See also: 1960 in Canada, other events of 1961, 1962 in Canada and the Timeline of Canadian history. 1961 (MCMLXI) was a common year starting on Sunday (link will take you to calendar). ... This is a brief timeline of the history of Canada. ...

Incumbents

• Prime Minister - John Diefenbaker
• Governor General - Georges Vanier

• Premier of Alberta - Ernest Manning
• Premier of British Columbia - W.A.C. Bennett
• Premier of Manitoba - Duff Roblin
• Premier of New Brunswick - Louis Robichaud
• Premier of Newfoundland - Joey Smallwood
• Premier of Nova Scotia - Robert Stanfield
• Premier of Ontario - Leslie Frost then John Robarts
• Premier of Prince Edward Island - Walter Shaw
• Premier of Quebec - Jean Lesage
• Premier of Saskatchewan - Tommy Douglas then Woodrow Lloyd

The Prime Minister of Canada (French: Premier ministre du Canada), the head of the Government of Canada, is usually the leader of the political party with the most seats in the Canadian House of Commons. ... The Right Honourable John George Diefenbaker, CH , PC , QC , BA , MA , LL.B , LL.D , DCL , FRSC , FRSA , D.Litt , DSL (September 18, 1895 – August 16, 1979) was the thirteenth Prime Minister of Canada (1957 – 1963). ... The Governor General of Canada (French: Gouverneur général or Gouverneure générale) is the representative of the Canadian monarch. ... Major-General The Right Honourable Georges-Philéas Vanier (April 23, 1888 - March 5, 1967) was a Canadian diplomat who was Governor General of Canada from 1959 to 1967. ... Categories: Canada-related stubs | Alberta premiers ... Ernest Charles Manning The Honourable Senator Ernest Charles Manning, CC, PC (September 20, 1908 - February 19, 1996), Canadian politician, was Premier of Alberta between 1943 and 1968, the longest term of office of any Alberta premier, and the second longest serving premier in Canada. ... Categories: Stub | British Columbia premiers ... The Honourable William Andrew Cecil Bennett, PC , OC (September 6, 1900 - February 23, 1979) was a Premier of the Canadian province of British Columbia. ... Categories: Canada-related stubs | Manitoba premiers ... Dufferin Roblin (born June 17, 1917) is a Canadian businessman and politician. ... The Premier of New Brunswick (fr: Premier ministre du Nouveau-Brunswick) is the first minister for the Canadian province of New Brunswick. ... The Honourable Louis Joseph Robichaud, PC , CC , QC , BA , LL.D (October 21, 1925 - January 6, 2005), popularly known as Little Louis or Ti-Louis (due both for his short height and his sharing a name with Uncle Louis St. ... Categories: Newfoundland and Labrador premiers | Stub ... Joey Smallwood (center) Joseph Roberts Joey Smallwood CC (December 24, 1900 - December 18, 1991) was the last Father of Confederation in Canada, bringing Newfoundland into Confederation in 1949. ... Categories: Stub | Nova Scotia premiers ... The Right Honourable Robert Lorne Stanfield, PC (April 11, 1914-December 16, 2003) was Premier of Nova Scotia and leader of the federal Progressive Conservative Party of Canada. ... Dalton McGuinty The Premier of Ontario is the first minister for the Canadian province of Ontario. ... The Honourable Leslie Miscampbell Frost, PC , CC (September 20, 1895-May 4, 1973) was a politician in Ontario, Canada. ... For the recipient of the Victoria Cross see John Robarts (VC). ... The Premier of Prince Edward Island is the first minister for the Canadian province of Prince Edward Island. ... Walter Russell Shaw (December 20, 1887-May 29, 1981) was a Prince Edward Island politician. ... The Premier of Quebec (in French Premier ministre du Québec, sometimes literally translated to Prime Minister of Quebec) is the first minister for the Canadian province of Quebec. ... The Honourable Jean Lesage, PC , CC , CD (June 10, 1912–December 12, 1980) was a lawyer and politician in Quebec, Canada. ... The Premier of Saskatchewan is the first minister for the Canadian province of Saskatchewan. ... The Honourable Thomas Clement Douglas, PC , CC , SOM , MA , LL.D (October 20, 1904 – February 24, 1986) was a Scottish-born Canadian Baptist minister until becoming a democratic socialist politician. ... Woodrow Stanley Lloyd (July 16, 1913-April 7, 1972) was a Canadian politician who succeeded Tommy Douglas as Premier of the Province of Saskatchewan. ...

Events

• February 3 - The Canadian Bank of Commerce and the Imperial Bank of Canada merge to form CIBC
• June 1 - The 1961 Canadian census finds Canada has a population of 18 238 247
• June 6 - CUSO is formed
• June 13 - The NCC study of Ottawa's new Green Belt is completed
• June 14 - James Elliott Coyne, the Governor of the Bank of Canada resigns due to disagreements with the federal government's fiscal policies
• August 3 - Tommy Douglas is elected leader of the newly formed NDP
• August 14 - 15 - The Premiers meet in Charlottetown
• October 1 - CTV, Canada's second major television network, begins broadcasting
• November 7 - Woodrow Lloyd becomes premier of Saskatchewan, replacing Tommy Douglas
• November 8 - John Robarts becomes premier of Ontario, replacing Leslie Frost
• November 17 - Saksatchewan passes a bill creating Canada's first government run health system
• December 28 - Canada's first BOMARC Missile squadron is formed
• The Co-operative Commonwealth Federation becomes the New Democratic Party
• The Massey Lectures are created
• The new home for the Hockey Hall of Fame opens in Toronto
• CTV is founded

February 3 is the 34th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar. ... The Canadian Bank of Commerce was a Canadian bank founded in 1867. ... The Imperial Bank of Canada was a Canadian bank that was founded in 1875. ... CIBC (NYSE: BCM) is one of Canadas major banks. ... June 1 is the 152nd day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (153rd in leap years), with 213 days remaining. ... A census is the process of obtaining information about every member of a population (not necessarily a human population). ... June 6 is the 157th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (158th in leap years), with 208 days remaining. ... CUSO, once Canadian University Students Overseas, is a Canadian non-profit organization that aids in the development of third-world countries. ... June 13 is the 164th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (165th in leap years), with 201 days remaining. ... The National Capital Commission (NCC) is a federal commission that administers the federally owned lands and buildings in Canadas National Capital Region, including Ottawa, Ontario and Gatineau, Quebec. ... Template:Hide = Motto: Template:Unhide = Advance Ottawa/Ottawa en avant City of Ottawa, Ontario, Canada Ville dOttawa, Ontario, Canadas Location. ... For other uses of the word Greenbelt, see Greenbelt (disambiguation). ... June 14 is the 165th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (166th in leap years), with 200 days remaining. ... James Elliot Coyne (born July 17, 1910, Winnipeg, Manitoba) was the second Governor of the Bank of Canada from 1955 to 1961, succeeding Graham Towers. ... The Bank of Canada Building in Ottawa The Bank of Canada is Canadas central bank. ... August 3 is the 215th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar (216th in leap years), with 150 days remaining. ... The Honourable Thomas Clement Douglas, PC , CC , SOM , MA , LL.D (October 20, 1904 – February 24, 1986) was a Scottish-born Canadian Baptist minister until becoming a democratic socialist politician. ... The New Democratic Party (French: Nouveau Parti démocratique) is a left wing political party in Canada that advocates varying forms of social democracy and democratic socialism. ... August 14 is the 226th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar (227th in leap years), with 139 days remaining. ... August 15 is the 227th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar (228th in leap years), with 138 days remaining. ... For the federal electoral district see Canadian city and the provincial capital of Prince Edward Island, with a population of 32,245 as of 2001. ... October 1 is the 274th day of the year (275th in Leap years). ... CTV is a TLA that may stand for: CTV Television Network - a Canadian English language television network Channel Television - the main television broadcaster in the Channel Islands Chukyo TV. Broadcasting - a Japanese TV station in Nagoya This is a disambiguation page — a navigational aid which lists other pages that might... A television network is a distribution network for television content whereby a central operation provides programming for many television stations. ... November 7 is the 311th day of the year (312th in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar, with 54 days remaining. ... Woodrow Stanley Lloyd (July 16, 1913-April 7, 1972) was a Canadian politician who succeeded Tommy Douglas as Premier of the Province of Saskatchewan. ... Motto: Multis E Gentibus Vires (Latin: From many peoples, strength) Official languages English Capital Regina Largest city Saskatoon Lieutenant-Governor Lynda M. Haverstock Premier Lorne Calvert (NDP) Parliamentary representation  - House seat  - Senate seats 14 6 Area  - Total  - % water Ranked 7th 651,036 km² 9. ... The Honourable Thomas Clement Douglas, PC , CC , SOM , MA , LL.D (October 20, 1904 – February 24, 1986) was a Scottish-born Canadian Baptist minister until becoming a democratic socialist politician. ... November 8 is the 312th day of the year (313th in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar, with 53 days remaining. ... For the recipient of the Victoria Cross see John Robarts (VC). ... Motto: Ut Incepit Fidelis Sic Permanet (Latin: Loyal she began, loyal she remains) Official languages English, French (in some areas) Capital Toronto Largest city Toronto Lieutenant-Governor James K. Bartleman Premier Dalton McGuinty (Liberal) Parliamentary representation  - House seat  - Senate seats 106 24 Area  - Total  - % water Ranked 4th 1,076,395... The Honourable Leslie Miscampbell Frost, PC , CC (September 20, 1895-May 4, 1973) was a politician in Ontario, Canada. ... 17 November is also the name of a Marxist group in Greece. ... December 28 is the 362nd day of the year (363rd in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar, with 3 days remaining. ... The Bomarc Missile Program was a joint United States of America-Canada effort during 1957 to 1971 to protect against the USSR bomber threat. ... The Co-operative Commonwealth Federation (CCF) was a Canadian political party founded in 1932 in Calgary, Alberta, by a number of socialist, farm, co-operative and labour groups as well as the League for Social Reconstruction. ... The New Democratic Party (French: Nouveau Parti démocratique) is a left wing political party in Canada that advocates varying forms of social democracy and democratic socialism. ... The Massey Lectures are a prestigious annual event in Canada, in which a noted Canadian or international scholar gives a week-long series of lectures on a political, cultural or philosophical topic. ... The Hockey Hall of Fame is in Toronto, Ontario, Canada; it is devoted to ice hockey rather than the field variety of the game. ... CTV is Canadas largest privately owned English language television network. ...

Arts and Literature

New Books

• Morley Callaghan - A Passion in Rome
• Max Aitken - Courage
• Margaret Atwood - Double Persephone
• Farley Mowat - Owls in the Family

Awards

• See 1961 Governor General's Awards for a complete list of winners and finalists for those awards.
• Stephen Leacock Award: Norman Ward, Mice in the Beer

2003 Canada Post stamp Morley Edward Callaghan (February 22, 1903 – August 25, 1990) was a Canadian novelist, short story writer, playwright, TV and radio personality. ... Sir William Maxwell Max Aitken, 1st Baron Beaverbrook (May 25, 1879 - June 9, 1964) was a Canadian–British business tycoon and politician. ... Margaret Atwood Margaret Eleanor Peggy Atwood, CC (born November 18, 1939) is a novelist, poet, literary critic, and a pioneer of Canadian womens writing. ... Farley McGill Mowat OC , BA , D.Litt (born May 12, 1921 in Belleville, Ontario) is a Canadian novelist and non-fiction author. ... Each winner of the 1961 Governor Generals Awards for Literary Merit was selected by a panel of judges administered by the Canada Council for the Arts. ... The Stephen Leacock Memorial Medal for Humour (usually the Stephen Leacock Medal for Humour or just the Stephen Leacock Award) is an annual award presented to the best work of humorous literature written in English by a Canadian. ...

Births

• January 1 - Wendy Baker, former Canadian field hockey goalkeeper
• January 18 - Mark Messier, hockey player
• January 26 - Wayne Gretzky, hockey player
• January 27 - Tony Clement, politician
• February 21 - Paul Edwards, Manitoba politician
• March 16 - Todd McFarlane, comic book artist
• April 6 - Gene Eugene, actor and musician
• April 10 - Barb Tarbox, activist
• May 1 - Clint Malarchuk, hockey goalie
• May 8 - Greg Thomey, comedian
• May 9 - Darren Praznik, Manitoba politician
• May 27 - Northern Dancer, race horse
• May 31 - Corey Hart, singer
• June 1 - Paul Coffey, hockey player
• June 9 - Michael J. Fox, actor
• July 1 - Michelle Wright, singer
• July 12 - Camilla Scott, actor
• July 26 - Alan Lowe, politician
• August 25 - Marie Saint Pierre, fashion designer
• August 25 - Dave Tippett, hockey player and coach
• September 12 - Mylène Farmer, musician
• September 24 - Nancy Garapick, swimmer
• September 30 - Erica Ehm, vj and tv actor
• November 2 - k.d. lang, singer/songwriter
• December 8 - André Bachand, politician
• December 10 - Mark McKoy, Olympic athlete
• December 18 - Brian Orser, figure skater
• December 30 - Ben Johnson, sprinter
• December 31 - Douglas Coupland, writer

January 1 is the first day of the calendar year in both the Julian and Gregorian calendars. ... January 18 is the 18th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar. ... In 1996-97, Messier (right) would reunite with Wayne Gretzky (left) for one final unsuccessful run for the Cup. ... January 26 is the 26th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar. ... Wayne Gretzky playing for the Edmonton Oilers in 1984 Wayne Douglas Gretzky, OC (born January 26, 1961) is a former professional ice hockey player and currently a part owner and coach of the Phoenix Coyotes. ... January 27 is the 27th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... Anthony (Tony) Peter Clement (born January 27, 1961 in Manchester, England) is a conservative Canadian politician. ... February 21 is the 52nd day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar. ... Paul Edwards may refer to Paul Edwards, Canadian politician and lawyer. ... March 16 is the 75th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar (76th in Leap years). ... Spawn #1 (1992), featuring one of McFarlanes most popular creations Todd McFarlane (born March 16, 1961 in Calgary, Alberta) is a cartoonist, comic book writer, artist, and media entrepreneur. ... April 6 is the 96th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (97th in leap years). ... Gene Eugene Andrusco (April 6, 1961 - March 20, 2000) was a Canadian born actor, record producer, engineer, composer and musician. ... April 10 is the 100th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (101st in leap years). ... Barb Tarbox (April 10, 1961—May 18, 2003) was one of the most well-known anti-smoking Canada teaching young adults the consequences of smoking. ... May 1 is the 121st day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (122nd in leap years). ... Clint Malarchuk (born May 1, 1961 in Grande Prairie, Alberta) was a Canadian ice hockey goaltender who played in the NHL between 1981 and 1992. ... May 8 is the 128th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar (129th in leap years). ... Greg Thomey was born in May 8, 1961 in St. ... May 9 is the 129th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar (130th in leap years). ... Darren Praznik (born May 9, 1961) is a Manitoba politician. ... May 27 is the 147th day (148th in leap years) of the year in the Gregorian calendar, with 218 days remaining. ... Northern Dancer was a Canadian-bred thoroughbred racehorse, a bay colt born May 27, 1961, by Nearctic-Natalma, by Native Dancer. ... May 31 is the 151st day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (152nd in leap years), with 214 days remaining. ... Corey Hart (born May 31, 1962, in Montreal, Quebec) is a Canadian pop musician who was most popular during the early and mid-1980s. ... June 1 is the 152nd day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (153rd in leap years), with 213 days remaining. ... Paul Coffey (b. ... June 9 is the 160th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (161st in leap years), with 205 days remaining. ... Michael J. Fox on the cover of his book, Lucky Man Michael J. Fox (born June 9, 1961) is a Canadian-born actor, made famous by his roles as Marty McFly in the Back to the Future trilogy and as Alex P. Keaton on the sitcom Family Ties. ... July 1 is the 182nd day of the year (183rd in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar, with 183 days remaining. ... Michelle Wright (born July 1, 1961 in Charing Cross, Ontario) is a Canadian country music singer. ... July 12 is the 193rd day (194th in leap years) of the year in the Gregorian Calendar, with 172 days remaining. ... Camilla Scott (born July 12, 1961 in Toronto, Ontario) is a Canadian actress and television host. ... July 26 is the 207th day (208th in leap years) of the year in the Gregorian Calendar, with 158 days remaining. ... Alan Lowe (born July 26, 1961) is the 50th mayor of Victoria, British Columbia (1999-current). ... August 25 is the 237th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar (238th in leap years), with 128 days remaining. ... August 25 is the 237th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar (238th in leap years), with 128 days remaining. ... David Dave Tippett (Born: August 25, 1961 in Moosomin, Saskatchewan, Canada-) is a Canadian former leftwinger and current head coach in the National Hockey League. ... September 12 is the 255th day of the year (256th in leap years). ... Mylène Farmer Mylène Farmer (September 12, 1961), born Mylène Gautier, is a French-Canadian singer and songwriter. ... September 24 is the 267th day of the year (268th in leap years). ... September 30 is the 273rd day of the year (274th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar, with 92 days remaining. ... Erica Ehm (Erica Miechowsky, born September 30, 1961 in Montreal, Quebec) is best known as a pioneering video jockey at the Canadian cable television station MuchMusic. ... November 2 is the 306th day of the year (307th in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar, with 59 days remaining. ... k. ... December 8 is the 342nd day (343rd in leap years) of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... André Bachand Not to be confused with André Bachand, Liberal MP from Missisquoi André Bachand (born December 8, 1961 in Quebec City, Quebec) is a Canadian politician, who represented the riding of Richmond—Arthabaska as member of the Progressive Conservatives from 1997 to 2003. ... December 10 is the 344th day (345th in leap years) of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... Marcus Mark McKoy (born December 10, 1961) is a former Canadian athlete, winner of 110 m hurdles at the 1992 Summer Olympics. ... December 18 is the 352nd day of the year (353rd in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar. ... Orser carrying the Canadian flag at the opening ceremony of the 1988 Winter Olympics Brian Orser OC (born December 18, 1961 in Belleville, Ontario, Canada) is a Canadian figure skater. ... December 30 is the 364th day of the year (365th in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar, with 1 day remaining. ... Benjamin Sinclair Ben Johnson (born December 30, 1961) was a Canadian athlete, best known for his disqualification for doping use after winning the 100 m final in the 1988 Summer Olympics. ... December 31 is the 365th day of the year (366th in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar. ... Douglas Coupland (born December 30, 1961) is a Canadian author and cultural commentator, raised in Vancouver, British Columbia. ...

Deaths

• July 12 - Mazo de la Roche, author
• July 15 - John E. Brownlee, Premier of Alberta