Highlights of the day

  • 1621 James I grants Acadia to his secretary Sir William Alexander, to found New Scotland.
  • 1813 Oliver Perry defeats Trafalgar veteran Commodore Robert Barclay at the Battle of Lake Erie,
  • 1939 Mackenzie King announces that Canada is now at war with Germany; Canada makes her own declaration of war for the First time.

List of Facts for September 10

  • 1611 Samuel de Champlain arrives in La Rochelle from Tadoussac. La Rochelle, France
  • 1616 Samuel de Champlain arrives in Honfleur from Tadoussac with Récollet fathers Denis Jamet and Joseph Le Caron. Honfleur, France
  • 1621 King James I grants all of Canada and Acadia to his secretary Sir William Alexander, who promises to set up the colony of Nova Scotia, or New Scotland. Edinburgh, Scotland
  • 1715 James Knight, Factor of the Hudson’s Bay Company’s York Factory on the western shore of Hudson Bay, writes in his Journal that Indians told him of a “great river” far inland where “there is a certain gum or pitch that runs down the banks of a river (the Athabasca) in such abundance that they cannot land but at certain places”; first report by a European of the oilsands deposits in Western Canada. See: James Knight, Hudson’s Bay Company Journals 1714-17.
  • 1746 King George’s War - Jean de La Rochefoucauld sees his French fleet of 54 ships, on the way to recapture Louisbourg and Annapolis, wiped out by a hurricane; the remainder reach Chebucto, where the Duc d’Anville dies of a heart attack. Halifax, Nova Scotia
  • 1784 The Privy Council approves the Seal of the Province of New Brunswick. London, England
  • 1809 David Thompson of the North West Company (NWC) locates the site of Kullyspell House in the eastern shores of Pend d’Oreille Lake. BC
  • 1813 War of 1812 - US Commodore Oliver Perry, with nine ships, captures a smaller British naval fleet under Trafalgar veteran Commodore Robert Barclay at the Battle of Lake Erie, sometimes referred to as the Battle of Put-in-Bay on Lake Erie; Perry takes the ‘Detroit’, the ‘Queen Charlotte’, the ‘Lady Prevost’ and three armed schooners. Perry reported to the Naval Department in Washington that his squadron had won a signal victory… after a sharp conflict. He also sent a message to General William Henry Harrison: We have met the enemy and they are ours - two ships, two brigs, one schooner and one sloop. After Hull’s surrender to Isaac Brock at Detroit, Harrison realized that the US needed to take naval control of Lake Erie to have any chance of beating the British and their 14,000 Indian allies. Perry, age 27, started building two brigs and four schooners on the beaches of Presque Isle, and brought five ships from Black Rock (Buffalo) down to Presque Isle in a thick fog. Lacking the forces necessary for an attack, Barclay blockaded the Americans, but had to leave for supplies, letting Perry get out enough ships; he then sailed to Put-in-Bay in the Bass islands and set up his own blockade of Barclay’s squadron at Fort Malden, Amherstburg, who were running dangerously short of food. On the defeat of Barclay’s squadron, Proctor has to retreat up the Thames River with his regulars and Indian allies, where they will be defeated on October 5, 1813 at the Battle of the Thames, where Tecumseh is killed and his Indian confederation broken. For the rest of the war, Lake Erie and western Ontario are under American military rule. Put-in-Bay, Ohio
  • 1814 War of 1812 - John Sherbrooke captures Fort Machias with a force from Halifax; Eastern Maine to the Penobscot River now in British hands, and is annexed to the colony of New Brunswick. Machias, Maine
  • 1823 The Champlain Canal opens in New York state, linking the Hudson River with Lake Champlain, and allowing water passage down the Richelieu River to the St. Lawrence River and Montréal. New York
  • 1824 North West Passage - William Parry enters Lancaster Sound and winters in Prince Regent Inlet; forced back by ice the following year. Prince Regent Inlet, Nunavut
  • 1846 First permanent Roman Catholic mission in Saskatchewan is founded. Saskatchewan
  • 1851 John Rae returns to Fort Confidence after exploring 1,125 km of previously unknown coastline; the Hudson’s Bay Company explorer and doctor survived by living like the native Inuit. Fort Confidence, Nunavut
  • 1869 The United States acquires the American holdings of the Hudson’s Bay Company and its affiliate, the Puget’s Sound Agricultural Company for $450,000 and $200,000, respectively. Washington
  • 1874 North West Mounted Police Inspector Éphrem Brisebois and his troop start building the NWMP’s Fort Calgary, near what is now the Centre Street bridge over the Elbow River, using logs floated down the Bow River. Calgary, Alberta
  • 1874 See: NWMP Establish a Fort at Calgary
  • 1890 Charles Berger discovers gold at Boucherville. Boucherville, Québec
  • 1895 official opening of the new Sault Ste. Marie Canal, capable of carrying wide steamships and some ocean going vessels. Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario
  • 1898 Fire destroys the town of New Westminster. New Westminster, BC
  • 1900 United Gold Fields of British Columbia incorporated in Great Britain with French money; headquarters in Nelson, BC. London, England
  • 1901 Celebration marks the founding of Frank, NWT. Frank, Albert
  • 1904 Crime - Bill Miner and his gang rob a CPR train of $7,000 at Mission, BC.
  • 1905 Alexander Rutherford First Premier of Alberta, announces his cabinet. Edmonton, Alberta
  • 1915 First World War - Mobilization of the 87th Battalion of Infantry for service in France. Montréal, Québec
  • 1925 Arthur Vining Davis starts construction of the Arvida aluminum plant; the townsite is named after him: Ar-Vi-Da. Arvida, Québec
  • 1929 Hudson Bay Railway opens to the saltwater port of Churchill, Manitoba; operated under the direction of the Canadian National Railways; the line was promised by Wilfrid Laurier in the 1908 federal election campaign to compete with the CPR and force cheaper rates for grain transport. The Pas, Manitoba
  • 1931 CNP Lumber ceases operations at Wardner, BC.
  • 1937 Epidemic of infantile paralysis (poliomyelitis) hits Canadian children, with 1,500 polio cases reported, and 56 deaths since June. Canada
  • 1939 Second World War - Mackenzie King announces that Canada is now at war with Germany. Canada makes her own declaration of war for the First time after remaining neutral for a week after Britain declared war; King notes that there are currently 4,500 soldiers in the Canadian Army (+60,000 reserves); 4,500 in the RCAF; 1,800 in the RCN. Ottawa, Ontario
  • 1939 See: The Canadian Proclamation of War
  • 1939 Second World War - Mackenzie King government creates the Department of Supply, later Munitions and Supply; war budget fixed at $100 million. Ottawa, Ontario
  • 1941 Epidemic - Alberta government orders all schools closed due to epidemics of infantile paralysis (poliomyelitis) and encephalitis; school lessons are published in the newspapers. Edmonton, Alberta
  • 1941 Second World War - RCN corvette HMCS Moose Jaw first Canadian ship to sink German U-Boat. Atlantic Ocean
  • 1942 Second World War - RCAF crews take part in Bomber Command raid that drops 100,000 bombs on Dusseldorf in one night. Dusseldorf, Germany
  • 1943 Second World War - Canadian Army troops move from Catanzaro 120 km inland from Reggio Calabria in spite of rain, poor mountain roads and German rearguard actions, after crossing the Aspromonte Mountains and moving along the Gulf of Taranto. To assist American troops in the breakout from the Salerno bridgehead, a Canadian brigade is diverted from the main line of advance to seize Potenza, an important road centre east of Salerno. On this same day, the British 8th army and some Canadians occupy Taranto; the Germans seize Rome, and the Italian navy turns its fleet over to the Allies in Malta. Catanzaro, Italy
  • 1943 Second World War - HMCS St. Boniface is commissioned for the Royal Canadian Navy. Esquimalt, BC
  • 1948 Lester Pearson appointed Minister of External Affairs; former career diplomat. Ottawa, Ontario
  • 1951 Canada signs technical assistance pact with Pakistan; Canada to give $10 million aid for First year. Ottawa, Ontario
  • 1957 Jean Chrétien marries Aline Chaîne. Shawinigan, Quebec
  • 1959 Paul Sauvé succeeds Maurice Duplessis as Premier of Quebec; after Duplessis’ death on September 7, 1959; Duplessis’ funeral takes place on this day at Trois-Rivières, Québec. Quebec
  • 1960 Founding of the Fondation de l’Action Sociale pour L’Indépendance (RIN). Montréal, Québec
  • 1960 Opening of Halifax International Airport. Halifax, Nova Scotia
  • 1961 Boat racer Robert Hayward killed in a race on the Detroit River during a Silver Cup race; started speed boating career as a mechanic for the Miss Supertest hydroplane crew in 1957; 1959 won the Harmsworth Trophy at 107.5 mph, breaking a thirty year domination by US boats and crews; defended Trophy in 1960 and 1961. Detroit, Michigan
  • 1962 Bank of Canada cuts prime rate from 6% to 5 1/2%. Ottawa, Ontario
  • 1964 Canadian Flag - After almost three months of debate, the House of Commons appoints a 15-member committee to study and recommend a new Canadian flag design. Ottawa, Ontario
  • 1965 Cartography - Yale University publishes a map purporting to show the Norse discovery of America (at least Labrador and Newfoundland) in the 11th century. New Haven, Connecticut
  • 1965 See: The Vinlanda Mystery Map
  • 1969 Baseball - The New York Mets beat the Montréal Expos in both ends of a doubleheader at Shea Stadium, 3-2 in 12 innings and 7-1; for the First time ever, the Mets move into First place in the National League East Division; a month later the ‘Amazin’ Mets’ are in their First World Series. New York, New York
  • 1971 Peter Lougheed sworn in as Premier of Alberta, replacing Social Credit leader Harry Strom; serves to November 1, 1985.
  • 1971 BC Railway (PGE) completes extension from Fort St. John to Fort Nelson, BC. Fort St. John, BC
  • 1977 Baseball - Roy Howell hits two home runs, two doubles, and a single, and drives in nine runs for Toronto Blue Jays as they beat up the New York Yankees, 19-3 with 20 hits. Toronto, Ontario
  • 1978 Football - Toronto Argonauts coach Leo Cahill sacked after a loss to Montréal Alouettes; the First CFL head coach to be fired twice by the same club. Toronto, Ontario
  • 1980 Baseball - Montréal Expos pitcher Bill Gullickson fans 18 batters, beating the Chicago White Sox 4-2; sets a major-league strikeout Record for a rookie pitcher in a single game. Montréal, Québec
  • 1982 Jean Chrétien sworn in as federal Minister of Energy and Mines. Ottawa, Ontario
  • 1983 Mining - Dedication of the Leitch Collieries Interpretive Centre at Passburg, Alberta.
  • 1984 Pope John Paul II visits the Musée de Québec; in the afternoon celebrates mass at Cap-de-la-Madeleine, Québec. Québec, Québec
  • 1985 Arctic Sovereignty - Cabinet issues Order in Council detailing waters in Arctic archipelago Canada considers to be internal waters; Canada will take steps to strengthen sovereignty in the Arctic, including more military surveillance flights. Ottawa, Ontario
  • 1986 Serge Savard inducted into the International Hockey Hall of Fame; Montréal Canadiens defensive star. Toronto, Ontario
  • 1987 Ontario Election - David Peterson’s Liberals win a strong majority in the Ontario election, defeating Larry Grossman’s PCs and Bob Rae’s NDP; after expiry of two-year minority government deal with the New Democrats. Ontario
  • 1987 Baseball - Toronto Blue Jays beat New York Yankees 19-3 with 20 hits. Toronto, Ontario
  • 1988 Media - CTV Network switches from ground to satellite transmission. Toronto, Ontario
  • 1991 Environment - Federal Court Judge Paul Rouleau orders environmental assessment of $12.6 billion Great Whale hydro project; legal victory for Crees. Ottawa, Ontario
  • 1992 Constitution - Commons passes Referendum Bill to decide the fate of the Charlottetown Accord; question is, ‘Do you agree that the Constitution of Canada should be renewed… on the basis of the agreement reached on August 28, 1992’. Ottawa, Ontario
  • 1993 Start of program to renew and improve the downtown of Castlegar, BC.
  • 1994 Vancouver, BC produced cartoon ‘Reboot’ debuts on ABC; created with advanced computer animation. New York, New York
  • 1995 Jacques Villeneuve of Iberville wins the Indy Car racing title. Iberville, Québec
  • 1996 Baseball - Montréal Expos set a National League record and tie a major league record by using nine pitchers in their 10-3 loss to the Chicago Cubs. They tied the record previously held by the 1949 St. Louis Browns. Montreal, Quebec
  • 1997 Foreign Affairs Minister Lloyd Axworthy says Canada will destroy its stockpile of 30,000 land mines. Ottawa, Ontario
  • 1998 Strike - Air Canada and its pilots reached an agreement to end a 9-day strike. [see September 14, 1998
  • 1999 Environment - Wildlife experts report that Canada has 339 animal species in serious danger of disappearing and no federal legislation for protection of endangered species. Ottawa, Ontario
  • 2001 Progressive Conservative MPs and a group of dissident Canadian Alliance MPs agree to a conservative coalition to be headed by Joe Clark; three of the dissident MPs will later return to the Alliance. Ottawa, Ontario
  • 2004 Mad Cow Disease - Ottawa announces $500-million to help cattle farmers hurt by the restricted trade of cattle stemming from one case of bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE} in 2003.
  • 2004 Canada donates $1 million (770,000 US) to United Nations efforts to pacify the strife-torn Darfur province of western Sudan. Ottawa, Ontario
  • 2004 Trial - Former Lethbridge city councillor Dar Heatherington given a 20-month conditional sentence for public mischief, consisting of eight months of house arrest followed by 10 months of curfew, and 100 hours of community service and counselling. On May 3, 2003, Heatherington disappeared from a conference in Great Falls, Montana. On May 6, 2003, she was found in Las Vegas, Nevada, claiming to police that she had been abducted and raped. Previously, she had told Lethbridge police she was being stalked, and was receiving sexually explicit letters from her stalker. On June 10, 2003, she was charged with public mischief after police concluded that the stalker did not exist, and that she was likely writing the letters herself. On September 8, 2003, Heatherington pled not guilty to those charges. On June 29, 2004, Heatherington was found guilty of public mischief. On August 9, 2004, she announced her resignation from Lethbridge city council. Lethbridge, Alberta
  • 2005 Chinese President Hu Jintao urges Canada to expand its investments in China; pledges to improve living standards in the world’s most populous country. Ottawa, Ontario