1955 in Canada
Encyclopedia
Incumbents
- MonarchMonarchy in CanadaThe monarchy of Canada is the core of both Canada's federalism and its Westminster-style parliamentary democracy, being the foundation of the executive, legislative, and judicial branches of the Canadian government and each provincial government...
: Elizabeth II - Governor GeneralGovernor General of CanadaThe Governor General of Canada is the federal viceregal representative of the Canadian monarch, Queen Elizabeth II...
: Vincent MasseyVincent MasseyCharles Vincent Massey was a Canadian lawyer and diplomat who served as Governor General of Canada, the 18th since Canadian Confederation.... - Prime MinisterPrime Minister of CanadaThe Prime Minister of Canada is the primary minister of the Crown, chairman of the Cabinet, and thus head of government for Canada, charged with advising the Canadian monarch or viceroy on the exercise of the executive powers vested in them by the constitution...
: Louis Saint Laurent - 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...
: Ernest ManningErnest ManningErnest Charles Manning, , a Canadian politician, was the eighth Premier of Alberta between 1943 and 1968 for the Social Credit Party of Alberta. He served longer than any premier in the province's history, and was the second longest serving provincial premier in Canadian history... - Premier of British ColumbiaPremier of British ColumbiaThe Premier of British Columbia is the first minister, head of government, and de facto chief executive for the Canadian province of British Columbia. Until the early 1970s the title Prime Minister of British Columbia was often used...
: W.A.C. BennettW.A.C. BennettWilliam Andrew Cecil Bennett, PC, OC was the 25th Premier of the Canadian province of British Columbia. With just over 20 years in office, Bennett was and remains the longest-serving premier in British Columbia history. He was usually referred to as W.A.C... - Premier of ManitobaPremier of ManitobaThe Premier of Manitoba is the first minister for the Canadian province of Manitoba. He or she is the province's head of government and de facto chief executive. Until the early 1970s, the title "Prime Minister of Manitoba" was used frequently. Afterwards, the word Premier, derived from the French...
: Douglas CampbellDouglas Lloyd CampbellDouglas Lloyd Campbell, OC was a politician in Manitoba, Canada. He served as the 13th Premier of Manitoba from 1948 to 1958... - Premier of New BrunswickPremier of New BrunswickThe Premier of New Brunswick is the first minister for the Canadian province of New Brunswick. They are the province's head of government and de facto chief executive....
: Hugh John FlemmingHugh John FlemmingHugh John Flemming, PC was a politician and the 24th Premier of New Brunswick.He is always known as "Hugh John"... - Premier of Newfoundland: 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...
- Premier of Nova ScotiaPremier of Nova ScotiaThe Premier of Nova Scotia is the first minister for the Canadian province of Nova Scotia who presides over the Executive Council of Nova Scotia. Following the Westminster system, the premier is normally the leader of the political party which has the most seats in the Nova Scotia House of Assembly...
: Henry HicksHenry HicksHenry Davies Hicks was a lawyer, university administrator, and politician in Nova Scotia.He was born in Bridgetown, Nova Scotia, the son of Henry Hicks and Annie Kinney. Hicks was educated in Bridgetown and at Mount Allison University, Dalhousie University and Oxford University. He was admitted to... - Premier of OntarioPremier of OntarioThe Premier of Ontario is the first Minister of the Crown for the Canadian province of Ontario. The Premier is appointed as the province's head of government by the Lieutenant Governor of Ontario, and presides over the Executive council, or Cabinet. The Executive Council Act The Premier of Ontario...
: 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:... - Premier of Prince Edward IslandPremier of Prince Edward IslandThe Premier of Prince Edward Island is the first minister for the Canadian province of Prince Edward Island. They are the province's head of government and de facto chief executive.The current Premier of Prince Edward Island is Robert Ghiz.-See also:...
: Alex Matheson - Premier of QuebecPremier of QuebecThe Premier of Quebec is the first minister of the Canadian province of Quebec. The Premier is the province's head of government and his title is Premier and President of the Executive Council....
: Maurice DuplessisMaurice DuplessisMaurice Le Noblet Duplessis served as the 16th Premier of the Canadian province of Quebec from 1936 to 1939 and 1944 to 1959. A founder and leader of the highly conservative Union Nationale party, he rose to power after exposing the misconduct and patronage of Liberal Premier Louis-Alexandre... - Premier of SaskatchewanPremier of SaskatchewanThe Premier of Saskatchewan is the first minister for the Canadian province of Saskatchewan. They are the province's head of government and de facto chief executive....
: Tommy DouglasTommy DouglasThomas Clement "Tommy" Douglas, was a Scottish-born Baptist minister who became a prominent Canadian social democratic politician...
Events
- January 7 – The first television broadcast of the opening of parliament22nd Canadian ParliamentThe 22nd Canadian Parliament was in session from November 12, 1953 until April 12, 1957. The membership was set by the 1953 federal election on August 10, 1953, and it changed only somewhat due to resignations and by-elections until it was dissolved prior to the 1957 election.It was controlled by...
- February 1 – The Bank of TorontoBank of TorontoThe Bank of Toronto was a Canadian bank, founded on July 8, 1857 by George Gooderham, that merged with The Dominion Bank on February 1, 1955 to form the Toronto-Dominion Bank...
and The Dominion BankThe Dominion BankThe Dominion Bank was a Canadian bank based in Toronto and incorporated in 1869 that merged on February 1, 1955 with the Bank of Toronto to form the Toronto-Dominion Bank. -History:...
merge to form the Toronto-Dominion BankToronto-Dominion BankThe Toronto-Dominion Bank , is the second-largest bank in Canada by market capitalization and based on assets. It is also the sixth largest bank in North America. Commonly known as TD and operating as TD Bank Group, the bank was created in 1955 through the merger of the Bank of Toronto and the... - March 17- Richard RiotRichard RiotThe Richard Riot was a riot on March 17, 1955 in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. The riot was named after Maurice Richard, the star ice hockey player for the Montreal Canadiens of the National Hockey League...
- April 2 – The Angus L. Macdonald BridgeAngus L. Macdonald BridgeThe Angus L. Macdonald Bridge, locally known as "the old bridge", is a suspension bridge crossing Halifax Harbour in Nova Scotia, Canada; it opened on April 2, 1955....
connecting HalifaxCity of HalifaxHalifax is a city in Canada, which was the capital of the province of Nova Scotia and shire town of Halifax County. It was the largest city in Atlantic Canada until it was amalgamated into Halifax Regional Municipality in 1996...
to DartmouthDartmouth, Nova ScotiaDartmouth founded in 1750, is a community and planning area of the Halifax Regional Municipality, Nova Scotia. Located on the eastern shore of Halifax Harbour, Dartmouth has been nicknamed the City of Lakes after the large number of lakes located in the city.On April 1, 1996, the provincial...
opens. - June 9 – Ontario general election, 1955Ontario general election, 1955The Ontario general election of 1955 was held on June 9, 1955, to elect the 98 members of the 25th Legislative Assembly of Ontario of the Province of Ontario, Canada....
: 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:...
's PCs win a fourth consecutive majority - June 29 – Alberta general election, 1955Alberta general election, 1955The Alberta general election of 1955 was the thirteenth general election for the Province of Alberta, Canada. It was held on June 29, 1955 to elect members of the Legislative Assembly of Alberta....
: Ernest ManningErnest ManningErnest Charles Manning, , a Canadian politician, was the eighth Premier of Alberta between 1943 and 1968 for the Social Credit Party of Alberta. He served longer than any premier in the province's history, and was the second longest serving provincial premier in Canadian history...
's Social Credit Party wins a sixth consecutive majority. - July 11 – Seven teenagers die in a mountaineering accident on Mount Temple in Banff National Park.
- Cape Breton IslandCape Breton IslandCape Breton Island is an island on the Atlantic coast of North America. It likely corresponds to the word Breton, the French demonym for Brittany....
is connected to the mainland by the Canso CausewayCanso CausewayThe Canso Causeway is a rock-fill causeway in Nova Scotia, Canada.The causeway crosses the Strait of Canso, connecting Cape Breton Island by road to the Nova Scotia peninsula...
Awards
- See 1955 Governor General's Awards1955 Governor General's AwardsIn Canada, the 1955 Governor General's Awards for Literary Merit were the nineteenth such awards. The awards in this period had no monetary prize but were an honour for the authors.-Winners:...
for a complete list of winners and finalists for those awards. - Stephen Leacock Award: Robertson DaviesRobertson DaviesWilliam Robertson Davies, CC, OOnt, FRSC, FRSL was a Canadian novelist, playwright, critic, journalist, and professor. He was one of Canada's best-known and most popular authors, and one of its most distinguished "men of letters", a term Davies is variously said to have gladly accepted for himself...
, Leaven of Malice
Music
- Glenn GouldGlenn GouldGlenn Herbert Gould was a Canadian pianist who became one of the best-known and most celebrated classical pianists of the 20th century. He was particularly renowned as an interpreter of the keyboard music of Johann Sebastian Bach...
's first recordingThe Goldberg Variations (Gould album)Bach: The Goldberg Variations is the 1955 debut album of the Canadian classical pianist Glenn Gould. An interpretation of Johann Sebastian Bach's Goldberg Variations , the work launched Gould's career as a renowned international pianist, and became one of the most well-known piano recordings...
of the Goldberg VariationsGoldberg VariationsThe Goldberg Variations, BWV 988, is a work for harpsichord by Johann Sebastian Bach, consisting of an aria and a set of 30 variations. First published in 1741, the work is considered to be one of the most important examples of variation form...
is made.
Sport
- March 17 – A riot erupts in MontrealMontrealMontreal is a city in Canada. It is the largest city in the province of Quebec, the second-largest city in Canada and the seventh largest in North America...
when Maurice RichardMaurice RichardJoseph Henri Maurice "the Rocket" Richard, Sr., was a French-Canadian professional ice hockey player who played for the Montreal Canadiens of the National Hockey League from 1942 to 1960. The "Rocket" was the most prolific goal-scorer of his era, the first to achieve the feat of 50 goals in 50...
is suspended. - The Canadian Sports Hall of Fame is created.
January to June
- January 4 – John NunziataJohn NunziataJohn Nunziata is a Canadian politician. He served in the Canadian House of Commons from 1984 to 2000, initially as a Liberal and later as an independent member.-Background:...
, politician - January 28 – Odette LapierreOdette LapierreOdette Lapierre is a former long-distance runner from Canada, who competed in the women's marathon at two consecutive Summer Olympics for her native country, starting in 1988...
, long-distance runner - February 23 – Jerry HollandJerry Holland (fiddler)Jerry Holland was a fiddler who lived on Cape Breton Island in Nova Scotia, Canada.He was born in Brockton, Massachusetts, United States to Canadian parents - his father was from New Brunswick and his mother was from Quebec. During his childhood, Jerry was exposed to the music of the large Cape...
, fiddler - February 25 – Camille ThériaultCamille ThériaultCamille Henri Thériault served as the 29th Premier of the Canadian province of New Brunswick.The son of Joséphine Martin and Norbert Thériault, a former provincial cabinet minister and Canadian Senator, Camille Thériault was born in Baie-Ste-Anne, New Brunswick, and graduated from Baie-Sainte-Anne...
, politician and 29th Premier of New BrunswickPremier of New BrunswickThe Premier of New Brunswick is the first minister for the Canadian province of New Brunswick. They are the province's head of government and de facto chief executive.... - February 27 – MaryAnn MihychukMaryAnn MihychukMaryAnn Mihychuk is a former politician from Manitoba, Canada. She was a cabinet minister in the government of New Democratic Premier Gary Doer from 1999 to 2004...
, politician - March 16 – Andy Scott, politician and Minister
- April 6 – Cathy Jones, comedian and writer
- April 25 – Jane Stewart, politician and Minister
- May 12 – Yvon GodinYvon GodinYvon Godin is a Canadian politician.Godin is currently a New Democratic Party Member of Parliament in the Canadian House of Commons, representing the riding of Acadie—Bathurst since 1997. Previously, Godin was a labour representative for the United Steelworkers...
, politician - May 14 – Marie ChouinardMarie ChouinardMarie Chouinard, OC is a Canadian dancer, choreographer, and dance company director.-Company Background:In 1978 Chouinard presented her first work, Crystallization. After 12 years as a solo performer and choreographer, Chouinard founded her own company in 1990, the COMPAGNIE MARIE...
, dancer, choreographer and dance company director - June 14 – Joe PrestonJoe Preston (politician)Joseph "Joe" Preston is a Canadian politician and Conservative Member of Parliament representing Elgin—Middlesex—London riding.He defeated Liberal incumbent Gar Knutson in the 2004 federal election...
, politician - June 16 – J. Jill RobinsonJ. Jill RobinsonJacqueline Jill Robinson is a western Canadian writer, editor and teacher. She is the author of four collections of short stories. Her fiction and creative nonfiction have appeared in a wide variety of magazines and literary journals including Geist, the Antigonish Review, Event, Prairie Fire and...
, writer
July to December
- July 7 – Gord MackintoshGord MackintoshGordon Henry Alexander "Gord" Mackintosh is a politician in Manitoba, Canada. He is currently a cabinet minister in the New Democratic Party government of Greg Selinger....
, politician - July 13 – Hubert LacroixHubert LacroixHubert T. Lacroix is a Canadian lawyer and the President and CEO of the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation , the national public radio and television broadcaster....
, lawyer and President and CEO of the Canadian Broadcasting CorporationCanadian Broadcasting CorporationThe Canadian Broadcasting Corporation, commonly known as CBC and officially as CBC/Radio-Canada, is a Canadian crown corporation that serves as the national public radio and television broadcaster... - July 17 – Geneviève CadieuxGeneviève Cadieux-Teaching:* Concordia University, 1991 – present;* Guest professor, École nationale supérieure des beaux-arts in Paris, 1994;* École nationale des beaux-arts in Grenoble, 1996;...
, artist - July 19 – Dalton McGuintyDalton McGuintyDalton James Patrick McGuinty, Jr., MPP is a Canadian lawyer, politician and, since October 23, 2003, the 24th and current Premier of the Canadian province of Ontario....
, lawyer, politician and 24th Premier of OntarioPremier of OntarioThe Premier of Ontario is the first Minister of the Crown for the Canadian province of Ontario. The Premier is appointed as the province's head of government by the Lieutenant Governor of Ontario, and presides over the Executive council, or Cabinet. The Executive Council Act The Premier of Ontario... - August 6 – Gilles BernierGilles Bernier (New Brunswick politician)Gilles Bernier is a former Canadian politician. He was elected to the Canadian House of Commons as a Progressive Conservative to represent the riding of Tobique—Mactaquac...
, politician - August 12 – Tooker GombergTooker GombergTooker Gomberg was a Canadian politician and environmental activist.A native of Montreal, Quebec and a liberal-arts graduate of Hampshire College , Gomberg founded one of Canada's first curbside recycling programs in Montreal, and later moved to Edmonton, Alberta, where he created educational...
, politician and environmental activist (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....
) - August 19 – Bev DesjarlaisBev DesjarlaisBev Desjarlais is a retired Canadian politician. She represented Churchill in the Canadian House of Commons from 1997 to 2006, initially as a New Democrat and later as an Independent after losing her party nomination in late 2005...
, politician - August 31 – Sidney McKnightSidney McKnightSidney McKnight is a retired boxer from Canada, who represented his native country at the 1976 Summer Olympics...
, boxer
- September 28 – Stéphane DionStéphane DionStéphane Maurice Dion, PC, MP is a Canadian politician who has been the Member of Parliament for the riding of Saint-Laurent–Cartierville in Montreal since 1996. He was the leader of the Liberal Party of Canada and the Leader of the Opposition in the Canadian House of Commons from 2006 to 2008...
, politician and Minister - October 12 – IssaIssa (singer)Jane Siberry , born October 12, 1955 in Toronto, Ontario, is a Canadian singer-songwriter, known for such hits as "Mimi on the Beach", "I Muse Aloud", "One More Colour" and "Calling All Angels"...
, singer-songwriter - November 4 – Rodger CuznerRodger CuznerRodger T. Cuzner is a Canadian politician.Born in Glace Bay, Nova Scotia, he graduated from Morrison Glace Bay High School and then studied physical education at St. Francis Xavier University in Antigonish....
, politician - November 10 – Ken HollandKen HollandKenneth Mark Holland is a retired Canadian professional goaltender and current General Manager and executive Vice President of the Detroit Red Wings of the National Hockey League. Holland was drafted in the 12th round, 188th overall by the Toronto Maple Leafs in the 1975 NHL Entry Draft...
, ice hockey player - December 13 – Pat MartinPat MartinPatrick "Pat" Martin is a Canadian politician. He has been a member of the Canadian House of Commons since 1997, representing the riding of Winnipeg Centre for the New Democratic Party.-Career:...
, politician
Full date unknown
- Vatche ArslanianVatche ArslanianVatche Arslanian was a member of the Canadian Red Cross and head of logistics for the International Committee of the Red Cross in Iraq. He was one of the six ICRC delegates who chose to stay in the country during the 2003 Iraq war and continue helping local relief workers...
, Canadian Red CrossCanadian Red CrossThe Canadian Red Cross Society is a Canadian humanitarian charitable organization and one of 186 national Red Cross and Red Crescent societies....
worker, killed in IraqIraqIraq ; officially the Republic of Iraq is a country in Western Asia spanning most of the northwestern end of the Zagros mountain range, the eastern part of the Syrian Desert and the northern part of the Arabian Desert....
(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...
) - Kim MorrisseyKim MorrisseyKim Morrissey is a Canadian poet and playwright who lives in London, England. Many of her works examine the role of women in nineteenth century culture, re-imagining the lives of historical figures. She is also part of the Comedy Collective UK...
, poet and playwright
Deaths
- April 24 – Walter Seymour AllwardWalter Seymour AllwardWalter Seymour Allward was a Canadian monumental sculptor.- Early life :Allward was born in Toronto, the son of John A. Allward of Newfoundland. Educated in Toronto public schools, his first job was at the age of 14 as an assistant to his carpenter father...
, sculptor (b.18761876 in Canada-Events:*February 1 - Andrew Elliott becomes premier of British Columbia, replacing George Walkem*July 1 - The Intercolonial Railway connecting central Canada to the Maritimes is completed...
) - April 26 – Lyman Duff, jurist and Chief Justice of 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...
(b.18651865 in CanadaSee also:1864 in Canada,other events of 1865,1866 in Canada.----Events from the year 1865 in Canada.-Events:*February 3 - Legislature approves message to Crown for union of British North America provinces....
) - May 10 – Tommy BurnsTommy Burns (boxer)Tommy Burns , born Noah Brusso, is the only Canadian born world heavyweight champion boxer. The first to travel the globe in defending his title, Tommy made 11 title defenses despite often being the underdog due to his size. Burns famously challenged all comers as Heavyweight Champion, leading to...
, only Canadian born world heavyweight champion boxer (b.18811881 in Canada-Events:*January 17 - The Interprovincial Bridge connecting Ottawa to Hull, Quebec, opens*February 16 - The Canadian Pacific Railway is incorporated*April 4 - The 1881 census finds Canada's population to be 4,324,810...
) - June 16 – Ozias LeducOzias LeducOzias Leduc is one of Quebec's early painters. He was born in Saint-Hilaire-de-Rouville. Leduc produced many portraits, still lives and landscapes, as well as religious works.-Biography:...
, painter (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...
) - August 5 – Izaak Walton KillamIzaak Walton KillamIzaak Walton Killam was one of Canada's most eminent financiers.-Early life:Born in Yarmouth, Nova Scotia, Killam rose from paper boy in Yarmouth to become one of Canada's wealthiest individuals.-Business ventures:...
, financier (b.18851885 in CanadaEvents from the year 1885 in Canada.-Events:*March 26 - Louis Riel and the Métis battle the North-West Mounted Police at Duck Lake*April 24 - North-West Rebellion: Battle of Fish Creek fought between Canadian forces and the Métis...
) - August 7 – Alexander Stirling MacMillanAlexander Stirling MacMillanAlexander S. MacMillan was a Nova Scotia politician and businessman, the provinces 13th Premier.MacMillan was born in Upper South River, Antigonish County. He made his fortune in lumbering and construction before being made chairman of the Nova Scotia Highways Board in 1920 and serving briefly as...
, businessman, politician and Premier of Nova ScotiaNova ScotiaNova Scotia is one of Canada's three Maritime provinces and is the most populous province in Atlantic Canada. The name of the province is Latin for "New Scotland," but "Nova Scotia" is the recognized, English-language name of the province. The provincial capital is Halifax. Nova Scotia is the...
(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...
) - October 1 – Charles ChristieCharles ChristieCharles H. V. Christie was a motion picture studio owner.Born in London, Ontario, Canada, Charles and his brother Al left home to pursue a career in the fledgling motion picture industry...
, motion picture studio owner (b.18801880 in Canada-Events:*February 4 - Five members of the Donnelly family are killed near Lucan, Ontario*February 14 - The wife of the governor general, The Princess Louise, Marchioness of Lorne, is seriously injured when the viceregal sleigh overturns on a Rudolph Ottawa street....
)