1953 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...
– Angus MacdonaldAngus Lewis MacdonaldAngus Lewis Macdonald, PC, QC , popularly known as 'Angus L.', was a Canadian lawyer, law professor and politician from Nova Scotia. He served as the Liberal premier of Nova Scotia from 1933 to 1940, when he became the federal minister of defence for naval services... - 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:...
– J. Walter Jones then 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 1 – The National Library of Canada is founded
- January 27 – The Canadian Dental AssociationCanadian Dental AssociationThe Canadian Dental Association, also known as the Association dentaire canadienne in French was founded in 1902. It is a non-profit professional association representing Canada's 18,000 dentists...
approves the use of fluorideFluorideFluoride is the anion F−, the reduced form of fluorine when as an ion and when bonded to another element. Both organofluorine compounds and inorganic fluorine containing compounds are called fluorides. Fluoride, like other halides, is a monovalent ion . Its compounds often have properties that are...
in drinking water - May 25 – Alex Matheson becomes premier of Prince Edward IslandPrince Edward IslandPrince Edward Island is a Canadian province consisting of an island of the same name, as well as other islands. The maritime province is the smallest in the nation in both land area and population...
, replacing J. Walter Jones - June 2 – Elizabeth II is crowned Queen of Canada. In KoreaKoreaKorea ) is an East Asian geographic region that is currently divided into two separate sovereign states — North Korea and South Korea. Located on the Korean Peninsula, Korea is bordered by the People's Republic of China to the northwest, Russia to the northeast, and is separated from Japan to the...
the Canadian Army celebrates the coronationCoronationA coronation is a ceremony marking the formal investiture of a monarch and/or their consort with regal power, usually involving the placement of a crown upon their head and the presentation of other items of regalia...
by firing red, white, and blue smoke shells at the enemy. - July 13 – The Stratford Festival of CanadaStratford Festival of CanadaThe Stratford Shakespeare Festival is an internationally recognized annual celebration of theatre running from April to November in the Canadian city of Stratford, Ontario...
opens - July 27 – The Korean WarKorean WarThe Korean War was a conventional war between South Korea, supported by the United Nations, and North Korea, supported by the People's Republic of China , with military material aid from the Soviet Union...
ends. In total 314 Canadians were killed and 1211 injured. - August 10 – Federal electionCanadian federal election, 1953The Canadian federal election of 1953 was held on August 10 to elect members of the Canadian House of Commons of the 22nd Parliament of Canada. Prime Minister Louis St...
: Louis Saint Laurent's Liberals win a fifth consecutive majority. - October 12 – Wilfrid Laurier MemorialWilfrid Laurier MemorialThe Wilfrid Laurier Memorial is a monument in Downtown Montreal.- Overview :The Sir Wilfrid Laurier Memorial was constructed in 1953 by Joseph-Émile Brunet on the southern side of Dorchester Square, facing towards the United States. Wilfrid Laurier was a proponent of an early free-trade agreement...
unveiled - October 15 – The Trans Mountain Oil Pipeline is completed
- October 25 – Canada's first privately-owned television station, CKSOCICI-TVCICI-TV is a Canadian television station, broadcasting in Sudbury, Ontario. It is an owned-and-operated station of the CTV Television Network, and is the flagship station of that network's system in northern Ontario, CTV Northern Ontario....
, broadcasts in Sudbury. - The federal Immigration Act is amended to prohibit homosexuals entry into Canada. This amendment was repealed in 1977.
Awards
- See 1953 Governor General's Awards1953 Governor General's AwardsIn Canada, the 1953 Governor General's Awards for Literary Merit were the seventeenth such awards. The awards in this period had no monetary prize but were an honour for the authors.-Winners:*Fiction: David Walker, Digby....
for a complete list of winners and finalists for those awards. - Stephen Leacock Award: Lawrence Earl, The Battle of Baltinglass
January to June
- January 7 – Dionne BrandDionne BrandDionne Brand is a Canadian poet, novelist, essayist and documentarian. She was named Toronto's third Poet Laureate in September 2009.-Biography:...
, poet, novelist and non-fiction writer - February 5 – Eric Robinson, politician
- February 15 – David ChomiakDavid ChomiakDavid Walter Chomiak is a politician in Manitoba, Canada. He is currently a cabinet minister in the New Democratic Party government of Greg Selinger....
, politician - February 15 – Gerald KeddyGerald KeddyGerald Gordon Keddy is a Canadian politician. Keddy is a former Christmas tree grower, and offshore drill operator. He is currently serving as the Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of International Trade Canada. His wife, Judy Streatch, is a former Nova Scotia MLA and cabinet minister.-Life...
, politician - February 16 – Lanny McDonaldLanny McDonaldLanny King McDonald is a Canadian former professional ice hockey player for the Toronto Maple Leafs, Colorado Rockies and Calgary Flames of the National Hockey League . He played over 1,100 games during a 16-year NHL career in which he scored 500 goals and over 1,000 points...
, ice hockey player - February 17 – Borys ChambulBorys ChambulBorys Chambul is a retired discus thrower, who represented Canada at the 1976 Summer Olympics. He won the gold medal in the men's discus throw event at the 1978 Commonwealth Games.-References:*...
, discus thrower - February 20 – Gaëtan DugasGaëtan DugasGaëtan Dugas was a Canadian who worked for Air Canada as a flight attendant. Dugas became notorious as the alleged patient zero for AIDS, though he is now more accurately regarded as one of many highly sexually active men who spread AIDS widely before the disease was identified.-Patient Zero...
, early AIDSAIDSAcquired immune deficiency syndrome or acquired immunodeficiency syndrome is a disease of the human immune system caused by the human immunodeficiency virus...
patient, the alleged Patient ZeroGaëtan DugasGaëtan Dugas was a Canadian who worked for Air Canada as a flight attendant. Dugas became notorious as the alleged patient zero for AIDS, though he is now more accurately regarded as one of many highly sexually active men who spread AIDS widely before the disease was identified.-Patient Zero...
for AIDSAIDSAcquired immune deficiency syndrome or acquired immunodeficiency syndrome is a disease of the human immune system caused by the human immunodeficiency virus...
(d.19841984 in Canada-Incumbents:*Monarch: Elizabeth II*Governor General: Edward Schreyer then Jeanne Sauvé*Prime Minister: Pierre Trudeau then John Turner then Brian Mulroney*Premier of Alberta: Peter Lougheed*Premier of British Columbia: Bill Bennett...
) - March 10 – Debbie BrillDebbie BrillDebbie Brill OC is a Canadian high jump athlete who was the first North American woman to clear 6 feet, at age 16. Her unique reverse jumping style was called the "Brill Bend"...
, high jumper - March 13 – Stephanie BertoStephanie BertoStephanie Berto is a retired female track and field athlete, who represented Canada at the 1968 Summer Olympics in the women's 100 metres and 4x100m relay while becoming the youngest member of the olympic team at age 15...
, track and field athlete - April 2 – Janet NutterJanet NutterJanet Ruth Nutter is a retired diver from Canada, who was supposed to represent her native country at the 1980 Summer Olympics, but failed to do so after the boycott...
, diver - April 17 – Dany LaferrièreDany LaferrièreDany Laferrière is a francophone Haitian and Canadian novelist and journalist.Born in Port-au-Prince, Haïti, and raised in Petit Goâve, Laferrière worked as a journalist in Haïti before moving to Canada in 1976...
, novelist and journalist - April 18 – Rick MoranisRick MoranisFrederick Allan "Rick" Moranis is a Canadian comedian, actor, musician, and a magician. Moranis came to prominence in the late 1970s on the sketch comedy show Second City Television, and later appeared in several Hollywood films including Strange Brew; Ghostbusters; Spaceballs; Little Shop of...
, comedian, actor and musician - May 14 – Tom CochraneTom CochraneTom Cochrane, OC Canadian musician and humanitarian, best known for his hit songs "Life Is a Highway", "Lunatic Fringe", "Human Race" and "I Wish You Well". Cochrane fronted the Canadian rock band Red Rider and has won seven Juno Awards...
, singer-songwriter and musician - June 23 – Raymonde AprilRaymonde AprilRaymonde April, is a Canadian photographer and academic.Born in Moncton, New Brunswick, April grew up in Rivière-du-Loup. April is a full-time instructor, Photography and Chair of Studio Arts at Concordia University....
, photographer - June 23 – Albina GuarnieriAlbina GuarnieriAlbina Guarnieri, PC, MP is a former politician. She was a member of Paul Martin's Liberal government and was Canada's 24th Minister of Veterans Affairs...
, politician and Minister
July to September
- July 3 – Dave Lewis, ice hockey player and coach
- July 9 – Margie GillisMargie GillisMargie Gillis, CM, CQ is a Canadian solo dancer and choreographer whose most commonly known dance style is modern.Born in Acton Vale, Quebec, the daughter of Gene Gillis, an Olympic skier, and Rhona Wurtele, a Canadian Olympic skier. Her brother, Jere Gillis played professional hockey...
, dancer and choreographer - July 15 – Richard MargisonRichard MargisonRichard Charles Margison, OC is a Canadian operatic tenor. Margison was named an Officer of the Order of Canada in 2001 and lives in Toronto, Canada.- External links :** at The Canadian Encyclopedia...
, operatic tenor - July 15 – Mila MulroneyMila MulroneyMilica "Mila" Mulroney , is the wife of the 18th Prime Minister of Canada, Brian Mulroney. They have one daughter, Caroline, and three sons, Benedict, Mark, and Nicholas...
, wife of the 18th Prime Minister of CanadaPrime 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...
, Brian MulroneyBrian MulroneyMartin Brian Mulroney, was the 18th Prime Minister of Canada from September 17, 1984, to June 25, 1993 and was leader of the Progressive Conservative Party of Canada from 1983 to 1993. His tenure as Prime Minister was marked by the introduction of major economic reforms, such as the Canada-U.S...
- July 22 – Paul QuarringtonPaul QuarringtonPaul Lewis Quarrington was a Canadian novelist, playwright, screenwriter, filmmaker, musician and educator.-Background:...
, novelist, playwright, screenwriter, filmmaker and musician - July 25 – Barbara Haworth-AttardBarbara Haworth-AttardBarbara Haworth-Attard is a Canadian children's author who lives in London, Ontario.- Works :*The Three Wishbells - 1995*Dark of the Moon - 1995*Home Child - 1996*Truth Singer - 1996*Buried Treasure - 1998...
, children's author - July 29 – Geddy LeeGeddy LeeGary Lee Weinrib, OC, better known as Geddy Lee , is a Canadian musician, best known as the lead vocalist, bassist, and keyboardist for the Canadian rock group Rush...
, singer, bassist and keyboardist - August 11 – Greg DuhaimeGreg DuhaimeGreg Duhaime was a Canadian middle distance runner, onetime Canadian record holder in the 3000 metres steeplechase.Duhaime's parents reside in Elliot Lake...
, middle-distance runner - August 17 – Robert ThirskRobert ThirskRobert Brent "Bob" Thirsk is a Canadian engineer and physician, and a former Canadian Space Agency astronaut. He holds the Canadian records for the longest space flight and the most time spent in space .-Personal life:Thirsk is from New Westminster, British Columbia and is married to Brenda...
, engineer and astronaut - August 27 – Alex LifesonAlex LifesonAleksandar Živojinović, OC, better known by his stage name Alex Lifeson, is a second generation Serbian-Canadian musician, best known as the guitarist of the Canadian rock band Rush. In the summer of 1968, Lifeson founded the band that would become Rush with friend, drummer John Rutsey...
, guitarist - September 16 – Nancy HustonNancy HustonNancy Louise Huston, OC is a Canadian-born novelist and essayist who writes primarily in French and translates her own works into English.-Biography:...
, novelist and essayist - September 30 – S. M. StirlingS. M. StirlingStephen Michael Stirling is a French-born Canadian-American science fiction and fantasy author. Stirling is probably best known for his Draka series of alternate history novels and the more recent time travel/alternate history Nantucket series and Emberverse series.-Personal:Stirling was born on...
, science fiction and fantasy author
October to December
- October 12 – Daniel LouisDaniel LouisDaniel Louis is a Canadian film producer. He is co-founder, with Denise Robert, of Cinémaginaire....
, film producer - October 29 – Denis PotvinDenis PotvinDenis Charles Potvin is a former defenseman and team captain for the New York Islanders in the National Hockey League and cornerstone for the Islanders' four Stanley Cup championship teams in the early 1980s. His brother, Jean Potvin, was also an NHL defenseman and the brothers were teammates for...
, ice hockey player - November 26 – Pam BarrettPam BarrettPam Barrett was a politician who left politics in February 2000, after having a life-changing near-death experience.-Early political career:...
, politician (d.20082008 in CanadaEvents from the year 2008 in Canada.-January to March:* January 3 - In Montreal, a false bomb threat forces the closing of Victoria Bridge for four and a half hours....
) - November 28 – John MajhorJohn MajhorJohn Majhor was a radio and television host, most noted for his work in Toronto, Canada.-Early years:...
, radio and television host (d.20072007 in CanadaEvents from the year 2007 in Canada.-January to March:*January 5 - The domed roof of BC Place Stadium in Vancouver collapses.*January 11 - A major blizzard rips through Central Saskatchewan....
) - December 7 – Carmen RinkeCarmen RinkeCarmen Rinke is a retired boxer from Canada, who represented his native country at the 1976 Summer Olympics. There he was defeated in the quarterfinals of the men's welterweight division by East Germany's eventual gold medalist Jochen Bachfeld.-References:*...
, boxer - December 13 – Bob GaineyBob GaineyRobert Michael "Le Capitaine" Gainey is the former executive vice president and general manager of the Montreal Canadiens of the National Hockey League . He is also a former professional ice hockey player who played for the Canadiens from 1973 until 1989...
, ice hockey player and coach - December 18 – Daniel PoliquinDaniel PoliquinDaniel Poliquin is a Canadian novelist and translator. He has translated works of many Canadian writers into French, including David Homel, Douglas Glover, and Mordecai Richler. He lives in Ottawa, Ontario...
, novelist and translator - December 23 – Holly DaleHolly DaleHolly Dale is a Canadian film and television director and film producer. She received a Gemini Award in 2008 for Best Direction in a Dramatic Series ....
, film and television director and film producer
Deaths
- January 2 – Gordon Daniel ConantGordon Daniel ConantGordon Daniel Conant, KC was a Canadian lawyer, politician, and the 12th Premier of Ontario.-Early life:...
, lawyer, politician and 12th 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...
(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...
) - January 5 – Mitchell HepburnMitchell HepburnMitchell Frederick Hepburn was the 11th Premier of Ontario, Canada, from 1934 to 1942. He was the youngest Premier in Ontario history, appointed at age 37....
, politician and 11th 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...
(b.18961896 in Canada-Events:*April 27 - Sir Mackenzie Bowell resigns as Prime Minister due to cabinet infighting. He is replaced by Sir Charles Tupper.*May 1 - Sir Charles Tupper becomes prime minister, replacing Sir Mackenzie Bowell...
) - February 16 – Norman HipelNorman HipelNorman Otto Hipel was a Canadian politician, noted for his service as Minister of Labour for Ontario in the cabinet of Mitchell Hepburn. He served as MLA for Waterloo South.-Personal background and career:...
, 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...
) - March 20 – John Livingstone BrownJohn Livingstone BrownJohn Livingstone Brown was a Canadian politician, farmer and minister. He was elected to the Canadian House of Commons in the 1921 election as a Member of the Progressive Party. He moved to the Liberal-Progressives after the 1926 election and was re-elected in 1930....
, politician (b.18671867 in CanadaSee also:1866 in Canada,other events of 1867,1868 in Canada.----Events from the year 1867 in Canada.-Incumbents:*Monarch — Queen Victoria*Prime Minister — John A. Macdonald*Premier of New Brunswick — Andrew R...
)
- May 4 – James TompkinsJames TompkinsFather Jimmy Tompkins was a Roman Catholic priest who founded the Antigonish Movement, a progressive effort that incorporated adult education, cooperatives and rural community development to aid the fishing and mining communities of northern and eastern Nova Scotia, Canada...
, priest and educator (b.18701870 in CanadaEvents from the year 1870 in Canada.-Events:*June-July - The 1870 New Brunswick election*September 16 - Alfred Boyd becomes its first premier of Manitoba.*December 27 - The 1870 Manitoba election-Births:...
) - September 19 – Gordon GraydonGordon GraydonGordon Graydon, BA , QC , LL.D was a Canadian politician.Graydon received his early education at Woodlands Secondary School in County Peel, Ontario. He attended Brampton Centennial High School, and was a student at University of Toronto in Political Science. He graduated from Osgoode Hall law...
, politician (b.18971897 in Canada- Events :* January 29 - The Victorian Order of Nurses is founded in Ottawa* February 2 - Clara Brett Martin becomes the first woman to practise law in Ontario* February 19 - World's first Women's Institute founded in Stoney Creek, Ontario...
) - November 29 – Sam De GrasseSam De GrasseSamuel Alfred De Grasse was a Canadian actor. Born in Bathurst, New Brunswick, he trained to be a dentist....
, actor (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...
) - December 26 – David MilneDavid Milne (artist)David Milne, was a Canadian painter, printmaker, and writer.- Biography :David Milne was born in the southwestern Ontario village of Burgoyne in 1882. He was the last of 10 children born to Scottish immigrant parents...
, painter, printmaker and writer (b.18821882 in Canada-Events:*May 17 - Provisional districts of the North-West Territories are established between Manitoba and British Columbia: the districts of Assiniboia, Saskatchewan, Alberta, and Athabaska...
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