FRMagna Carta
A historical foundation of the tradition of liberty and the rule of law.
Discover Canada · p. 8Loading your progress…
DISCOVER CANADA · A FRESH PERSPECTIVE
Canadian History Timeline
Connect 41 dates and events in Canadian history with their Discover Canada source pages.
THE BOOK, REIMAGINED
Parliament Hill, Ottawa · photo: Aleksandr Galenko / UnsplashTravel through the story of Canada.
Choose a route. Follow the dates, meet the people, or explore the places behind the questions.
Your PDF contains older editions. Use it for historical facts, and check current officeholders and test rules against up-to-date official sources.
Results: 41
John Cabot
An expedition to the Atlantic coast and the mapping of Canada’s eastern shore.
Discover Canada · p. 14Jacques Cartier
Three voyages across the Atlantic. The word kanata, meaning village, gave Canada its name.
Discover Canada · p. 14The beginnings of Acadia
Pierre de Monts and Samuel de Champlain established a settlement on St. Croix Island, then at Port-Royal.
Discover Canada · p. 15The founding of Québec City
Champlain built a fortress on the site of present-day Québec City.
Discover Canada · p. 15Hudson’s Bay Company
The company received exclusive trading rights over the watershed draining into Hudson Bay.
Discover Canada · p. 15Peace with the Iroquois
The French and the Iroquois made peace after a long period of conflict.
Discover Canada · p. 15Great Upheaval
Most Acadians were deported during the war between Britain and France.
Discover Canada · p. 11The first elected assembly
A representative assembly was elected in Halifax, Nova Scotia.
Discover Canada · p. 16Plains of Abraham
A British victory at Québec City. Both commanders, Wolfe and Montcalm, were killed.
Discover Canada · p. 15Royal Proclamation
The proclamation recognized Indigenous territorial rights and laid the foundation for treaties.
Discover Canada · p. 10Quebec Act
Religious freedom for Catholics; French civil law alongside British criminal law.
Discover Canada · p. 15Upper and Lower Canada
The Constitutional Act divided the Province of Quebec and created elected legislative assemblies.
Discover Canada · p. 16A step towards abolition
Under John Graves Simcoe, Upper Canada began restricting slavery.
Discover Canada · p. 16The War of 1812
British troops, Canadian volunteers and First Nations repelled an American invasion.
Discover Canada · p. 17The abolition of slavery
The British Parliament abolished slavery throughout the Empire.
Discover Canada · p. 16The rebellions
Unsuccessful rebellions in Upper and Lower Canada were followed by Lord Durham’s report.
Discover Canada · p. 17Responsible government
Responsible government took hold in 1848–1849: ministers needed the confidence of the elected assembly.
Discover Canada · p. 18Confederation
Ontario, Quebec, Nova Scotia and New Brunswick united to form the Dominion of Canada.
Discover Canada · p. 18Manitoba and the Northwest Territories
Canada expanded westward and northward.
Discover Canada · p. 19British Columbia
British Columbia joined Canada with the promise of a railway to the Pacific coast.
Discover Canada · p. 20The last spike of the CPR
Donald Smith drove the last spike of the transcontinental railway.
Discover Canada · p. 20Yukon / Alberta and Saskatchewan
Yukon became a territory; Alberta and Saskatchewan became provinces.
Discover Canada · p. 19Women’s voting rights
Manitoba became the first province to grant women the right to vote.
Discover Canada · p. 21Vimy Ridge
The Canadian Corps captured Vimy Ridge. The date is commemorated as Vimy Day.
Discover Canada · p. 21The federal vote
Most female Canadian citizens aged 21 and over gained the right to vote in federal elections.
Discover Canada · p. 21The Armistice
The First World War ended. This date is the basis for Remembrance Day.
Discover Canada · p. 21The Second World War
More than one million Canadians and Newfoundlanders served in the war.
Discover Canada · p. 22An expanded right to vote
First Nations people gained the federal vote without having to give up their status.
Discover Canada · p. 24The modern Canadian flag
The red-and-white maple leaf flag was raised for the first time.
Discover Canada · p. 38Official Languages Act
The Act established equality between English and French in federal institutions.
Discover Canada · p. 39Charter of Rights and Freedoms
The Charter of Rights and Freedoms became part of the Constitution.
Discover Canada · p. 8Nunavut
The territory was created from the eastern Northwest Territories, with Iqaluit as its capital.
Discover Canada · p. 50The residential schools apology
The federal government formally apologized to former residential school students.
Discover Canada · p. 10