Canada’s Sesquicentennial
February 2017
A SESQUICENTENNIAL TIMELINE
Here are some noteworthy events from Canada’s illustrious past―and our region’s own remarkable history.
Great Britain transfers the
Arctic over to Canada which
completes Canada's modern
boundaries with the exception
of Newfoundland and Labrador.
The St. Catharines
and Niagara
Central Railway is
established.
Cutler's Planing
Mill begins
production in
Welland.
1880 1881
1883
Augusta Stowe becomes the first
woman to ever graduate from the
Toronto Medical School.
At the Congres national des Canadiens-Francais, O
Canada was performed for the very first time. It
would later be chosen as Canada's national anthem.
The Royal Canadian
Regiment is established,
making it Canada’s first
permanent army regiment.
Bennison Pinder buys a small
parcel of land on 18 James Street
in St. Catharines for $500 and
erected a brick building to house
his new business―"B. Pinder,
Gun & Locksmith." The business
eventually develops into the
present day Pinder's Security
Products.
Canada adopts a system
of international
standard time and
official time zones
which is advocated by
Canadian engineer Sir
Sandford Fleming, a
Canadian engineer.
Work is completed on the third
version of the Welland Canal.
188418851886
The Canadian Pacific
Railway is completed,
creating Canada's first
transcontinental railway,
and linking Canadians coast
to coast.
Out in the Prairies, militant leader
Louis Riel and his Metis forces
launch the North-West Rebellion
against the federal government. The
rebels are defeated by the Canadian
army after a five-month uprising.
Riel is later tried and executed for
his role in the rebellion.
The City of St. Catharines acquires its
first parkland from the William Hamilton
Merritt Jr. estate for $9,900. The six and
a half acre property is named Montebello
Park―a name Merritt had given the
property after a village he'd visited in
Italy. Merritt was originally building a
home on the lot but passed away, and a
band pavilion is finally constructed over
the unused foundation.
Crystal Beach Park opens as
a religious campground on
the shores of Lake Erie. The
park soon becomes a popular
destination, drawing over 150,000
people every year, particularly
patrons from nearby Buffalo, N.Y.
1887
Cooper's Riverside Mills opens
in Welland and soon becomes the
largest retailer of meal, flour,
buckwheat and feed in the area.
Canada's first Prime
Minister John A.
Macdonald passes away
at the age 76.
188718881891
The very first provincial premiers’
conference is held in Quebec City.
CS 2
The City of Toronto establishes the
first Children's Aid Society in Canada.