1961 in Canada
See also: 1960 in Canada, other events of 1961, 1962 in Canada and the Timeline of Canadian history.
Table of contents |
Incumbents
- 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
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
- 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
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
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
Deaths
- July 12 – Mazo de la Roche, artist
- July 15 – John E. Brownlee, Premier of Alberta
Categories: 1961 | Years in Canada