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See also:	History of Canada; Timeline of Canadian history; List of years in Canada;

Events from the year 1947 in Canada.

Incumbents

Crown

Monarch – George VI^[1]

Federal government

Governor General – the Viscount Alexander of Tunis^[2]
Prime Minister – William Lyon Mackenzie King
Chief Justice – Thibaudeau Rinfret (Quebec)
Parliament – 20th

Provincial governments

Lieutenant governors

Premiers

Premier of Alberta – Ernest Manning
Premier of British Columbia – John Hart (until December 29) then Boss Johnson
Premier of Manitoba – Stuart Garson
Premier of New Brunswick – John McNair
Premier of Nova Scotia – Angus Macdonald
Premier of Ontario – George A. Drew
Premier of Prince Edward Island – J. Walter Jones
Premier of Quebec – Maurice Duplessis
Premier of Saskatchewan – Tommy Douglas

Territorial governments

Commissioners

Controller then Commissioner of Yukon – George A. Jeckell (until September 18) then John Edward Gibben
Commissioner of Northwest Territories – Charles Camsell (until January 14) then Hugh Llewellyn Keenleyside

Events

January 1 - Canadian Citizenship Act 1946 comes into effect. Among other things this changed federal law such that Canadian women no longer lost their citizenship automatically if they married non-Canadians.^[3]
January 2 - Dominion of Newfoundland (later a province in 1949) switches to driving on the right from the left.
January 27 - The cabinet order deporting Japanese-Canadians to Japan is repealed after widespread protests.
February 13 - The oil well Leduc No. 1 comes in, launching the Alberta oil industry.
May 14 - The Chinese Immigration Act of 1923 is repealed.
June 15 - The laws limiting Asian immigration to Canada are repealed; Canadians of Asian descent are allowed to vote in federal elections.
July 22 - Two new nuclear reactors go online at the Chalk River research facility.
September 1 - Two Canadian National Railways (CNR) passenger trains collide head-on at Dugald, Manitoba, resulting in 31 people dead and 85 people injured. The disaster is exacerbated by the CNR's use of wooden passenger coaches, as strict rationing of steel during the Second World War impeded the shift to steel coaches.^[4]
September 30 - The last group of personnel who had been on active service, for World War II, since September 1, 1939, stood down.^[5]
October 1 - New letters patent defining the office and powers of the governor general come into effect.
December 29 - Boss Johnson becomes premier of British Columbia.
Stephen Leacock Award: Harry L. Symons, Ojibway Melody.

New books

Fearful Symmetry - Northrop Frye
Who Has Seen the Wind? - W.O. Mitchell

Sport

April 19 - The Toronto Maple Leafs win their sixth Stanley Cup by defeating the Montreal Canadiens 4 games to 2. The deciding Game 6 was played in Maple Leaf Gardens in Toronto.
April 22 - The Ontario Hockey Association's Toronto St. Michael's Majors win their third (and last until 1961) Memorial Cup by defeating Southern Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League's Moose Jaw Canucks 4 games to 3. The deciding Game 7 was played at Regina Exhibition Stadium.
November 29 - The Toronto Argonauts win their eighth Grey Cup by defeating the Winnipeg Blue Bombers 10 to 9 in the 35th Grey Cup played in Varsity Stadium in Toronto. This was the last Grey Cup to be won by a team with all Canadian players.

Births

January to March

January 14 - Bill Werbeniuk, snooker player (d. 2003)
January 15 - Andrea Martin, actress and comedian
January 23 - Clayton Manness, politician
January 24 - Steve McCaffery, poet and scholar
February 10 - Louise Arbour, jurist, justice of the Supreme Court of Canada, former UN High Commissioner for Human Rights
February 11 - Abby Hoffman, track and field athlete
February 20 - Joy Smith, politician
March 1 - Alan Thicke, actor, songwriter and game and talk show host (d. 2016)
March 10 - Chris Axworthy, politician
March 10 - Kim Campbell, politician and first female Prime Minister of Canada^[6]
March 24 - Louise Lanctôt, convicted kidnapper and writer

April to June

April 3 - Jonathan Welsh, actor (d. 2005)
April 27 - Pauline Picard, politician (d. 2009)
May 3 - Doug Henning, magician, illusionist and escape artist (d. 2000)
May 4 - John Bosley, politician (d. 2022)
May 7 - Dave Barrow, politician (d. 2022)
May 12
- Michael Ignatieff, Canadian politician, philosopher and historian
- Micheline Lanctôt, Canadian actress, director, and screenwriter
May 20 - Oscar Lathlin, politician (d. 2008)
May 25 - Doug Martindale, politician
May 28 - Lynn Johnston, cartoonist
June 10 - Michel Bastarache, lawyer, businessman, puisne justice on the Supreme Court of Canada
June 14
- Vanessa Harwood, ballet dancer, choreographer, artistic director, teacher and actor
- Patrick Moore, founder member of Greenpeace^[7]
- Neil Stevens, sports writer (d. 2022)
June 19 - John Ralston Saul, author and essayist
June 22 - Aude, writer

July to September

July 13 - Rosella Bjornson, airline pilot, first female pilot for a commercial airline in North America
July 18 - Steve Mahoney, politician and Minister
July 22
- Gilles Duceppe, politician
- Bill Matthews, politician
July 27 - Serge Bouchard, anthropologist and broadcaster (d. 2021)
August 8 - Ken Dryden, ice hockey player, politician, lawyer, businessman and author
August 13 – John Stocker, voice actor
August 24 - Linda Hutcheon, literary critic and theorist
August 30 - Allan Rock, politician and diplomat
September 24
- Tim Ecclestone, ice hockey player and coach (d. 2024)
- R. H. Thomson, actor
September 29 - Hubert Gagnon, actor (d. 2020)

October to December

October 3 - Carroll Morgan, boxer
October 13 - Jon Gerrard, politician and medical doctor
November 10 - Bryan Gibson, boxer
November 17 - Inky Mark, politician
November 22 - Jacques Saada, politician and Minister
November 28 - Bonnie Mitchelson, politician
December 27 - Mickey Redmond, ice hockey player and commentator
December 31 - Burton Cummings, musician and songwriter

Full date unknown

Bernard Descôteaux, journalist (d. 2024)
Russ Germain, radio presenter (d. 2009)
Olga Hrycak, former basketball player and basketball university coach
John Martin, broadcaster (d. 2006)

Deaths

January to June

January 7 - John Alexander Mathieson, jurist, politician and Premier of Prince Edward Island (b. 1863)

January 11 - Eva Tanguay, singer and entertainer (b. 1878)
February 6 – Henry Marshall Tory, university founder (b. 1864)
March 19 - Prudence Heward, painter (b. 1896)
June 10 - Alexander Bethune, politician and 12th Mayor of Vancouver (b. 1852)
June 25 - William Donald Ross, financier, banker and Lieutenant Governor of Ontario (b. 1869)
June 26 - R. B. Bennett, lawyer, businessman, politician, philanthropist and 11th Prime Minister of Canada (b. 1870)

July to December

July 2 - Clarence Lucas, composer, lyricist, conductor and music professor (b. 1866)
August 11 - Gerry McGeer, politician (b. 1888)
October 22 – Phoebe Amelia Watson, painter and curator (b. 1858)
November 14 - Walter Edward Foster, businessman, politician and 16th Premier of New Brunswick (b. 1873)
December 17 – William Johnston Tupper, politician, 12th Lieutenant Governor of Manitoba (b. 1862)
December 28 - Leonard Percy de Wolfe Tilley, lawyer, politician and 20th Premier of New Brunswick (b. 1870)

Historical documents

"Truly desperate conditions" in Europe that weaken trade, plus Canadian domestic demand for U.S. goods, cause crisis in value of dollar^[8]

British trade deficit (e.g., over 20% of imports from Canada, but less than 5% of exports to Canada) necessitates loans, like £273,000,000 from Canada^[9]

U.S. President Truman says his country's general accord with Canada is "one part proximity and nine parts good will and common sense"^[10]

Ranking of allies relative to U.S. national security puts Canada eighth in priority for economic and military assistance^[11]

PM King's frustration at UN's weakness jeopardizes Canada's participation on Korea Commission (Note: questionable reference to Jews)^[12]

"Groundless assertions that certain individuals are warmongers" - Canada complains about heavy-handed Soviet rhetoric at UN^[13]

"Just following orders" defence at Nuremberg trials supported in outcome of 1840 U.S. prosecution of "Caroline" raider^[14]

Montreal Gazette editorial on political and, especially, economic issues to be worked out before Newfoundland's entry into Confederation^[15]

Cabinet orders that prospective immigrants found by security investigation to be Communists should be refused without any reason given^[16]

Canadian Polish Congress wants more Poles, including veterans for 6-10% of Canadian women unable to marry because of war brides and casualties^[17]

Repeal of Chinese Immigration Act, 1923 arises from Canadians' opinion that it is discriminatory and singles out war ally^[18]

Cabinet continues orders prohibiting "persons of Japanese race" from living or fishing in coastal British Columbia^[19]

Japanese Canadians criticize confiscated-property compensation process for ignoring realities of their forced evacuation^[20]

Major oil strike near Leduc, Alberta raises Imperial Oil share value 19% and pleases CPR and local farmers with mineral rights^[21]

Obstetrician argues that child bearing is every woman's biological destiny, but that mixed feelings make her psychologically unstable^[22]

Film: dramatized case study of woman whose psychological problems are attributed to her troubled childhood^[23]

"We often resorted there to pass the time" - based on his description, gardens of Champlain's Habitation at Port-Royal will be restored^[24]

Advertisement: bobby soxer excited about crossing Canada by train^[25]

Advertisement: lots of Rocky Mountain experiences for guests of Jasper Park Lodge in Jasper National Park^[26]

References

^ "King George VI | The Canadian Encyclopedia". www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca. Retrieved 4 December 2022.
^ Lentz, Harris M. (4 February 2014). Heads of States and Governments Since 1945. Routledge. p. 142. ISBN 978-1-134-26490-2.
^ Canadian Research Institute for the Advancement of Women. http://criaw-icref.ca/millenium Archived 2014-01-02 at the Wayback Machine
^ "The Dugald Train Disaster, 1947". Manitoba Historical Society. Retrieved 6 August 2022.
^ "Timeline - The Modern Era: The Post War". Archived from the original on 2012-09-29. Retrieved 2012-07-28.
^ "Kim Campbell". Britannica Presents 100 Women Trailblazers. 25 February 2020. Retrieved 28 July 2021.
^ "#112 Patrick Moore". bcbooklook.com.
^ United States Department of State, "The Assistant Chief of the Division of British Commonwealth Affairs (Foster) to the Ambassador in Canada (Atherton)" (September 8–9, 1947), Foreign Relations of the United States, 1947; Volume III, The British Commonwealth; Europe, pgs. 117-20. Accessed 31 August 2020
^ Labour Party (Great Britain), "4. Why did we need an American Loan?" ABC of the Crisis (1947), pg. 5. Accessed 12 September 2022
^ "Appendix 'A;' Address of Harry S. Truman" (June 11, 1947), House of Commons Debates, 20th Parliament, 3rd Session, Vol. 5, pg. 4062. Accessed 29 August 2021
^ United States Department of State, "United States Assistance to Other Countries From the Standpoint of National Security; Discussion" (April 29, 1947), Foreign Relations of the United States, 1947; Volume I, General; The United Nations; United States National Security Policy, pgs. 739-46. Accessed 31 August 2020
^ Diaries of William Lyon Mackenzie King; 1947 (December 27), pgs. 1242-5; Ambassador Atherton's version of meeting with King: United States Department of State, "Memorandum of Conversation, by the Ambassador in Canada (Atherton)" (December 27, 1947), Foreign Relations of the United States, 1947; Volume VI, The Far East; Korea, pgs. 880-3. Accessed 31 August 2020
^ "Statement to First Committee of the General Assembly of the United Nations" (October 23, 1947), Chapter VIII, United Nations; Part 3, Second Session of the General Assembly; Section G, Propaganda, Documents on Canadian External Relations, Volume 13, pg. 382. Accessed 31 August 2020
^ Defence opening statement of Hans Laternser "Transcript for NMT 7: Hostage Case" (September 15, 1947), pg. 2971. Accessed 31 July 2020
^ "Considering the Problems of Union" The (Montreal) Gazette (October 11, 1947), pg. 4. Accessed 31 August 2020
^ "Security screening for immigrants," Cabinet Conclusions (March 5, 1947), pg. 3 Library and Archives Canada. Accessed 15 October 2023
^ D.B. Dubienski, Proceedings of the Senate Standing Committee on Immigration and Labour[...]; No. 12 (June 18, 1947), pg. 345 (PDF pg. 431). Accessed 8 January 2023
^ "Immigration Act; Repeal of Chinese Immigration Act..." (February 11, 1947), House of Commons Debates, 20th Parliament, 3rd Session: Vol. 1, pgs. 307-8. Accessed 2 September 2020
^ "Japanese problems; emergency legislation" Cabinet Conclusions (November 26, 1947), pg. 5. Accessed 2 September 2020
^ "Property Claim Commission (Excerpts from the statement for the press issued by the Co-operative Committee on Japanese Canadians)" Bulletin, Vol. II, No. 8 (August 19, 1947). Accessed 31 August 2020
^ "Leduc Oil Well Shut Off When Storage Filled" and "Leduc Oil Strike Boosts Imperial Shares 19 Percent" The Winnipeg Tribune, 58th Year, No. 39 (February 15, 1947), pg. 16. Accessed 2 September 2020
^ H.S. Wasman, "Psychological Factors Involved in Normal Pregnancy" The University of Toronto Medical Journal, Vol. XXV, No. 2 (November 1947), pgs. 51-60. Accessed 25 January 2020
^ National Film Board of Canada, "The Feeling of Rejection; Its Development and Growth" (1947), Mental Mechanisms No. 1. Accessed 11 April 2021 Also at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PkPVkkJkigw
^ Andrew Merkel, "Canada's First Gardens Are Being Restored" Halifax Mail or Halifax Herald (November 22, 1947). Accessed 31 August 2020
^ Canadian Pacific, "We're seeing Canada by train!" Life magazine (1947). Accessed 29 August 2020
^ Canadian National, "5 big moments of a Jasper vacation" Time magazine (March 10, 1947). Accessed 29 August 2020

[1] "King George VI | The Canadian Encyclopedia". www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca. Retrieved 4 December 2022.

[2] Lentz, Harris M. (4 February 2014). Heads of States and Governments Since 1945. Routledge. p. 142. ISBN 978-1-134-26490-2.

[3] Canadian Research Institute for the Advancement of Women. http://criaw-icref.ca/millenium Archived 2014-01-02 at the Wayback Machine

[mhs-4] "The Dugald Train Disaster, 1947". Manitoba Historical Society. Retrieved 6 August 2022.

[5] "Timeline - The Modern Era: The Post War". Archived from the original on 2012-09-29. Retrieved 2012-07-28.

[6] "Kim Campbell". Britannica Presents 100 Women Trailblazers. 25 February 2020. Retrieved 28 July 2021.

[7] "#112 Patrick Moore". bcbooklook.com.

[8] United States Department of State, "The Assistant Chief of the Division of British Commonwealth Affairs (Foster) to the Ambassador in Canada (Atherton)" (September 8–9, 1947), Foreign Relations of the United States, 1947; Volume III, The British Commonwealth; Europe, pgs. 117-20. Accessed 31 August 2020

[9] Labour Party (Great Britain), "4. Why did we need an American Loan?" ABC of the Crisis (1947), pg. 5. Accessed 12 September 2022

[10] "Appendix 'A;' Address of Harry S. Truman" (June 11, 1947), House of Commons Debates, 20th Parliament, 3rd Session, Vol. 5, pg. 4062. Accessed 29 August 2021

[11] United States Department of State, "United States Assistance to Other Countries From the Standpoint of National Security; Discussion" (April 29, 1947), Foreign Relations of the United States, 1947; Volume I, General; The United Nations; United States National Security Policy, pgs. 739-46. Accessed 31 August 2020

[12] Diaries of William Lyon Mackenzie King; 1947 (December 27), pgs. 1242-5; Ambassador Atherton's version of meeting with King: United States Department of State, "Memorandum of Conversation, by the Ambassador in Canada (Atherton)" (December 27, 1947), Foreign Relations of the United States, 1947; Volume VI, The Far East; Korea, pgs. 880-3. Accessed 31 August 2020

[13] "Statement to First Committee of the General Assembly of the United Nations" (October 23, 1947), Chapter VIII, United Nations; Part 3, Second Session of the General Assembly; Section G, Propaganda, Documents on Canadian External Relations, Volume 13, pg. 382. Accessed 31 August 2020

[14] Defence opening statement of Hans Laternser "Transcript for NMT 7: Hostage Case" (September 15, 1947), pg. 2971. Accessed 31 July 2020

[15] "Considering the Problems of Union" The (Montreal) Gazette (October 11, 1947), pg. 4. Accessed 31 August 2020

[16] "Security screening for immigrants," Cabinet Conclusions (March 5, 1947), pg. 3 Library and Archives Canada. Accessed 15 October 2023

[17] D.B. Dubienski, Proceedings of the Senate Standing Committee on Immigration and Labour[...]; No. 12 (June 18, 1947), pg. 345 (PDF pg. 431). Accessed 8 January 2023

[18] "Immigration Act; Repeal of Chinese Immigration Act..." (February 11, 1947), House of Commons Debates, 20th Parliament, 3rd Session: Vol. 1, pgs. 307-8. Accessed 2 September 2020

[19] "Japanese problems; emergency legislation" Cabinet Conclusions (November 26, 1947), pg. 5. Accessed 2 September 2020

[20] "Property Claim Commission (Excerpts from the statement for the press issued by the Co-operative Committee on Japanese Canadians)" Bulletin, Vol. II, No. 8 (August 19, 1947). Accessed 31 August 2020

[21] "Leduc Oil Well Shut Off When Storage Filled" and "Leduc Oil Strike Boosts Imperial Shares 19 Percent" The Winnipeg Tribune, 58th Year, No. 39 (February 15, 1947), pg. 16. Accessed 2 September 2020

[22] H.S. Wasman, "Psychological Factors Involved in Normal Pregnancy" The University of Toronto Medical Journal, Vol. XXV, No. 2 (November 1947), pgs. 51-60. Accessed 25 January 2020

[23] National Film Board of Canada, "The Feeling of Rejection; Its Development and Growth" (1947), Mental Mechanisms No. 1. Accessed 11 April 2021 Also at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PkPVkkJkigw

[24] Andrew Merkel, "Canada's First Gardens Are Being Restored" Halifax Mail or Halifax Herald (November 22, 1947). Accessed 31 August 2020

[25] Canadian Pacific, "We're seeing Canada by train!" Life magazine (1947). Accessed 29 August 2020

[26] Canadian National, "5 big moments of a Jasper vacation" Time magazine (March 10, 1947). Accessed 29 August 2020

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1947 in Canada