The Ides of March refers to March 15 in the ancient Roman calendar. It’s most famous for the assassination of Julius Caesar in 44 BC.

What happened

On March 15, 44 BC, Caesar was stabbed to death by a group of Roman senators inside the Theatre of Pompey. The conspirators feared that Caesar was becoming too powerful and might end the Roman Republic by turning it into a monarchy.

Key conspirators included:

• Marcus Junius Brutus

• Gaius Cassius Longinus

• Dozens of other senators.

Why it’s famous

• It marked a major turning point that eventually led to the fall of the Roman Republic and the rise of the Roman Empire.

• It inspired famous lines in William Shakespeare’s play Julius Caesar, including the warning:
  “Beware the Ides of March.”

What “Ides” actually means

In the Roman calendar:

• Ides was the middle of the month.

• It fell on the 15th in March, May, July, and October, and the 13th in other months.

✅ Today, “Ides of March” is often used as a phrase meaning a warning about betrayal or impending danger.

Here are notable events in Canadian history connected to March 14 (from different years).

🇨🇦 This Week in Canadian History — March 14

1868 – Birth of Emily Murphy

• Emily Murphy was born in Cookstown, Ontario.

• She later became the first female magistrate in Canada and the British Empire and was a leading advocate for women’s rights and legal reform.

1872 – New Premier of Manitoba

• Henry Joseph Clarke became Premier of Manitoba, replacing Marc‑Amable Girard.

1899 – Birth of a major Canadian business leader

• K. C. Irving, founder of the Irving business empire in Atlantic Canada, was born.

1916 – Women gain the vote in Saskatchewan

• Women were granted the right to vote in provincial elections in Saskatchewan, an important milestone in Canadian women’s suffrage.

1923 – First full hockey radio broadcast

• The world’s first complete play-by-play radio broadcast of a professional hockey game took place in Regina, called by Pete Parker.

1932 – Birth of a famous Indigenous artist

• Norval Morrisseau was born in Ontario.

• He later founded the Woodland School of Indigenous art, influencing generations of artists.

2020 – Early COVID-19 impacts in Canada

• Several provinces reported early cases and restrictions; for example, Prince Edward Island confirmed its first COVID-19 case and major venues began closing.

✅ Quick fact:
March 14 is also known worldwide as “Pi Day” (3.14) in mathematics, though it’s not specifically a Canadian holiday.

Here are some events that happened this week in New Brunswick history (March 8–14) 🇨🇦

📅 March 8

• 1836 – Saint Andrews and Quebec Railway planned
  The Saint Andrews and Quebec Rail Road Company was incorporated to build a railway from St. Andrews to Quebec. It showed how important railways were becoming for trade and travel in the province.

1977 – Jackie Vautour eviction conflict
Police used tear gas to evict Jackie Vautour from a motel in Richibucto after his home had been destroyed during the creation of Kouchibouguac National Park. This became a famous protest about land rights in the province.

📅 March 9

• 1885 – First Acadian senator
  Pascal Poirier from Shediac became Canada’s first Acadian senator, helping promote Acadian culture and history.

1934 – Women can run for office
Women in New Brunswick were granted the right to run for provincial political office.

📅 March 10

• 1760 – Mi’kmaq treaty renewal
  Chief Michael Augustine signed a Peace and Friendship treaty renewal in Halifax, confirming Mi’kmaq hunting and fishing rights.

1796 – First Canadian novelist born
Julia Beckwith Hart was born in Fredericton. She later wrote St. Ursula’s Convent, the first novel written and published in Canada.

📅 March 12

• 1822 – Birth of a New Brunswick premier
  Albert James Smith was born in Shediac. He later became premier and a federal cabinet minister.

📅 March 13

• 1769 – Caraquet resettlement
  Alexis Landry received permission to re-establish settlement at Caraquet after the Seven Years’ War.

📅 March 14

• 1899 – Birth of an industrial giant
  K. C. Irving was born in Bouctouche. He later built the Irving business empire, one of the largest companies in Atlantic Canada.

✅ Interesting pattern this week:
Many events involve Acadian history, political rights, and economic development (railways, industry, and settlement).

📅 March 1

1872 – Creation of Yellowstone’s Canadian counterpart movement
The idea of national parks was gaining momentum in North America after the creation of Canada’s first protected areas in the Rockies (a movement that would later lead to Banff National Park in 1885).

1999 – Nunavut Act preparations
In the lead-up to its official creation in April 1999, administrative groundwork was underway for Nunavut, marking a major milestone in Inuit self-governance.

📅 March 2

1923 – Birth of a hockey legend
Gordie Howe was born in Floral, Saskatchewan. Nicknamed “Mr. Hockey,” he became one of the greatest players in NHL history.

📅 March 3

1847 – Annexation Manifesto published
A group of Montreal businessmen published the Annexation Manifesto, proposing that the Province of Canada join the United States — a controversial moment in pre-Confederation politics centered in Montreal.

📅 March 4

1929 – First Canadian woman appointed to Senate
Following the landmark Persons Case, Cairine Wilson became the first woman appointed to the Canadian Senate.

📅 March 5

1931 – “The Maple Leaf Forever” debate era
Throughout the early 20th century, discussions about replacing “The Maple Leaf Forever” with what would later become O Canada reflected shifting ideas about national identity.

📅 March 6

1834 – York renamed Toronto
The town of York was officially incorporated as the City of Toronto, reclaiming its Indigenous-derived name.

📅 March 7

1969 – Official Languages Act passed
The government of Pierre Trudeau passed the Official Languages Act, making English and French the country’s two official languages nationwide.

🇨🇦 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