Canadian History: Expert Guides and Resources

As one of the first parts of Canada to be explored and settled by Europeans over four centuries ago, Quebec has played a dynamic and fascinating role in the history of North America. This handy Cheat Sheet introduces you to some of the key things you should know about Quebec, from its original First Nation inhabitants and its world-famous historical landmarks to a helpful timeline of the most significant events that have shaped the rich history of Canada’s largest province.

Any place as eclectic and mixed up as Canada will never be able to settle on a single unified, national history that will please everyone. But make no mistake: There is a Canadian history that we need to know. From the reigning French and British kings and queens and the 22 Canadian prime ministers, to the 13 provinces and territories and the year they joined Canada, here are some of the key facts you should know about Canadian history.

Canadian confederation didn’t happen in a day. The provinces of Ontario, Quebec, New Brunswick and Nova Scotia were the first to come onboard in 1867, but it wasn’t until 1999 that the territory of Nunavut was created. For quick reference, here’s a handy list of Canadian provinces and the year in which each joined confederation.

The following list shows the reigning kings and queens of what ultimately would become Canada, before and after the conquest of New France in 1763. French (1534–1763) British (1763–present) Francis I (1515–47) George III (1760–1820) Henry II (1547–59) George IV (1820–30) Francis II (1559–60) William IV (1830–

Some of the most notable Canadian prime ministers were John A. Macdonald, Robert Borden, William Lyon Mackenzie King, Lester “Mike” Pearson, Pierre Trudeau, and Brian Mulroney. But there were many others. From John A to Stephen Harper, here’s a complete list of Canada’s 22 Prime Ministers and the political parties that they led.

Canadian history is a lot of fun. There are heroes and villains, tragedies and triumphs, great battles and sudden betrayals, loyal refugees and long struggles for social justice. The interpretation of Canadian history may vary – radically, at times – but there are still core events from our past that every Canadian should know.