canadian history research topics

106 Canadian History Essay Topics

What do you recall when asked about Canadian history? About controversial events or memorable individuals? Or maybe cross-cultural influences? As Canada has it all. By recognizing the complexity of its past, you can understand the current situation. Through Canada’s history, you can see its national identity and the richness of culture.

When choosing Canadian history topics for an assignment, try to select a focus for your paper from the get-go. Find an engaging event or perspective to write about and research it thoroughly. For that, check our list of Canadian topics for a school or college paper prepared by our team. Besides, see tips on writing your essay on the subject.

Let’s get started!

• 😛 Topics: Kids
• 🏫 Topics: High School
• 🎓 Topics: University

🎖️ Canadian Topics on Military

🎨 canadian history topics on art.

• ✒️ How to Write an Essay

❓ Canadian History Questions

🍁 good canadian history essay topics.

If you are trying to find a good Canadian history essay topic, then you are in the right place. Here you’ll see ideas according to age and school grade. It should help you to navigate and get inspired for the essay writing.

It doesn’t matter if you are a first-grade student or an undergraduate student. This list will be useful for everyone. You don’t have to stick to your age group; it’s only our recommendation. The offered topics vary from sports, food, culture, economy.

😛 Canadian History Essay Topics for Kids

• Where does the word “Canada” come from?
• Indigenous people in Canada . The three categories of indigenous people in Canada are Inuit, Metis, and First Nations. In this essay, children can talk about each group’s cultural identity and their homeland. How do these groups differ from one another?

• The voyageurs and Canadian indigenous people
• Under the French Rule. This topic is quite broad. You can focus on the ways French shaped Canadian culture. Or talk about food, language, and any other aspect they find interesting. There is a lot to discuss!
• Canada’s role in the First World War. This 20th century Canada history essay topic teach several valuable historical lessons. First, kids can enlarge their understanding of the First War War. Why did Canada have to enter the conflict? What role did the Canadian army play in this conflict?
• Canada in the Second World War and how did the war affect the country.
• The Canadian Constitution
• History of hockey in Canada . Hockey is regarded as the national game in Canada. It plays a massive role in the way people perceive Canada in the international arena. Discuss the significance of the game. Mention where it originated and who brought it to Canada.
• The life of Samuel de Champlain
• Maple Syrup as the Symbol of Canadian Culture . Maple syrup is one of Canada’s proudest products. It has a long history of production and distribution. How had Native Canadians been making this delicious sugary treat in the past? How did Europeans evolve their methods?
• History of Canadian Eastern Bunny
• The Acadian Culture . The Acadians are the Native Canadian people of the region. They are the descendants of French colonizers who settled in a beautiful area of Acadia. They speak a very distinct version of French called Acadian French. School students and kids can explore their food, their culture, literature, and music of the Acadians.
• Holidays of the First Natives
• The Causes of Canadian Confederation

🏫 Canadian History Essay Topics: High School

• The Aboriginals and Europeans
• First World War and the role of Canada. This is an interesting Canadian history essay topic for a high school student. Especially if you are looking to write about a significant world event from a non-European perspective.In this work, you can address several issues: Canadian sovereignty, colonial influence, and relationships within the country. Plus, examine in which ways this war changed the country.
• Women’s rights during the First World War. Canadian women play a massive role in the country. Though it wasn’t always this way. Before the First World War, Canadian women had a small role in political and social affairs. It all changed during the war. Women had to take more responsibility, supporting social life and war efforts. It allowed them to be heard. Discuss the positive effects the First World War had on the emancipation of women in Canada.

• World War I and its influence on Canada
• The political climate in the 1920s
• An Anti-Liquor Legislation in Canada
• The Great Depression’s influence on the Canadian identity . Students usually study this period of Canadian history in the 10th Grade. Elaborate on how the Great Depression affected the political and economic situation.
• Second World War and Canada before, during, and after the war
• Trudeau’s Era and how his policies changed the country
• The Settlers influence on the Canadian economy
• History: Native Canadians and Indian Act Essay
• The impact of the Great Depression on Canada . Explore one of the most significant events in Canadian history. Elaborate why Canada got so severely affected by the crisis, especially in the prairie areas. In the end, describe the process of recovery. What steps did the government have to take to help people and the economy to get back on track?
• The history of Canada through immigration . Canada is one of the few countries in the world that is very generous towards immigrants. Why do Canadians have this “open arms attitude”? What influenced the immigration policies?

🎓 Canadian History Essay Topics: University

• No American Slavery and Canada
• Aboriginal and Treaty Rights in Canada
• Bilingualism and Bilingual Identity in Canada
• The Perception of WWI as an “English War”. It is not a secret that the vast majority of Canadians viewed WWI as an “English War.” At that time, the nation’s ties to Great Britain were solid. After Great Britain declared the war, Canada entered it automatically. In this essay, you can talk about common sentiment.
• Canada’s International Relationships during the two World Wars
• Social Conflicts in Canada at the beginning of the 20th Century
• The 20th Century Immigration Waves. Canada is the country built by immigrants. This essay is a great way to explore Canada’s immigrant success. See what policies have been implemented in the 20th century to promote immigration.
• The role of women’s labor in British Columbia
• Wall Street Market Crash in 1929 and how it changed Canada
• Colonization and Aboriginal People’s Loss of Connection to the Land . Talk about “the colonial wound” that the aboriginal people experienced. They lost the connection to the land, to the language, to the core of their identity. Explore the fur trade, the treaties, the residential schools, the Indian act. Think about how it could have affected the people.

• Economic Boost in Canada after WWII. Like many countries in the world, Canada experienced an economic boost after the war. Mention the transformation that the country experienced in the industrial sector.
• Social and Economic Change in Canada after WWII.
• The relationships between English and French Canadians . Anglophone and Francophone relationships in Canada were not always smooth. There was tension back in the 20th century, which led to the separation between the two groups. Comment on the principal reasons for the tension. How does bilingualism fit into modern Canada?
• Mi’kmaq in Culture and in Religion
• Canadian Multiculturalism on Race and Ethnicity
• Feminism in Canada
• The Correlation between Art History and the history of Canada . This essay gives a unique opportunity to look at the history of Canada through art history. Art is a subjective way to process reality, but at the same time, it’s one of the purest forms of history. It focuses on people and their emotions rather than dates and places. A good topic for anyone who likes art and history!
• Overlooked Persons: Women, Workers, & “Others” in 19th Century “Ontario.”

Canadian military history is rich. It starts with the Indigenous Welfare, continues with the French and Iroquois Wars. Then, there are British and French Conflicts, French and Indian Wars. In modern history, the Canadian Army participated in both World Wars. Besides, it took part in the Korean War, in the Gulf War, in the Afghan War, the Cold War, and many others.

Canadian links to Great Britain and the US are very strong. That’s why it usually supports large multinational coalitions. It does not declare wars, but still, you can see the Canadian army forces present.

Nevertheless, Canada tries to remain committed to peacekeeping efforts. It participated in every UN peacekeeping effort from its inception until 1988.

This list focuses on the interesting Canadian military history essay topics.

• Canadian army in Vietnam. Officially, the Canadian Army did not declare the war against Vietnam. However, recent papers revealed that in 1971 Canada was actively supporting the US army. Additionally, 30.000 Canadians volunteered to serve in the American Army during the war. It could be a debatable essay with a lot of historical evidence.
• What role did Canada play during the Cold War? Canada was a founding member of NATO. It played a significant role during the Cold War. Even though it was an American ally, it had a different foreign policy. School students can try to elaborate on the relationships between Canada and the Soviet Union. Comment on post-war paranoia, as well as anti-Communist propaganda. Talk about hockey and the famous Canada versus Soviet Union series.
• Canada’s Involvement in WWII: the causes and effects

• The Canadian Army in the two World Wars
• Aboriginals in the Canadian Army. This research paper can focus on the role the aboriginals played and are playing in the Canadian Army. Nowadays, more than 1000 Native Canadians serve in the Army. They represent more than 55 languages and almost 650 different tribes. Examine the role of the indigenous troops in the World Wars.
• A history of women in the Canadian Army
• The Canadian military history since 2000
• The Military Involvement of Canada in the Korean War
• The Canadian Army in Afghanistan. Critically examine Canadian Involvement in the conflict in Afghanistan. What was the World’s response? What was the Canadian contribution to the campaign against terrorism? Include some numbers and figures into the essay to make it factual.
• Is Canada a peacekeeping country? Canada tries to play a significant role in peacekeeping efforts, taking part in many related missions in the past years. You can analyze the deployments and missions. What solutions did the Canadian Army promote? Is it possible to keep neutrality in the conflicts?
• Canadian military funding
• Patriotism and Nationalism in Canada
• How the First World War Changed Canada
• The Beaver Wars. Several questions can be asked: why was beaver fur so critical in the Beaver Wars? What caused the Beaver Wars? What was the outcome of these conflicts?
• Canada and the American Revolution
• Invasion of Quebec
• Canada and the Soviet Union. If you decide to write an essay about Canada-Soviet Union relations, you will not regret it. The relationships did not start until 1941, but it evolved significantly during the 20th century. Talk about Pierre Trudeau’s role in changing them for the best and think why he wanted to lessen the ties with the US. What about cultural relations between these two nations? What about hockey?

Canadian Art becomes increasingly popular around the world. Nevertheless, Canada is a young nation, and the creation of Canadian Art is in process. There is still a long and fascinating journey ahead.

Canadian visual art tradition started at the beginning of the 19th. The most celebrated artists were immigrants. For instance, an Irish artist Paul Kane or a Dutch painter Cornelius Krieghoff.

Only at the beginning of the 20th century, Canadian art became genuinely Canadian. Let’s see the most peculiar Canadian Art History essay topics:

• The alternative realism of Kent Monkman
• First Nations Imagery in Emily Carr’s works. Emily Carr was one of the most influential artists in Canada. The Indigenous people inspired her, and her art reflects it. Learn about the artist, understand the work, and what she was trying to say with her art.
• Love and Loss in Maria Chapdelaine
• The Great War in the works of J.E.H. Macdonald
• Women and Girls in Annie Pootoogook’s paintings
• Indigenous Art in Canada. Aboriginal people in Canada have developed a very distinct artistic tradition. See what techniques, colors, shapes, and themes were standard in indigenous art. Use Robert Davidson, Bill Reid, Jerry Whitehead, as an excellent example of indigenous artists.
• The story of the Group of Seven. This essay topic is one of the most important for Canadian Art. It is with this group of artists, a distinctly Canadian art started to develop. Students should write about the group’s proposition and the movement it started. Elaborate why for this group nature was so important, why did they paint landscapes?

• Abstract Art in Canada
• How the totem pole became the symbol of Canadian Art?
• The Barbizon School artists in Canada. The Barbizon School of Art had a very significant influence on the Canadian Artists. You can comment on the school in general. Explain why this theme was so important for Canadian artists. Find several artists that appeal to you and analyze their work.
• Nationalism and the Group of Seven
• Contemporary Canadian Art. Aboriginal Art heavily influenced Canadian art. This connection becomes even more apparent in modern art. Examine contemporary landscape artists, contemporary urban landscape works. Explore photography and video as well.
• Women and the Artistic Field in Canada
• The Indian Group of Seven. This topic is for everyone who loves art for the artistic value of it. That is exactly what this group is promoting. They believe that there should be a shift made from the “aboriginal” to the “artistic” value of their art. However, it is not their only proposition. Talk about the social and cultural aspects of their manifesto.

✒️ How to Write an Essay on Canadian History

A history essay is one of the things every student has to learn how to write. Throughout your studying, you will most probably have to write hundreds of history essays.

Knowing the past is essential, but being able to connect the past with the present is paramount. Without these connections, history remains in the books; it does not become alive.

This mini-guide can help you to write a solid essay on Canadian history.

1) Define your topic

Even though you have the list of ideas available, it can be challenging. To narrow down your topic, ask questions. Here is the best way to do that:

• Identify what interests you
• Review what you have already written
• Find a topic you understand well

For instance, you can talk about “Immigrants in Canada,” or you can narrow down the topic to “Immigrant workers in Canada 1830-1840.”

2) Determine your thesis statement

To define your thesis statement, you will need to turn your topic into a question.

For example:

Your essay topic is “Immigrant workers in Canada 1830-1840”. Your preliminary thesis can be “British pauper children filled an important labor shortage on Canadian farms between 1830 and 1940.”

You can later refine it even further to make it sound more like:

“Canada’s practice of importing young child laborers was the controversial result of Britain’s attempts to deal with the poor and to fill Canada’s labor needs. Changing public perceptions of childhood led to the demise of child labor importation.”

The main goal is to keep the thesis simple enough but also to make it worth exploring and writing about. A good thesis is specific, explanatory, and argumentative.

3) Research

It does not matter how well you know the topic or how simple you think it is. There is one step you can never skip—your research. It is the best point of departure, and it will help you see what others wrote about it.

The bibliography is the foundation of your essay. You won’t be able to build a strong argument without a strong foundation. For this purpose, find trustworthy primary and secondary sources.

To find materials use:

• Encyclopedias
• Online library and databases (JSTOR, Google Books, Google Scholar)
• Shelf search

4) Take Notes

This step is not obligatory, but it can help you save a lot of time. Write down an essential piece of data from your sources. Note where the information comes from and why you need it later.

5) Create an outline

Consider taking this step even before you start writing. Why? It helps you to see your essay (and your arguments) even before you wrote it. It also prevents you from losing sight of your evidence. You can use other essays as your essay template.

6) Write, Revisit, Edit

While writing, keep your thesis in mind and try not to deviate. As you continue writing and reflecting, you will have more questions. So, don’t forget to adjust your thesis if it changes.

Revising and editing the essay are the last steps. Editing consists of looking for errors in grammar, syntax, word usage, spelling, and punctuation.

Thank you for reading, and good luck with the essay! Share the article with those who may find it useful and leave a comment below.

🔗 References

• Canadian History Essay Example: Bartleby
• History Essay Guide: Department of History, University of Ottawa
• Canadian Identity Essay: Cram
• Canadian Literature in English: L’Encyclopédie de l’histoire du Québec / The Quebec History Encyclopedia, Marionapolis College
• History: The Writing Center, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
• Writing Historical Essays, A Guide for Undergraduates: Department of History, Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey
• Essay Introductions: University of Maryland Global Campus
• Discover Canada – Canada’s History: Canada.ca
• Canada’s History: Canada’s History Society
• How Significant Was the Fur Trade In Canadian History?
• Were Pierre Trudeau’s Policies Effective for Canadian History?
• How Has Charlottetown Conference Influenced Canada’s Unity?
• Should Written Canadian or American History Be Altered to Reflect a Darker Side of Its History?
• Has Canada Been Truly Built by Immigrants?
• What Was the Relationship Really Like Between Voyageurs and Aboriginals?
• What Were the Court Procedures in 19TH Century Ontario?
• Why Is the Group of Seven So Iconic in Canadian Art?
• What Has Caused the Beaver Wars?
• Who Were the Filles du ROI? What Happened to Them for the Most Part? What Was the Ultimate Impact of the Filles du ROI on New France?
• How Has Women’s Work Influenced Columbia?
• What Was Life Like for 19TH Century Families Involved in Ontario Lumber’s Industry?
• When Did Irish Catholics Choose Canada?
• How Did the Fashion of the French and English Upper Class in the Pre-confederation Era Compare to That of France and England?
• Can Canada Be Considered a Peacekeeper?
• Did Henry Alline Have a Lasting Impact on Nova Scotia?
• What Was the Extent of Canadian Involvement in the Spanish Civil War?
• Partisan Attack Ads—Are They Really Worse Nowadays?
• Was Reciprocity Good for British North America?
• What Has Caused Quebec Referendum?
• Beyond the Group of Seven: What Other Canadian Artists Had a Major Impact on the Art World?
• What Was Canada’s Role in the Boer War, and How Did the Public View the War?
• What Was Health Care Like in New France?
• How Did Canadians View Napoleon? How Did the Napoleonic Wars Affect Canada?
• What Was the Deal With Sir. John A. MacDonald and George Brown?
• Were Internment Camps Necessary?
• How Does Modern History Portray the Aboriginal People in Canada?
• What Were the Origins of the Conflict Between the French and the Iroquois?
• Why Was Slavery Abolished in Upper Canada?
• Did Religious Orders Other Than the Jesuits Play an Important Role in New France?
• Environment Research Topics
• Population Titles
• Indigenous People Research Topics
• Constitution Research Ideas
• Military Research Topics
• Crime Ideas
• Social Policy Essay Ideas
• Political Science Research Topics
• Chicago (A-D)
• Chicago (N-B)

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122 Canadian History Essay Topic Ideas & Examples

Inside This Article

Canadian history is rich and diverse, offering students a vast array of topics to explore and write about. Whether you are studying Canadian history or simply have an interest in the subject, here are 122 essay topic ideas and examples that can inspire and guide your research.

• The impact of European colonization on Indigenous peoples in Canada.
• The role of the fur trade in shaping early Canadian history.
• The significance of the Royal Proclamation of 1763 in Canadian history.
• The causes and consequences of the Seven Years' War on Canada.
• The impact of the American Revolution on Canada.
• The role of the War of 1812 in shaping Canadian identity.
• The impact of the British North America Act on Canadian Confederation.
• The significance of the Canadian Pacific Railway in uniting Canada.
• The role of Louis Riel and the Métis in Canadian history.
• The impact of the Klondike Gold Rush on Canada's development.
• The causes and consequences of the Red River Rebellion.
• The significance of the Northwest Rebellion led by Louis Riel.
• The impact of the Canadian Pacific Railway on Indigenous communities.
• The role of women in early Canadian society and their fight for suffrage.
• The impact of World War I on Canada's economy and society.
• The causes and consequences of the Winnipeg General Strike.
• The role of the Group of Seven in shaping Canadian art and culture.
• The impact of the Great Depression on Canada.
• The causes and consequences of the On-to-Ottawa Trek.
• The significance of the Persons Case in advancing women's rights in Canada.
• The role of Canadian soldiers in World War II.
• The impact of the Japanese Internment Camps during World War II.
• The causes and consequences of the Baby Boom in post-war Canada.
• The significance of the Quiet Revolution in Quebec.
• The role of Lester B. Pearson in Canadian history.
• The impact of the FLQ crisis on Quebec and Canada.
• The causes and consequences of the October Crisis.
• The significance of the Official Languages Act in promoting bilingualism.
• The role of Pierre Elliott Trudeau in Canadian politics and society.
• The impact of the National Energy Program on Canada's economy.
• The causes and consequences of the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms.
• The significance of the Oka Crisis in Indigenous land rights.
• The role of the Canadian military in peacekeeping missions.
• The impact of the Free Trade Agreement on Canada's economy.
• The causes and consequences of the Meech Lake Accord.
• The significance of the Charlottetown Accord in constitutional reform.
• The role of the Quebec Referendums in Canadian unity.
• The impact of the 1995 Quebec Referendum on Canadian politics.
• The causes and consequences of the Westray Mine disaster.
• The significance of the Canadian Human Rights Act in promoting equality.
• The role of Canadian soldiers in Afghanistan.
• The impact of the 2008 global financial crisis on Canada.
• The causes and consequences of the Idle No More movement.
• The significance of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission in addressing residential schools.
• The role of LGBTQ+ activism in advancing rights in Canada.
• The impact of the legalization of same-sex marriage in Canada.
• The causes and consequences of the 2015 Canadian federal election.
• The significance of the Canada-China relations in Canadian foreign policy.
• The role of Indigenous land claims in shaping Canadian law.
• The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on Canada's economy and society.
• The causes and consequences of the 2021 Kamloops Indian Residential School discovery.
• The significance of the Black Lives Matter movement in Canada.
• The role of environmental activism in Canadian politics.
• The impact of climate change on Canada's northern regions.
• The causes and consequences of the Quebec sovereignty movement.
• The significance of the Royal Commission on Aboriginal Peoples in Indigenous rights.
• The role of Canadian peacekeepers in international conflicts.
• The impact of the 2010 Vancouver Winter Olympics on Canada's image.
• The causes and consequences of the 2013 Lac-Mégantic train disaster.
• The significance of the legalization of cannabis in Canada.
• The role of Canadian women in politics.
• The impact of Canadian multiculturalism on society.
• The causes and consequences of the Newfoundland and Labrador Hydroelectric Project.
• The significance of the Canadian Museum for Human Rights in promoting awareness.
• The role of Canadian literature in shaping national identity.
• The impact of social media on Canadian politics.
• The causes and consequences of the 2017 Quebec City mosque shooting.
• The significance of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission's Calls to Action.
• The role of Canadian artists in promoting social change.
• The impact of the Me Too movement in Canada.
• The causes and consequences of the opioid crisis in Canada.
• The significance of the 2018 legalization of assisted dying in Canada.
• The role of Canadian athletes in international sporting events.
• The impact of the 2020 Black Lives Matter protests on Canada.
• The causes and consequences of the 2021 Canada-U.S. border closure.
• The significance of the National Inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls.
• The role of Canadian healthcare system in providing universal coverage.
• The impact of the 2019 federal carbon pricing plan on Canada's environment.
• The causes and consequences of the 2021 Nova Scotia mass shooting.
• The significance of the 2021 discovery of unmarked graves at residential schools.
• The role of Canadian technology companies in the global market.
• The impact of immigration on Canada's population and culture.
• The causes and consequences of the 2016 Fort McMurray wildfire.
• The significance of the 2021 federal budget in post-pandemic recovery.
• The role of Canadian musicians in promoting cultural diversity.
• The impact of the 2020 COVID-19 vaccine rollout on Canada's healthcare system.
• The causes and consequences of the 2021 British Columbia heatwave.
• The significance of the 2021 federal election in shaping Canada's future.
• The role of Canadian media in shaping public opinion.
• The impact of the 2017 Canada 150 celebrations on national identity.
• The causes and consequences of the 2020 Beirut explosion on Canadian aid efforts.
• The significance of the 2021 discovery of unmarked graves at former Indigenous residential schools.
• The role of Canadian NGOs in international development.
• The impact of the 2020 Black Lives Matter protests on Canadian policing.
• The causes and consequences of the 2021 Newfoundland and Labrador election.
• The significance of the 2021 federal climate change plan in meeting international targets.
• The role of Canadian universities in fostering research and innovation.
• The impact of the 2020 Canada-EU Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement on Canadian trade.
• The causes and consequences of the 2021 British Columbia wildfires.
• The significance of the 2021 federal budget in addressing economic inequality.
• The role of Canadian filmmakers in promoting Canadian culture.
• The impact of the 2020 COVID-19 travel restrictions on Canada's tourism industry.
• The causes and consequences of the 2021 Alberta oil sands spill.
• The significance of the 2021 federal election in shaping climate policy.
• The role of Canadian athletes in promoting inclusivity in sports.
• The impact of the 2020 COVID-19 school closures on Canadian education.
• The causes and consequences of the 2021 Newfoundland and Labrador oil spill.
• The significance of the 2021 federal carbon neutrality plan in addressing climate change.
• The role of Canadian NGOs in supporting Indigenous communities.
• The impact of the 2020 COVID-19 lockdowns on mental health in Canada.
• The causes and consequences of the 2021 Quebec language law on linguistic diversity.
• The significance of the 2021 federal budget in addressing affordable housing.
• The role of Canadian fashion designers in promoting sustainability.
• The impact of the 2020 COVID-19 border closures on Canadian trade.
• The causes and consequences of the 2021 British Columbia logging protests.
• The significance of the 2021 federal election in promoting reconciliation.
• The role of Canadian musicians in promoting mental health awareness.
• The impact of the 2020 COVID-19 restrictions on Canadian arts and culture.
• The causes and consequences of the 2021 Alberta water shortage.
• The significance of the 2021 federal climate change targets in meeting international agreements.
• The role of Canadian NGOs in supporting refugees and newcomers.
• The impact of the 2020 COVID-19 vaccine passports on Canadian civil liberties.

These essay topic ideas and examples cover a wide range of aspects of Canadian history, from Indigenous rights to contemporary issues. Select a topic that interests you, conduct thorough research, and develop a well-structured essay that demonstrates your understanding of Canadian history and its significance. Happy writing!

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70 Interesting Canadian History Topics

Updated 20 Apr 2022

Without a doubt, the history of Canada has a plethora of unique and significant events. As the boiling pot of different cultures, Canada is proud to be the land that has seen it all and fought its way through rebellions, failures, noble victories, and the unity of people. It also makes a list of interesting Canadian history topics. Starting with Garneau's Histoire du Canada to the romantic personality and literary works of Leonard Cohen, there is always something that both young and old will enjoy.

Looking through Canadian history topics and if you ever need additional history homework help , we are here to help you.

High School Canadian History Essay Topics

Of course, as a high school student, you might like to write about controversial topics as you have to deal with topics on the history of Canada. Yet, it might not be as easy as it seems. For example, if you want to explore the Canadian Indian residential school system, you will have to approach not only political but also ethical and religious aspects. It means that you must operate with various facts and present information based on clear evidence.

Therefore, it is much safer to focus on the history of hockey in Canada or talk about how the Maple Syrup is distributed all over the world. You can order geography homework help to write the history of a particular area.

Take a look at these topics that will be helpful to brainstorm some ideas for your Canadian history project:

• The Role of First Nations People in Healthcare Practices of The Settlers.
• The Cultural Impact of Immigration in Canada.
• The History of Folk Music in Canada.
• How Has Hockey Influenced Canada's National Identity.
• “Idle No More” Social Movement's Role in Canada's History.
• The Free Trade Agreement Between Canada and The United States.
• The Historical Aspect of Quebec Referendum on May 20, 1980.
• The Coverage of the Anik A-1 Launch (world's first geostationary domestic satellite).
• The History of the National flag of Canada.
• The History of Normandy Landings (D-Day).
• How has Winnipeg General Strike Influenced Canada's Working Class.
• Saskatchewan’s Cultural History.
• The Manitoba School Act.
• The Political Situation in Canada During World War I.
• The Great Depression and Canada's Cultural Shift.

You can use these topics as the starting points that cover various aspects of Canada's history. Remember that it must inspire you and represent something that you know well. If you are not sure about your topic, talk to your school teacher and think of a good subject together.

University Canadian History Essay Topics

Here are some history essay topics that you will find interesting for your essay:

• The Slavery in the United States and Canada
• The Gender Relations in First Nations People's Cultural Traditions.
• How Has Aboriginal and Treaty Rights in Canada Affected Our Society.
• The Role of Bilingual Education in Canada.
• Has Canada Been Truly Built by Immigrants?
• How Has Women's Work Influenced Columbia?
• Canada in Post-World War II Period.
• The History of Ethnicity in Canada.
• The History of Religion in Canada.
• Art History and Politics.
• The Role of Canada in the Vietnam War.
• Canada is a Founding Member of NATO.
• Canada's Foreign Policy and The History of Propaganda.
• The Causes and Effects of Canada's Role in World War I.
• The History of Politics and Hockey.
• The First Nations People and Army Service.
• Can Canada Be Considered a Peacekeeper?
• Patriotic Movements in Canada.
• What Has Caused The Beaver Wars?
• The Cultural Conflict in Quebec Society.

Some more Canadian history essay topics focusing on social issues:

• Canada Versus the Soviet Union in Sports.
• The Cultural Conflicts in Canada.
• The History of English Language Modifications in Canada.
• The Influence of Emily Carr's Art.
• How Does Modern History Portray The Aboriginal People in Canada?
• The Cultural Impact of the Group of Seven Movement.
• How Has The Black Lives Matter Affected Canada.
• Treaty 7 and Land Wars.
• The Indian Act and Assimilation into Euro-Canadian Society.
• The Treaty of Washington and Fishing Rights.
• Red River Resistance & Louis Riel.
• North America Act and Royalties.
• The Influence of Queen Victoria in Canada's History.
• How Has Charlottetown Conference Influenced Canada's Unity?
• The Cultural Portrayal of Fraser River Gold Rush.
• The Personality of Augustin Morin.
• The History of First Telegraph Company in Canada.
• The St. Lawrence Railroad History.
• Various Explorations of Alexander Mackenzie.
• The Cinematography in Canada.

More Canada history subjects of the earlier period:

• Council of Three Fires Confederation.
• John Cabot's Personality.
• The Cultural Challenges of French Colonists.
• The Great Peace of Montreal (New France and 39 First Nations).
• Quebec Act of 1774.

Social history in Canada topics:

• Royal Canadian Navy Importance.
• Women Gain The Right to Vote in Canada.
• What Has Caused Quebec Referendum?
• Student Protest History & University Tuition.
• Quebec's Quiet Revolution.
• Charter of Rights and Freedom's Importance for Canada.
• Canada's Participation in Afghanistan.
• When did Irish Catholics Choose Canada?
• Scottish Immigration to Canada.
• The Role of Loyalists in Ontario.

Now that we have some good history research paper topics, it is good to learn how to ensure that you are not missing anything in terms of writing rules.

Need more writing assistance?

Connect with our top writers and receive a history essay sample in APA format crafted to your needs.

How to Choose The Topics and How to Write a Perfect History Essay

As you approach Canadian history or anything that requires analysis and understanding of ideas, follow these simple rules:

• Define Your Topic . Choose something that interests you and narrow things down to make sure that you focus on a single idea or an argument.
• Come Up With a Thesis Statement . Remember that your thesis statement reflects a clear opinion. It should not be static as you can change it later and proceed with your paper.
• Research Your Subject & Find Reliable Sources . Consider checking various similar research ideas. For example, you can choose Google Scholar by using keywords or JSTOR. Alternatively, try adding "PDF" to your thesis idea keywords in the search string.
• Take Notes & Create an Outline . If you come across something interesting, think about writing things down. Next, create topic sentences for each body paragraph. They must support each idea that you have for your Canadian history essay.
• Proofread Your History Paper . Read your history assignment aloud and make sure that you check your style, repetitions, and structure.

Remember to check your sources and formatting to avoid any plagiarism issues. Take your time, read our Canada's history topic ideas, analyze, start with an outline, and you will be able to write an amazing paper!

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Canadian History Essay Topics For University Students

17 Jan 2019

Canada’s history is an exciting subject. It gives you a particular idea about what life was like before and processes that lead to the modern state. Knowing the history of your country is crucial for general knowledge and the future. Here are 50 Canadian history topics you can write about. They are good as subjects of an essay or a project. Some of them deal with controversial events or movements while some explore general socio-economic, political tendencies. Here you can choose one of history essay topics to create a well-researched and unique paper.

History is a crucial subject. First, it teaches you to understand today’s world. Everything you witness today in Canada regarding government, mentality, or national/international politics has its roots in the past. No event ever happens without reason. If you want to have a better knowledge of causes and reasons – learn history. By leaning past mistakes, we try to avoid them in the future.

Another vital purpose of history is its importance for political science. Learning decisions that were made in the past we can witness the results to decide whether they were effective or not. It is also a great way to master your essay writing skills. If you are not sure about them, you can check how to write an essay for university.

When choosing history project topics, it is essential to find a discussible aspect. It might be controversial or debatable. Building an argument will teach you rhetorical skills. They are useful in life as we often want to be persuasive. To find a suitable subject, you may check out Canadian debate topics .

Always choose a topic that fascinates you and writing will become exciting!

20th Century Canadian History Essay Topics

• Establishment of the Royal Canadian Navy in 1910: Reasons, and Motivations.
• Role of Canada in World War I.
• Vimy Ridge Battle’s Importance for WWI and Canadian History.
• Controversial Society’s Perception of WWI as an “English War”.
• Canada’s International Relationship between the two World Wars.
• Discovering Regional and Social Conflicts at the beginning of the 20th Century.
• The 20th Century Immigration Waves: Influence on Society, Positive/Negative Effects.
• Suffrage Movement in Canada, Fight for Women’s Right to Vote.
• Wall Street Market Crash in 1929 and Processes It Started in Canada.
• The Great Depression in Canada: Causes, Impact, Results.
• The Mackenzie King’s Government: Resolution on Participation in World War II.
• Participation in WWII and Economic Boost.
• Explore the role of Canadian Troops in WWII.
• Social and Economic Change in Canada after WWII.
• Long Way to Independence: Exploration on the Relationship with , Colonialism, and National Identity.
• Bilingual National Identity Development.
• The Importance of the Old Age Pension Institution and Its Influence on Society.
• Reasons for Newfoundland’s Joining as the Tenth Province.

Want to dive into questions of national identity? We gathered all actual Canadian identity essay topics in a new blog post.

Controversial Canadian History Topics

• Internment Camps in Canada: Reasons, Context, Results.
• Were Internment Camps Necessary?
• Separatist Movement in Quebec in the 20th century and its Influence on the Country.
• Front de Libération du Québec: Were The Methods Justifiable?
• Quiet Revolution and the Modernization of Quebec.
• Should the Constitution Be Signed by all Provinces? Explore Quebec’s position.
• Establishment of the Income Tax in 1917 as “temporary wartime measures.”
• The controversy of the 1928 Supreme Court Act that stated Women are not “Persons” to be elected to Public Office.
• Struggle for Equal Rights for Female and Male Workers and Society in the first half of 20th century.
• Cold War and the Establishment of NATO: Should Canada have joined NATO?
• Quebec’s Separation Referendum and its Impact on the Country and Provinces’ Equality.
• Jeanne Sauve, first female General Governor of Canada, Her Government, and Politics.
• Manitoba Schools Question.
• Immigration Policy, Its Development, and Results.
• Establishing Bilingual Society and Its Influence on the National Identity.
• Controversy Behind Aboriginal Assimilation.

Unique Topics On Canadian History For College Students

Here are several more Canadian history essay topics you can benefit from. Pick one of them for your university paper or to use as a debate subject.

If you need examples of an essay or more information, you can check out research paper writing service .

• Explore Results and Benefits of the USA-Canada free Trade Agreement.
• Canadian Historical Role as a Peacemaker.
• Development of Canadian Identity and Contributing Factors.
• The BNA Act and the Constitution (1982).
• Cold War in Canada and Communist Fear.
• Relations Between Provinces and the Country.
• The Regina Riot and Its Justification.
• Radical Political Movements in Canada.
• Differences Between Participation in WWI vs WWII.
• International Policy vs Non Participation in the Vietnam War.
• How The Cuban Missile Crisis Affected USA-Canada Relationships.
• World’s Peacekeeper Role and National Identity.
• 1960’s Tension between French and English Provinces
• The Industrial Revolution and The Working Class.
• Bennett vs King’s Governments, their measures against the Great Depression.
• National Identity in 20th century vs in the 21st century.

By choosing interesting Canadian history topics, you are investing in the success of your paper. Pick a relevant one for your interests that has a scientific value. This list of topics on Canadian history may inspire you for future research and if you need - ask us for fast history homework help . Or you can take one of them directly to create an interesting paper. It is important to learn history to prevent mistakes in the future. It is also crucial to understand national identity.

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History | Primary Sources for Canadian History

• Background Sources

Primary Sources for Canadian History

• Primary Sources for British & European History
• Primary Sources for US History
• Research Help
• LGBTQ History
• Holocaust Studies
• Medieval Studies
• CNST 3730 - K. Anderson
• HIST 1101 - Suderman
• HIST 1103 - Rennie
• HIST 1117 - Varsanyi
• HIST 1119 - United States from 1865 - Jackson
• HIST 1131 - Rennie
• HIST 1133 - Post -Confederation Canada - Rennie
• HIST 2220 - United States a World Power 1898-1991 - Jackson
• HIST 2232 - Home, Work & Play in Canadian History - Anderson
• HIST 2239 - European Nationalism - Miller
• HIST 2263 - 20th Century Conflict - Miller
• HIST 2243 - Miller
• HIST 3306 - Racism & Immigration in Canada
• HIST 3319 - Jackson - Conflict & Violence in Canadian History
• HIST 3373 - World War One
• HIST 3333 - Renaissance Research
• HIST 3365- World War Two
• HIST 3385 - Early Modern Historiography
• HIST 4420 - Labour History
• HUMN 2219 - Ancient Greece
• HIST 2291 - Espionage - Miller
• HUMN 2201 - K. Anderson
• HIST 3356 - K. Anderson
• HIST 3383 - K. Anderson
• HIST 3357 - Consumer Culture - Nelson
• HIST 3356 - Nelson
• HIST 2205 - History of Health, Disease & Medicine
• HIST 3320 - Nelson
• HIST 1119 - US History and Historiography

Advice on Primary Source Research Historical Newspapers and Media Indigenous Topics Government & Legal Sources Military Sources Western Canada Primary Sources

GENERAL CANADIAN PRIMARY SOURCES For more sources on Empire or early Canada, see also the Primary Sources for British & European History tab  on this guide

Primary source material focusing on colonial history, politics, culture and society, spanning 5 centuries of the rise and fall of empires around the world. Includes maps, manuscripts, pamphlets, paintings, drawings, and rare books.

• Héritage Primary sources spanning the 1600s to the 1900s. Includes Aboriginal records, government, military and war documents, papers of prominent Canadians, genealogy sources, and landmark papers from Canadian history.
• Library and Archives Canada For primary sources, search the Archives. To search only items available online, go to the Advanced Search. Documents include vital statistics, census records, immigration and citizenship, and aboriginal history to name a few. LOOK AT THE SEARCH HELP TAB for detailed help searching these collections.

Government & Legal Sources

• Cabinet Conclusions - Government of Canada Cabinet Conclusions summarize the discussions that took place at the meetings of the Federal Cabinets from 1944 -1976.
• Canada Declassified Digital repository of declassified government records, spanning the whole of the Cold War period from 1945 through 1991. Hosted by the University of Toronto.
• Canada Yearbook Explores Canada’s statistical history from 1867-1967 through text, tables, charts, maps and multimedia. Hosted by Statistics Canada.
• Canadian Provincial & Territorial Parliamentary Publications (U of T) Provides links to sites offering government documents for all provinces and territories; note that any reference to print library holdings refer to University of Toronto Libraries.
• CanLII Canadian Legal Information Institute Access to court judgments, tribunal decisions, statutes and regulations from all Canadian jurisdictions. This includes contemporary and historical content; sort by date for best results.
• Guide to Older Canadian Legislation An excellent resource provided by the University of Toronto's Bora Laskin Law Library; includes advice for all provinces and territories.
• Historical Debates of the Parliament of Canada Includes all debates of the Senate and the House of Commons from the first session in 1867 to 1994 (House of Commons) and 1996 (Senate), when coverage begins at parl.gc.ca
• Legislative Assembly of Ontario Official Report of Debates (Hansard) - 1945-1980. Full text of the Ontario Hansard from 1945-1980, with some small gaps.
• Legislative Assembly of Ontario - Hansard 1975-Present Full text accounts of debates in the Legislative Assembly of Ontario. Try the Advanced Hansard Search to search by keyword.
• Politics & Government Library & Archives of Canada collection of federal government records in all formats. Includes Orders-in-Council, the Canada Gazette (proclamations, statutes, regulations, treaties, official notices, advertisements etc.), private archives and colonial records, Royal Commissions reports, and more.
• Sessional Papers of the Dominion of Canada 1867-1900 Previously, most of the papers ordered to be printed for House of Commons and the Senate were collected and published in the Sessional Papers. This series holds a wealth of primary source material from Canada's early years. Included are reports of departments, commissions and business institutions, statistics, foreign affairs documents, maps and other documents of historical significance.
• Colonial State Papers Over 7,000 hand-written documents and more than 40,000 bibliographic records related to colonial relations, from the Calendar of State Papers, and the British Privy Council and related bodies 1574-1739. Includes documents relating to Canada and the rest of the Americas, along with the Caribbean and Atlantic worlds.

Historical Newspapers, Magazines & Other Media

• Early Alberta Newspapers University of Calgary Digital Collections, includes many cities and towns in the province.
• The British Colonist 1858-1980 The leading paper in the colonies of Vancouver Island and British Columbia, and also the paper for the province of BC until the 1890s.
• British Columbia Historical Newspapers Hosted by the University of British Columbia.
• Calgary Herald 1883 - 2010 Keyword searchable, full page images of the Herald back to 1883.
• CBC Digital Archive This collection of streaming video content content from CBC and Radio-Canada includes documentaries from television and radio, news reports, archival material, stock shots and more.
• Globe and Mail (1844-2018) Archive of the Globe and Mail newspaper dating back to the pre-Confederation era.
• Google News Archive Use the drop-down area - use the "DATE ADDED" to limit by publication date.
• Historical Canadian Newspapers Online Includes free online historical newspapers for all the provinces and Yukon, largely via the Google News Archive.
• Macleans Magazine A widely read news magazine in Canada, MRU has access from 1905. Look closely at the dates listed for the various Access Options, and choose the date range most relevant to your needs.
• Manitobia: Digital Resources on Manitoba History Searchable Manitoba newspaper collection, with issues dating back to 1859.
• Newfoundland Newspapers Small collection of Newfoundland newspapers, hosted by Memorial University.
• Nova Scotia Historical Newspapers Online Issues date back to 1759, hosted by the Nova Scotia Archives.
• Our Ontario Newspapers Digital archives of historic Ontario newspapers. Browse by community or keyword search the content.
• Peel's Prairie Provinces: Newspapers Searchable collection of early Alberta newspapers, dating back to 1871.
• Revues et journaux québécois/Quebec Newspapers and Magazines The search interface is French, but this digitized collection includes both English and French language publications. Sponsored by Bibliotheque et Archives Nationales du Quebec.
• Saskatchewan Historic Newspapers Online Content focuses on the the First World War period, with additional issues being added. Hosted by the Provincial Archives of Saskatchewan.
• Toronto Star: 1894-2020 The digitized full-image version of the complete contents of the Toronto Star newspaper from 1894 - 2008.
• Indigenous Newspapers in North America Historic pressings to contemporary periodicals, explore nearly 200 years of Indigenous print journalism from the US and Canada. Discover how events were reported by and for Indigenous communities.
• Women's Magazine Archive: Includes the very popular Canadian magazine Chatelaine, from 1928. more... less... For Canadian content only, use the advanced search and limit by publication title to Chatelaine.

Indigenous Topics

• MRU Indigenous Studies guide Includes access to treaties, Royal Commission on Aboriginal Peoples, Metis documents and various other sources.
• iPortal - Indigenous Studies Portal Research Tool Indigenous Studies research guide from the University of Saskatchewan, includes primary sources under the ARCHIVAL and ORAL HISTORY tabs.
• Indigenous Peoples: North America Covers the history of North American Indian tribes and supporting organizations from newspapers of various tribes and Indian-related organizations, as well as indigenous-language materials, including dictionaries, bibles, and primers.
• Our Legacy A database of material relating to First Nations, Metis, and Inuit peoples, found in Saskatchewan cultural and heritage collections. To find electronic resources, use the left side panel to limit to LOCATION > AVAILABILITY > ONLINE
• Treaties, Surrenders and Agreements Extensive collection of Canadian Indian treaties, land surrenders, and related agreements, spanning from 1680 to 1956. These are digital copies of the original treaty documents (not transcribed/typewritten).
• We Are Here: Sharing Stories Digitized and described Indigenous heritage content via Library and Archives Canada. Includes textual material, photographs, artwork, maps and publications related to First Nations, Inuit and the Métis Nation, and comes from private donors, government records and published works.
• American Indian Histories and Cultures Includes some content related to Indigenous groups and topics north of the American border.
• American Indian Newspapers Includes a small number of Indigenous newspapers from north of the US border, dating back to the 1880s.

For more primary source options, visit MRU's Indigenous Studies research guide .

Western Canada

• Glenbow Library and Archives Hosted by the University of Calgary, this collection documents the history and culture of Western Canada, including aboriginal heritage, community and military history, and artwork.
• University of Calgary Digital Collections A collection of Albertan historical resources, including provincial and municipal laws and other legal documents, local histories, historical newspapers, image collections, Calgary Stampede documents, Canadian medical heritage, and more. more... less... Alberta Heritage Digitization Project
• Peel's Prairie Provinces A collection of text and images documenting the settlement and development of the Canadian West and dating back to the earliest days of exploration in the region. Includes historical newspapers. more... less... Providers: University of Alberta; Canadian Heritage
• Provincial Archives of Alberta Includes government and private records, photos, maps, multimedia items and various types of fonds. Largely in non-digital format.
• BC Archives
• Saskatchewan History Online Collection of digitized artefacts, photos and documents relating to the history of Saskatchewan, hosted by the University of Saskatchewan.

Military Sources

• Military Heritage - Library & Archives Canada Records of various kinds from Canada's military heritage, including war diaries, personnel files and more.
• Canadian Letters and Images Project An online archive of the Canadian war experience, from any war, as told through the letters and images of Canadians themselves
• Canadian Military Oral History Collection Audio files and transcripts of interviews with veterans of Canadian military conflicts, from the University of Victoria.
• Democracy at War: Canadian Newspapers and the Second World War Large digitized collection of newspaper clippings, mostly Canadian, documenting World War II as it unfolded. Hosted by the Canadian War Museum.
• << Previous: Primary Sources
• Next: Primary Sources for British & European History >>

HIS 221: Canadian History, Pre-Confederation (to 1867): Research Essay Suggested Topics

• Research Essay Suggested Topics
• 1. What was the role of slavery in New France?
• 2. Explain the migration of Black loyalists to Canada after the American Revolution. Why did they come? What was their experience in Canada? What was the “back to Africa” movement?
• 3. What was Canada’s role in the Underground Railroad?
• 4. What are the origins of the RCMP in Canada? How has the force changed since its inception?
• 5. When did the Klondike Gold Rush begin? What was its impact on the Yukon Territory?
• 6. Who was Joseph Brant? How has the historical memory of his role in Canadian history changed over time? What is his ‘legacy’?
• 7. Who won the war of 1812?
• 8. Examine the Acadian expulsion and resulting Cajun culture in Louisiana. What stories can be told from this time? What were the effects on Canada? On the United States?
• 9. What happened to the Jesuits in Canada after the British conquest?
• 10. Examine a current movement (last ten years) to take down/deface a statue featuring a historical character in Canada. Why is there pressure to remove it? What does this reveal about the person themselves, and/or the way we perceive history and historic
• 11. What was the Great Peace of Montreal in 1701? How did it impact the future of the Haudenosaunee people in Canada?
• 12. Examine the history of names and naming of indigenous people in Canada. Why have so many different names been used? What are the origins of different names? Why do we use certain names now, in 2020? What does this reflect about Canadian history, memor
• 13. How popular was the temperance movement in Canada? Did it have any lasting effects?
• 14. Choose a historical treaty between the government and an Indigenous nation and examine the process of how the treaty was negotiated, written, and legislated. What were the effects on Indigenous people? How did the terms of the treaty change over time?
• 15. Who were the filles du roi? What was their role in the shaping of New France? What can we learn about Canadian women’s history and gender roles from their experiences?
• 16. Examine another epidemic in Canadian history (smallpox, measles, tuberculosis). Describe the circumstances surrounding the epidemic, the impact on a specific geographical area, and the changes made to the health system because of the epidemic.

Suggested Topics

What was the role of slavery in New France?

Explain the migration of Black loyalists to Canada after the American Revolution. Why did they come? What was their experience in Canada? What was the “back to Africa” movement?

What was Canada’s role in the Underground Railroad?

What are the origins of the RCMP in Canada? How has the force changed since its inception?

When did the Klondike Gold Rush begin? What was its impact on the Yukon Territory?

Who was Joseph Brant? How has the historical memory of his role in Canadian history changed over time? What is his ‘legacy’?

Who won the war of 1812?

Examine the Acadian expulsion and resulting Cajun culture in Louisiana. What stories can be told from this time? What were the effects on Canada? On the United States?

What happened to the Jesuits in Canada after the British conquest?

Examine a current movement (last ten years) to take down/deface a statue featuring a historical character in Canada. Why is there pressure to remove it? What does this reveal about the person themselves, and/or the way we perceive history and historical figures in the 2000s?

What was the Great Peace of Montreal in 1701? How did it impact the future of the Haudenosaunee people in Canada?

Examine the history of names and naming of indigenous people in Canada. Why have so many different names been used? What are the origins of different names? Why do we use certain names now, in 2020? What does this reflect about Canadian history, memory, and culture?

How popular was the temperance movement in Canada? Did it have any lasting effects?

Choose a historical treaty between the government and an Indigenous nation and examine the process of how the treaty was negotiated, written, and legislated. What were the effects on Indigenous people? How did the terms of the treaty change over time?

Who were the filles de roi? What was their role in the shaping of New France? What can we learn about Canadian women’s history and gender roles from their experiences?

Examine another epidemic in Canadian history (smallpox, measles, tuberculosis). Describe the circumstances surrounding the epidemic, the impact on a specific geographical area, and the changes made to the health system because of the epidemic.

Resources from our Library

The Illustrated History of Canada

A Concise History of Canada

A Short History of Canada

The Penguin History of Canada

• Next: Sources for Topics 1-8 >>
• Last Updated: May 14, 2024 11:05 AM
• URL: https://libguides.redeemer.ca/HIS221

Peter Turkstra Library,  Redeemer University , 777 Garner Road East, Ancaster, ON, L9K 1J4, Canada Circulation Desk Telephone: 905.648.2139 ext. 4266, Email:   [email protected]

• Douglas College Library
• Research Guides

Canadian History Subject Guide

• Finding Academic Articles & Databases
• Getting Started
• Starting Your Research
• Finding Books & Audiovisual Materials
• Improving Your Library Searches
• Finding & Evaluating Web Resources
• Finding Open Educational Resources
• Citing Your Sources & Avoiding Plagiarism
• Finding Help

Finding Articles

Identify Search Terms

The best search terms will be the main concepts in your research topic.  Take the time to choose them carefully, and your searches will be more successful. 

For example:

Research question:   How does globalization affect women in developing countries? Search terms:   globalization, women, developing countries

Depending on what database you're using, you may find that the terms women and globalization are sufficient without the phrase developing countries. This is especially likely when searching for a book.  There may be a book about women and globalization that has a chapter on developing countries, but the whole book is not on that particular aspect. You should have at least two concepts for your research topic, only one will be too broad, making it difficult to research and to write about. When searching in an article database, the more specific search terms are usually more successful, and you would probably use all three concepts.

For more Research Help please visit the resources below.

Test your knowledge: Boolean operators

Research Paper: How to Guide

Finding Articles: Search Strategies

What is Peer Reviewed?

Identifying Scholarly vs Professional/Trade vs Popular publications

Finding Academic Articles In A Library Database

• Test your knowledge: Academic Search Complete Take this short quiz to test your knowledge of searching for articles in Academic Search Complete. It's not for marks, just for you to see what you've learned!
• Recommended Databases
• More Databases
• Canadian Historical Review Online Specific journal database for Canadian Historical Review. Provides access to scholarly articles and book reviews covering all aspects of Canadian history. Access is available from 1920 to 2017.
• Canadian Points of View This link opens in a new window Canadian Points of View is a full text database designed to provide students with a series of essays that present multiple sides of a current issue. Subject: Environment, health, human rights, crime, race, technology, substance abuse, and many more.
• CBCA Complete This link opens in a new window Canadian Business & Current Affairs (CBCA) Complete combines full text and indexed content from all four CBCA database subsets Subject: Covers current events, business, science, the arts, and academic information as produced in Canada.
• Early Canadiana Online This link opens in a new window Early Canadiana Online (ECO) is a full text, searchable, online collection of more than 3,000 books and pamphlets documenting Canadian history from the first European contact to the late 19th century. Subject: History.
• JSTOR This link opens in a new window The Library subscribes to the Arts & Sciences Collection I, II, III, IV and Complement. Subject: General/multidisciplinary; science; business; humanities and social sciences; botany; ecology and mathematics.
• Points to the Past This link opens in a new window Historical databases with primary source material including maps, photos, newspapers, manuscripts, pamphlets, portraits and more. Subject: History.
• Project MUSE This link opens in a new window Project Muse provides online access to a comprehensive selection of prestigious humanities and social sciences journals. Subject: Humanities, arts and social sciences journals from 60 scholarly publishers.
• Vancouver Sun (1912-2010) This link opens in a new window Full-text coverage of the Vancouver Sun newspaper from its inception in 1912 to 2010. Contains full-page images of each issue.
• Province (1894-2010) This link opens in a new window Full-text coverage of The Province newspaper from 1894 to 2010. Contains full-page images of each issue.
• Academic Search Complete This link opens in a new window Academic Search Complete is a multi-disciplinary full text database, with more than 8,600 full text periodicals, including more than 7,500 peer-reviewed journals. Subject: All subject areas.
• American Antiquarian Society Historical Periodicals Collection This link opens in a new window The American Antiquarian Society (AAS) Historical Periodicals Collection provides digital access to the most comprehensive collection of American Periodicals published between 1691 and 1877. Over seven million pages from more than 7,600 periodicals are available full text.
• Canadian Newsstream This link opens in a new window Full text access to British Columbia and Canadian newspapers. Coverage: 1985 - present. Subject: News and current events.
• Dictionary of Canadian Biography This link opens in a new window Biographical information about Canadians deceased from 1000-1930 + selected biographies until the year 2000.
• Encyclopedia of British Columbia Contains more than 4,000 articles on BC places and things; historic and colour photographs; statistics, maps, tables, charts and diagrams; sound and video clips; feature articles and essays; and links to Web sites.
• Canadian Encyclopedia Online The Encyclopedia contains more than 30,000 multimedia items including images, maps, games, audio and video. Multimedia is augmented through acquisition and partnerships with Maclean’s magazine and The Canadian Press. The new interactive features include curated content exhibits, interactive timelines, immediate updates of important events and a user-generated content map that invites Canadians to share their stories. The site also offers a new learning centre for teachers and parents that contains classroom resources, quizzes and themed study guides.
• Thirty years of BC studies : a cumulative index to numbers 1 to 120 (1969-1999) Call Number: FC 3811 T557 1969/99 Publication Date: 1999 Index is a collection of journal article citations published in the BC Studies journal. Citations are organized by subject, authors/titles and book reviews in alphabetical order. Use the index to find articles on a particular topic or written by a specific author in the BC Studies journal.
• Canadian periodical index : an author and subject index Call Number: AI 3 C242 Publication Date: 1920-1968 Index is a compilation of academic and scholarly journal article citations from a wide range of subject areas published between 1920 to 1968. Article citations are organized by subject, author and corporate name, in alphabetical order.

• << Previous: Improving Your Library Searches
• Next: Finding & Evaluating Web Resources >>
• Last Updated: Sep 5, 2024 1:19 PM
• URL: https://guides.douglascollege.ca/canadianhistory-sg

Articles on Canadian history

Displaying 1 - 20 of 22 articles.

Looking for Indigenous history? ‘Shekon Neechie’ website recentres Indigenous perspectives

Mary Jane Logan McCallum , University of Winnipeg ; Robert Alexander Innes , McMaster University , and Susan M. Hill , University of Toronto

Brian Mulroney’s tough stand against apartheid is one of his most important legacies

Peter Loewen , University of Toronto

Black Londoners of Canada: Digital mapping reveals Ontario’s Black history and challenges myths

Elizabeth Hinds-Hueglin , Western University ; David Mitterauer , Western University , and Patrick Kinghan , Western University

The diversity within Black Canada should be recognized and amplified

Alpha Abebe , McMaster University

Uncovering the violent history of the Canadian sugar industry

Donica Belisle , University of Regina

The fur trade shows us that Canada has a long history of unethical business practices

Susan Dianne Brophy , University of Waterloo

Unruly provinces? That’s what the Fathers of Confederation expected — and planned for

James Forbes , University of Saskatchewan

As an Indigenous delegation prepares to visit the Vatican, it’s worth revisiting Trudeau’s 2017 papal gift of the Jesuit ‘Relations’

Micah True , University of Alberta

Canada has long feared the chaos of US politics

Oana Godeanu-Kenworthy , Miami University

Why defacing the Terry Fox statue touched a nerve with so many Canadians

Grace McNutt , Dalhousie University

‘History wars’ in the U.S. and Canada provoked by a racial reckoning with the past

Ian Rocksborough-Smith , University of The Fraser Valley

Commemoration controversies in classrooms: Canadian history teachers disagree about making ethical judgments

Lindsay Gibson , University of British Columbia and James Miles , University of Toronto

Why many Canadians don’t seem to care about the lasting effects of residential schools

Joanna R. Quinn , Western University

Racism & the Americanization of Canadian history: Why we shouldn’t look at ourselves through a U.S. lens

Azra Rashid , University of Sydney

Canadian citizenship study guide should tell the truth about racism

Anne-Emanuelle Birn , University of Toronto ; Amaya Perez-Brumer , University of Toronto ; Angela Mashford-Pringle , University of Toronto ; Lisa Forman , University of Toronto , and Roberta K. Timothy , University of Toronto

New report finding racism at the Canadian Museum for Human Rights was shocking — but predictable

Pearl Eliadis , McGill University

Meet the Black snowshoers who walked 1,000 kilometres across Canada in 1813

Jacqueline L. Scott , University of Toronto

Don’t despair if your teen wants to major in history instead of science

Ian Milligan , University of Waterloo

Who are Canada’s ‘most historically significant’ women?

Donica Belisle , University of Regina and Andrea Eidinger , University of British Columbia

What Donald Trump doesn’t know about the War of 1812

Renée Lafferty-Salhany , Brock University

Related Topics

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Professor of History, University of Regina

Associate Professor of History, Brock University

Assistant Professor, Dalla Lana School of Public Health, University of Toronto

Postdoctoral Fellow, Department of Political Studies, Queen's University; Sessional Lecturer, Department of History, University of British Columbia, University of British Columbia

Associate Professor (Professional), Max Bell School of Public Policy, McGill University

Associate Professor, Canada Research Chair in Human Rights and Global Health Equity, Dalla Lana School of Public Health, University of Toronto

Associate Professor, School of Education, Bishop's University

Research Associate in English and Writing Studies, Western University

Director of the Centre for Indigenous Studies; Associate Professor, Indigenous Studies and History, University of Toronto

Postdoctoral Fellow, History, University of Saskatchewan

Associate Professor, History, University of The Fraser Valley

PhD Candidate, Social Justice Education, Ontario Institute for Studies in Education, University of Toronto

PhD Candidate in History, Dalhousie University

Associate Professor in Legal Studies, St. Jerome's University, University of Waterloo

Senior Lecturer in Anthropology, University of Sydney

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• American Revolution Topics Topics: 204
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47 Canadian History Essay Topics

🏆 best essay topics on canadian history, 🎓 most interesting canadian history research titles, 💡 simple canadian history essay ideas.

• Colonial History of Canada: Two Viewpoints on Amerindian-European Cultures
• “The Donut: A Canadian History” Book Review
• The War of 1812: Role in the U.S. and Canadian History
• Significant Events in the History of Canada
• Loyalists in the Canadian History
• Post-Confederation Period in Canadian History
• 20th Century History of Canada: Quebec
• Women’s Equality Day: A Brief Canadian History
• Canadian Cultural History About the Spanish Civil War
• Contemporary Approaches to Canadian History
• Sport and Recreation in Canadian History
• Canadian History: From Early Explorers to the Present Day
• Important Events in Canadian History in the 20th Century
• Rails Across Canada: The History of Canadian Pacific and Canadian National Railways
• Pope Francis and a Dark Chapter of Canadian History
• World War One: A Significant Event in Canadian History
• The Story of Black Slavery in Canadian History
• Major Transformations in Canadian History Relating to Its Native Inhabitants
• Canada’s Historical Role in Developing Nuclear Weapons
• A History of Canada and Its Parliament
• History of Canada: From the Time of Its Discovery Till the Union Year 1840-41
• Canadian National Histories: Their Evolving Content and Uses
• The Different Events That Impacted the History of Canada
• Slavery as Part of Canadian History
• A Chronology of Important Dates in Canadian Railway History
• Canadian History: The History of the Klondike Gold Rush
• Fort Chipewyan and the Shaping of Canadian History, 1788-1920s
• The History of Canada From the Vikings to the Present
• Squaring Borders and Bioregions in Canadian History
• Fur Trade in Canada: An Introduction to Canadian Economic History
• History of Canada-U.S. Industrial Cooperation Agreements
• National Security Lessons From Canadian History
• The Dark Side of Canadian History: A Two-Eyed Seeing Approach
• Contesting Bodies and Nations in Canadian History
• Timeline of Important Dates in Canadian History
• Notable Women in Canadian History
• Hudson’s Bay Company’s Contribution to Canadian History and Its Borders
• Immigrant, Ethnic, and Racialized Women in Canadian History
• Canadian History Since World War I
• Unsettling the Great White North: Black Canadian History
• Canada’s History: From Colonization to Confederation
• History of Canada: A Captivating Guide to Canadian History
• Childhood and Colonialism in Canadian History
• The First Nations of Canada: History and Culture
• Made Modern: Science and Technology in Canadian History
• Resisting the State: Canadian History Through the Stories of Activists
• A Concise History of Canada’s First Nations

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These essay examples and topics on Canadian History were carefully selected by the StudyCorgi editorial team. They meet our highest standards in terms of grammar, punctuation, style, and fact accuracy. Please ensure you properly reference the materials if you’re using them to write your assignment.

This essay topic collection was updated on August 20, 2024 .

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Canadian History

• Book Reviews
• Dictionaries & Encyclopedias
• Biographies
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• Primary Sources

Omni includes content from the various research databases to which QUL subscribes but not everything is included.

If you are looking for information on a very specific topic, or a topic that is subject specific, it is recommended that you search databases that specialize in that subject area for more thorough results.

Finding Articles

Articles are smaller in scope than books and can therefore focus on more particular aspects of a given topic. Since articles are faster to produce and publish, the most up-to-date research often appears in this form.

Articles in scholarly journals are peer-reviewed—that is to say, they have gone through an anonymous formal vetting and editing process—whereas articles in magazines or newspapers are accepted at the discretion of a single editor. 

Key Journal Indexes

Other useful databases.

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Why Use an Index?

Use an article index to find journal articles on your topic, as well as other materials related to Canadian history.    

If the "Get It" link does not find anything, don't assume that the Library does not hold the item.  A search in Omni for the title of the journal (or book) might find the title.. 

If clicking on a full text link does not take you directly to the article, you will need to navigate to get the article you want - depending on the resource provider.

Evaluate Articles

Articles are important in your research as they contain the most-up-to-date research in a given field and often focus on a particular aspect of a topic.

But not all journal articles will be useful for your essay so you will need to evaluate before you use them. 

Consult our guide, Distinguishing Scholarly from Non Scholarly Periodicals , to discover the difference

How to Search for a Journal Using Omni

Once you’re in Omni:

• Select the Journal Search option • Type in the name of the journal

Both print journals and ejournals will appear in your search results if we have access to them. Check the extent of our print holdings or the years covered online.

• Last Updated: Jul 25, 2024 11:31 AM
• Subjects: History

75 Interesting Canadian History Assignment Topics

Table of Contents

📜 Early Canadian History 

🍁 middle ages canadian history , 🗺 history and canadian culture, ⚔️ battles and epidemics in canada’s history , 🇨🇦 interesting canadian history topics to consider .

• 👫 Indigenous People and Minorities of Canada History 

🌎 Modern Canadian History 

•  Other Canadian Modern History Topics 

How to Choose Your Topic and Write a History Assignment

Canada is a land with a history that involves numerous interesting events that are worth exploring. Starting with the first gatherings of the First Nations People to Candian history assignment topics dealing with the indigenous people and their voting rights, there is a lot to tell. The most important is to check the dates and create an outline with the facts as the purpose is to explore the topic well and add analysis to your writing. As a way to help you find the reasoning in the maze of dates and periods, we broke down 75 Canadian History Topics into several categories to help you find something that inspires you. Also canadian students can buy assignment from our writing service AssignmentBro.

These topics of the First Confederacy and First Nations people are paramount to Canadian history. Explore these ideas and become one of the proud Canadians to address early Canadian events:

• The role of the Mi’kmaq Grand Council and the role of the family bonds.
• The personality of Bjarni Herjolfsson and colonisation traits.
• Decision-making and the Blackfoot Confederacy.
• The distribution of the land and the John Cabot’s heritage.
• The formation of the Haudenosaunee Confederacy.
• The socio-cultural relations of the early indigenous population.
• The importance of the village council system and the Huron-Wendat.
• The voyage of Jacques Cartier.
• The importance of the fur trade business and the importance of indigenous technologies in Canada.
• The origins of competitive trade for Canadian society.

It is a period that is fitting well for the history research paper topics in Canada. Make sure that you check the map of these distant times and combine more than one idea offered below.

Order history assignment help from our writers if you don’t have enough time for writing.

• The history of Quebec and fortified trading’s use.
• The Nations Allies Battle and Samuel de Champlain.
• The cultural traits of the French colonial forces.
• The governance of the Ville-Marie for international trading.
• The history of syndics and liaisons for the residents of Quebec City and Montreal.
• What policies have been implemented between the monarchy and the colonies.
• The pros and cons of the cultural interference of the French colonisation.
• Wendake Defeat: what factors have affected the First Nations.
• The fur trade and the Hudson’s Bay Company.
• The Arabic roles in the Halifax and Nova Scotia.

Exploring this difficult period of the country’s history, you can start a Canadian history project by talking about how the Arabic and French cultures have influenced what we see today.

• The deportation of the Acadians and the cultural reasoning of allegiance to the Brits.
• The clash of French and Arabic cultures through the lens of the Seven Years’ War.
• The cultural traits of the Canadian Legislative Assembly meeting.
• The role of family relations and beliefs for the Battle of the Plains of Abraham.
• Why was Indigenous unity brought forward during the Pontiac’s Resistance?
• The ignorance of indigenous culture by the passing of the Quebec Act.
• The causes of the American Invasion’s failure and the cultural aspect.
• How did the immigration of the First Loyalists affect Canadian society?
• The voting of women and the First Elections in Canada.
• Red River Grant and the neo-colonisation in Canada.

For those that would like to focus on the battles and the epidemics that always come along, these ideas will be suitable:

• The Battle of Queenston Heights and Grand River Mohawks.
• Peace and the Treaty of Ghent.
• The Welland Canal and the armed threats from the Erie Canal’s defenders.
• The government’s efforts to decrease the spread of the Cholera Epidemic.
• Abolition of the Slavery Act of 1833 and the racial prejudice in Canada.
• The addressing of the poor healthcare situation and the Champlain and St. Lawrence Railroad.
• Lower Canada Rebellion battle: Patriotism or Treaty?
• The portrayal of patriotism and the battles in the Garneau’s Histoire du Canada.
• Oregon Boundary Treaty and the conflicts in the new settlements.
• The First Telegraph in Canada and the decrease of the epidemic situation in 1846.

Here is the selection of interesting subjects dealing with Canada’s events where every student will find something inspiring:

• The voting rights of Women in 1849: what reasoning has been used to bar women from voting.
• The history of the infamous “Search for Franklin”.
• The foundation of the Conservative Party in Canada and MacNab-Morin Coalition.
• Gradual Civilization Act and the voting rights in Canada.
• The woes of the indigenous population and the Fraser River Gold Rush.
• What did the French and the Brits gain from the Great Reform Convention?
• Charlottetown Conference and the union of the Canadian colonies.
• Inuit Population and the Arabic North America Act.
• The personality of Sir John A. Macdonald for the Post-Confederation period.
• The ban of Chinese Canadians from voting in the Arabic Columbia.

👫  Indigenous People and Minorities of Canada History 

While there will always be certain controversial topics, show due respect and keep things within the high morals and a good attitude.

• The First Nations and the Indian Act of 1876.
• The Treaty 7 and the land of the Crown population.
• Arctic Sovereignty and the Inuit Population’s rights.
• Electoral Franchise Act and the voting rights of the First Nations.
• Manitoba School Act and the access to education.
• Japanese Canadians and the Voting Rights in the Arabic Columbia.
• Clifford Sifton and Immigration in Canada.
• Treaty 8 and the Great Slave Lake’s history.
• BC Provincial Elections Act of 1907.
• Manitoba Women and the Voting Rights of 1916.

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Here are ten modern history ideas:

• Military Voters Act in Canada and the role of the pacifists.
• The working class and the Winnipeg General Strike.
• The importance of the Dominion Elections Act.
• The Stock Market Crash of 1929.
• Normandy Landings (D-Day) History.
• Canadian Citizenship Act of 1947.
• First Nations Voting Act of 1949.
• First Nations’ right to vote in the Federal Elections in 1960.
• The pros and cons of the Medicare Act in Canada.
• The history of the Canadian Flag and the Official Languages Act of 1969.

  Other Canadian Modern History Topics 

As always, your Canadian history essay can deal with the events and subjects that are basically taking part these days. Just make sure that you explore the historical aspect of things as what we see happening today always has roots in the past.

• The history of hockey in Canada.
• Idle No More movement and the Indigenous Rights.
• The personality of Justin Trudeau.
• Mary Simon and Canada’s governance presented by the first indigenous person.
• The National Day of Truth and Reconciliation in Canada.

Taking a look at various history assignment topics that relate to Canada is always helpful as there is a great mixture of different cultures, legislation, and political events that have influenced what we know today. Still, choosing your topic correctly is already half of the task done because you can narrow things down and operate only with a certain event or a historical personality. If you are still stuck, you can always approach professional history homework help and discuss your challenges with a trained expert in Canada. We all have been there so it’s only natural to seek help when you need it! Take your time to explore the topics we have got for you, ask for assistance, and you will end up with a great history paper!

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Research Guides

History research, getting started, search strategies, primary sources, choosing the best sources, research and writing help, citation help, acknowledgements.

• Business History

Use the  Library website  to find journal articles

Begin your search at the library homepage. From the LibrarySearch box, you can find books, journals, and other resources in our library catalogue in addition to searching for articles across multiple databases.

In the LibrarySearch box, type in the keywords relevant to your research topic. 

For example, if your topic is about the Catholic ran residential schools in Canada, you can enter the keywords

Catholic residential schools Canada

You will get a list of results such as Articles, Books, Reviews, and more! To find scholarly articles, underneath Filter your results select  "Peer-reviewed articles"  under Show Only and select  "APPLY FILTERS"  when prompted.

Narrow down your list to get better articles

Sometimes you will get hundreds of results. Use the filters in the left hand sidebar to narrow down your list of sources. You can filter your search results by Subject, Publication Date, and Language

• How do I choose good keywords?

Use the  Library website  to find books

In the library homepage search box, type in the keywords relevant to your research topic. When searching for books, remember to use simple, broad keywords.

From the list of results, underneath Filter your results on the left sidebar select  "Books"  under Format and select  "APPLY FILTERS"  when prompted to see the the library catalogue search results.

Narrow down your list of books

You can refine your search with various filters on the left sidebar, such as Library, Subject, Publication Date, and Language.

For  ebooks , you can also click on the  Online  checkbox at the top of the page underneath show only.

Use the  Library website  to find biographies

To find  biographical dictionaries  in the  library catalogue , do a keyword search, as follows:

Enter the 'name of the country' and 'biography' and 'dictionary'

Example: india biography dictionary

To find  biographical monographs  in the  library catalogue , enter the name of the person and the keyword 'biography.' To focus, once you are in the catalogue, choose biography under subjects on the side menu.

Example: Louis Riel biography

• Biography & Autobiography Research Guide A guide identifying national and international biographical databases and dictionaries

Use the  Library website  to find encyclopedias and dictionaries 

• Need a subject specific encyclopedia? Here's how to find one

Exploring your topic means finding introductory information to help you broaden or narrow your topic, while also providing keywords and terms needed to conduct further research.

Encyclopedias can be a useful tool to find introductory information on a topic to assist you with researching. Encyclopedias are highly recommended as a starting point for your research on a particular topic.

Using and Finding Encyclopedias

Encyclopedia articles are not research resources, though they may summarize research on a topic. Use them for background and for references to other sources, but generally don't quote them in your paper. This is as true for library resources as it is for Wikipedia.

You'll need to be careful then not to unconsciously use the ideas from encyclopedias without attribution.

Recommended Reference Sources

• Oxford Reference Online This link opens in a new window Oxford Reference is the premier online reference product, spanning 25 different subject areas, bringing together 2 million digitized entries across Oxford University Press’s Dictionaries, Companions, and Encyclopedias
• Oxford Bibliographies Online This link opens in a new window Provides introductions and lists of key books and articles for the study of many different topics.
• Cambridge Histories This link opens in a new window Cambridge Histories is the essential reference collection spanning 350 volumes in 10 subject areas.

Use the  Library website  to find Microform

Robarts Library also houses a vast microform (microfilm, microfiche, microtext) collection which includes nearly 3-million items, ranging from historical documents to contemporary newspapers, both domestic and international. For more information on microform see the microform guide.

Try narrowing your research by:

• Chronology (i.e.dates, time periods or time spans)
• Person, population or group (e.g ethnic, social, political, religious, gender, age, etc..)
• Event based
• Political perspective
• Theoretical perspective (broad theories, e.g. feminist, Marxist; narrower theories on a specific topic, e.g. Goffman's theory of impression management)
• Movement (literary, artistic, political, philosophical)
• Specific instance
• Aspects (e.g. sonnet => symbolism; homelessness => policy) 
• Connect to Google Scholar Learn how to connect Google Scholar to Library resources. Google Scholar searches scholarly literature across many disciplines and sources, including books, articles, abstracts, and theses, from academic publishers, professional societies, online repositories, universities, and other web sites.

Why should you use subject specific databases?

The library catalogue may produce too many search results

You want to search for more specific time periods

• Subjects A-Z All encompassing database list to find the best research resources for your topic. Scroll to "History" and browse by Article databases, Dictionaries & Encyclopedias, or Primary sources

Why would you need to consult a theses for history research?

• to identify gaps in research
• look for models of history research 
• develop your source base

Theses and Dissertations

• History Online: Theses An index to theses in history completed since 1901 and theses currently in progress at universities in the United Kingdom and Ireland
• Directory of History Dissertations The Directory of History Dissertations contains more than contains more than 57,000 dissertations that have been completed or are currently in progress in the United States and Canada since 1873.
• Dissertations & Theses Global Closed Collection This link opens in a new window Comprehensive worldwide collection of dissertations and theses from 1746. Full text for most dissertations added since 1997 onwards.
• Dissertations & Theses @ University of Toronto This link opens in a new window Citations to dissertations and theses from University of Toronto students from 1938.

For more information see the Theses and Dissertation library guide (U of T Libraries)

A  primary source  is a document that was  created at the time  of the event or subject you've chosen to study, or by people who were observers of, or participants in that event or topic

More information:

• What kinds of things can be primary sources?

Think about what kinds of primary sources might be related to your topic:

Four ways to find primary sources:

1. Start with what you already have to uncover references to primary sources. Consult your:

• class notes
• course readings
• bibliographies of your textbook, journal articles, or other secondary sources
• historical encyclopedias

They can also help you identify relevant historical figures, authors, or keywords for searching library database

2. Use the library catalogue to find books and other materials

Combine keywords for different kinds of primary sources with keywords for your topic to find them in the library catalogue.

reformation sources

world war 1942 correspondence

national socialism documents

Primary source keywords

3. Use reliable  online primary source collections

4. Use one of the  specialized libraries  at U of T, such as the  Thomas Fisher Rare Book Library , or one of our  special collections .​

• Many University of Toronto Libraries have special collections which may include rare books, manuscripts, archival records, prints, drawings, photographs, or audio visual materials. Items from special collections are generally included in the UTL Catalogue. For details see the collection description via the Directory of Special Collections

Need suggestions for other archival collections outside the University of Toronto, check out a subject research guide  or contact a subject specialist.

Recommended Open-access Resources

• Discover archives Discover Archives is a shared portal for exploring archival holdings at the University of Toronto and its federated colleges. The database contains descriptions of material related to the University of Toronto's history, as well as records from private individuals, families, businesses, and organizations.
• Library and Archives Canada
• ArchiveGrid ArchiveGrid is a database for searching for historical documents, personal papers, and family histories held in archives around the world. Thousands of libraries, museums, and archives have contributed nearly a million collection descriptions to ArchiveGrid. Researchers searching ArchiveGrid can learn about the many items in each of these collections, contact archives to arrange a visit to examine materials, and order copies.
• Archeion Archeion brings together information about archives held by organizations all over Ontario.
• ArchiviaNet ArchiviaNet is the National Archives of Canada's online research and consultation tool.
• Library of Congress (LOC) Digital Collections

Images, Oral History, Audio Visual

• Audiovisual resources from the University of Toronto Libraries
• Media Commons Archives, University of Toronto Libraries
• Online video resources from the University of Toronto Libraries

See the  Image and Visual Resource Collections  guide for comprehensive links to image and visual resource databases. 

Oral History

Oral history may be in manuscript, print, microform, audio, or video format. It may be identified through a variety of tools throughout this guide, using relevant keywords.

For example, to find oral histories in the library catalogue, use keywords such as the following with your subject:

• oral history
• oral histories
• testimonies
• Oral History Online This link opens in a new window Lists collections of oral history in English from around the world.

For primary source resources see Subjects A-Z and filter by subject and research type 

Use the  Library website  to find Newspapers

For newspaper databases and tips on searching for newspapers take a look at this guide:  Newspapers Current and Historical

Recommended Open-access Resources   

• Google News Archive Google News Archive is an extension of Google News providing free access to scanned archives of newspapers and links to other newspaper archives on the web, both free and paid. Some of the news archives date back to 18th century.
• International Coalition on Newspapers (ICON)
• Paper of Record Paper of Record is an Internet archive of full-page, historical newspaper images that you can search for unique coverage of past events.
• The Library of Congress (LOC) Catalogs with Newspaper Holdings on the Internet

When choosing books or articles for your paper, consider the following:

• Are they relevant to your topic,  and the argument that you wish to make?
• Are they current ? Some of your sources should reflect current research.
• Are they substantial ? Beware of an article that is only a couple of pages.
• Are they scholarly?  Distinguish between popular and scholarly sources 

Scholarly journal articles  report on original research by experts in a particular academic discipline. Often they go through a peer-review process, which means that they are evaluated by reputable scholars in the field before they are published. 

Criteria for evaluating scholarly journals

RADAR (Rationale, Authority, Date, Accuracy, and Relevance)

Another helpful way to evaluate the credibility of a information source is through the framework  RADAR (R ationale , A uthority , D ate , A ccuracy ,  and  R elevance). See the guide for using RADAR for more detailed guidelines about how to evaluate the quality and usefulness of an information source for your research

Adapted from: Mandalios, J. (2013). RADAR: An approach for helping students evaluate Internet sources. Journal of Information Science, 39(4), 470–478,

• Using RADAR to evaluate your resources

How can I use subject headings to improve my searching?

• Department of History Undergraduate Essay Writing Guide
• How not to plagiarize Explains what plagiarism is and how to avoid it
• Writing at the University of Toronto Practical advice on all aspects of writing academic papers.
• The Literature Review: A Few Tips On Conducting It (U of T Writing Centre)
• Writing about History (U of T Writing Centre)

For more resources on researching and writing in history search the library catalogue for:

• History --research guide

or include subject headings such as:

• History -- Methodology
• History --Research
• Historiography
• Academic --Writing

Recommended Books

•  Designed to help students learn how to think and write like an historian and go beyond merely compiling dates and facts.Teaches students how to use their own ideas in papers and to tell a story about history that interests them and their peers. Covers brief essays, the writing and researching processes, different modes of historical writing (including argument), and offers guidelines for improving style as well as documenting sources.
• A writing guide that ensures Canadian students master the best current practices in historical research and writing. Provides students information on researching and writing history assignments, including article reviews, journal responses, proposals, document analysis, and historical research papers.
• Why and how we cite sources in academic writing The guide includes links to many helpful online tutorials, style guides, and related documents to help you understand citation practice, and build correct citations for your bibliography
• Excelsior OWL Citation Style Guides Support for APA, MLA, and Chicago documentation styles.
• Citation Management Tools Comparison Table A comparison of the major reference management tools available to U of T students so you can find one that works best for you

Style Guides

• Chicago Formatting and Style (16th ed.) from Excelsior
• Chicago-Style Citation Quick Guide (17th ed.) Online subscription to Chicago Manual of Style, 17th ed. (UTORid login required)

Books From the Library

• The Chicago manual of style online by University of Chicago Press **The 16th edition of The Chicago Manual of Style has been superseded by the 17th edition.** While digital technologies have revolutionized the publishing world in the twenty-first century, one thing still remains true: The Chicago Manual of Style is the authoritative, trusted source that writers, editors, and publishers turn to for guidance on style and process. For the sixteenth edition, every aspect of coverage has been reconsidered to reflect how publishing professionals work today. Though processes may change, the Manual continues to offer the clear, well-considered style and usage advice it has for more than a century. The sixteenth edition offers expanded information on producing electronic publications, including web-based content and e-books.

Ask a Librarian chat  : We can help you find sources about a topic, locate a specific book or article, and use library research tools effectively.

Book a research consultation

• How do I choose good key words?

How do I get the full text?

• Make sure you've chosen a journal article - only journal articles link to the full-text: Doublecheck that you're not trying to link to an article in a book.
• Search the journal title in the library catalogue . Find the online version of the journal - it has [Electronic resource] beside the title.

• It's possible the Library does not have your article  - our collection is enormous but we still don't have everything. The Library can  get things for you from other libraries through inter-library loan
• You can always check with a librarian. Contact the Library  through chat, email or in-person.

This guide is currently maintained by Jesse Carliner. Please send any suggestions, comments, and reports of broken links to [email protected] 

• Winter 2023 update:  Samantha Zani, TALint student
• Next: Business History >>
• Last Updated: Jul 25, 2024 2:57 PM
• URL: https://guides.library.utoronto.ca/history

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Significant Events in Canadian History

The significance of an event cannot be measured scientifically. Every historian, journalist or student could make their own lists. This selection is meant to draw attention to a number of events in Canadian history that left an indelible mark on the lives of the people of the time and an indisputable memory in the minds of later generations.

January 01, 0985

Exploration & Settlement 

Bjarni Sights America

Bjarni Herjolfsson sighted mainland North America, probably Newfoundland, southern Labrador and Baffin Island. Bjarni was likely the first European to visit North America, and his discovery led to a brief Norse colonization of Newfoundland.

January 01, 1400

Indigenous Peoples  Politics 

Blackfoot Confederacy

A confederacy of Siksika (Blackfoot) nations is organized around bands . Each band has a male leader responsible for decision-making. He governs by consensus. (Note: The exact date of this event is unknown. The date provided here is an estimate.)

Politics 

Mi’kmaq Grand Council

Made up of male representatives from across Mi’kmaq territory, the council is governed by a grand chief and rules by consensus. The role of chieftain is often handed down from father to son. (Note: The exact date of this event is unknown. The date provided here is an estimate.)

June 24, 1497

John Cabot Claims Atlantic Coast

John Cabot landed on the Atlantic coast of North America, claiming it for England. Cabot's discovery led to England's interest in what is now Atlantic Canada, especially the fishery.

January 01, 1500

The Haudenosaunee (Iroquois) Confederacy is Active

Formed by five nations, the Haudenosaunee Confederacy is considered one of the earliest examples of a participatory democracy. (Note: The exact date of this event is unknown. The date provided here is an estimate.)

Indigenous Peoples 

Indigenous Population Ranges From 200,000 to 500,000

Estimates for the Indigenous population range from 200,000 to 500,000 people, though some suggest it was as high as 2.5 million, with between 300 and 450 languages spoken.

Huron-Wendat Village Councils

Civil and war-related affairs among the Huron-Wendat are determined by respective village councils. Decisions are reached by consensus. All men over 30 are council members but women have little-to-no say in council affairs. (Note: The exact date of this event is unknown. The date provided here is an estimate.)

July 24, 1534

Cartier Lands at Gaspé

Jacques Cartier is one of the first Europeans to enter the Gulf of the St. Lawrence River . In 1535, while on his second of three voyages, Cartier hears the Iroquoian word for village, kanata , and documents the name in his journal. The name Canada subsequently appears on the 1547 Harleian world map, indicating land north of the St. Lawrence.

January 01, 1600

Exploration & Settlement  Indigenous Peoples 

Fur Trade Becomes a Vast Commercial Enterprise

From the early 17th to the mid-19th centuries, the fur trade is a vast commercial enterprise across what is now Canada. Indigenous technology and knowledge are crucial to the competitive trade and to the survival of Europeans.

July 03, 1608

Founding of Québec

Samuel de Champlain established a fortified trading post at Québec, the perfect location to foster the fur trade and to serve as the base for its founder's idea of colonizing the remote country.

July 30, 1609

Samuel de Champlain and His First Nations Allies Battle the Haudenosaunee

Colonial administrator Samuel de Champlain explores the traditional territory of the Haudenosaunee . On July 30, Champlain and his First Nations allies battle the Haudenosaunee, beginning 150 years of war between the Haudenosaunee and French colonial forces.

May 18, 1642

Maisonneuve Founds Ville-Marie

Paul de Chomedey de Maisonneuve founded Ville-Marie, which was destined to become the most important trading post in New France and the future city of Montréal. Maisonneuve served as governor until 1665.

July 21, 1647

Exploration & Settlement  Politics 

First Civil Election in New France

Residents of Quebec City , Montreal and Trois-Rivières elect syndics , or trustees, to a colonial council responsible to the gouverneur . Syndics act as liaisons between residents and the council. However, they have no power to affect policy because the colonies are ruled by a monarchy .

April 17, 1649

Wendake Defeated by Haudenosaunee

Weakened by disease and cultural interference by the French , the Huron-Wendat homeland known as Wendake was destroyed by the Haudenosaunee (Iroquois) . Between 1649 and 1650, about 500 Huron-Wendat left Georgian Bay to seek refuge close to the French, in the Quebec City region. Many were either killed or adopted into Haudenosaunee nations. However, the Huron-Wendat First Nation still remains — in Wendake, Quebec.

May 02, 1670

Exploration & Settlement  Science & Industry 

Hudson’s Bay Company is Established

The Hudson’s Bay Company is established, forming a monopoly and increasing the volume of goods in the fur trade . For centuries to come, blankets are widely traded, including the iconic HBC Point Blanket , first made in 1779 and still available today. Seen by some as an item of cultural importance, it reminds others of the forces of colonialism.

June 21, 1749

Founding of Halifax

Edward Cornwallis arrived in Chebucto harbour in advance of 2,567 settlers. Work began on the town of Halifax, which replaced Annapolis Royal as the capital of Nova Scotia and established a strong British foothold in Nova Scotia.

July 28, 1755

Expulsion of the Acadians

Between 1755 and 1763, approximately 10,000 Acadians are  deported  after delegates refuse to take an oath of allegiance to Britain.  Acadians , the first French community in Canada, are allies of the  Mi’kmaq   and possess a distinctive  culture . Following the  Acadian Expulsion , thousands die of disease or starvation.

May 01, 1756

Military/Rebellions 

Seven Years' War Begins

The Seven Years’ War is the first global war, fought in Europe, India, America, and at sea. In North America, Britain and France (aided by Indigenous allies) struggled for supremacy. With the Treaty of Paris , France formally cedes Canada to the British.

October 02, 1758

Meeting of the First Elected Legislative Assembly

At the first elected legislative assembly in what is now Nova Scotia , only property-owning Protestant men over the age of 21 are eligible to vote. ( See also Nova Scotia: The Cradle of Canadian Parliamentary Democracy .)

September 13, 1759

Battle of the Plains of Abraham

On the night of Sept 12-13, General James Wolfe led his soldiers up an unguarded footpath and set for battle before the fortress walls. Montcalm attacked in the morning but his line broke, and Québec fell into British hands. Both generals perished.

May 09, 1763

Indigenous Peoples  Military/Rebellions 

Pontiac's War

Pontiac’s Resistance provides a strong show of Indigenous unity. Under the leadership of Ottawa chief Obwandiyag (Pontiac) , an Indigenous alliance tries to resist European occupation by ridding the lower Great Lakes region of English settlers and soldiers.

June 22, 1774

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.

December 31, 1775

American Invasion Fails

American forces laying siege to Québec launched a desperate night attack. American general Richard Montgomery was killed as the attack was repulsed with heavy casualties. The French habitants had failed to support the Americans and Canada remained British.

April 01, 1776

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.

June 11, 1792

First Elections in Lower Canada

The first elections are held in Lower Canada . Anyone over 21 who owns sufficient property can vote, including women.

July 21, 1793

Mackenzie Reaches the Pacific

Alexander Mackenzie party reached the Pacific via the Bella Coola River, the first explorer to complete the journey overland. Though a physical triumph, Mackenzie's achievement failed to provide the fur traders with a viable route.

June 12, 1811

Selkirk's Red River Grant

The HBC granted an area of about 185 000 km² to Lord Selkirk for formation of a colony at Red River. His first settlers arrived in the summer of 1812. Despite tribulations the settlement grew into the first European colony in the North-West.

October 13, 1812

Battle of Queenston Heights

Americans crossed the Niagara River and attacked the high ground of Queenston Heights. His sword drawn, Major-General Brock led troops into battle and was fatally wounded. The battle essentially lost, Grand River Mohawk warriors led by John Norton (Teyoninhokarawen) prevented American forces from retreating for several hours until reinforcements led by Major-General Roger Sheaffe arrived and forced over 1,000 American soldiers to surrender.

February 15, 1815

War of 1812 Ends

The War of 1812 ends with the peace Treaty of Ghent . However, the  First Nations  allies of the British and Canadian cause suffered; they lost warriors (including the great  Tecumseh ), lost hope of halting American expansion in the west, and their contributions were quickly forgotten by their allies.

November 30, 1829

Environment  Science & Industry 

Welland Canal Opened

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

January 01, 1832

Science & Industry 

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.

August 01, 1834

Abolition of Slavery Act

Black people are now considered British subjects , paving the way for property-owning Black men to vote. But racism and discrimination at polling stations mean many do not cast their ballots. ( See Slavery Abolition Act, 1833 .)

March 03, 1835

Politics  Social History 

Howe Acquitted of Libel

Joseph Howe was acquitted of libel for publishing an article in his newspaper, The Novascotian , critical of Halifax's magistrates. The trial marked a turning point in the history of reform politics in Nova Scotia.

July 21, 1836

First Railway Opens in Canada

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

November 16, 1837

Insurrection in Lower Canada

Governor Gosford issued warrants for the arrest of 26 Patriote leaders on charges of high treason, initiating the events of the Lower Canada Rebellion. Troops and Patriotes were in battle a few days later.

January 01, 1845

Arts and Culture  Social History 

Garneau Publishes Histoire du Canada

The first volume of François-Xavier Garneau's Histoire du Canada was published at Québec. It was the most outstanding history book for a century in Québec and an incentive to patriotism and pride.

June 15, 1846

Oregon Boundary Treaty

The Oregon Boundary Treaty was signed, establishing the boundary between British North America and the US at 49° north latitude, leaving Vancouver Island in British hands, and creating a settlement with which Canada and the US could live in harmony.

October 22, 1846

First Telegraph in Canada

The Toronto, Hamilton, Niagara and St Catharines Telegraph Company was established, the first telegraph company in Canada. The first section was opened for use 19 Dec 1846 from Toronto to Hamilton. The telegraph profoundly altered 19th century life.

January 01, 1847

Social History 

Ryerson Publishes Report on Education

Egerton Ryerson published his Report on a System of Public Elementary Instruction for Upper Canada . It describes an education system based on Christian faith, universal access and government support. It would be a model for English-speaking Canada. For his contributions to education, Ryerson University in Toronto was named after him. However, his role in the development of the residential school system has led activists to call for the university to be renamed.

February 02, 1848

Responsible Government in Nova Scotia

James Boyle Uniake became leader of a new Reform government. Nova Scotia was thus the first colony in the British Empire in which responsible government was in effect. Responsible government meant that a colony enjoyed complete self-government in domestic affairs and that a government ruled only with the support of the majority of the elected Assembly (the origins of today's cabinet government).

May 01, 1849

Women’s Voting Rights Removed in the Province of Canada

Legislation barring women from voting is passed by the Province of Canada and becomes law.

January 10, 1850

Search for Franklin Begins

Robert McClure and Richard Collinson began the extensive search for Franklin, likely the greatest search mission in the history of exploration. In the process, more was revealed of the geography of the North than at any other time.

September 11, 1854

MacNab-Morin Coalition

Augustin Morin and Sir Allan MacNab formed a political coalition accomplished the secularization of the Clergy Reserves and the end to seigneurial tenure and provided the foundation for the future Conservative Party.

November 17, 1856

Grand Trunk Completed

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

January 01, 1857

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 .)

April 25, 1858

Fraser River Gold Rush

The first wave of miners from California arrived at Victoria, en route to the Fraser River Gold Rush. The Gold Rush caused a precipitous decline in the Indigenous population and politically unified British Columbia.

November 09, 1859

Great Reform Convention

A convention of scattered reform elements of Upper Canada met in Toronto. Under George Brown's leadership the convention voted to support a legislative union of the Canadas and set the stage for closer collaboration between English and French.

June 27, 1860

Sports 

Queen's Plate First Held

North America's oldest continuously run horse race, the Queen's Plate, was first held at Toronto's Carleton Track. It was open to all horses bred in Upper Canada that had not yet won money and the prize was 50 Guineas.

September 01, 1864

Charlottetown Conference

The Charlottetown Conference was held in Charlottetown, PEI. At the conference Maritime union was virtually dropped, and the delegates agreed to meet a new conference in Québec to discuss a Canadian scheme for a union of all the colonies.

March 08, 1867

British North America Act

The British North America Act   was passed by the British Parliament and given royal assent by Queen Victoria on 29 March. It came into effect on 1 July. The Act joined the colonies of Canada, Nova Scotia and New Brunswick in one federal union. In 1949, Newfoundland becomes Canada’s newest province . In 1999, Nunavut becomes Canada’s newest territory. Its creation establishes self-governance for the region’s Inuit population.

September 20, 1867

First Election Post-Confederation

Sir John A. Macdonald leads the Conservative Party to victory. Men over the age of 21 who meet property qualifications can vote.

November 02, 1869

Red River Resistance

With 120 men,  Louis Riel  occupied Upper Fort Garry in the Red River Colony to block the transfer of Rupert’s Land from the Hudson’s Bay Company (HBC) to Canada. Known as the Red River Resistance , the Métis — led by Riel — and First Nations allies defended the Red River Colony from White settlers and government encroachment on their lands. Louis Riel was hanged for treason , and Cree chiefs Mistahimaskwa (Big Bear) and Pitikwahanapiwiyin (Poundmaker) were imprisoned. Promises to protect the Métis were still unfulfilled more than a decade later, sparking the Northwest Resistance in 1885. In 2019, Poundmaker was exonerated by the federal government .

May 08, 1871

Treaty of Washington

The Treaty of Washington granted Americans fishing rights in Canadian waters and the use of Canadian canals and the St Lawrence River. Canadians were allowed to navigate Lake Michigan, the St Clair Flats Canal and Alaskan rivers.

August 03, 1871

The first post-Confederation treaty was signed at Lower Fort Garry, Man. The first of many “ Numbered Treaties ,” Treaty 1 was signed between the Crown and the Ojibwe and Swampy Cree Nations. The treaty included the provision of livestock, agricultural equipment and the establishment of schools in exchange for ceding large tracts of Indigenous hunting grounds.

August 21, 1871

Treaty 2 was concluded with Chippewa of Manitoba, who ceded land from the mouth of Winnipeg River to the northern shores of Lake Manitoba across the Assiniboine River to the United States frontier.

May 01, 1872

Chinese Canadians Banned from Voting in BC

The British Columbia legislative assembly passes a law banning Chinese Canadians from voting. Previously, Chinese Canadian men could vote in provincial elections.

October 03, 1873

Treaty 3 was signed by the Saulteaux (Chippewa) of northwestern Ontario and of Manitoba. For the surrender of a tract comprising about 55,000 sq. miles, the Dominion Government reserved not more than one square mile for each family of five and agreed to pay $12 per head and an annuity of $5 per head.

September 15, 1874

Treaty 4 was signed at Fort Qu'Appelle, Saskatchewan, with Cree, Saulteaux (Chippewa) and other First Nations.

September 20, 1875

Treaty 5 was concluded at Lake Winnipeg ceding an area of approximately 100,000 sq. miles inhabited by Chippewa and Swampy Cree (Maskegon) of Manitoba and Ontario.

April 12, 1876

The Indian Act is introduced. The Act aims to eradicate First Nations culture in favour of assimilation into Euro-Canadian society.  The Act also reinforces that Status Indians must voluntarily give up status and treaty rights to vote federally. Status Indian women are barred from voting in band council elections.

August 23, 1876

Treaty 6 was signed at Carlton and at Fort Pitt with the Plains Cree, Woodland Cree and Assiniboine. It ceded an area of 120,000 sq. miles of the plains of Saskatchewan and Alberta.

September 22, 1877

Treaty 7 was signed at Blackfoot Crossing in southern Alberta by the Siksika, Kainai, Piikani, Tsuut'ina and Stoney. Canadian officials understood that by the treaty First Nations surrendered some 35,000 sq miles of land to the Crown in return for reserves, payments and annuities.

November 17, 1877

Birth of NHL’s Founding President, Frank Calder

Frank Calder was born in Bristol, England. He served as president of the  National Hockey League  (NHL) from its founding in 1917 until his death in 1943. The NHL’s Rookie of the Year award ( Calder Memorial Trophy ) and the American Hockey League’s championship trophy (Calder Cup) are both named in his honour.

September 01, 1880

Arctic Sovereignty

British sovereignty over the Arctic Islands passed to Canada.

November 15, 1880

Hanlan World Champ

Edward Hanlan defeated E.A. Trichett of Australia for the world's championship of singles rowing on the Thames River course made famous by the Oxford-Cambridge boat race. Hanlan was Canada's first world sports champion.

January 01, 1885

Electoral Franchise Act

The original draft of the Act gave federal voting rights to some women, but under the final legislation, only men can vote. The Act gives some Reserve First Nations with property qualifications the right to vote, but bars Chinese Canadians.

November 07, 1885

Last Spike Driven for CPR

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

November 16, 1885

Louis Riel Hanged

Louis Riel was hanged for treason at the Regina jail. He had been convicted after a trial held in Regina from 28 July to 1 August. Macdonald's refusal to grant leniency made Riel a symbol of English-Canadian oppression.

March 31, 1890

Manitoba School Act

The Manitoba School Act abolished publicly funded support for separate schools for Catholics. The aggrieved French minority argued that the Act violated the agreements under which Manitoba entered Confederation.

March 22, 1894

First Stanley Cup Awarded

The Stanley Cup, donated by Governor General Lord Stanley, was first awarded to the Montreal AAA hockey team. Montreal defeated the Ottawa Generals 3-1.

January 01, 1895

Japanese Canadians Lose the Right to Vote in BC

British Columbia amends the Provincial Voters’ Act to remove the right to vote from Japanese Canadians .

January 01, 1896

Sifton Encourages Immigration

Clifford Sifton removed red tape, broadened the selection of potential immigrants and offered incentives to those who would come to settle the Canadian West, "the last, best West." The result was an influx of immigrants from eastern and southern Europe that changed the composition of the Canadian population forever.

June 23, 1896

Liberal Victory, Laurier PM

In the federal election, the Liberals defeated the Conservatives with 118 seats to 88. Wilfrid Laurier became Canada's first French-Canadian prime minister and marked a turning point in Canadian politics after years of Conservative Party rule.

August 17, 1896

Environment  Exploration & Settlement  Science & Industry 

Klondike Gold Rush Begins

George Washington Carmack, Skookum Jim and Tagish Charlie discovered gold on Bonanza Creek, a tributary of the Klondike River. During the Klondike Gold Rush from 1897 to 1899 at least 100,000 people stampeded to the gold fields.

June 13, 1898

Federal Government Returns Determination of Voters to Provinces

Provinces are given the right to decide who can vote in provincial elections. Some exclude Chinese Canadians from voting provincially. However, federal legislation allows Chinese Canadians to vote in federal elections.  

June 21, 1899

Cree, Beaver, Chipewyan and Slavey First Nations ceded territory south and west of Great Slave Lake in northern Alberta to the federal government in Treaty 8 .

July 04, 1904

Winnipeg Shamrocks Win First Olympic Gold in Men’s Lacrosse

The  Winnipeg Shamrocks  were one of two Canadian lacrosse teams that competed at the  1904 Olympic Summer Games . The Shamrocks won two games of field lacrosse to earn the first Olympic gold medal in men’s lacrosse. The 1904 Games also marked the first time Canada was truly represented at the Olympics.

August 26, 1905

Amundsen Completes Passage

Roald Amundsen, travelling west of King William Island, sighted an American whaling ship that had come from San Francisco. At this point, he knew that he had achieved the Northwest Passage, a quest that had obsessed explorers for nearly 400 years.

September 01, 1905

Alberta and Saskatchewan Become Provinces

Alberta and Saskatchewan entered Canada as the 8th and 9th provinces by two federal Acts which received royal assent on 20 July. Alberta's boundary with Saskatchewan was set at 110°, though Albertans wanted 107°. The Acts (Autonomy Bills) declared that the West was to have non-denominational schools.

May 14, 1906

Ontario Hydro Created

The Hydro-Electric Power Commission of Ontario was created, with Adam Beck as chairman. It was the first publicly owned electric utility in the world.

January 01, 1907

Environment  Exploration & Settlement 

Charles Saunders Develops Marquis Wheat

Charles Edward Saunders completed the development of Marquis wheat, a fast-maturing variety suited to the Prairies. It was first distributed to farmers in 1909 and greatly extended the area in which wheat could be grown. By 1920 it comprised 90% of the wheat grown on the Prairies.

BC Provincial Elections Act Amendment Act, 1907

British Columbia removes voting rights from anyone with origins in South Asia .

February 23, 1909

Silver Dart Flies

John Alexander Douglas McCurdy (1886-1961) flew the aircraft the Silver Dart for about one kilometer at Baddeck, NS. It was the first powered flight of a heavier-than-air machine in Canada and the British Empire.

March 10, 1910

Death of S7ápelek (Chief Joe Capilano)

S7ápele k , also known as Chief Joe Capilano , was a Squamish Nation member and one of the most influential  Indigenous  leaders in British Columbia.  Beginning in the late 19th century, S7ápele k  became better known as Chief Joe Capilano and spent the rest of his life advocating for Canada’s recognition of Indigenous rights .

March 08, 1914

Birth of Lacrosse Superstar Bill Isaacs

Wilton “Bill” Isaacs was born in the  Six Nations of the Grand River First Nation . He became one of Canada’s most outstanding  lacrosse  players. Isaacs was a superstar of box lacrosse, the indoor version of the game, which was extremely popular in the 1930s and 1940s.

January 01, 1916

First UNIA Chapters Are Established in Canada

In 1916, the Glace Bay Universal Negro Improvement Association (UNIA), one of the first Canadian divisions of the UNIA, opened in  Nova Scotia . This organization was spearheaded by West Indian immigrants who were already familiar with the teachings of Marcus Garvey, founder of the UNIA. After the First World War , West Indians living elsewhere in the country — most notably in Montreal , Toronto  and  Edmonton  — established their own UNIA divisions. For a time, the UNIA was the most important Black socio-economic and educational force in Canada.

January 28, 1916

Manitoba Women Win Right to Vote

Women in Manitoba who are of British descent or citizenship, 21 or older, and not otherwise disqualified are given the right to vote provincially and to hold provincial office. Other provinces soon follow and grant women the right to vote in provincial elections.

April 09, 1917

Battle of Vimy Ridge

On Easter Monday, four Canadian divisions and one British brigade captured Vimy Ridge, near Arras, France, with a loss of 3578 killed and 7000 wounded. It was a brilliant victory for the Canadians, who sensed a new national awareness.

May 18, 1917

Borden Announces Conscription

Sir Robert Borden announced his decision in Parliament to implement Conscription. The imposition of conscription on reluctant French Canadians was a failure and bitterly divided the country along French-English lines.

September 20, 1917

Wartime Elections Act and Military Voters Act

December 06, 1917

Exploration & Settlement  Military/Rebellions  Social History 

Halifax Explosion

At Halifax, the French munitions ship Mont Blanc collided with the Belgian relief ship Imo . The resulting explosion, the largest before the advent of the atomic bomb, killed more than 1,600 people and injured 9,000 in Canada's worst disaster.

May 24, 1918

Women Granted Right to Vote in Federal Elections

Many Canadian women are granted the right to vote in federal elections, but First Nations women can only vote if they give up their status and treaty rights.

September 08, 1918

Spanish Influenza Epidemic

Possibly the most devastating epidemic in human history, which may have originated in Funston, Kansas, spread through Europe and the world, killing some 30 million people, including about 50 000 Canadians. The virus arrived with servicemen on board the ship Araguaya at Halifax. The first civilian outbreak in Canada occurred on September 8, 1918.

January 01, 1919

Order of the Sleeping Car Porters Is Recognized

In January 1919, the Order of Sleeping Car Porters (OSCP), the first Black railway union in North America, was finally recognized. Close to 90 per cent of all Black men in Canada worked in railway jobs, which were severely underpaid and had abysmal working conditions.

May 15, 1919

Winnipeg General Strike Begins

The  Winnipeg General Strike , the largest  strike  in Canadian history, occurs. Between May 15 and June 25, more than 30,000 workers leave their jobs. The strike does not immediately improve job conditions, but it unites Canada’s  working class .

May 21, 1919

Birth of Inventor and Research Scientist John A. Hopps

Trained as an  electrical engineer ,  John A. Hopps  was recruited to design a  cardiac pacemaker  with a team of scientists at the Banting Institute in  Toronto  while he was working on another project at the  National Research Council of Canada  (NRC). This resulted in the invention of a  portable artificial external pacemaker . The device marked a significant medical milestone and laid the groundwork for implantable pacemakers.

May 07, 1920

Arts and Culture 

Group of Seven Exhibit

Seven Toronto-based artists, frustrated with the conservatism of Canadian art, exhibit their work as the Group of Seven . Their interpretations of the Canadian landscape gain international attention and create a new artistic vision in Canada.

July 01, 1920

Dominion Elections Act

The Dominion Elections Act enfranchised many of those who had been disenfranchised during the First World War, such as those originating from countries with which Canada had been at war. However, the Act stated that anyone who was disenfranchised by provincial legislation because of race would remain disenfranchised from the federal vote. This included persons of Chinese origin in Saskatchewan, and those of Indigenous, Chinese, Japanese, and South Asian origins in British Columbia.

July 27, 1921

Banting and Best Isolate Insulin

Frederick Banting and Charles Best at the University of Toronto first isolated insulin . The first diabetes patient was treated on 11 January 1922. Banting and J.J.R. Macleod received the Nobel Prize for their achievement.

January 01, 1924

Status Indian WWI Veterans Granted Right to Vote

Male Status Indian veterans of the First World War gain the right to vote in federal elections without losing their status and treaty rights. 

January 23, 1929

Birth of John Polanyi

Nobel Prize winner John Charles Polanyi was born at Berlin, Germany.

October 24, 1929

The Stock Market Crash of 1929

The collapse of the American stock market begins the Great Depression , which ravages the Canadian economy during the “Dirty Thirties.” Life is especially harsh in the Prairies, where drought worsens conditions. The crisis inspires the creation of social welfare programs.

January 01, 1931

Japanese-Canadian WWI Veterans in BC Granted Right to Vote

Veterans of the First World War in British Columbia become the first Japanese Canadians granted the right to vote in federal or provincial elections.

December 11, 1931

Statute of Westminster is Passed

The Statute of Westminster received royal assent after being passed by the British Parliament. By establishing complete legislative equality between the parliaments of Britain and Canada, it is the closest Canada has come to a declaration of independence.

May 26, 1932

CRBC (future CBC) Established

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

August 01, 1932

CCF Founded

The Co-operative Commonwealth Federation was founded in Calgary. Led by J.S. Woodsworth, the CCF was the first major democratic socialist movement in Canada and went on to have a profound effect on the Canadian political landscape.

July 01, 1933

CCF Approves the Regina Manifesto

The  Regina Manifesto  was the founding policy document of the  Co-operative Commonwealth Federation  (CCF). Written in 1933 and released at the party’s convention in  Regina , the 14-point policy statement called for eradicating  capitalism  and adopting  socialist  economic and social policies in a democratic state. In 1956, the CCF replaced the Regina Manifesto with the Winnipeg Declaration.  

January 01, 1934

Dominion Franchise Act

Inuit and First Nations persons living on reserves are disqualified from voting in federal elections, except for First Nations veterans who had previously received the vote.

September 21, 1934

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 .

August 22, 1935

Social Credit Victory in Alberta

Charismatic Bible-thumping William Aberhart led the Social Credit Party to victory in the Alberta provincial elections. He was sworn in on September 3. The party dominated Alberta politics until 1971.

January 01, 1938

Environment 

Ducks Unlimited Canada

Ducks Unlimited Canada was founded in 1938, one year after Ducks Unlimited Inc. was founded in the United States. The organization received money from waterfowl hunters for wetland habitat conservation projects in Canada.

December 12, 1938

First Mosque in Canada Opens

Canada’s first mosque, Al Rashid in  Edmonton , was funded through initiatives from the  Arab  community, led by  Hilwie Hamdon . The Al Rashid Mosque has played a significant role in the growth of the Muslim community in Alberta and across the country.

May 02, 1939

National Film Board Created

The National Film Act created the National Film Board, headed by Scots film producer John Grierson. The NFB pioneered developments in social documentary, animation, documentary drama and direct cinema. Its films have won hundreds of international awards.

September 10, 1939

Canada Declares War on Germany

Canada declared war on Germany, 7 days after Britain and France. The first Canadian troops left for England in December. Although "obliged to go to war at Britain's side," King's delay of a week was a symbolic gesture of independence.

December 17, 1939

Air Training Plan Established

The British Commonwealth Air Training Plan was established. Operating from 1940–45 the BCATP trained some 131,000 airmen — one-half the total Commonwealth aircrew — a decisive Canadian contribution to victory in the Second World War.

March 22, 1940

Birth of Dave Keon

Dave Keon was born in Noranda , Quebec . Named the NHL ’s Rookie of the Year in 1961, Keon began his professional career with the Toronto Maple Leafs . He won four Stanely Cups and the 1967 Conn Smythe Trophy with the Leafs and played in the NHL for 18 seasons. Keon was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame and Canada’s Sports Hall of Fame . He was voted the greatest player in Leafs franchise history in 2016.

February 26, 1942

Exploration & Settlement  Military/Rebellions 

Japanese Relocation

Following the Japanese strike on Pearl Harbour, the federal government interns 22,000 Japanese men, women and children in British Columbia for the remainder of the war. The government apologizes for Japanese internment in 1988. Similar actions had taken place in 1914, with the internment of nationals from Germany, and the Austro-Hungarian and Turkish Empires.

August 19, 1942

Dieppe Raid

Canadian and British troops raided the French port of Dieppe to test German defences. The raid lasted only 9 hours, but of the nearly 5000 Canadian soldiers involved, more than 900 were killed and 1874 taken prisoner.

January 01, 1944

Status Indian WWII Veterans Granted Right to Vote

Status Indian veterans who served in the Second World War and their spouses are permitted to vote in federal elections without losing status, with some conditions.

June 06, 1944

Normandy Landings (D-Day)

The 3rd Canadian Division and 2nd and 3rd Armoured Brigades landed on the beaches at Courcelles, St Aubin and Bernières-sur-Mer on the Normandy Coast as part of the invasions that led to the liberation of Europe from Nazi occupation.

November 08, 1946

Viola Desmond Dragged Out of Nova Scotia Movie Theatre

Viola Desmond is dragged out of a Nova Scotia movie theatre and charged by police after she refuses to move from the main floor of the theatre to the balcony, where Black patrons were segregated. Her decision to fight her charges raises awareness of the racism experienced by Black Canadians. The Nova Scotia government posthumously pardons her in 2010.

January 01, 1947

Canadian Citizenship Act and repeal of Chinese Immigration Act

Changes to federal legislation allow Chinese and South Asian Canadians to vote. However, it isn’t until 1951 that the final restrictions are lifted in provincial elections Canada-wide.

February 13, 1947

Hunter Strikes Oil at Leduc

Vern "Dry Hole" Hunter struck oil near Leduc, Alberta. The discovery ended a long decline in the Alberta oil industry, began an era of prosperity for the province and spared Canada dependence on foreign oil.

July 22, 1947

Canada's First Nuclear Reactors

The NRX reactor, the ancestor of Canada's unique CANDU reactors, "went critical" at Chalk River, Ont. The NRX was based on Canada's first nuclear reactor, ZEEP (1 watt of power), which was built at Chalk River in 1945.

January 01, 1948

Amendments to Dominion Elections Act

Race is no longer grounds for exclusion from voting in federal elections. However, Status Indians still have to give up their Status in order to vote.

January 01, 1949

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.  

Japanese Canadians Win Right to Vote in BC

The last restriction on Japanese Canadians’ voting rights is lifted when British Columbia grants them the right to vote in provincial elections.

March 31, 1949

Newfoundland Becomes Province

Newfoundland entered the Dominion of Canada as the 10th province through an Act of Westminster. The first session of the legislature was held at St. John's on 13 July.

April 04, 1949

Politics  Science & Industry 

North Atlantic Treaty (NATO)

Canada, along with 11 other countries, signed the North Atlantic Treaty in Washington, DC. The NATO treaty marked a new era of ties with the United States and of distance from Great Britain and spelled out the importance of economic collaboration.

January 01, 1950

Inuit Granted Right to Vote

Inuit are granted the right to vote in federal elections, but the isolation of several communities means many cannot access polling stations. Later reforms increase access to ballot boxes.

October 23, 1950

Bigelow, Callaghan and Hopps Unveil the Portable Artificial External Pacemaker

Cardiac surgeon  Dr. Wilfred Bigelow , research fellow  Dr. John Carter Callaghan , and  Dr. John A. Hopps  of the  National Research Council of Canada   delivered their findings on their newly invented  portable artificial external pacemaker  to the American College of Surgeons in Boston. The device was designed to send electric pulses to the heart, causing the heart to contract and pump blood to the body. It marked a significant medical milestone and laid the groundwork for implantable pacemakers.

October 31, 1950

Pipeline Completed

The 1770 km oil pipeline from Edmonton to the Great Lakes was completed, linking Canada's gas fields with the markets of central Canada. In 1958 Alberta gas finally reached Toronto and imports of Texas gas ended.

January 01, 1951

First Nations Women Granted Right to Vote in Band Council Elections

Changes to the Indian Act grant First Nations women the right to vote in band council elections.

June 01, 1951

Massey Report Tabled

The report of the Massey Commission was tabled in the House of Commons; among its recommendations was the creation of the Canada Council.

January 01, 1955

Gould Records Goldberg Variations

Glenn Gould made his Washington and New York debuts. He made his first recording of the Bach Goldberg Variations later that year (released 1956), one of the most famous recordings of the century.

September 15, 1956

Reports of Canada’s First Successful Open-Heart Surgery

Dr. John Carter Callaghan performed Canada’s first successful open-heart surgery on 10-year-old Susan Beattie, who had a hole in her heart. On 15 November 1956, the  Edmonton Journal described the event as “the greatest single advance in heart surgery in recent years.” Callaghan was also known for co-developing the portable artificial pacemaker .

November 04, 1956

Pearson's Peace Plan

L.B. Pearson and his colleagues at the United Nations won General Assembly support for an international force to secure the cessation of hostilities in the Suez Canal crisis in Egypt. Canadian General E.L.M. Burns was named commander of the UN Emergency Force. This establishes Canada’s reputation as a peacekeeping nation and earns Pearson a Nobel Peace Prize.

December 15, 1956

Reports of Canada’s First Blue-Baby Operation

On 15 December 1956, the  Edmonton Journal reported on a rare heart operation. An 18-month-old baby, Sherry Anderson, suffered from blue-baby syndrome, a condition that causes skin to look bluish due to a shortage of oxygen in the blood. Dr. John Carter Callaghan and his team performed an operation to fix this condition for the first time in Canada.

April 01, 1959

St Lawrence Seaway Formally Opened

The St Lawrence Seaway was opened to commercial shipping. Queen Elizabeth II and President Eisenhower dedicated it on June 26. The Seaway provided transportation for ocean going vessels from Lake Superior to Montréal.

June 22, 1960

Liberals Win Québec

The Liberals under Jean Lesage won the Québec provincial election, finally breaking the hold of the Union Nationale, and signalling a time for change and reform that has become known as the Quiet Revolution. Lesage was sworn in as premier on 5 Jul.

July 01, 1960

First Nations Can Now Vote in Federal Elections

First Nations peoples receive the right to vote in federal elections while retaining their status and treaty rights. However, they are still excluded from voting in some provinces.

August 04, 1960

Canadian Bill of Rights Approved

The House of Commons approved the Canadian Bill of Rights, which received royal assent on August 10. Although the Bill did not bind the provinces, it obliged the federal government to gurantee civil rights and freedoms to all Canadians.

July 01, 1962

Medicare in Effect: Doctors Strike

When the Saskatchewan Medicare Act came into force, most Saskatchewan doctors closed their offices. The Medical Care Insurance Commission brought doctors from out of province to meet the emergency.

December 15, 1964

Arts and Culture  Politics 

New Flag Adopted

A new national flag of Canada was adopted after much debate. The Senate gave its approval on 17 December. Queen Elizabeth signed the royal proclamation on 28 January and the new flag, with its red maple leaf and side bars, flew officially for the first time on 15 February 1965.

February 15, 1965

Flag of Canada Raised

The Flag of Canada was raised for the first time on Parliament Hill, Ottawa.

July 09, 1969

Official Languages Act (1969)

The Official Languages Act was given assent, to come into effect on September 7. It declared English and French the official languages of the federal administration. Federal government services — including all services related to federal elections — must now be available in both French and English. ( See Official Languages Act , 1969 .)

January 01, 1970

Voting Age is Lowered to 18

Parliament passes legislation lowering the federal voting age from 21 to 18. This adds two million Canadians to the electoral rolls.

Plant Gene Resources of Canada is Established

Plant Gene Resources of Canada  (PGRC), Canada’s national seed gene bank, was founded to protect, preserve, and enhance the genetic diversity of Canada’s important agricultural plants and their wild relatives. PGRC has played a major role in protecting Canada’s agricultural crops and  biodiversity  while contributing to food security at home and around the world.

September 04, 1972

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.

September 28, 1972

Henderson's Goal in Moscow

Paul Henderson scored the dramatic winning goal with 34 seconds left as Canada defeated the Soviet Union 6–5 in the final game of the Summit Series.

November 09, 1972

Anik A-1 Launched

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

January 31, 1973

Calder et al. v. Attorney General of British Columbia Decision Is Released

In 1967, the Nisga’a Nation, led by Chief Frank Calder , initiated a court case against the province of British Columbia to assert Nisga’a title to their land. In 1973, six of the seven justices of the Supreme Court of Canada recognized Aboriginal title within Canadian law. However, the Nisga’a Nation lost its court case based upon a technicality. Despite the loss of this court case, the Nisga’a Nation signed a treaty with the province of British Columbia and the Canadian government that took effect in 2000.

April 20, 1973

Anik A-2 Launched

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

May 01, 1975

Anik A-3 Launched

Communications satellite Anik A-3 was launched.

June 27, 1976

Canada Attends First Meeting of the G7

The G7, or Group of Seven , is an international group comprising the governments of the world’s largest economies . It was founded as the G6 in 1975 and became the G7 with the addition of Canada in 1976. 

April 12, 1980

Terry Fox Begins Run

Terry Fox began his Marathon of Hope in St. John's, NL, to raise money for cancer research . The run ended on 1 September in Thunder Bay, ON, after cancer was discovered in his lungs. Within days the marathon had raised over $10 million.

May 20, 1980

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.

March 08, 1982

Canada Act Passed

The British House of Commons passed the Canada Act of 1982. It was adopted by the House of Lords on March 25. The Act ended British legislative jurisdiction over Canada. Queen Elizabeth II signed the proclamation in Ottawa on April 17.

April 17, 1982

Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms

The Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms affirms the right of every Canadian citizen 18 and older to vote and to stand as a candidate.

September 16, 1987

Signing of The Montreal Protocol

Canada signed the Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer, an international environmental agreement. An active treaty that regulates the production and consumption of man-made ozone depleting substances (ODS), it is the only United Nations treaty to have been ratified by every country in the world.

January 01, 1988

People with Intellectual Disabilities Granted Right to Vote

People with intellectual disabilities are granted the right to vote after a successful Charter challenge.

January 01, 1989

Free Trade Goes Into Effect

The Free Trade Agreement between Canada and the US went into effect. The pact, later expanded through NAFTA, would profoundly alter the economic relationship between Canada and the United States.

March 01, 1989

Creation of the Canadian Space Agency

The Canadian Space Agency (CSA) was established and Larkin Kerwin was made the organization’s first president.

June 23, 1990

Meech Lake Accord Collapses

The Meech Lake Accord collapsed after the self-imposed deadline passed. The collapse owed much to Premier Clyde Wells' blockage in Newfoundland and failure to pass in Manitoba thanks to MLA Elijah Harper . It led to further constitutional wrangles and the renewal of the separatist movement in Québec.

July 11, 1990

The Oka Crisis Begins

The Oka Crisis is triggered by plans to expand a golf course and build luxury condominiums on disputed lands that include the burial grounds of the Mohawk people. A 78-day violent standoff follows between Mohawk protestors, police and the army in Oka, QC.

May 14, 1996

Birth of Aurélie Rivard

One of Canada’s best  para-athletes , Aurélie Rivard was born in St-Jean-sur-Richelieu, Quebec. As of 2021, she had won 10 Paralympic medals (five gold, three silver and two bronze), 14 medals at the International Paralympic World Swimming Championships, and seven medals at the Parapan American Games . She had also set multiple world records in the women’s 50 m, 100 m, 200 m and 400 m freestyle.

July 27, 1996

Bailey Wins 100 Metres

Sprinter Donovan Bailey established a new world record and earned himself a gold medal at the Summer Olympics in Atlanta. The victory set off an outburst of national pride in winning the glamour event of the Olympic Games.

January 01, 2005

Own the Podium is Created

Created in 2005 in advance of the  2010 Olympic Winter Games in Vancouver ,  Own the Podium  is a non-profit organization that assists national sports bodies in Canada with their investment and training strategies. Based in  Ottawa  and  Calgary , the program provides financial assistance to high-performance Canadian athletes and coaches. 

February 25, 2010

Women's Hockey Team Wins Third Olympic Gold

Canada's women's hockey team won its third Olympic gold medal at the Vancouver Winter Olympics, defeating the US 2-0. The team was later chastised by the media for taking its victory party on to the ice after the fans had left the building.

February 28, 2010

Men's Hockey Team Wins Olympic Gold

The Canadian men's hockey team won the Olympic gold medal at the Vancouver Winter Olympics, defeating the US 3-2 in overtime when centre Sidney Crosby, assisted by Jarome Iginla, scored against the US. Crosby's goal is considered one of the greatest in the history of Canadian hockey.

November 01, 2012

Idle No More Movement Begins

Four women start Idle No More as a national (and online) movement of marches and teach-ins, raising awareness of Indigenous rights and advocating for self-determination .

May 01, 2013

First Orange Shirt Day

Residential School survivors and their families gathered at Williams Lake , BC , to honour the survivors. Phyllis Webstad, a Northern Secwepemc (Shuswap) woman, spoke of her first day at Residential School, when she was stripped of her new orange shirt. From this came the idea to adopt the orange shirt as a symbol of remembrance, teaching and healing.

September 09, 2014

Franklin Expedition Ship Discovered

The HMS Erebus , one of Sir John Franklin's expedition ships, was found submerged off the coast of King William Island . The ship was part of Sir John Franklin's 1845 expedition to find the Northwest Passage from the Atlantic Ocean to Asia.

November 06, 2014

Farhan Zaidi Makes History as MLB General Manager

Farhan Zaidi was hired as the general manager of the Los Angeles Dodgers, making him Major League Baseball’s first Muslim and first  South Asian  general manager. He also became only the second Muslim executive in MLB and only the sixth general manager from Canada. Born in Sudbury and raised in the Philippines, Zaidi left the Dodgers in 2018 to join the San Francisco Giants. He was named MLB Executive of the Year in 2021 after the Giants finished first overall with 107 wins — the most in franchise history.

October 06, 2015

Arthur McDonald Wins Nobel Prize in Physics

Arthur B. McDonald, a physicist at Queen's University in Kingston , Ontario , was awarded the 2015 Nobel Prize in Physics for discovering that neutrinos — one of the smallest particles of matter — have mass. Neutrinos were previously thought to be massless. He shares the prize with Takaaki Kajita of Japan, whose research broke ground on the same subject. According to the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences (the organization that awards the Nobel), "the discovery has changed our understanding of the innermost workings of matter."

February 11, 2016

Last Fluent Nuchatlaht Speaker Dies

Alban Michael, the last fluent speaker of the Nuchatlaht language , died in Campbell River , British Columbia , at age 89. Raised on Nootka Island, Michael spoke only Nuchatlaht until he was forced to learn English at a residential school in Tofino as a child. He nevertheless maintained his fluency in Nuchatlaht so that he could speak with his mother, who did not speak English.

August 20, 2016

The Tragically Hip’s Final Concert

Beloved Canadian rockers The Tragically Hip played their final show to a hometown crowd at the K-Rock Centre in Kingston , Ontario . It was the last stop on the band’s Man Machine Poem tour, announced in the wake of frontman Gord Downie ’s diagnosis of terminal brain cancer in December 2015. More than 11 million people — nearly a third of the Canada’s population — tuned in to the live CBC broadcast on television, radio and online. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau was among the audience members present at the “national celebration,” in which the band played from its 30-year catalogue for nearly three hours. ( See also A Place to Happen .)

September 12, 2016

Discovery of HMS Terror

A team from the Arctic Research Foundation (founded by Jim Balsillie ) announced that they had found the second lost ship of the Franklin expedition , HMS Terror , in Nunavut ’s Terror Bay, north of where the Erebus was found in 2014. The discovery was confirmed by Parks Canada on 26 September 2016.

November 07, 2016

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 .

April 23, 2018

Toronto Van Attack Kills 10, 8 of them Women

At 1:24 p.m., a 25-year-old man who identified as an  incel  (involuntary celibate), drove a rented van onto the sidewalk on Yonge Street in  Toronto ’s  North York business district. He proceeded to drive south, intentionally running over pedestrians. When he was stopped by  police  10 minutes later, 10 people (eight of them women) were dead and 16 were injured. The driver was found guilty of 10 counts of first-degree murder and 16 counts of attempted murder.

July 28, 2018

Toronto Danforth Shooting Leaves Two Dead and 13 Injured

Shortly before 10:00 p.m., a shooter walked into a busy  Toronto  neighbourhood and began shooting people indiscriminately. He walked along Danforth Avenue, shooting others before exchanging gunfire with police and turning his handgun on himself. The shooter killed 18-year-old Reese Fallon and 10-year-old Julianna Kozis and left 13 people injured. The Toronto Danforth Shooting led to calls for more  gun control  in Canada.

October 02, 2018

Donna Strickland Wins Nobel Prize

The associate professor at the University of Waterloo became the first woman in 55 years, and only the third ever, to win the Nobel Prize in Physics . Strickland and Gérard Mourou were awarded for their work in laser physics. They shared the prize with Arthur Ashkin.

January 16, 2019

BC Fossils Help Solve Evolutionary Riddle

The fossilized soft tissue of agnostids found in the 500-million-year-old Burgess Shale deposit helped researchers prove a connection between the bug-like creatures and trilobites, adding a new branch to the evolutionary tree of life.

February 08, 2019

Serial Killer Bruce McArthur Sentenced to Life in Prison

After pleading guilty to eight counts of first-degree murder , Bruce McArthur was sentenced to life in prison with no chance of parole for 25 years. The 67-year-old former landscaper took his victims from Toronto ’s gay village, dismembered them and hid the remains in yards and planter boxes owned by his clients.

Quebec City Mosque Shooter Sentenced to Life in Prison

Alexandre Bissonnette, who shot and killed six men at a mosque in Quebec City on 29 January 2017, was sentenced to life in prison with no chance of parole for 40 years.

June 03, 2019

Final Report of the National Inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls Released

The final report of the National Inquiry into  Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls  reveals that persistent and deliberate human rights violations are the source of Canada’s staggering rates of violence against Indigenous women, girls and LGBTQ2S people. The report gives 231 calls for justice to governments, police forces and institutions.

December 12, 2019

Andrew Scheer Resigns as CPC Leader

Following weeks of speculation and pressure from inside and outside his party, Andrew Scheer announced that he would be stepping down as leader of the Conservative Party of Canada . Scheer had been criticized for failing to win the federal election on 21 October 2019 against a Liberal Party that was weakened by scandals, such as the SNC-Lavalin affair and revelations involving Justin Trudeau ’s use of blackface . Scheer said he would continue to serve as the party’s leader until a convention is held to elect his successor.

January 07, 2020

Health Canada Issues First Warning Regarding “Mysterious Pneumonia”

The Public Health Agency of Canada issued its first warning about a mysterious and deadly viral illness, which had first been reported a week prior in Wuhan, China. Dr. Theresa Tam , Canada’s chief public health officer, said, “Right now we are monitoring the situation very carefully. It is worth maintaining vigilance.” Canadian travellers to Wuhan were advised to avoid “high-risk areas” such as farms and animal markets.

January 08, 2020

Prince Harry and Meghan to “Step Back” from Royal Duties

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle announced their plans to transition out of their roles as senior members of the Royal Family . “We now plan to balance our time between the United Kingdom and North America, continuing to honour our duty to The Queen, the Commonwealth, and our patronages,” their statement read. Buckingham Palace responded with a statement explaining that “Discussions with the Duke and Duchess of Sussex are at an early stage,” and that “these are complicated issues that will take time to work through.”

January 20, 2020

First COVID-19 in Canada at Toronto’s Sunnybrook Hospital

Canada’s first case of “a new coronavirus” was reported at Sunnybrook Hospital in Toronto . The patient in question arrived in Toronto on a flight from Guangzhou, China, on 22 January, after previously being in Wuhan. Meanwhile, more than 100 Canadians were seeking the federal government ’s help to leave China.

April 18, 2020

Nova Scotia Attacks

Beginning at his home in Portapique,  Nova Scotia , a man wearing an  RCMP  uniform and driving a replica police cruiser went on a 13-hour rampage that left 22 people dead and six injured. It was the worst mass killing in modern Canadian history. Concerns were later raised regarding the RCMP’s response to the events and its handling of the manhunt. The federal and Nova Scotia governments later launched a public inquiry into the events.

September 28, 2020

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.

April 09, 2021

Canada Outpaces US in New COVID-19 Cases Amid Third Wave

For the first time in the pandemic, the rolling seven-day average number of new cases in Canada (206.84 cases per million people) surpassed that of the United States (203.81 cases per million people). The third wave was hitting hardest in Ontario , which reported a record-high 4,456 new COVID-19 cases. In more positive news, COVID-19 was proving to be less deadly than it had been a year earlier.

April 14, 2021

7-Day Average of New Cases at Highest Point in Pandemic

Canada had its worst week yet for new COVID-19 cases. The rolling seven-day average hit 8,444.7 cases. Hospitals in Ontario and Quebec were being pushed to their breaking points, while British Columbia broke a record for the number of hospitalizations.

April 15, 2021

Canada Sets New Daily Record for COVID-19 Cases

Canada recorded 9,559 new COVID-19 infections — the most in a single day during the pandemic. Ontario set a record of its own with 4,736 new daily cases.

April 22, 2021

Doug Ford Apologizes for Widely Criticized Measures

Ontario premier Doug Ford apologized for measures his government had introduced a week earlier. Many of the new rules, including closing all playgrounds and empowering police to detain people out in public during a stay-at-home order, were criticized as “draconian.” On 26 April, three armed forces medical teams were sent to Toronto to assist health care workers, while hospitals worried about possibly having to start triaging patients.

May 01, 2021

Alberta has Highest Per-capita COVID-19 Cases in Canada

For the third day in a row, Alberta set a record for new daily COVID-19 cases, with 2,433. With a seven-day rolling average of 440.5 daily cases per million people, Alberta had the highest per capita infection rate in Canada. It was also higher than any state in the US.

May 11, 2021

Ontario Pauses Use of AstraZeneca Vaccine

Ontario announced that it would be pausing the use of the AstraZeneca vaccine due to concerns over a rare but potentially fatal blood clotting disorder caused by the vaccine. As of 8 May, more than 900,000 shots of the vaccine had been given in the province. There had been eight cases of the disorder in Ontario and at least four more in the rest of the country. Three people had died.

May 13, 2021

Greyhound Ends Bus Service in Canada

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

May 21, 2021

Maple Leafs and Canadiens Faceoff in First Playoff Series Since 1979

Arch rivals Toronto Maple Leafs and Montreal Canadiens began the first playoff series against each other since 1979. The higher-seeded Maple Leafs took a commanding 3–1 lead in the series before the Canadiens won two games in overtime to force a Game 7, which they won 3–1 en route to their first Stanley Cup Finals appearance in almost 30 years.

May 27, 2021

Indigenous Peoples  Social History 

200 Possible Unmarked Graves Found on Grounds of Kamloops Residential School

Ground disturbances indicating 200 possible unmarked graves were found using ground penetrating radar on the grounds of the former Kamloops Indian Residential School — at one time the largest residential school in the country. Chief Rosanne Casimir of the Tk’emlups te Secwepemc First Nation called the finding an “unthinkable loss that was spoken about but never documented.”

Justin Trudeau Apologizes for Internment of Italian Canadians

In a speech in the House of Commons , Prime Minister Justin Trudeau apologized for the federal government ’s internment of Italian Canadians during the Second World War . Around 600 Italian Canadians suspected of sympathizing with fascism were placed in internment camps during the war, while 31,000 Italian Canadians were registered as enemy aliens and were forced to report to officials once a month.

June 06, 2021

Muslim Family Killed in Hit-and-Run Hate Crime

Two parents, a grandparent and a daughter were killed and a nine-year-old son was left in serious condition after the family was struck by a pickup truck while walking along the sidewalk in London , Ontario . Police confirmed that the attack was “a planned, premeditated act and that the family was targeted because of their Muslim faith.” ( See also Islamophobia in Canada .) A vigil was held in London two days later. The accused was charged with four counts of murder and one count of attempted murder. He was also charged with terrorism under section 83 of the Criminal Code . The nine-year-old orphaned boy was released to relatives a week later.

June 23, 2021

Hundreds of Possible Unmarked Graves Found at Saskatchewan Residential School

One month after the discovery of 200 possible unmarked graves at a former residential school in Kamloops , BC , ground-penetrating radar revealed an estimated 751 possible unmarked graves at the site of the former Marieval Indian Residential School in Cowessess First Nation territory, about 150 km east of Regina . The radar search began on 1 June. The Marieval school was open from 1899 to 1997 and was administered by the Catholic Church until 1968.

July 01, 2021

Thousands Attend “Cancel Canada Day” Rally in Ottawa

The annual Canada Day celebrations on Parliament Hill were replaced this year by a “Cancel Canada Day” rally organized by Idle No More and the Anishinaabe nation. Thousands of people, many of them wearing orange shirts , marched from the offices of Indigenous Services Canada in Gatineau to Parliament Hill, where they gathered to “honour all of the lives lost to the Canadian state.” Flags on Parliament Hill flew at half-mast in honour of the hundreds of dead children that had been found on the sites of former residential schools weeks earlier.

July 12, 2021

160+ Possible Unmarked Graves Found at Another BC Residential School

Penelakut Tribe Chief Joan Brown said in a statement that more than 160 “undocumented and unmarked” graves had been found on Penelakut Island, formerly Kuper Island, off the coast of Vancouver Island southeast of Nanaimo . The possible graves were found at the site of the Kuper Island Industrial School, a residential school run by the Catholic Church from 1890 to 1969 and by the federal government from 1969 until 1975.

July 25, 2021

Canada Wins First Medal at 2020 Tokyo Olympics

Swimmers Maggie Mac Neil , Kayla Sanchez, Rebecca Smit, and Penny Oleksiak posted a time of 3:32.78 to win silver in the women’s 4x100 m freestyle relay. This was Canada’s first medal of the Tokyo Games. Mac Neil went on to win Canada’s first gold of the Games in the women’s 100 m butterfly.

July 26, 2021

Jessica Klimkait Becomes First Canadian Woman to Win Olympic Judo Medal

At the  2020 Olympic Summer Games  in Tokyo, Jessica Klimkait became the first Canadian woman to win an Olympic medal in  judo , winning bronze in the women’s 57 kg division. Earlier in 2021, Klimkait became the second Canadian judoka, after  Christa Deguchi , to win gold at the World Judo Championships. Klimkait was one of two Canadian women to medal in judo at the Tokyo Olympics. Catherine Beauchemin-Pinard won the bronze medal in the women’s 63 kg class on 27 July 2021.

Mary Simon Becomes First Indigenous Person To Be Governor General

Inuk leader Mary Simon was formally installed as Canada’s 30th Governor General , making her the first Indigenous person to hold Canada’s viceregal position.

August 03, 2021

Canada Wins Olympic Gold in Women’s Soccer

After setting a goal to “change the colour” of the Olympic bronze medal it won in Rio in 2016, the Canadian women’s soccer team defeated Sweden to win Canada’s first Olympic gold medal in soccer. With the game tied 1–1 after regulation time, Julia Grosso scored the winning goal in the sixth round of penalty kicks. Midfielder Quinn became the first non-binary person to win an Olympic medal. ( See also Canada at the 2020 Olympic Summer Games .)

August 11, 2021

Michael Spavor Sentenced to 11 Years in Prison in China

Michael Spavor, who had been detained in China on espionage charges since December 2018 following Canada’s detention of Huawei executive Meng Wanzhou, was sentenced to 11 years in prison by a Chinese court. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau issued a statement calling the verdict “absolutely unacceptable and unjust… For Mr. Spavor, as well as for Michael Kovrig who has also been arbitrarily detained, our top priority remains securing their immediate release. We will continue working around the clock to bring them home as soon as possible.”

August 26, 2021

Canada Evacuates 3,700 People from Afghanistan

The Canadian military completed its evacuation of Afghanistan. 3,700 people — a combination of Canadian citizens , foreign nationals and Afghan refugees — were taken out of the country since 4 August. This followed the rapid deterioration of the country and the rise of the Taliban after US military began to withdraw from the war-torn country in July after a 20-year occupation. The US military completed its withdrawal on 30 August. ( See also Afghan Canadians ; Canada and the War in Afghanistan .)

August 31, 2021

More Than 1,000 Deaths from Drug Toxicity in BC So Far This Year

Five years since being declared a public health emergency by the BC government, the opioid crisis in the province showed no signs of relenting. A report from the BC Coroners Service found that in February 2021, BC’s illicit drug toxicity death rate was an average of 5.5 deaths per day and the number of deaths per 100,000 people due to illicit drug toxicity was the highest since 1995.

September 20, 2021

Trudeau and Liberals Win Third Term, Second Consecutive Minority

The 36-day election campaign that began on 15 August finished in much the same way as the previous federal election in 2019 — with similar seat counts for all parties and a Liberal minority government . Erin O’Toole and the Conservatives had been in a statistical dead heat with the Liberals in late August and went on to narrowly win the popular vote for the second consecutive election. However, the bad press generated by an unfolding health crisis in Alberta under conservative premier Jason Kenney combined with the successful efforts of Maxime Bernier ’s People’s Party of Canada to eat into the Conservatives’ vote share tipped the scales toward a Liberal victory. Following the election, many questioned the efficacy of spending more than $600 million on an election that replicated the status quo.

September 24, 2021

The “Two Michaels” Are Released from China

Michael Spavor and Michael Kovrig, two Canadians who were detained in China on espionage charges on 10 December 2018 in retaliation for the detention of Huawei CFO Meng Wanzhou in Vancouver earlier that month, were released by Chinese authorities. They returned to Canada on 25 September. Their release came one day after a court in BC dropped the case seeking to extradite Meng to the US over wire fraud and conspiracy charges. The two Michaels had spent more than 1,020 days imprisoned in China.

September 27, 2021

Annamie Paul Resigns as Green Party Leader

After becoming the first  Black Canadian  and the first Jewish woman to lead a major  federal   political party  in Canada when she was elected Green Party leader in October 2020, Annamie Paul lost a by-election for Toronto Centre later that month. She began to lose support within her party in summer 2021 over her muted position on the escalating Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Severe infighting within the party led to an attempt to remove Paul as leader and revoke her party membership. Paul persevered, but in the election on 20 September she lost her third bid for the Toronto Centre seat. The Green Party’s share of the national popular vote fell from 6.5 per cent in the 2019 election to only 2.3 per cent. Paul resigned as Green Party leader and called her time in the role “the worst period” in her life.

September 30, 2021

First National Day for Truth and Reconciliation

Canada recognized the first National Day for Truth and Reconciliation as an annual statutory holiday . The creation of the holiday was one of 94 recommendations in the Truth and Reconciliation Commission ’s final report, which was published in June 2015. The holiday was officially created with the passage of Bill C-5 on 3 June 2021, less than two weeks after the confirmation of 215 unmarked children’s graves at the site of a former residential school near Kamloops , BC . Prime Minister Justin Trudeau made headlines on the first National Day for Truth and Reconciliation after he spent the day on vacation in Tofino , BC, rather than participate in any official events.

October 14, 2021

State of Emergency Declared in Iqaluit Due to Tainted Water Supply

Two days after discovering petroleum hydrocarbons in Iqaluit ’s water supply, the Government of Nunavut declared a state of emergency in the city. ( See also Water Treatment ; Water Pollution .) The first of at least five shipments of potable water arrived in Iaqluit by airplane. The water was distributed in rations of 16 litres per household. Officials believed the contamination was caused by the effects of melting permafrost on underground pipes.

November 01, 2021

Global COVID-19 Death Toll Tops Five Million

Less than two years after the first case of COVID-19 was reported in Wuhan, China, the global death toll from COVID-19 surpassed 5 million.

November 02, 2021

First Canadian MLB General Manager to Win World Series

When the Atlanta Braves defeated the Houston Astros 7–0 in Game 6 of the World Series to win their first championship since 1995, Alex Anthopoulos became the first Canadian general manager in MLB history to win a World Series.

November 04, 2021

Canada to Spend a Record $308 Billion on Health Care in 2021

A report issued by the Canadian Institute for Health Information (CIHI) concluded that Canada would spend $308 billion on health care in 2021, due to the costs of the COVID-19 pandemic . The CIHI said that the rate of health care spending was the highest in more than 30 years. The expenditure was expected to equal more than 12 per cent of Canada’s gross domestic product (GDP) in 2021.

November 14, 2021

“Worst Weather Storm in a Century” Causes Floods, Wipes Out Highways and Kills Five in BC

A “significant atmospheric river” inundated the Lower Mainland and the southern interior of BC with a month’s worth of rain in less than 48 hours. Many communities recorded more than 100 mm of rain; the town of Hope had the most with 252 mm. A landscape scarred by forest fires and other effects of climate change resulted in severe mudslides and floods in 17 regional districts. Five people were killed in a mudslide on Highway 99 north of Pemberton, and hundreds of people in the province were evacuated by helicopter after they were stranded by mudslides on highways and roads . Stretches of the Coquihalla Highway and the Trans-Canada Highway were badly damaged or destroyed. The town of Merritt was flooded, forcing more than 7,000 residents to evacuate. The Sumas Prairie, an agricultural area between Abbotsford and Chilliwack that had once been a lake, was flooded, causing hundreds of millions in damages. The storm, which came four and a half months after a heat wave that killed almost 600 people in BC, also took a deadly toll on the region’s livestock. An estimated 628,000 poultry , 12,000 hogs and 420 dairy cows were killed and 110 beehives were destroyed.

November 19, 2021

Health Canada Approves COVID-19 Vaccines for Children Aged 5–11

Health Canada approved the COVID-19 vaccine for children aged 5–11. The federal government was expecting a delivery of 2.9 million pediatric doses, enough to give a first shot to every Canadian in that age group. Provincial governments noted that they were ready to begin administering the shots as soon as the vaccines were delivered.

November 29, 2021

Federal Government Tables Bill to Ban Conversion Therapy

After promising to reintroduce legislation banning conversion therapy in Canada within the first 100 days of its new mandate, the minority Liberal government of Justin Trudeau tabled Bill C-4. It included a broader definition of what constituted conversion therapy — also known as the ex-gay movement — as well as the addition of four new offenses to the Criminal Code . If passed, the legislation would make it illegal to force anyone to undergo conversion therapy, punishable by up to five years in prison . It would also allow courts to order the seizure or removal of conversion therapy advertisements .

December 08, 2021

Decathlete Damian Warner Wins Lou Marsh Trophy

Damian Warner received the Lou Marsh Trophy as Canada’s athlete of the year, in recognition of his gold medal victory in decathlon at the 2020 Olympic Summer Games in Tokyo. Warner set an Olympic record with 9,018 total points and became one of only four decathletes to reach 9,000 points in international competition. He also received the 2021 Lionel Conacher Award as Canada’s male athlete of the year and was inducted into  Canada’s Walk of Fame as part of the class of 2021. Meanwhile, calls grew to rename the Lou Marsh Trophy, due to Marsh’s long, documented history of racism , anti-Semitism and  discrimination .

December 09, 2021

Food Prices to Increase 5–7 Per Cent, Study Finds

Canada’s Food Price Report, compiled by researchers at several Canadian universities , predicted that food prices in Canada would increase by 5–7 per cent in 2022. The report also projected that prices at restaurants would rise by 6–8 per cent and that the average family of four would spend up to $14,767 on food.

December 15, 2021

Children Who Didn’t Come Home from Residential Schools Named Canadian Press Newsmaker of the Year

The Canadian Press named “children who didn’t come home from residential schools” as Canada’s Newsmaker of the Year . More than 1,000 unmarked graves on the sites of former residential schools across Western Canada had been confirmed since the first findings at the former Kamloops Indian Residential School were made public on 27 May.

Inflation Indicator at 18-Year High

Statistics Canada announced that Canada’s inflation rate in November was 4.7 per cent. This was the second month in a row that the inflation rate was the highest since 2003. The increase was consistent with a global trend. The United States, for example, had an inflation rate of 6.8 per cent — the highest in almost 40 years.

January 18, 2022

Boston Bruins Retire Willie O’Ree’s No. 22

Willie O’Ree , who became the NHL ’s first Black hockey player when he took to the ice with the Boston Bruins on 18 January 1958, became the 12th player in franchise history to have his number retired. O’Ree’s No. 22 was raised to the rafters before a home game at TD Garden on the 64th anniversary of his first NHL game.

January 21, 2022

Nearly 60 Per Cent of Families Struggling to Buy Food, Poll Finds

A poll conducted by the Angus Reid Institute found that 57 per cent of Canadians had struggled recently to feed their families — an increase from 36 per cent in 2019, the last time a similar poll was conducted. Supply chain issues sparked by the COVID-19 pandemic had led to an inflation rate of 5.1 per cent — the highest in 30 years. Labour and product shortages were also wreaking havoc on the business of grocery stores, which observers said could further threaten food security .

January 23, 2022

Pandemic Lockdowns Have Led to Increase in Intimate Partner Violence, Experts Say

Experts on intimate partner violence released a study, which found that pandemic-related public health restrictions were giving abusers “circumstances to increase their capacity to control and to manipulate.” The study also argued that previously non-violent people were becoming increasingly abusive due to the stress and tension brought about by the pandemic. There was a massive increase in phone calls to support groups and help lines, with one Toronto -based organization reporting a 9,000 per cent increase from pre-pandemic levels.

January 28, 2022

“Freedom Convoy” Arrives in Ottawa and Begins Occupation of Capital

Convoys of truckers, which had been making their way to Ottawa from Western and Eastern Canada, finally arrived in Canada’s capital to protest public health mandates and restrictions. The convoys were cheered by supporters across the country, many of whom greeted them along highway overpasses. However, the protest’s stated goal of unseating Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and overthrowing the government left many Canadians uneasy and brought to mind the insurrection at the US Capitol on 6 January 2021 — as did the presence of Confederate and Nazi flags among the protesters. With 85 per cent of Canadians vaccinated , including about 90 per cent of all truckers, the protest was seen as a far-right fringe movement. Observers noted that online rhetoric surrounding the protest had grown “increasingly worrisome.” Similar Freedom Convoy protests formed blockades at a border crossing in Coutts, Alberta , and at the Ambassador Bridge between Windsor , Ontario , and Detroit, Michigan, on 29 January and 7 February, respectively.  

September 08, 2022

Death of Queen Elizabeth II

Queen Elizabeth II died at age 96 at Balmoral Castle in Scotland with the Royal Family by her side. They had gathered there earlier that day after doctors had expressed concern for her health and put her under medical supervision. Having occupied the throne for 70 years and 214 days, Elizabeth was Britain’s longest-reigning monarch and the second-longest reigning monarch in recorded history. She was Queen of Canada for almost half of the country’s existence. Upon her death, Charles automatically ascended to the role of king. He became the 62nd British monarch and, at age 73, the oldest ever to assume the throne.

Related Timelines

Communication and transportation, queen elizabeth ii, sir wilfrid laurier.

Canadian History Research Guide

• Finding Books
• Finding E-Books
• Finding Journal Articles
• History Databases

Best Bets for Manitoba Historic Research

General digital collections, newpapers / news, government documents, pictures and media, primary sources in books, indigenous sources, gender and sexuality, black history, hathitrust digital library, s.j. mckee archives, meta searching via archivegrid, eromm european register of microform and digital masters, meta searching via google advanced search, useful journals for background research, bu library quicklinks, accessing primary sources from home.

• Electronic Reference Books
• Research Help
• Canada to Confederation Class
• Videos on Locating Library Materials

• S. J. McKee Archives Located in BU Library, upstairs in the North Stacks Archivist: Christy Henry, B.A. (Spec.), M.A.; (204) 727-9634; [email protected] more... less... Collection of Primary Sources relevant to History in Western Manitoba. Some material is online.
• Independent Voices Independent Voices is a digital collection of alternative press newspapers, magazines and journals, drawn from the special collections of participating libraries. These periodicals were produced by feminists, dissident GIs, campus radicals, Native Americans, anti-war activists, Black Power advocates, Hispanics, LGBT activists, the extreme right-wing press and alternative literary magazines during the latter half of the 20th century.

Many primary sources can be found in books.  To find these go to the library’s search engine , then search for your topic using one of the following terms:

An example of this search is displayed in the image below

HathiTrust Digital Library is a digital preservation repository and highly functional access platform. HathiTrust provides long-term preservation and access services  to digitized content from a variety of sources, including Google, the Internet Archive, Microsoft, and in-house member institution initiatives. Items in the public domain are in full-view for everyone and items held in copyright are searchable.

To locate Digital Primary Sources in HathiTrust : 

The S.J. McKee Archives holds historical documents related the Westman area of Manitoba. It is increasingly placing a number of institutional and regional history documents online via the Institutional Repository at Brandon University.     Researchers wishing to use the Archives physical collections can visit it from 1:00-4:30 P.M. Monday-Friday (with the exception of Statuatory Holidays.)   During Covid contact the archives to arrange a visit. One significant collection is the Fabian Society Tracts.  To access them go to the library search engine and follow tin instructional screenshots below.

ArchiveGrid includes over 5 million records describing archival materials, bringing together information about historical documents, personal papers, family histories, and more. With over 1,000 different archival institutions represented, ArchiveGrid helps researchers looking for primary source materials held in archives, libraries, museums and historical societies. ArchiveGrid is largely made up of MARC records from WorldCat.  

To search ArchiveGrid :

Step 1: .

Step 2: 

Step 6: 

Step 7: 

EROMM  is an international database containing information about printed and handwritten material that have been reformatted to microform or digital form. It does not contain information about “digital born” material (e. g. electronic journals, e-books), nor information about non-textual items like images, photos or three-dimensional objects (e.g. artifacts, art).

To search EROMM : 

Advanced Google Searches

General Google searches may yield very many results, and it may take much sifting through the results in order to find relevant items. Using  Google Advanced Search  with specific search terms can help yield more focused results.

Within Google Advanced Search, use the “all of these words” and the “this exact word or phrase” to enter keywords for your subject, for example,

• all these words:           Métis Rebellion
• any of these words:     archives manuscripts correspondence diaries scrapbooks sources letters

This will yield a mixture of digitized full text and other material.

• all these words:           Women Canada
• any of these words:    " digital archives" "digital collection" "digital library" "online collection"  

Although less effective you can also try:

• all these words:          [Your topic words]
• any of these words:    cdm contentdm

"Cdm" or "contentdm" occur in the url of many digital collections  

For any of these searches Use the Usage Rights option and select material that is openly available for you to use.

For any of these searches, use the “site or domain” box to search within just . edu, .org, or .gov sites.​ ​   List of country domain names .  

Note: Examples adapted from  Harvard University Libraries Libduide

• Library Home Page The home page of the John E. Robbins Library
• Search the Library Catalogue Search the library catalogue for books, journals, and online links
• BU Journal List The list of journals that Brandon University students and faculty have access to
• BU Database List The list of databases that Brandon University students and faculty have access to.

If you are a student or faculty member at Brandon University, you can access primary sources from off campus.

If you are accessing the library's web site from off campus, most links on the library's web site will first take you to the Proxy Authentication Page, where you can log in with your Brandon University username and password. Once you have logged in, you will be taken to the destination of the link. You should only have to log in once per session.

To log in, you will need your Brandon University username and password - the same username and password you use to log into the Brandon University network when you're on campus. If you have not claimed your username and password or you are having trouble logging in with those, you should contact the Brandon University Help Desk (Phone 571-8500 Monday -Friday 8:30AM to 4:30PM).

For more information, see the Off-Campus Access Page

• << Previous: History Databases
• Next: Electronic Reference Books >>
• Last Updated: Jul 15, 2024 4:45 PM
• URL: https://libguides.brandonu.ca/c.php?g=314998

• Thompson Rivers University Library
• Research Guides

Canadian History

• Primary Sources
• Books to Get You Started
• Citation Guides
• Research Strategies
• Ask a Question

About Primary Sources

TRU Library owns or has access to a number of primary sources for history. This page outlines how to locate these primary source documents.

Primary sources  are first-hand accounts from the time period involved. They were created by someone directly involved in the events you’re studying, at the time of the event (or very soon after). They serve as “raw material” to help researchers get as close as possible to what actually happened during an historical event or time period

For example :  diaries, letters, photographs, art, maps, original video, film or sound recordings, interviews, or newspaper articles

Secondary sources  are created after the fact by individuals or groups who did NOT witness the events being discussed. They describe, analyze, interpret, report, or correlate the information about an event, thing, idea, or someone's life based on their study of primary material AFTER the events in question. They are often based on primary sources.

For example: scholarly or popular books and articles, reference books, biographies, or textbooks

• Historical documents : how to read them Guide. Provides tips on how to read and use primary sources in historical research.
• Primary Sources on the Web: Finding, Evaluating, Using A brief guide designed to provide students, teachers and researchers with information to help them use and evaluate the quality of primary source materials that can be found on the web.

Through Discover

Two options (and you will get very different results, so try both):

Run your search and then click on the "show more" link under the "Content Type" option to refine your results. Select "Primary Source Documents" and then click on the update" button. (NOTE: This option does not work very well)

Run your search and then click on the "Advanced Search" link underneath the search box.  In the second box, add one of the following subheadings to limit your search results and change the search from "select a field" to " SU subject":

• correspondence
• early works to 1800
• personal narratives

Note: "sources" is the most useful term

For example, if you wish to do a search for primary sources on Indigenous Peoples, use:

history AND indians of north america AND sources

• For online searching, capitalizing the search terms (i.e., history) does not make a difference, but capitalizing the search operators (i.e., AND, OR) does.
• For finding historical sources about Indigenous topics, the term Indians of North America still provides the most results

To find letters by immigrants try:

immigrants AND Canada AND correspondence

Historical Newspapers

Online Historical Newspapers:

• Proquest Historical Newspapers The Province (1894-2010) This link opens in a new window The Province is a one of two newspapers published in British Columbia daily except for Saturdays and selected holidays. It provides information for business, economics, history, journalism, political studies, Canadian studies, tourism, and data and statistics.
• Proquest Historical Newspapers Times Colonist (1884-2010) This link opens in a new window
• Proquest Historical Newspapers Vancouver Sun (1912-2010) This link opens in a new window The Vancouver Sun is a daily newspaper first published in British Columbia on 12 February 1912. It is published six days a week, Monday to Saturday.
• Nexis Uni This link opens in a new window (1980 to present)
• The British Colonist 1858-1980 Digitized copies of articles published in the British Colonist (also called The Daily British Colonist , the Daily Colonist , and other variants) newspaper between December 11, 1858 and December 1980.

• BC Historical Newspapers Provides digitized versions of 168 historical papers from around the province. The titles date from 1859 to 1995.
• Canada Gazette (1998 - )
• A Nation's Chronicle: The Canada Gazette (1841-1997)
• Canadian News Online
• Google News Archive Search - includes magazines, newspapers, and other resources. List of available newspapers at: https://news.google.com/newspapers

Print/Microfilm Newspapers at the TRU Library:  

• Victoria Times Colonist (microfilm: 1858-1982)
• Vancouver Sun (microfilm: 1912-present)
• Globe and Mail (microfilm: 1978-present)
• Inland Sentinel (microfilm: 1880-1916)
• Kamloops Standard (microfilm: 1897-1910)
• Kamloops Telegram (microfilm: 1916-1924)
• Kamloops Standard-Sentinel (microfilm: 1916-1924)
• Kamloops Sentinel (microfilm: 1924-1955)
• Kamloops Daily Sentinel (microfilm: 1955-1987)
• Kamloops Daily News (microfilm: 1965-2008) (paper copies from 2008 - 2014)

To find articles in the Vancouver Province , Vancouver Sun , Victoria Daily Colonist , and Victoria Daily Times , use the British Columbia Provincial Library newspaper index (microfilm indexes 1900-1970, 1971-1980; available online from 1991 - 2007)

The Kamloops Museum and Archives has an index of articles published in the Kamloops Daily News prior to 1988.

Online Resources - General

The Internet has lots of primary sources, but it is very important to look at who is providing the digitized content. The recommended sources listed below have primary documents on many subject areas in Canadian History . Be sure to use the tips in the "Through Discover & the TRU Library Catalogue" (left) to locate many more primary sources.  Please note:   E-Books are restricted  to current TRU students, staff and faculty.

• ArchiviaNet: Online Research Net
• Canada's Digital Collections (CDC): Alphabetical Listing Industry Canada project between 1996 and 2004 to provide young Canadians with skills and experience in preparing digital Canadian content of local, regional and international interest.
• Canada Year Book (CYB) Historical Collection Discover Canada's social and economic past through the people, events and facts from 1867 to 1967. Browse individual issues by years, by theme, or by tables, chart, maps and photos.
• Canadian Government Publications Portal Provides free access to more than 20,000 digitized Canadian Government publications.
• CBC Digital Archives Provides clips from CBC coverage back to the 1930s on topics relating to Canada's peoples, arts & entertainment, conflict & war, politics & economy, life & society, disasters & tragedies, science & technology, and sports.
• Children and Youth in History: North America Primary source database relating to children and youth in North American history.
• HathiTrust Digital Library A partnership of academic & research institutions, offering a collection of millions of titles digitized from libraries around the world.
• Internet Archive: Text Archive Provides access to over 10,000,000 fully accessible pubic domain eBooks and texts, including many historical primary sources from various libraries and from Project Gutenberg.
• Internet Modern History Sourcebook Provides links to numerous primary documents related to modern history. Includes European, Canadian, Australian and American history.
• Library and Archives Canada: Indigenous Heritage Library and Archives Canada (LAC) acquires, preserves, and provides access to published and archival heritage material that represents First Nations, Inuit, and Métis Nation experiences and contributions to Canada. The collection includes text, photographs, maps, and audio-visual material. The collection can be accessed via LAC online databases, digitized documents, and thematic guides.
• Maclean's Archive This link opens in a new window Maclean's archive contains fulltext issues of Maclean's magazine from 1905 to the present.
• New York Public Library Digital Collections Provides access to over 860,000 images digitized from primary sources and printed rarities in the New York Public Library collections such as illuminated manuscripts, historical maps, vintage posters, rare prints and photographs, letters, illustrated books, and printed ephemera. Topics covered include: Arts & Literature; Cities & Buildings; Culture & Society; History & Geography; Industry & Technology; Nature & Science; and Printing & Graphics.
• Transgender Archives The University of Victoria holds the world's largest collection of archival material related to modern transgender activism and research and seeks to preserve the history of pioneering activists, community leaders, and researchers working for the betterment of transgender people.

This digital collection of primary source documents helps us to understand existence on the edges of the anglophone world from 1650-1920. Discover the various European and colonial frontier regions of North America, Africa and Australasia through documents that reveal the lives of settlers and indigenous peoples in these areas.

• Google Books Full-text of thousands of books. Use advanced search to limit to "full view" (full-text) and to have access to the most searching options.
• Our Ontario Partnership of cultural and heritage organizations in Ontario which provides access to over 1.8 million digital resources
• Points to the Past Provides permanent access to all of the Gale Digital Collections products – nearly 200 million pages of digitized historical content.
• York University: Clara Thomas Archives and Special Collections: Canadian Pamphlet Collection Covers a wide variety of subjects, including social and political issues, religion, fine arts, and women’s studies. Includes records from the 18th century to the present.

Online Resources - Pre-Confederation

The Internet has lots of primary sources, but it is very important to look at who is providing the digitized content. In addition to the suggested general resources listed at the top of the page, here are some recommended sources with primary documents on many subject areas in Pre-Confederation Canadian History:

• Champlain Society Provides digital copies of primary sources dealing with exploration and discovery over three centuries. Includes first-hand accounts of Samuel de Champlain's voyages in New France and the diary from Sir John Franklin's first land expedition to the Arctic.
• France in America / France en Amérique A bilingual collection of digitized 16th century to 19th century books, maps, prints and other documents housed at the Library of Congress (U.S.) and the Bibliothèque National de France (France).
• In Pursuit of Adventure: The Fur Trade in Canada and the North West Company Scholarly research site about the fur trade in Canada. Covers the exploits of the North West Company and other Montreal-based fur trading companies during the late 18th and early 19th century. Includes the full texts of 38 manuscripts, known collectively as the Masson Papers, which cover the period ca 1790-1820. These diaries provide insights into the history of the North West Company and the fur trade in general.
• Musée McCord Museum The McCord Museum conserves objects, images, and manuscripts reflecting the social history and material culture of Montreal, Quebec and Canada. The website contains more than 135,000 digitized images of artifacts accessible using the online "Collections"
• The Jesuit Relations and Allied Documents, 1610 to 1791 Contains the entire English translation of the The Jesuit Relations and Allied Documents , originally compiled and edited by Reuben Gold Thwaites and published by The Burrows Brothers in the late nineteenth century. Each file represents the total English contents of a single published volume.

Online Resources - Post-Confederation

The Internet has lots of primary sources, but it is very important to look at who is providing the digitized content. In addition to the suggested general resources listed at the top of the page, here are some recommended sources with primary documents on many subject areas in Post-Confederation Canadian History:

• Ad*Access - Duke Libraries Collection of over 7000 digitized advertisements printed in US and Canadian newspapers and magazines from the 1910s to the 1950s. Product categories include: Beauty and Hygiene; Radio; Television; Transportation; and World War II propaganda.
• Atlas of Alberta Railways The Atlas' 224 detailed maps are accompanied by short articles, illustrations, historic photographs, charts, graphs and interesting trivia that provide a comprehensive overview of the railways in the province.
• Canadian Agriculture Library Digital collection of departmental publications that showcase the Canadian Department of Agriculture’s history, organization and work over the past century.
• Canadian Pamphlets and Broadsides Provides access to pre-1930 Canadian pamphlet and broadside holdings of the Thomas Fisher Rare Book Library at the University of Toronto. Includes items printed in Canada, by Canadian authors, or about Canadian subjects.
• Canadian War Poster Collection Contains digitized images of over 250 Canadia posters from World War I and World War II. Provides basic descriptions and images of each poster, an artist index, and an essay about Canadian War Posters.
• Canadian Constitution Online version from the Canadian Department of Justice of the British North America Act (which was renamed the Constitution Act, 1867 in 1982) and the current Constitution Act, 1982.
• Democracy at War: Canadian Newspapers and the Second World War Full text collection of more than 144,000 newspaper articles are arranged by subject and includes news stories and editorials from mostly Canadian newspapers documenting every aspect of the war.
• Glenbow Museum > Collections & Research The Glenbow Museum in Calgary contains an extensive collection of art, artifacts, archival materials, and published works which document the history and culture of Western Canada. Some of these materials have been digitally scanned.
• Indian Affairs Annual Reports 1864-1990 Provides digital access to the annual reports relating to Indian Affairs and Northern Affairs.
• Maple Leaf: For Canadian Troops In Action 1944-1946 Canadian military newspaper for soldiers during World War II. Contains digitized copies of the newspaper.
• Memory Project An initiative of Historica Canada. The Memory Project Archive houses more than 2,800 testimonials and over 10,000 images from Canadian veterans of the First World War, Second World War, the Korean War, and peacekeeping missions.
• Moving Here, Staying Here: The Canadian Immigrant Experience Includes voyage diaries, letters, posters, printed advertisements and pamphlets, and passenger lists that document the experience of Canadian immigrants from 1800s-1930. Provided by Library and Archives Canada.
• Our Future, Our Past: The Alberta Heritage Digitization Project (AHDP) Provides free online access to cultural and heritage materials relating to Alberta's history. Includes newspapers from 1885, entire books about local communities, legal documents, and historic photographs.
• Peel's Prairie Provinces Contains both an online bibliography of books, pamphlets, and other materials related to the development of the Prairies, as well as a searchable full-text collection of 7,500+ digitized books, 4.8 million+ newspaper articles, 16,000 postcards, and 1,000 maps.
• Saskatchewan News Index
• War Diaries of the First World War Contains the digitized War Diaries of the Canadian Expeditionary Force (CEF) units. The War Diaries are not personal diaries; they are a historical record of a unit’s administration, operations and activities during World War I.

Online Resources - British Columbia

The Internet has lots of primary sources, but it is very important to look at who is providing the digitized content. In addition to the suggested general resources listed at the top of the page, here are some recommended sources with primary documents on many subject areas in BC History:

   TIP: Check out the websites for local museums in specific Canadian communities to locate more primary resources

• BC Archives
• British Columbia Government Publications Search Portal This portal allows for full-text searching of the Legislative Library of British Columbia’s collection of digital government publications. The collection includes digital and digitized materials issued or published by authority of a British Columbia government body.
• City of Vancouver Archives The City of Vancouver Archives is responsible for acquiring, organizing, and preserving Vancouver's historical records and making them available to the widest possible audience. Their holdings include: City of Vancouver government records (public records)
• Doukhobor Collection Collection of primary sources (manuscripts and photographs) on the settlement of the Doukhobors in late 19th - early 20th century Canada.
• Kamloops Museum & Archives Contains access to some digitized resources and provides some online finding aids to archival material.
• UBC Library : Rare Books & Special Collections Houses significant collections of rare books, archival materials, historic maps, photographs, broadsides and pamphlets on British Columbia History. Some material has been digitized.
• UBCIC Online Resources UBCIC History Online is a digital collection of multimedia materials produced during and related to the establishment and early years of the Union of BC Indian Chiefs (UBCIC).
• Univeristy of Washington Libraries Digital Collections: Alaska Western Canada and United States collection Digital collection of historic photographs on the Gold Rush of 1898-1900, mining activities, street scenes, Aboriginal peoples, hunting and fishing, transportation, and World War II installations. in Alaska, Oregon, Idaho, the Yukon, and BC.
• Vancouver Public Library: Special Collections Division - Historical Photographs Over 15,000 historical photographs relating to the history of Vancouver have been digitized.
• McQueen Family Letters Family letters which chronicle the activities and relationships of a farming family from Pictou County, NS in the second half of the nineteenth century. The two youngest daughters taught school in British Columbia.
• The Homeroom: British Columbia's History of Education Gateway to information about the history of education and schools in British Columbia.
• Digitized Okanagan History Contains digitized historical photographs, textual documents, and publications related to the Okanagan from local museums and archives throughout the region.

Statistical Information

• Kamloops & Region Census Statistics, 1870-1981 Contains the census statistics for Kamloops, British Columbia and its surrounding region from 1870-1981. Includes population socio-economic, some business/industry, agricultural, institutional, and housing statistics.
• CANSIM CANSIM is Statistics Canada's key socioeconomic database. Updated daily, CANSIM provides fast and easy access to a large range of the latest statistics available in Canada. Provides access to the Canadian Censuses, the Agricultural Censuses, Aboriginal Peoples Survey, environmental data, Elections Canada data, and the time series in CANSIM (Canadian Socio-economic Information Management System).
• Historical Statistics of Canada Contains about 1,088 statistical tables on the social, economic and institutional conditions of Canada from the start of the Confederation in 1867 to the mid-1970s.
• Living Landscapes Provides the nominal census data for the southern interior of British Columbia. Includes data from the following censuses: 1881 and 1891 Canada Census, Yale District, BC, the 1877 Indian Reserve Commission Census (IRC), southern interior of BC; and the 18 more... less... check link's https://royalbcmuseum.bc.ca/exhibits/living-landscapes/ content
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• Last Updated: Sep 5, 2024 8:50 AM
• URL: https://libguides.tru.ca/canadianhistory

Helping Students Identify Inquiry Topics

This activity is designed to encourage students to make observations about the world around them.

• Download the lesson plan (English)
• Download the lesson plan (French)

This lesson links to the section “Discover Your Story” found on pages 2 to 5 in What’s The Story?

Before students can create their own inquiry questions, they have to spend some time brainstorming possible topic ideas. This activity is designed to encourage students to make observations about the world around them. It corresponds to the prompt found on page 5 of What’s the Story?

On your way to school and your other activities, pay special attention to what you see. Come up with a list of things whose history you’d like to know more about — maybe it’s a person, an event, a place, an object, an idea. Visit CanadasHistory.ca/WhatsTheStoryTopic to share your ideas.

After students prepare their lists, discuss their ideas further to inspire a direction or topic for their research project. Some discussion questions could be: 

• Did any of the items on your list prompt you to investigate further?
• What questions do you still have about any of the items on your list?
• Are any of the items representative of or connected to an event in Canadian history? 
• Have you encountered something that matters to you? 
• Have you uncovered something that you think others should know about?

After the discussion, choose one of the following tasks to encourage further exploration.

Option 1: Neighbourhood Walk   

Tour the area around your school or a local area of interest to model discovering local histories. You can explore natural or human-made areas, such as buildings, parks or streets. Make observations and inferences about what you see and encourage students to share their own observations and inferences, such as “What can we assume based on the information on the plaque?” and “It would be interesting to know more about who designed this.” Ask students to share evidence to support their inferences, by asking questions like “Why do you think that?” or “What do you see that makes you think that?”

Ask questions to evoke deeper thinking. For example: 

• What is this? Who designed it? What is it called? Why was it built? Where exactly is it? Who uses this place now? When was it built? How has it changed? Why might that be?
• Does this remind you of anything? Does it symbolize anything? Can you connect it to something else?
• Have you noticed this before? Why or why not?
• What positive impact might this place have on the people here? What negative impact might it have? 
• Does this place matter to you? Why or why not?

Encourage students to ask themselves questions and to make careful observations on their way home or to their activities over the next few days to see what might inspire curiosity about their local history. 

Option 2: Map Exploration

Choose a local map or a few different types of maps to share with the class. These could be topographical, tourist or cycling path maps, for example. Ask students to identify features they are familiar with and ones they have not noticed before. Invite students to speculate about when and why different features appeared in their local history. Ask students to identify which places matter to them or the people who live in the community and to explain why. Lead a discussion about how students’ attitudes towards their local community may have changed or been reinforced by this process of exploring a map as if they were historians. Other possible discussion questions could be:

• How might the community be different without this feature or place?
• Who benefits the most because of it? How might that have changed over time?
• Are there any noticeable patterns or trends in the names or locations of places or features?

Encourage students to ask questions and to make careful observations on their way home or to their activities over the next few days to see what might inspire curiosity about their local history. If they were intrigued by the exploration of a map, suggest that they visit some of the places that piqued their curiosity to make real-world observations. 

Option 3: Visualization Exercise

Invite students to close their eyes and to picture themselves preparing to leave the school at the end of the day. Guide students through a visualization activity, taking into account different modes of transportation, weather, routes, features of interest and points of reference. Have them use their senses to recreate their whole journey. Proceed slowly and suggest to students that they imagine details if they cannot remember them.

After they “reach” their destination, invite students to share their visualized observations with a partner. Ask students to describe what they remembered and what they could not remember and speculate why that might be. A further discussion could lead to questions about what features help to characterize a place or develop a sense of place in the people who live there. This may include questions such as: 

• Which prompts, details or features helped you recognize and visualize different places on your journey? 
• Which prompts, details or features gave you a sense of belonging or familiarity?
• Which points of reference matter most to you when you leave school every day? 
• What aspects of your journey are you wondering about after closely imagining them?
• How do you feel about your everyday journey? What does living here mean to you?
• What do you think your school like in the past? What would your journey home have looked like? What did your community mean to the people who lived here before you?  

Encourage students to ask themselves questions and to make careful observations on their way home or to their activities over the next few days to see what might inspire curiosity about their local history. Remind them to be especially observant of parts of their journey that they struggled to visualize in class.

Response and Reflection

After students complete one of the activities, ask them to revisit the prompt found on page 5 of What’s the Story? Of all the people, places and subjects they explored, ask students to choose three to share online. Encourage students to describe what it is that interests them about these topics. Responses can be shared at CanadasHistory.ca/WhatsTheStoryTopic .

Invite students to read the submissions from other students across Canada. Encourage discussion and reflection by asking questions such as:

• Did other students have similar topic ideas? Were there any new ideas that you were interested in? Did anything surprise you about the responses you read?
• Did you notice any trends in the types of topics students were interested in? What were some of the similarities and/or differences you noted? Try to find a response from a student in a different province or territory —  how was their response similar to or different from yours?

Themes associated with this article

• Arts, Culture & Society
• Discover Your Community

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What's the Story?

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HIS 400: International History [Fall 2024]

The problem in a nutshell, what kinds of questions do historians ask, ways of writing history, is your topic feasible.

• Finding out what other historians think
• Finding primary sources
• Footnotes made easy This link opens in a new window
• Getting help

You need a topic

• that you care about;
• that addresses a historical question;
• for which you can identify primary sources that are accessible to you; and
• that's the right size for a 30-page paper due on April 26.

To start with, what questions have other historians asked about your general topic? If you are writing about something that already has been addressed by other historians, it can be very useful to survey that literature and ask yourself which approaches are interesting to you.

And remember: history is about change over time. Simply describing the events of the past isn't very interesting, unless there is disagreement about what actually happened.

In your junior seminar, you'll be introduced to many different ways of writing history. Some approaches have a long history of their own, like biography and the history of nations. Others are new, like transnational history or the study of race and gender in history. History has established subdisciplines, with their own ways of thinking about particular questions. So think about what you are interested in:

• Political history; the history of nations; the history of relations between nations; transnational history; history of government and administration; the history of power
• Economic history; trade, finance, taxation
• Social history; the history of particular social groups (workers, the poor, peasants); history of gender, race, minority and marginal groups; relations between social groups
• Intellectual history; the history of ideas, education
• History of religion; the history of religious beliefs, practice, and the structures of organized religion
• Cultural history; the history of elite culture and of popular culture; material culture and consumption; art in historical context
• Environmental history; the history of the built environment (cities); the history of the natural environment
• Biography (the history of an individual); prosopography (investigating common characteristics of a group of individuals in historical context via a collective study of the individuals' lives; often referred to as a "collective biography")
• Historiography (the history of the writing of history)

Do not choose a topic for which there is no secondary literature and no primary sources that are accessible to you. Some questions to ask yourself, your advisor, and me:

• Have other historians found your topic worthwhile? It's better not to choose a topic on which there is no scholarly secondary literature whatsoever. (Possibly what you have is a good Ph.D. dissertation topic, but more likely it is not feasible for some other reason.)
• Are the sources for your topic written in a language you can read?
• Are the sources for your topic published, or unpublished? Are they available in print, on microfilm, or online?
• Are the sources for your topic available at Princeton? If not, can you borrow them (through Borrow Direct or Interlibrary Loan) from another library?
• Are the sources for your topic available somewhere else nearby? Can you travel (on a Friday, or over fall break) to another library or archive, or do you have other commitments that would make that impossible?
• Next: Finding out what other historians think >>
• Last Updated: Sep 6, 2024 3:07 PM
• URL: https://libguides.princeton.edu/International_History