1953 in Canada - Definition and Overview

See also: 1952 in Canada, other events of 1953, 1954 in Canada and the Timeline of Canadian history.

Incumbents

• Prime Minister - Louis Saint Laurent
• Governor General - Vincent Massey

• Premier of Alberta - Ernest Manning
• Premier of British Columbia - W.A.C. Bennett
• Premier of Manitoba - Douglas Campbell
• Premier of New Brunswick - Hugh John Flemming
• Premier of Newfoundland - Joey Smallwood
• Premier of Nova Scotia - Angus Macdonald
• Premier of Ontario - Leslie Frost
• Premier of Prince Edward Island - J. Walter Jones then Alex Matheson
• Premier of Quebec - Maurice Duplessis
• Premier of Saskatchewan - Tommy Douglas

Events

• January 1 - The National Library of Canada is founded
• January 27 - The Canadian Dental Association approves the use of fluoride in drinking water
• May 25 - Alex Matheson becomes premier of Prince Edward Island, replacing J. Walter Jones
• June 2 - Queen Elizabeth II is crowned Queen of Canada. In Korea the Canadian Army celebrates the coronation of Elizabeth II by firing red, white and blue smoke shells at the enemy
• July 13 - The first Stratford Festival opens
• July 27 - The Korean War ends. In total 314 Canadians were killed and 1211 injured.
• August 10 - Federal election: Louis Saint Laurent's Liberals win a fifth consecutive majority
• October 15 - The Trans Mountain Oil Pipeline is completed
• October 25 - Canada's first privately-owned television station, CKSO, broadcasts in Sudbury.

Arts and Literature

Literary Awards

• See 1953 Governor General's Awards for a complete list of winners and finalists for those awards.
• Stephen Leacock Award: Lawrence Earl, The Battle Of Baltinglass

Births

• February 5 - Eric Robinson, Manitoba politician
• February 15 - Gerald Keddy, politician
• February 15 - David Chomiak, Manitoba politician
• February 16 - Lanny McDonald, hockey player
• April 13 - Dany Laferrière, author
• May 14 - Tom Cochrane, singer/songwriter
• June 23 - Raymonde April, photographer
• June 23 - Albina Guarnieri, politician
• July 3 - Dave Lewis, hockey player and coach
• July 9 - Margie Gillis, dancer
• July 15 - Mila Mulroney, wife of Brian Mulroney
• July 15 - Richard Margison, tenor
• July 29 - Geddy Lee, musician (Rush)
• August 17 - Robert Thirsk, astronaut
• August 27 - Alex Lifeson, musician
• September 30 - S. M. Stirling, author
• October 29 - Denis Potvin, hockey player
• December 13 - Bob Gainey, hockey player anc coach
• December 18 - Daniel Poliquin, writer
• Dionne Brand, poet
• Barbara Haworth-Attard, author
• Nancy Huston, author
• Paul Quarrington, author
• Gaëtan Dugas, early AIDS patient

Deaths

• November 29 - Sam De Grasse, actor