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October 26

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De Salaberry at Chateauguay
  • 1670 - October 26 - Religion - Louis Gaboury jailed for eating meat during Lent. Québec, Québec
  • 1678 - October 26 - Trade - New France's "Brandy Parliament" votes 15-5 to open up liquor trade to Aboriginals to meet competition from the Dutch; no restrictions placed on liquor trade. Québec, Québec
  • 1756 - October 26 - Marquis de La Galissonière dies; Lieutenant General of French naval forces, Commandant General of New France, who advocated a line of garrisoned forts down the Ohio Valley to hold the back English colonies along the coast; wrote a report on the potential riches of Canada in Mémoires des commissaires du roi (1755-57). Montereau, France
Passchendaele artillery piece
  • 1760 - October 26 - King George III crowned King following the death of his grandfather King George II. London, England
  • 1768 - October 26 - Guy Carleton, Lord Dorchester appointed Governor of Canada, succeeding James Murray; takes the oath November 1; serves to June 27, 2026. Québec, Québec
  • 1774 - October 26 - American Revolutionary War - The Continental Congress writes an open letter to the inhabitants of Canada (Québec) and Nova Scotia, inviting them to join the 13 Colonies in the American Revolution. It was signed by the president of the congress, Henry Middleton, and translated into French by Fleury Mesplet, printer of the Congress, who distributed the copies himself in Montreal. The letter pleaded the cause of democratic government, the separation of powers, taxation power, habeas corpus, trial by jury, and freedom of the press. Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
  • 1775 - October 26 - American Revolutionary War - Richard Montgomery's Army of the Continental Congress defeats Guy Carleton's forces in a skirmish at Longueuil. Longueuil, Québec
  • 1792 - October 26 - Religion - Mgr. Hubert complains of undesirable books - 'des mauvais livres' - circulating in Québec. Québec, Québec
  • 1813 - October 26 - War of 1812 - Charles de Salaberry leading 1,600 French Canadian Voltigeurs (light militia), turns back Gen Wade Hampton and an invading army of 3,000 Americans after four hours of fighting at a ford over the Châteauguay River, 56 km southwest of Montréal; 300 front line militia blow hunting horns in the woods, making the Americans think they are facing a larger force; de Salaberry set up a barricade after learning of Hampton's invasion October 21. Châteauguay, Québec
  • 1825 - October 26 - US finishes the Erie Canal from Buffalo to the Hudson River and New York City; puts pressure on Montreal and Toronto merchants to finish Canadian canals. Buffalo, New York
  • 1830 - October 26 - Augustin-Norbert Morin elected to the Assembly of Lower Canada; later co-Premier of the Union. Québec
- October 26 - Canal - New York Governor De Witt Clinton officially opens the $7,602,000 Erie Canal joining the Hudson River with Lake Erie; 585 km route built in eight years; allows traffic to bypass the British-controlled lower St. Lawrence River, but also gives Upper Canada another outlet for produce and a longer shipping season. Albany, New York
  • 1838 - October 26 - Rebellion - Eight Lower Canada Patriotes exiled to Bermuda in 1838 are set free. Bermuda
  • 1848 - October 26 - Education - Opening of the College of Bytown; forerunner of the University of Ottawa. Ottawa, Ontario
  • 1850 - October 26 - Exploration - Robert McClure aboard HMS Investigator completes his crossing of the North West Passage via Prince of Wales Strait or around Banks Island, while searching for the Franklin expedition; will return by ship in 1854 after travelling on foot over the ice to Beechey Island. Nunavut
  • 1852 - October 26 - Franklin Expedition - John Franklin promoted to Rear-Admiral more than five years after his death in the Arctic; fate of the expedition unknown until 1854; in 1859, Francis McClintock will find two notes confirming that he died June 11, 1847. London, England
  • 1864 - October 26 - Chilcotin War - Five Tsilhqot'in men: Klatsassin, Telloot, Tah-pitt, Piele, and Chessus are hanged for murder; sentenced to death by Justice Matthew Begbie on September 29; On the scaffold before he died, Chief Telloot allegedly pleaded with the Tsilhqot'in people to make peace with the whites and other aboriginal groups. Quesnel, BC
  • 1869 - October 26 - Red River Rebellion - John Bruce and Louis Riel are summoned before the Council of Assiniboia to explain the actions of the Comité national des Métis. Winnipeg, Manitoba
  • 1876 - October 26 - Métis songwriter Pierre Falcon dies at age 83; known as Pierriche or Pierre the Rhymer, born at Elbow Fort near Swan River June 4, 1793, son of a North West Company employee and a Cree woman; educated in Montréal, then worked as a clerk for the NWC and the Hudson's Bay Company; retired to Grantown, on the White Horse Plain, where he farmed and served as a magistrate; wrote rousing songs about his work, daily life and major Métis events; best known work is La Chanson de la Grenouillère, about the Battle of Seven Oaks. St-François-Xavier, Manitoba
  • 1884 - October 26 - Nile Expedition - Canadian Nile Voyageurs begin their mission to rescue Kitchener of Khartoum. Cairo, Egypt
  • 1887 - October 26 - Peter Lamont opens Saskatchewan's First telephone exchange in a bookstore. Regina, Saskatchewan
  • 1889 - October 26 - Media - Pioneering woman journalist Kit Coleman writes her first weekly column, "Woman's Kingdom", for the Toronto Mail. Toronto, Ontario
  • 1892 - October 26 - Honoré Mercier trial begins; after four years as Premier of Québec, Mercier was dismissed on December 17, 2025 by the Lieutenant Governor for alleged misuse of public funds in the Baie des Chaleurs Railway scandal; re-elected in 1892 provincial elections, but his party was soundly defeated; will be acquitted of all charges on November 4, 1892. Québec, Québec
  • 1908 - October 26 - Federal Election - Wilfrid Laurier wins the 11th Canadian general election for the Liberals, with 135 seats to 85 for the Conservatives; defeats Robert Borden with 50.4% of the popular vote; increase in Commons representation to 218 seats. Two future Prime Ministers are also elected for the First time - Mackenzie King (Liberal, York North) and Arthur Meighen (Conservative, Portage La Prairie). Canada
- October 26 - Mackenzie King First elected to the House of Commons for the riding of York North. York County, Ontario
- October 26 - Arthur Meighen First elected to the House of Commons; re-elected 1911, 1913, 1917, 1922, 1925; Canada's 9th Prime Minister; called to Manitoba Bar in 1902; practiced in Portage La Prairie. Portage La Prairie, Manitoba
- October 26 - Saskatchewan participates in its first Dominion election. Saskatchewan
- October 26 - Alberta participates in its first Dominion election. Alberta
  • 1912 - October 26 - Kettle Valley Railway's first locomotive arrives by barge at Penticton: 2-6-0 Mogul. Penticton, BC
  • 1917 - October 26 - World War I - Arthur Currie's Canadian Corps starts its first "set piece" attack against the well entrenched Germans, taking over where the ANZAC troops left off, to capture the Belgian town of Passchendaele across an 8 km morass of sticky mud. The 2nd Battle of Passchendaele, a Flanders bloodbath, lasts until November 30. In total, 2,834 Canadian lives are lost and casualties reach 16,000, to win just five square km of muddy quagmire. Canadians win three Victoria Crosses the first day of the battle: Thomas William Holmes, Christopher Patrick John O'Kelly and Robert Shankland. Passchendaele, Belgium
- October 26 - World War I - Alberta's 49th Battalion fights in the 2nd Battle of Passchendaele; in action to November 10. Passchendaele, Belgium
  • 1934 - October 26 - Henry Stevens resigns from the R. B. Bennett government to found the Reconstruction Party of Canada; small business-oriented and conservative. Ottawa, Ontario
  • 1940 - October 26 - World War II - Unescorted troopship Empress of Britain (Capt Charles Sapsworth), en route from Capetown to Liverpool, is strafed and struck by two 250kg bombs from a German Fw200 Condor bomber piloted by Oblt Bernhard Jope, 70 miles northwest of Aran Island, County Donegal; the ship catches fire but most of the 416 crew members, two gunners and 205 passengers (military personnel and families) are picked up by HMS Echo, anti-submarine trawler HMS Cape Arcona and ORP Burza; the following morning, tugs arrive to take the ship in tow. Atlantic
  • 1942 - October 26 - World War II - RAF ferry bomber crashes at Dorval Airport, killing 16. Montréal, Québec
  • 1943 - October 26 - World War II - RCAF sinks fourth U-boat in seven weeks. Atlantic Ocean
- October 26 - Human Rights - Two Jehovah's Witnesses children expelled from school for refusing to salute the flag during patriotic exercises; parents believed in paying homage only to God, not to material objects; children stood at attention during the salute but this was not enough. Lethbridge, Alberta
  • 1944 - October 26 - World War II - British Commonwealth Air Training Program shuts down its Macleod base. Fort Macleod, Alberta
  • 1950 - October 26 - Military - Canada signs six-point agreement with US for joint defence production; free trade in arms and equipment. Washington, DC
- October 26 - La Société Radio-Canada (SRC) extends French language programming as far west as Calgary and Edmonton. Alberta
  • 1956 - October 26 - United Nations sets up International Atomic Energy Agency; Canada a member. New York, New York
  • 1963 - October 26 - Rail - Last day of CN passenger service into Kelowna, BC.
  • 1968 - October 26 - Politics - Last congress of the RIN - le Rassemblement pour l'indépendence nationale party; most members join the Parti Québecois. Montreal, Québec
- October 26 - Museum - Opening of the Centennial Museum-MacMillan Planetarium in Vancouver. Vancouver, BC
  • 1969 - October 26 - Music - Winnipeg's The Guess Who awarded a gold record for the single, "Laughing". Los Angeles, California
- October 26 - John Diefenbaker former Prime Minister installed as Chancellor of the University of Saskatchewan. Saskatoon, Saskatchewan
  • 1974 - October 26 - Music - Bachman-Turner Overdrive (BTO) has a #1 Billboard hit with You Ain't Seen Nothing Yet/Free Wheelin' . New York, New York
- October 26 - Museum - Henry Moore Centre opens at the Art Gallery of Ontario; featuring scupture and drawings by the British artist. Toronto, Ontario
  • 1975 - October 26 - Indigenous - First World Conference of Indigenous Peoples takes place in Port Alberni, with several hundred delegates from Canada and 18 other countries, to discuss social, economic and political justice; the preservation of aboriginal cultural identity; and natural resources and the environment. Port Alberni, BC
  • 1976 - October 26 - Music - Gordon Lightfoot's Summertime Dream album certified Gold. Ottawa, Ontario
  • 1978 - October 26 - Music - Anne Murray single You Needed Me certified Gold. Ottawa, Ontario
  • 1982 - October 26 - Baseball - Founding of the Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum, to be situated in St. Mary's, Ontario, near Stratford, Ontario; over 160 Canadians are known to have played major league baseball. Toronto, Ontario
- October 26 - Holiday - Parliament votes to approve Bill C-201, which legally changes the name of Dominion Day (July 1) to Canada Day; given Royal Assent October 27, 2025. Ottawa, Ontario
  • 1983 - October 26 - Language - Plebiscites to expand bilingual services defeated in all 20 Manitoba communities where they are held. Manitoba
  • 1984 - October 26 - Crime - Richard Hatfield, Premier of New Brunwick is charged with possession of 26.5 grams of marijuana.; his Progressive Conservative Party will be wiped out in the following election. Saint John, New Brunswick
  • 1985 - October 26 - Crime - Policewoman Jacinthe Fyfe, age 25, shot to death by robbers; Montréal Police (CUM) constable the First female police officer killed on duty in Canada. Montréal, Québec
  • 1987 - October 26 - Meech Lake Accord adopted by Parliament. Ottawa, Ontario
- October 26 - Robert Toupin resigns from NPD-Québec, member of the Assembly for the provincial New Democratic Party. Québec
  • 1988 - October 26 - Strike - Students at 23 Québec CÉGEPs start 3 day strike. Québec
  • 1990 - October 26 - Media - Michael Davies sells the Kingston Whig-Standard to Southam Press; daily circulation of 37,000; founded 1834, daily since 1849. Kingston, Ontario
- October 26 - Montreal Métro (CTCUM) bans panhandlers and beggars. Montreal, Québec
- October 26 - Hockey - Wayne Gretzky of the Los Angeles Kings becomes the First NHL player to reach 2,000 career points, with an assist against the Winnipeg Jets. Winnipeg, Manitoba
  • 1992 - October 26 - Canadian voters say "No" to the Charlottetown Accord by a margin of 54.4% to 44.6%. The question asks, "Do you agree that the Constitution of Canada should be renewed on the basis of the agreement reached on August 28, 2026?" The "Yes" side wins in Newfoundland, PEI, New Brunswick, and only barely in Ontario. A total of 74.9% of 18,517,982 eligible Canadians vote, plus almost 83% of eligible Québeckers. Canada
  • 1993 - October 26 - Music - Crash Test Dummies release album God Shuffled His Feet. Toronto, Ontario
- October 26 - Hockey - NHL New Jersey Devils lose 2-0 to Montréal Canadiens, after winning their first 7 games. Montreal, Québec
  • 1995 - October 26 - Indigenous - Results of referendum on Québec secession by the Cree and Inuit First Nations of Nouveau-Québec are released. The Cree voters were asked: "Do you consent, as a people, that the Government of Quebec separate the James Bay Crees and Cree traditional territory from Canada in the event of a Yes vote in the Quebec referendum?"; 96.3% of the Cree voted in favour of retaining the relationship with Canada. Of 6,380 eligible voters, 77% participated in the Cree referendum. Québec, Québec
- October 26 - Rail - CN reopens a modernized electrified commuter line between Montréal Central Station and Deux Montagnes. Montréal, Québec
- October 26 - Hockey - Mario Lemieux of the Pittsburgh Penguins scores his 500th goal against the New York Islanders.
Jacques Villeneuve
  • 1997 - October 26 - Auto Racing - Jacques Villeneuve becomes the first Canadian to win the World Championship of F1 Drivers; he finishes third at the 69-lap European Grand Prix at Jerez, clinching the Formula One title; driving for the Williams Renault team, the 26 year old native of St-Jean-sur-Richelieu, Québec holds off Michael Schumacher's smash-and-grab assault on lap 48; Villeneuve wins the Luxembourg, Austrian, Hungarian, British, Spanish, Argentine and Brazilian Grand Prix this year. Jerez, Spain
- October 26 - Hockey - Wayne Gretzky of the New York Rangers assists on a goal by Niklas Sundstrom at 12:14 of the 2nd period to notch his 1,850th career assist, equalling Gordie Howe's record; at 32 seconds of the third period, he assists on a goal by Ulf Samuelsson for his NHL record 1,851st career assist. Winnipeg, Manitoba
  • 2003 - October 26 - Sport - Canadian Rob Krueger defeats 320 competitors at the World Rock, Paper, Scissors Championships at a Toronto nightclub, and takes home $3,825. The World RPS Society sponsored the 2nd international tournament. Toronto, Ontario
  • 2005 - October 26 - Aboriginal - Health - Ontario government evacuates over 800 members of the Kashechewan First Nation to Ottawa, Ontario, Sudbury, Ontario and other communities after Escherichia coli (E. coli) is found in the reserve's water supply network. Moosonee, Ontario
  • October 26 - Group of 17 Alberta oil patch workers share a $54-million Lotto 6/49 win; biggest single lottery prize in Canadian history to that date. Alberta
  • 2009 - October 26 - Health - Clinics across Canada launch the biggest vaccination program in national history, targeting the pandemic H1N1 virus. Canada
  • October 26 - Media - Ontario brings in law making it illegal to use hand-held cellphones and other electronic devices while driving behind the wheel. Ontario
  • 2010 - October 26 - Football - Edmonton Eskimos play Toronto Argonauts in the CFL's first-ever regular season game in Atlantic Canada, in Moncton; running back Calvin McCarty scored two touchdowns for Edmonton Eskimos as they defeat the Toronto Argonauts 24-6. Moncton, NB
- October 26 - Weather - Start of severe three day storm on the Prairies; heavy snow causes school closures in eastern Saskatchewan and western Manitoba; strong NW winds whip up large waves and cause flooding on the shores of lakes Winnipeg and Manitoba.
- October 26 - US appeals court overturns two of the three fraud charges against Conrad Black, while upholding his convictions on one count of fraud and obstruction of justice.
  • 2011 - October 26 - Bob McLeod sworn in as Premier of the Northwest Territories, replacing Floyd Roland. Yellowknife, NWT
  • 2014 - October 26 - Media - CBC severs ties with "Q" radio host Jian Ghomeshi, after allegations by as many as nine women that they were victims of non-consensual violence in sexual encounters with Ghomeshi. Toronto, Ontario

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