Get to know your neighbours to the north

The Death of General Woolfe

Many of you are probably unaware that today is Canada Day. Because July 1st falls so close to July 4th (Filipino-American Frienship Day) it often doesn't receive the attention it deserves. In Canada, we sometimes refer to it as 'Dominion Day', because it was on this day in 1867 that Canada became a semi-independent country. As a historian and a Canadian, I feel it's important to help educate other about our great nation.

So, here is a list of important events that happened on July 1st. I hope you enjoy your tour through our great nation's history.

1755 - British punish disloyal Acadians by forcing them to live in Louisiana.

1812 - Laura Secord walked thirty kilometers through the snow to warn the British encampment at Fitzgibbon's headquarters that Americans made really inferior chocolate bars.

1837 - Lower Canada riots due to confusion over its precise geographical relationship with Upper Canada.

1885 - While preparing himself to face the gallows, Louis Riel utters famous last phrase, "Friendly Manitoba, my a--!"

1952 - Rocket Richard torches the Capitals for five goals, then burns down Presidential Mansion during after-party.

1967 - FLQ crisis erupts after federal government tries to ban Quebecois from putting mayonaise on everything.

1983 - Captain Marc Garneau banned from future space missions after using shuttle's Canadian-made robotic arm to pick fellow astronaut's nose.

1987 - A young Mack Strate rips up Slalom course at St. Mary's reservoir following Raymond parade.

1996 - Bowling for Columbine director Michael Moore shot seven times at Toronto area bar for repeatedly saying, "No doot aboot it!"



The Prince of Wales Hotel, Waterton National Park