1949 in Canada
Encyclopedia
Events
- March 31 - NewfoundlandNewfoundland and LabradorNewfoundland and Labrador is the easternmost province of Canada. Situated in the country's Atlantic region, it incorporates the island of Newfoundland and mainland Labrador with a combined area of . As of April 2011, the province's estimated population is 508,400...
becomes Canada's 10th province at a fraction of a second from April 1, April Fools' DayApril Fools' DayApril Fools' Day is celebrated in different countries around the world on April 1 every year. Sometimes referred to as All Fools' Day, April 1 is not a national holiday, but is widely recognized and celebrated as a day when many people play all kinds of jokes and foolishness...
. - April 1 - Joey SmallwoodJoey SmallwoodJoseph Roberts "Joey" Smallwood, PC, CC was the main force that brought Newfoundland into the Canadian confederation, and became the first Premier of Newfoundland . As premier, he vigorously promoted economic development, championed the welfare state, and emphasized modernization of education and...
becomes the first premier of Newfoundland as a Canadian province - April 4 - Canada joins the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO)
- May 4 - Leslie FrostLeslie FrostLeslie Miscampbell Frost, was a politician in Ontario, Canada, who served as the 16th Premier from May 4, 1949 to November 8, 1961. Due to his lengthy tenure, he gained the nickname "Old Man Ontario".-Early years:...
becomes premier of OntarioOntarioOntario is a province of Canada, located in east-central Canada. It is Canada's most populous province and second largest in total area. It is home to the nation's most populous city, Toronto, and the nation's capital, Ottawa....
, replacing Thomas KennedyThomas Laird KennedyThomas Laird Kennedy was a politician in Ontario, Canada and served briefly as the 15th Premier of Ontario. He was first elected as the Conservative member for Peel in the 1919 provincial election... - June 27 - Federal election: Louis Saint Laurent's Liberals win a fourth consecutive majority
- August 22 - Queen Charlotte earthquake1949 Queen Charlotte earthquakeThe Queen Charlotte Islands earthquake of 1949 was a magnitude 8.1 interplate earthquake that struck the sparsely populated Queen Charlotte Islands and the Pacific Northwest coast on August 22, 1949. It is one of the world's greatest earthquakes. The main shock epicenter began in the ocean bottom...
: Canada's largest earthquake since the 1700 Cascadia earthquake - September 9 - Albert Guay affair: in-flight bombing of a Canadian Pacific AirlinesCanadian Pacific AirlinesCanadian Pacific Air Lines was a Canadian airline that operated from 1942 to 1987. It operated under the name CP Air from 1968 to 1986...
DC-3 en route from Quebec CityQuebec CityQuebec , also Québec, Quebec City or Québec City is the capital of the Canadian province of Quebec and is located within the Capitale-Nationale region. It is the second most populous city in Quebec after Montreal, which is about to the southwest...
to Baie-Comeau - September 14 - The Noronic, the largest Canadian passenger ship on the Great Lakes, is destroyed by a fire while docked in Toronto, killing 118.
Full date unknown
- Canadian appeals to the Judicial Committee of the Privy CouncilJudicial Committee of the Privy CouncilThe Judicial Committee of the Privy Council is one of the highest courts in the United Kingdom. Established by the Judicial Committee Act 1833 to hear appeals formerly heard by the King in Council The Judicial Committee of the Privy Council (JCPC) is one of the highest courts in the United...
are abolished, making the Supreme Court of CanadaSupreme Court of CanadaThe Supreme Court of Canada is the highest court of Canada and is the final court of appeals in the Canadian justice system. The court grants permission to between 40 and 75 litigants each year to appeal decisions rendered by provincial, territorial and federal appellate courts, and its decisions...
the country's top court - British ColumbiaBritish ColumbiaBritish Columbia is the westernmost of Canada's provinces and is known for its natural beauty, as reflected in its Latin motto, Splendor sine occasu . Its name was chosen by Queen Victoria in 1858...
gives Asian-Canadians the vote
Awards
- See 1949 Governor General's Awards1949 Governor General's AwardsIn Canada, the 1949 Governor General's Awards for Literary Merit were the thirteenth such awards. The awards in this period had no monetary prize but were an honour for the authors. These were the first awards to give a prize for children's literature....
for a complete list of winners and finalists for those awards. - Stephen Leacock Award: Angeline Hango, Truthfully Yours
January to March
- January 24 - Guy CharronGuy CharronGuy Joseph Jean Charron is a former professional ice hockey centre. He played in the NHL from 1969 – 1981...
, ice hockey player - February 14 - Denis RocanDenis RocanDenis Rocan is a politician in Manitoba, Canada. He was a member of the Legislative Assembly of Manitoba from 1986 to 2007, and served as speaker of the assembly from 1988 to 1995...
, politician - February 23 - Marc GarneauMarc GarneauJoseph Jean-Pierre Marc Garneau, CC CD FCASI MP is a Canadian retired military officer, former astronaut, engineer and politician.Garneau was the first Canadian in space taking part in three flights aboard NASA Space shuttles...
, astronaut, engineer and politician - March 3 - Elijah HarperElijah HarperElijah Harper is an Aboriginal Cree Canadian politician and band chief. He was a key player in the rejection of the Meech Lake Accord, an attempt at Canadian constitutional reform.- Early life :...
, politician - March 16 - Victor GarberVictor GarberVictor Joseph Garber is a Canadian film, stage and television actor and singer. Garber is known for playing Jesus in Godspell, Jack Bristow in the television series Alias, Max in Lend Me a Tenor, and Thomas Andrews in James Cameron's Titanic.-Early life:Born in London, Ontario, Canada, Garber is...
, actor and singer - March 16 - Jane HaistJane HaistJane Haist was a female discus thrower and shot putter, who represented Canada at the 1976 Summer Olympics in Montreal. She is best known for winning two gold medals for Canada at the 1974 Commonwealth Games: in the women's discus throw and in the women's shot put event.-References:*...
, discus thrower and shot putter - March 30 - Liza FrullaLiza FrullaLiza Frulla, PC , also formerly known as Liza Frulla-Hébert, is a former Canadian politician. She was a Quebec Liberal Party MNA in the National Assembly of Quebec from 1989 to 1998, and a Liberal Member of Parliament from 2002 to 2006.From 1974 to 1976, she worked for the public affairs service...
, politician
April to June
- April 4 - Nava StarrNava StarrNava Starr is one of the top female chess players in Canada. She is an eight-time Canadian Ladies' champion, and a Women's International Master...
, chess player and a Women's International Master - April 6 - Réginald BélairRéginald BélairRéginald Bélair is a Canadian politician.Bélair is a former Liberal member of the Canadian House of Commons, representing the riding of Timmins—James Bay from 1997 to 2004 and Cochrane—Superior from 1988 to 1997. Bélair had been an administrator, a manager and a political assistant...
, politician - April 8 - Claudette BradshawClaudette BradshawClaudette Bradshaw, PC, ONB is a former Canadian politician who served as Member of Parliament for the riding of Moncton—Riverview—Dieppe, New Brunswick. She was first elected on June 2, 1997 and served until 2005...
, politician - April 14 - Percy Mockler, politician and Senator
- April 16 - Sandy HawleySandy HawleyDesmond Sanford "Sandy" Hawley, CM is a Hall of Fame jockey.Sandy Hawley started out as a plumber then later decided to be a jockey. He started his career as a jockey when he was a 17-year-old boy, hotwalking horses at a Toronto racetrack...
, jockey - April 26 - Ray HenaultRay HenaultGeneral Raymond Roland Joseph Henault, CMM, MSC, CD is a retired Canadian Air Force officer. He was the Chief of the Defence Staff of Canada from June 28, 2001...
, general and Chief of Defence Staff - May 6 - Diane AblonczyDiane AblonczyDiane Ablonczy, PC, MP is a Canadian Member of Parliament, representing the riding of Calgary--Nose Hill in the Canadian House of Commons as a member of the Conservative Party of Canada. She is the Minister of State for Foreign Affairs and was appointed on January 4, 2011. She was previously...
, politician - May 20 - Sheldon ObermanSheldon ObermanSheldon Oberman was an award-winning Canadian children's writer who lived in Winnipeg, Manitoba.Born in Winnipeg, Oberman grew up in the city's North End. After graduating from St. Johns High School, he studied literature first at the University of Winnipeg and then at the Hebrew University in...
, children's writer (d.20042004 in CanadaEvents from the year 2004 in Canada.-January:* January 1 - Montreal Dorval Airport is renamed, after some controversy, Montréal-Pierre Elliott Trudeau International Airport....
) - May 20 - Dave ThomasDave Thomas (actor)David "Dave" Thomas is a Canadian comedian and actor. He was born in St. Catharines, Ontario, but moved to Durham, North Carolina where his father, John E. Thomas, attended Duke University and earned a PhD in Philosophy. Thomas attended George Watts and Moorehead elementary schools...
, comedian and actor - June 21 - Jane UrquhartJane UrquhartJane Urquhart, OC is a Canadian novelist and poet.-Biography:Born 200 miles north of Thunder Bay, Ontario in Little Longlac , Ontario, Jane Urquhart is the third of three children and the only daughter of Marian and Walter Carter, a prospector and mining engineer...
, writer - June 22 - Wayne EasterWayne EasterArnold Wayne Easter, PC, MP is a Canadian politician.-Before politics:Born in North Wiltshire, Prince Edward Island the son of A. Leith Easter and Hope MacLeod, he was educated at the Charlottetown Rural High School and the Nova Scotia Agricultural College. In 1970, he married Helen Arleighn...
, politician
July to September
- July 3 - Jan SmithersJan SmithersKarin Jan Smithers is an American television and film actress, who is best known for playing Bailey Quarters on the television series WKRP in Cincinnati.-Life and career:...
, actress - July 11 - Liona BoydLiona BoydLiona Maria Carolynne Boyd, LLD, D.Mus, CM, O.Ont, is a Canadian classical guitarist, composer, songwriter and singer. Boyd was born in London, England on July 11, 1949, moved to Canada with her parents when she was eight years old and became a naturalized Canadian citizen in 1975...
, classical guitarist - August 4 - Danny WilliamsDanny Williams (politician)Daniel E. "Danny" Williams, QC, MHA is a Canadian politician, businessman and lawyer who served as the ninth Premier of Newfoundland and Labrador between November 6, 2003, and December 3, 2010. Williams was born and raised in St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador...
, politician and 9th Premier of Newfoundland and LabradorPremier of Newfoundland and LabradorThe Premier of Newfoundland and Labrador is the first minister, head of government and de facto chief executive for the Canadian province of Newfoundland and Labrador. Before 1964, the position's official title was Premier of Newfoundland... - August 13 - Bobby ClarkeBobby ClarkeRobert Earle Clarke, OC , better known as Bobby Clarke or, in later life, Bob Clarke, is a Canadian former professional ice hockey centre who played his entire National Hockey League career with the Philadelphia Flyers and is currently an executive with the team...
, ice hockey player - August 21 - Larry FisherLarry FisherLarry Fisher is a Canadian who was convicted in 1999 of a murder he committed 30 years earlier.On 31 January 1969, Gail Miller was raped and murdered in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan...
, murderer - August 30 - Don BoudriaDon BoudriaDonald "Don" Boudria, PC is a former Canadian politician. He served in the Canadian House of Commons from 1984 to 2005 as a member of the Liberal Party of Canada, and was a cabinet minister in the government of Jean Chrétien....
, politician and Minister - September 6 - Carole-Marie AllardCarole-Marie AllardCarole-Marie Allard was a Liberal member of Canada's House of Commons. She was in the House of Commons from 2000 to 2004 and represented the riding of Laval East...
, politician - September 12 - Kevin MajorKevin MajorKevin Major is a Canadian author who lives in St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador with his wife and two teenage sons. He writes for both young people and adults, including fiction, literary non-fiction, poetry, and plays....
, author - September 26 - Marie TifoMarie TifoMarie Tifo is a Canadian actress, and a major star in French-speaking Canada. She won a Genie Award for Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role for her performance in the 1980 drama film Les Bons Débarras.She will star in La Déraison d'amour at the Théâtre du Nouveau Monde in Montreal...
, actress
October to December
- October 25 - Laurie SkresletLaurie SkresletLaurie Skreslet is a mountaineer best known for his ascent of Mount Everest. An only child, he was born in Calgary, Alberta....
, mountaineer, first Canadian to reach the summit of Mount EverestMount EverestMount Everest is the world's highest mountain, with a peak at above sea level. It is located in the Mahalangur section of the Himalayas. The international boundary runs across the precise summit point... - October 27 - Garth DrabinskyGarth DrabinskyGarth Howard Drabinsky, OC is a former Canadian film and theatrical producer and entrepreneur. In 2009, he was convicted and sentenced to prison for fraud and forgery. His sentence is stayed, pending appeal.-Biography:...
, film and theatrical producer and entrepreneur - November 27 - Nick DiscepolaNick DiscepolaNunzio Discepola is an Italian-born Canadian politician.Discepola was a Member of Parliament representing the Liberal Party of Canada in the Canadian House of Commons, from the riding of Vaudreuil-Soulanges between 1997 and 2004, and Vaudreuil from 1993 to 1997. Discepola is a former businessman...
, politician
- November 28 - Paul ShafferPaul ShafferPaul Allen Wood Shaffer, CM is a Canadian musician, actor, voice actor, author, comedian, and composer who has been David Letterman's sidekick since 1982.-Early years:...
, musician, actor, voice actor, author, comedian and composer - November 29 - Stan RogersStan RogersStanley Allison "Stan" Rogers was a Canadian folk musician and songwriter.Rogers was noted for his rich, baritone voice and his finely crafted, traditional-sounding songs which were frequently inspired by Canadian history and the daily lives of working people, especially those from the fishing...
, folk musician and songwriter (d.19831983 in Canada-Incumbents:*Monarch - Elizabeth II*Governor General - Edward Schreyer*Prime Minister - Pierre Trudeau*Premier of Alberta - Peter Lougheed*Premier of British Columbia - Bill Bennett*Premier of Manitoba - Howard Pawley*Premier of New Brunswick - Richard Hatfield...
) - December 13 - Denise Leblanc-BanteyDenise Leblanc-BanteyDenise Leblanc-Bantey, also known as Denise Leblanc, was a Canadian politician and a two-term Member of the National Assembly of Quebec.-Background:She was born on December 15, 1949 in L'Étang-du-Nord, Quebec...
, politician (d.19991999 in CanadaEvents from the year 1999 in Canada.-January to June:*January 1 - An avalanche destroys a school gymnasium during New Year's celebrations in Kangguspoo in far northern Quebec, killing 9.*February 9 - Brian Tobin's Liberals are re-elected in Newfoundland...
) - December 19 - Larry BagnellLarry BagnellLawrence "Larry" Bagnell, PC, MP is a former Canadian politician. He served as a Member of the Canadian House of Commons from 2000 until 2011 sitting with the Liberal caucus in both government and opposition.-Politicial career:...
, politician - December 21 - John LoewenJohn LoewenJohn Loewen is a businessman and politician in Manitoba, Canada. He served in the Legislative Assembly of Manitoba from 1999 to 2005 as a member of the Progressive Conservative Party, and campaigned for the Canadian House of Commons in 2006 and 2008 as a Liberal...
, businessman and politician - December 30 - Jim FlahertyJim FlahertyJames Michael "Jim" Flaherty, PC, MP is Canada's Minister of Finance and he has also served as Ontario's Minister of Finance. From 1995 until 2005, he was the Member of Provincial Parliament for Whitby—Ajax, and a member of the Progressive Conservative Party caucus...
, politician and Minister
Full date unknown
- Zahra KazemiZahra KazemiZahra "Ziba" Kazemi-Ahmadabadi was an Iranian-Canadian freelance photographer, residing in Montreal, Canada, who died in the custody of Iranian officials following her arrest....
, photographer, died in Iranian custody (d.20032003 in CanadaEvents from the year 2003 in Canada.-January to March:*January - A Windsor, Ontario court invalidates Canada's marijuana laws*January 20 - Avalanche kills eight skiers in eastern British Columbia...
)
January to June
- January 9 - Tom LongboatTom LongboatCogwagee was an Onondaga distance runner from the Six Nations of the Grand River First Nation Indian reserve near Brantford, Ontario, and for much of his career the dominant long distance runner of the time...
, long-distance runner (b.18871887 in Canada-Events:*January 25 - Sir Louis-Olivier Taillon becomes premier of Quebec, replacing John Jones Ross.*January 27 - Honoré Mercier becomes premier of Quebec, replacing Sir Louis-Olivier Taillon.*February 22 - Federal election: Sir John A...
) - January 11 - John Wesley BrienJohn Wesley BrienJohn Wesley Brien was a Canadian politician and physician. He was elected to the Canadian House of Commons in the 1917 election as a Member of the Unionist Party to represent the riding of Essex South...
, physician and politician (b.18641864 in CanadaSee also:1863 in Canada,other events of 1864,1865 in Canada.----Events from the year 1864 in Canada.-Events:*June 29 - A train of newly arrived immigrants fails to stop at the open swing span near Beloeil, Canada East...
) - February 12 - Pegi Nicol MacLeodPegi Nicol MacLeodPegi Nicol MacLeod, , was a Canadian artist. Born Margaret Kathleen Nicol, she was part of the first wave of Canadian modernist painters. She was born in Listowel, Ontario and was a pupil of Franklin Brownell in Ottawa. She later studied at the École des Beaux-Arts de Montréal. In 1932 she won the...
, artist (b.19041904 in Canada-Events:*April 8 - In the Lansdowne-Cambon Convention France gives up some of its longstanding rights in Newfoundland* April 18 - The Great Toronto Fire destroys much of that city's downtown, but kills no one....
) - June 2 - François BlaisFrançois BlaisFrançois Frank Blais was a Canadian politician, contractor, farmer, lumber merchant. He was elected to the Canadian House of Commons in the 1935 election as an independent Liberal to represent the riding of Chapleau....
, politician (b.18751875 in Canada-Events:*January 14 - The Halifax Herald is first published*January 18 - 1875 Ontario election: Sir Oliver Mowat's Liberals win a second consecutive majority*April 5 - The Supreme Court of Canada is created...
)
July to December
- July 7 - Fred Wellington BowenFred Wellington BowenFred Wellington Bowen was a Canadian politician and farmer. He was elected to the Canadian House of Commons in 1921 as a Member of the historical Conservative Party to represent the riding of Durham. He was re-elected in the elections of 1925, 1926, 1930 but defeated in 1935...
, politician (b.18771877 in CanadaSee also:1876 in Canada,other events of 1877,1878 in Canada.----Events from the year 1877 in Canada.-Full date unknown:*Charles Alphonse Pantaléon Pelletier appointed Minister of Agriculture and called to the Senate of Canada...
) - August 23 - Herbert GreenfieldHerbert GreenfieldHerbert W. Greenfield was a Canadian politician who served as the fourth Premier of Alberta from 1921 until 1925. Born in Winchester, Hampshire, in England, he immigrated to Canada in his late twenties, settling first in Ontario and then in Alberta, where he farmed...
, politician and 4th Premier of AlbertaPremier of AlbertaThe Premier of Alberta is the first minister for the Canadian province of Alberta. He or she is the province's head of government and de facto chief executive. The current Premier of Alberta is Alison Redford. She became Premier by winning the Progressive Conservative leadership elections on...
(b.18691869 in CanadaEvents from the year 1869 in Canada.-Incumbents:*Prime Minister - John A. Macdonald*Governor General - Viscount Monck of Ballytrammon then Lord Lisgar*Premier of New Brunswick - Andrew Wetmore*Premier of Nova Scotia - William Annand...
) - September 2 - Ian Alistair MackenzieIan Alistair MackenzieIan Alistair Mackenzie, PC was a Canadian parliamentarian.Born in Assynt, Scotland, Mackenzie entered politics by winning a seat in the Legislative Assembly of British Columbia in the 1920 BC election...
, politician and Minister (b.18901890 in Canada-Incumbents:*Monarch — Victoria of Canada*Governor General — Frederick Stanley, 16th Earl of Derby*Prime Minister — John A. MacdonaldOntario*Lieutenant Governor — Sir Alexander Campbell*Premier — Sir Oliver MowatQuebec...
) - December 7 - Stanislas BlanchardStanislas BlanchardStanislas Blanchard was a Canadian politician and gentleman. He was elected to the Canadian House of Commons in the 1926 election to represent the Liberal Party in the riding of Restigouche—Madawaska. He did not run in the 1930 election.-External links:...
, politician (b.18711871 in CanadaEvents from the year 1871 in Canada.-January to June:*March 10 - Government of Manitoba meets for the first time*March 21 - The 1871 Ontario election: Edward Blake's Liberals win a majority, defeating J. S...
) - December 16 - Albert Edward MatthewsAlbert Edward MatthewsAlbert Edward Matthews was the 16th Lieutenant Governor of Ontario.Matthews was born in Lindsay, Ontario. He worked as an investment broker in Toronto and rose to the position of director. Matthews served as Ontario's 16th Lieutenant Governor of Ontario from 1937 to 1946...
, 16th Lieutenant Governor of OntarioOntarioOntario is a province of Canada, located in east-central Canada. It is Canada's most populous province and second largest in total area. It is home to the nation's most populous city, Toronto, and the nation's capital, Ottawa....
(b.18731873 in CanadaEvents from the year 1873 in Canada.-January to June:*February 26 - Gédéon Ouimet becomes Premier of Quebec, replacing Pierre-Joseph-Olivier Chauveau*April 1**Prince Edward Island general election, 1873...
) - December 16 - Sidney OlcottSidney OlcottSidney Olcott was a Canadian-born film producer, director, actor and screenwriter.-Biography:Born John Sidney Alcott in Toronto, he became one of the first great directors of the motion picture business...
, film producer, director, actor and screenwriter (b.18731873 in CanadaEvents from the year 1873 in Canada.-January to June:*February 26 - Gédéon Ouimet becomes Premier of Quebec, replacing Pierre-Joseph-Olivier Chauveau*April 1**Prince Edward Island general election, 1873...
)