Highlights of the day

  • 1812 British and Canadians Victorious at Queenston Heights; Gen Brock dies.
  • 1970 October Crisis - Pierre Trudeau says, “Just watch me,” in interview with reporters. (see below)
  • 1859 War of 1812 - Opening of new Brock Monument at Queenston Heights; original one bombed by a Fenian.
  • 1993 Michael Smith awarded Nobel Prize in Chemistry for work on DNA molecules of genetic material.
  • 1999 Robert Mundell wins Nobel Prize in Economics for work on flexible exchange rates, supply side economics.

List of Facts for October 13

  • 1609 Samuel de Champlain arrives back in France; left Tadoussac, Québec on September 5, 1609. Honfleur, France
  • 1651 Père Jean Lauzon named Governor of Montréal. Montréal, Québec
  • 1694 Pierre d’Iberville attacks York Fort, the stronghold of the Hudson’s Bay Company; captures it two days later. Churchill, Manitoba
  • 1705 Milling - Agathe de St-Père opens a cloth mill in Montréal. Montréal, Québec
  • 1710 Francis Nicholson captures Port Royal; renames it Annapolis Royal in honour of Queen Anne; end of French rule throughout mainland Nova Scotia. Annapolis, Nova Scotia
  • 1710 François Bigot jailed in the Bastille; the last Intendant of New France, Bigot looted the colony for years; he was charged with embezzlement, ordered to make restitution of £1.5 million, and sentenced to perpetual banishment; he died under an assumed name in Switzerland. Paris, France
  • 1761 Justice - Montréal divided into 5 judicial districts. Montréal, Québec
  • 1776 American Revolutionary War - Guy Carleton, Lord Dorchester corners and defeats Benedict Arnold’s American rebel fleet at Crown Point; the British retreat to Canada for the winter; Arnold’s efforts in slowing the British bought the colonists 9 months to consolidate their hold in northern New York. Crown Point, New York
  • 1812 War of 1812 - Stephen Van Rensselaer’s invading army of 1,200 Americans crosses from Lewiston, and gains heights at Queenston; on hearing the news, Isaac Brock, 11 km away at Fort George, hurries to engage the Americans. Queenston, Ontario
  • 1812 War of 1812 - Isaac Brock dies in battle while storming the Queenston Heights to dislodge Stephen Van Rensselaer and his invading army of 1,200 US troops and militia; Americans lose 90 dead, 100 wounded, over 850 prisoners. Ironically, Brock was awarded a knighthood in England three days before his death; a monument to him stands at Queenston Heights. Queenston, Ontario
  • 1812 War of 1812 - Roger Sheaffe takes charge after Brock’s death and defeats the Americans on Queenston Heights; replaces Brock as Commander-in-Chief of British forces and Administrator of Upper Canada; serves from October 20, 1812 to June 19, 1813. Queenston, Ontario
  • 1812 War of 1812 - James Secord, of the 1st. Lincoln Militia, is badly wounded in the Battle of Queenston Heights. The following May, Queenston is again invaded by the Americans, this time successfully; all men over 18 made prisoners of war, but due to his wounds, Secord is allowed to stay in his home with his wife, Laura Secord, and three US officers billeted in the house. In June, 1813, the couple overhear the Americans planning a surprise attack on Lt. James FitzGibbon and his Mohawk warriors at Beaverdams. Laura walks 32 km to the Decew house where FitzGibbon is staying; her warning leads to a decisive American defeat by the Iroquois. Queenston, Ontario
  • 1830 Lord Aylmer arrives in Québec to serve as Governor. Québec, Québec
  • 1833 Painter Joseph Légaré opens an art gallery in Quebec City; Canada’s first Québec, Québec
  • 1859 War of 1812 - Brock’s Monument inaugurated at Queenston Heights; replaces the first monument bombed by William Lyon Mackenzie supporter Benjamin Lett, on April 17, 1840. Queenston, Ontario
  • 1864 Confederation - Québec Conference delegates feted at three simultaneous banquets in Québec City. Québec, Québec
  • 1866 Fire destroys 2,500 buildings in Québec City. Québec, Québec
  • 1884 Media - Founding of the daily newspaper, ‘La Presse’; today the largest French daily in Canada. Montréal, Québec
  • 1892 Ville-Marie incorporated. Ville-Marie, Québec
  • 1898 Amédée Forget appointed Lieutenant-Governor of the North West Territories. Regina, Saskatchewan
  • 1899 Boer War - Canadian contingent organized to serve with British in the South African War; war declared October 12, 1899. Ottawa, Ontario
  • 1900 Col. D. H. McMillan is sworn in as Lieutenant-governor of Manitoba. Winnipeg, Manitoba
  • 1900 Smelting - Granby Consolidated Mining and Smelting blows in No.2 furnace of its Grand Forks smelter. Grand Forks, BC
  • 1905 Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) established by provincial Order-in-Council. Toronto, Ontario
  • 1906 Federal Provincial Conference - End of the First federal-provincial conference in Ottawa. Ottawa, Ontario
  • 1914 Rail - Opening of the Algoma Central and Hudson Bay Railway to Hearst, Ontario; construction started in 1899; name shortened to Algoma Central in 1965. Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario
  • 1917 First World War - Conscription - Recruiting officers call First class of conscripts to register for military service; bachelors from age 20-34 required to take medical exam; First call-up under Military Service Act.
  • 1921 McCord Museum inaugurated, with the history collection of Montrealer David Ross McCord; housed in a building provided by McGill University. Montreal, Quebec - See: McCord Museum History
  • 1921 Media - Daily Colonist newspaper uses the term “cold turkey” in reference to quitting an addiction; first known use of the term in print. Victoria, BC
  • 1928 Justice - Newspapers report that Canadian inventor Reginald Fessenden has won his long-time lawsuit against the US “Radio Trust” to name him as the Father of Radio, knocking his other contempories, Marconi, Tesla, DeForest, out of the equation. Fessenden also wins an award of $2,500,000 from RCA and the other defendants. Boston, Massachusetts. - See: Reginald Fessenden First Transmits Voice by Radio Waves - December 24
  • 1945 Parliament - MPs get $2,000 salary raise; Government cuts federal tax by 16% at war’s end. Ottawa, Ontario
  • 1947 Hockey - NHL All Stars beat defending Stanley Cup champion Toronto Maple Leafs 4-3 in the League’s First official National Hockey League All-Star Game, played in Maple Leaf Gardens. (see also October 29, 1939) Toronto, Ontario
  • 1952 Military - Department of National Defence allows 16 year olds to enter the Canadian Army. Ottawa, Ontario
  • 1952 Gratien Gélinas premieres a film version of his ‘Ti-Coq’ stage character. Montréal, Québec
  • 1961 Medicare - Tommy Douglas government introduces Saskatchewan Medical Care Insurance Bill in the Legislature; receives Royal Assent November 17, 1961; first plan in North America providing universal coverage will to go into effect July 1, 1962. The Saskatchewan College of Physicians and Surgeons at first refuses to work with a compulsory government-controlled plan, and 90% of doctors go on strike, closing their offices for 23 days, providing only hospital-based emergency services until an agreement is reached July 23, 1962. Regina, Saskatchewan
  • 1961 Jean Beliveau named Captain of the Montréal Canadiens hockey team. Montreal, Québec
  • 1964 Royal Visit - Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip end their visit to Canada; trip marred by protests of Québec separatists. Montréal, Québec
  • 1965 Video - Government founds Canadian Film Development Agency as Crown corporation to help private film-makers. Ottawa, Ontario
  • 1966 Crime - Robbers get away with $1 million mail theft at Dorval Airport. Montréal, Québec
  • 1968 René Lévesque leads Mouvement Souveraineté-Association at 3-day convention in Québec City; to hammer out independence policy plank. Québec, Québec
  • 1972 Diplomacy - Canada and China sign civil air agreement; direct flights between nations to start in 1973. Beijing, China
  • 1975 Inflation - Pierre Trudeau imposes wage and price controls for 36 months; rejected a month earlier in the election campaign; federal Anti-Inflation Act sets up a three-year control system on wages and prices - the so-called the ‘6-and-5’ program. Ottawa, Ontario
  • 1975 Toronto born rock singer Neil Young undergoes throat surgery to remove polyps on his vocal chords. Los Angeles, California
  • 1982 Energy - Ontario Premier William Davis announces Ontario purchasing 13 million shares of Suncor for $325 million. Toronto, Ontario
  • 1984 Space - Marc Garneau on board the Space Shuttle Challenger Flight STS-41G touches down on Runway 33 of the Kennedy Space Center after successful eight-day mission; total of 3.4 million miles around the Earth in 133 orbits; mission duration 197 hours 23 minutes; Garneau First Canadian in space. Cape Canaveral, Florida
  • 1985 Don Getty is elected Alberta Conservative leader, replacing the retiring Peter Lougheed. Edmonton, Alberta
  • 1986 Mad Dog Vachon retires from pro wrestling; gets farewell gala at Paul Sauvé Arena. Montreal, Québec
  • 1987 New Brunswick Election - Frank McKenna leads his provincial Liberals to total sweep of Richard Hatfield’s PCs, winning all 58 seats in the legislature. New Brunswick
  • 1991 Baseball - Minnesota Twins beat Toronto Blue Jays 8-5 at SkyDome to win the American League pennant; Cito Gaston First manager ejected in a playoff game. Toronto, Ontario
  • 1992 Brian Mulroney says Canada will not break up if No side wins; but warns of uncertainty until Québec election; PQ if elected will hold another sovereignty referendum. Charlottetown, PEI
  • 1992 Governor General’s Performing Arts Awards announced: William Hutt Stratford actor; Gwenneth Lloyd ballet choreographer; Dominique Michel actress, comedienne; Gilles Maheu (Carbone 14 Dance Ensemble); Norman Jewison (work with Canadian Film Centre); Leopold Simoneau tenor; Oscar Peterson jazz pianist; Mercedes Palomino theatre director; to be awarded by Ray Hnatyshyn at November 7, 1992 gala. Ottawa, Ontario
  • 1992 Michael Ondaatje named joint winner of $45,000 Booker Prize with British author Barry Unsworth; for novel “The English Patient”; Toronto poet, novelist came to Canada from Sri Lanka in 1962; First Canadian to win the prize, awarded for Commonwealth literature. London, England
  • 1992 Environment - Ottawa charges Tioxide Canada Inc. for polluting St. Lawrence River; a federal offence; dumps 127 tonnes of sulphuric acid, 100 kilos heavy metals a day. Tracy, Québec
  • 1993 British-born Canadian citizen Michael Smith] awarded Nobel Prize in Chemistry; jointly with US chemist Kary Mullis for work on DNA molecules of genetic material. Stockholm, Sweden
  • 1993 Daniel Johnson announces his candidature for the leadership of the Québec Liberal Party; son of former Québec Premier; brother of PQ cabinet minister. Québec, Québec
  • 1993 Retail - Woolworth announces closure of 900 stores in Canada and the US. New York, New York
  • 1996 Aviation - Bombardier Inc.’s new Global Express business jet makes its First test flight. Montréal, Québec
  • 1997 Disaster - Bus carrying daytrippers enjoying the autumn leaves in Charlevoix County fails to navigate a hairpin curve and crashes into ravine near St-Joseph-de-la-Rive, Québec, killing 43 seniors from St-Bernard-de Beauce, Québec and their driver from Sherbrooke, Québec and leaving only 5 survivors; 13 other people killed in a crash on the same hill in June 1974; worst road accident in Canadian history. Les Éboulements, Québec
  • 1997 Politics - Raymond Frenette sworn in as Premier of New Brunswick, replacing a retiring Frank McKenna. Fredericton, New Brunswick
  • 1999 Robert Mundell, age 66, a Canadian born professor at Columbia University in New York, wins the Nobel Prize in Economics for his study of cross-border capital flows, flexible foreign exchange rates, and supply side economics. Stockholm, Sweden
  • 2004 Finance - Federal government confirms that tax intake massively outweighed spending in the 2003-2004 fiscal year, producing a budget surplus of $9.1 billion. Ottawa, Ontario
  • 2004 Military - Funeral for Canadian Navy Lieutenant Chris Saunders held at a Halifax church; killed in a fire on board submarine HMCS Chicoutimi (SSK 879). Halifax, Nova Scotia
  • 2007 Politics - Roger Duguay chosen as leader of the New Brunswick New Democratic Party at the party’s leadership convention. Fredericton, New Brunswick
  • 2010 Health - Health Canada adds Bisphenol A to Schedule 1 of the Canadian Environmental Protection Act, declaring it as a toxic substance; used in plastic bottles. Ottawa, Ontario