History

This weeks History

🇨🇦 January 11 — Sir John A. Macdonald & Cold Climate Records

  • Sir John A. Macdonald Day: Canadians commemorate the birth of Sir John A. Macdonald (1815), Canada’s first prime minister and key architect of Confederation. The day was created by federal act to honor his role in founding the nation.

Extreme Cold Record: On January 11, 1911, Fort Vermilion, Alberta recorded one of the coldest temperatures in North America (−61.2 °C), highlighting Canada’s harsh northern climate.

Notable Birth: Anne Heggtveit, Canadian alpine ski gold medalist, was born on this date.

🇨🇦 January 12 — Early 20th-Century Events

  • Stephen Harper Leadership Entry (2004): Future prime minister Stephen Harper entered the Conservative Party leadership race on this date.

(General history resources list other global events on this date; specific major Canada-wide political or landmark law events tied strictly to Jan 12 are less prominent in common Canadian timelines.)

🇨🇦 January 13 — Contemporary Diplomacy

  • 2026 Mark Carney China Visit: Prime Minister Mark Carney began a major visit to China (Jan 13-17, 2026), the first Canadian prime ministerial trip there since 2017, aiming to reset bilateral relations and expand trade partnerships.

🇨🇦 January 14 — 20th Century Governance

  • PEI Leadership Change (1936): Thane Campbell became premier of Prince Edward Island, reflecting routine shifts in provincial leadership during the 1930s.

🇨🇦 January 15 — Pemmican Proclamation

  • Pemmican Proclamation (1814): Governor Miles MacDonell issued a controversial decree aimed at controlling pemmican trade in the Red River settlement, intensifying fur-trade rivalries and Indigenous tensions that shaped early Canadian colonial politics.

RCMP Musical Ride (1962): The RCMP Musical Ride became a permanent full-time unit of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police.

🇨🇦 January 16 — Auto Pact Agreement

  • Canada-U.S. Automotive Agreement (1965): The landmark Auto Pact was signed by Prime Minister Lester Pearson and U.S. President Lyndon Johnson, reshaping the North American auto industry with tariff-free car parts and integrated production across the border.

🇨🇦 January 17 — Women’s Suffrage Milestone

  • Manitoba Women’s Vote (1916): Manitoba became the first Canadian province to grant women the right to vote and hold office, a major step in the nation’s democratic history.

📌 Summary

Date Key Canadian Historical Highlight
Jan 11 Birth of Sir John A. Macdonald; extreme cold record
Jan 12 Stephen Harper enters PC leadership race (2004)
Jan 13 Beginning of landmark Canada–China diplomatic visit (2026)
Jan 14 Provincial leadership change in Prince Edward Island
Jan 15 Pemmican Proclamation (1814) & RCMP Musical Ride becomes permanent
Jan 16 Auto Pact signed, integrating Canada–U.S. auto industries
Jan 17 Women gain the vote in Manitoba (first province)
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