" was a theologian, philosopher, medievalist, journalist and teacher who published some 50 books on science and religion. The popular priest was an Officer of the Order of Canada and the National Order of Québec.
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March 06, 2016
People
Death of D.G. Jones
Poet and translator Douglas Gordon (D.G.) Jones died in North Hatley, Québec, at age 87. A native of Bancroft, Ontario, Jones published influential volumes of poetry, translations and literary criticism from the 1950s into the 21st century, and spent many years teaching at the Université de Sherbrooke. A winner of two Governor General’s Awards and an Officer of the Order of Canada, he is credited with having greatly advanced the art of translation between French and English in Canada.
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March 20, 2016
Sports and Culture
Léa Pool Wins Big at the Gala du cinéma québécois
Québec director Léa Pool's film La passion d'Augustine won six awards at the Gala du cinéma québécois (formerly the Jutra Awards), including Best Film, Best Director, Best Lead Actress and Best Supporting Actress. Pool was the first woman to win Best Film since the awards were founded in 1999.
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March 20, 2016
Sports and Culture
François Dompierre Wins Prix Hommage at the Gala du cinéma québécois
Musician, composer and conductor François Dompierre was honoured with the Prix Hommage at the Gala du cinéma québécois (formerly the Jutra Awards) for his distinguished career composing music for Québec films.
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March 24, 2016
People
Death of Claire Kirkland-Casgrain
Claire Kirkland-Casgrain, the first woman elected to Québec’s National Assembly, died at age 91. Kirkland-Casgrain left her mark on the province’s political history in 1964 by spearheading the passage of Bill 16, which improved the legal status of married women. For more than 12 years, she was the only woman to sit as a member of the National Assembly among some 100 male colleagues. In 1985, she was named a Knight of the National Order of Québec, and in 1992, she was made a Member of the Order of Canada.
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April 07, 2016
People
Death of Marcel Dubé
Québec playwright Marcel Dubé, who also wrote for TV and radio, died in Montréal. In addition to his literary career, Dubé held several distinguished positions related to the promotion of the French language, serving as the first secretary of the Conseil de la langue française from 1977 to 1979.
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April 23, 2016
People
Death of Madeleine Sherwood
Montréal-born actor Madeleine Sherwood died in Saint-Hippolyte, Québec, at age 93. Sherwood had a long career in the United States, performing in Broadway shows, plays by Arthur Miller and Tennessee Williams, and the 1960s TV series The Flying Nun. A civil rights activist, she was blacklisted for a time in the 1950s, during the McCarthy era, and was arrested for participating in a Freedom Walk in Alabama in 1963. She returned to Canada later in life.
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May 02, 2016
People
Pierre Karl Péladeau Steps Down
Citing family reasons, Pierre Karl Péladeau announced his resignation as leader of the Parti Québécois, leader of the official opposition and Member of Québec’s National Assembly for the riding of Saint-Jérôme.
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May 22, 2016
Sports and Culture
Xavier Dolan Wins Grand Prix at Cannes
Montréal-born filmmaker Xavier Dolan received the Cannes Film Festival’s Grand Prix and its Prize of the Ecumenical Jury for his sixth feature film, Juste la fin du monde (It’s Only the End of the World, 2016). It was the first Canadian film to do so since Atom Egoyan’s The Sweet Hereafter (1997). Juste la fin du monde was considered a controversial winner of the Grand Prix, the festival’s second-place award, since it received largely negative reviews from critics.
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June 14, 2016
People
Death of Gilles Lamontagne
Former Québec City mayor and federal Member of Parliament Gilles Lamontagne died in Montréal at age 97. Lamontagne served with the Royal Canadian Air Force during the Second World War and survived two years as a prisoner of war after his plane was shot down over the Netherlands. In addition to his tenure as mayor of Québec City from 1965 to 1977, his distinguished political career included positions as defence minister in Pierre Trudeau’s Liberal government and as lieutenant-governor of Québec. He was named an Officer of the Order of Canada in 1990.
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June 21, 2016
Sports and Culture
Death of Pierre Lalonde
Beloved Québec crooner and television personality Pierre Lalonde died in Montréal at age 75. Lalonde began his singing career at age four and started releasing music in the early 1960s. Having mastered English during his studies in the United States as a teen, he achieved success in Canada and across the border, where he performed under the name Peter Martin. In 2011, he was awarded the Québec National Assembly’s Medal of Honour.
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September 09, 2016
Sports and Culture
Lakatos Wins Gold at Rio Paralympics
Wheelchair racer Brent Lakatos of Montréal, Québec, won gold in the 100 m event at the 2016 Paralympic Summer Games in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. He went on to reach the podium in each of the three additional events in which he competed, earning a silver and two bronze medals.
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September 15, 2016
Sports and Culture
Rivard Wins Fourth Medal at Rio, Sets World Record
Swimmer Aurélie Rivard of Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu, Québec, won her third gold — and fourth medal — of the 2016 Paralympic Summer Games in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Her 400-metre freestyle swim broke the world record with a time of 4:29.96.
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November 07, 2016
People
Death of Leonard Cohen
Poet, novelist, singer and songwriter Leonard Cohen died in Los Angeles, California, at age 82. Born in Westmount, Québec, Cohen was one of the most iconic Canadian artists of the 20th century. A sage, mystic, bohemian and romantic, he built an acclaimed body of literary work and a revered career in pop music.
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December 21, 2016
Indigenous Peoples
Québec Announces Inquiry into Treatment of Indigenous People
After months of public pressure led by Indigenous leaders, Québec premier Philippe Couillard announced that the province would undertake a public inquiry into systemic discrimination toward Indigenous people. Calls for the inquiry grew in the wake of an October 2015 Radio-Canada investigation into the mistreatment and abuse of Indigenous women by police officers in Val-d’Or.
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January 21, 2017
People
Death of Victor Prus
Polish-born architect Victor Prus died in Montréal, Québec, at age 99. Prus immigrated to Canada in 1952, having served with the Polish forces and the Royal Air Force during the Second World War. He went on to have an award-winning career in this country, designing such notable structures as Montréal’s Palais des congrès (Convention Centre), three of the city’s metro stations and the Centaur Theatre.
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January 29, 2017
People
Québec City Mosque Shooting
Six Muslim men were killed and five others critically injured in a shooting rampage at a mosque of the Centre Culturel Islamique in Québec City. Alexandre Bissonnette, 27, was charged with six counts of first-degree murder and five counts of attempted murder. Media reports subsequently described Bissonnette as recently radicalized to far-right political ideologies. (See also Terrorism and Canada.)
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March 15, 2017
People
Death of Laurent Laplante
Journalist Laurent Laplante, who wrote for newspapers such as Le Devoir and Le Soleil, died of pancreatic cancer at the age of 83. (see Newspapers in Canada and Newspapers in Canada: 1900-1990s)
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March 28, 2017
People
Death of Janine Sutto
Prolific Québecoise actor Janine Sutto died in Montréal, Québec, at age 95. An autodidact, she brilliantly personified countless roles in all genres of theatre, radio and television. Sutto pursued her career for more than seven decades and acted in more than 150 productions, including Michel Tremblay’s Les Belles- sœurs and Marcel Dubé’s Florence.
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April 11, 2017
People
Death of Dr. Mark Wainberg
Montreal-born molecular biologist Dr. Mark Wainberg, a renowned HIV/AIDS researcher and activist, died at the age of 71. In 1989, Wainberg discovered that the antiviral drug 3TC slowed the replication of HIV in the body — a breakthrough in the development of antiretroviral therapy.
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June 03, 2017
People
Death of Jacques Beaudry
Internationally renowned conductor Jacques Beaudry, of Sorel, Québec, died at age 92. He made his debut on the CBC in 1955 and went on to conduct major symphonies and operas in North America, Europe and the USSR.
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July 13, 2017
People
Julie Payette Named Governor General Designate
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced that astronaut Julie Payette would become Canada’s 29th governor general, succeeding David Johnston. She was sworn in in the fall of 2017.
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July 27, 2017
People
Death of Gilles Tremblay
Composer and teacher Gilles Tremblay died in Montréal, Québec. Born in Arvida (now part of the city of Saguenay), Tremblay had an accomplished career that earned him, among other honours, the Prix de musique Calixa-Lavallée for the electroacoustic music he wrote for Expo 67’s Québec Pavilion. He was made an Officer of the National Order of Québec in 1991 and an Officer of the Order of Canada in 2012.
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August 11, 2017
People
Death of Daisy Peterson Sweeney
Teacher, pianist and organist Daisy Peterson Sweeney died in Montréal, Québec, at age 97. An accomplished musician in her own right, Daisy Peterson Sweeney is perhaps best known as the older sister, and early teacher, of celebrated jazz pianist Oscar Peterson. She also taught other notable Montréal jazz pianists, including Oliver Jones and Joe Sealey. Sweeney is equally remembered as a leader in Montréal’s Black community.
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September 13, 2017
Indigenous Peoples
Montréal Changes Coat of Arms and Announces Amherst Street Renaming
Montréal mayor Denis Coderre announced the addition of a white pine to the city’s coat of arms to recognize the contributions of Indigenous people over its history. The initiative was tied to the 10th anniversary of the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples. Coderre also announced that Amherst Street — named after British general Jeffrey Amherst — would be renamed. Amherst supported the genocide of Indigenous peoples, including the spreading of epidemics by distributing smallpox-carrying blankets.
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October 02, 2017
People
Julie Payette Becomes Governor General
Astronaut Julie Payette was installed as Canada’s 29th governor general, succeeding David Johnston.
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October 05, 2017
Resources and Environment
Energy East Pipeline Project Cancelled
TransCanada announced that it had cancelled plans to build the Energy East pipeline, which would have carried crude oil from Alberta and Saskatchewan to refineries in Québec and New Brunswick. From there, oil would have been exported to other countries. The company cited changing market conditions and delays in assessments carried out by the National Energy Board as reasons for its decision. The project’s supporters, including premiers Rachel Notley and Brad Wall, expressed disappointment and criticized the federal government’s approach to the review process. Energy East’s opponents, including municipalities in Québec and Indigenous communities along the proposed path of the pipeline, hailed it as a victory.
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November 05, 2017
People
Valérie Plante, 1st woman mayor of Montreal
Voters elected community organizer and city councillor Valérie Plante as Montréal’s first woman mayor.
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June 16, 2019
Law and Politics
Bill 21 is Passed by Quebec National Assembly
Also called An Act respecting the laicity of the State, Bill 21’s purpose was to confirm Quebec’s secular status and to prohibit the wearing of religious symbols by civil service employees in positions of authority and by teachers in the public sector.
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Indigenous Peoples
Joyce Echaquan Livestreams Hospital Staff’s Refusal to Treat Her before She Dies
At a hospital in Joliette, Quebec, Joyce Echaquan, a 37-year-old Atikamekw woman and a mother of seven, died shortly after she livestreamed a nurse and an orderly refusing to tend to her as they made racist, derogatory comments about her. On 5 October, coroner Gehane Kamel reported that hospital staff failed to properly assess the heart palpitations Echaquan was experiencing and instead assumed she was suffering from opioid withdrawal. When Echaquan became distressed and agitated, hospital staff called her “theatrical” and strapped her to a bed. Kamel called the incident an “undeniable” example of systemic racism. A lawyer for Echaquan’s family planned to file a human rights complaint and a civil suit against the hospital.
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August 31, 2021
Resources and Environment
Right Whales Could Be Extinct by 2100, Study Finds
A study published in the journal Oceanography concluded that right whales could be extinct by the end of the 21st century. Since 2015, warming waters had forced the whales into the Gulf of St. Lawrence, where they faced increased danger from shipping routes and fishing gear. The total population of North Atlantic right whales was estimated by the US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration to be 368, including fewer than 100 breeding females.
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January 11, 2022
People
Quebec Announces Plan to Tax Unvaccinated Adults
One day after Quebec’s public health chief resigned, Quebec premier François Legault announced that his government intended to impose a “significant” tax on the roughly 10 per cent of Quebecers who refused to get vaccinated against COVID-19. However, after preparing the bill, Legault announced on 1 February, amid mounting opposition, that the bill would scrapped.
