1961 in Canada - Definition and Overview

See also: 1960 in Canada, other events of 1961, 1962 in Canada and the Timeline of Canadian history.

Incumbents

• Prime Minister - John Diefenbaker
• Governor General - Georges Vanier

• Premier of Alberta - Ernest Manning
• Premier of British Columbia - W.A.C. Bennett
• Premier of Manitoba - Duff Roblin
• Premier of New Brunswick - Louis Robichaud
• Premier of Newfoundland - Joey Smallwood
• Premier of Nova Scotia - Robert Stanfield
• Premier of Ontario - Leslie Frost then John Robarts
• Premier of Prince Edward Island - Walter Shaw
• Premier of Quebec - Jean Lesage
• Premier of Saskatchewan - Tommy Douglas then Woodrow Lloyd

Events

• February 3 - The Canadian Bank of Commerce and the Imperial Bank of Canada merge to form CIBC
• June 1 - The 1961 Canadian census finds Canada has a population of 18 238 247
• June 6 - CUSO is formed
• June 13 - The NCC study of Ottawa's new Green Belt is completed
• June 14 - James Elliott Coyne, the Governor of the Bank of Canada resigns due to disagreements with the federal government's fiscal policies
• August 3 - Tommy Douglas is elected leader of the newly formed NDP
• August 14 - 15 - The Premiers meet in Charlottetown
• November 7 - Woodrow Lloyd becomes premier of Saskatchewan, replacing Tommy Douglas
• November 8 - John Robarts becomes premier of Ontario, replacing Leslie Frost
• November 17 - Saksatchewan passes a bill creating Canada's first government run health system
• December 28 - Canada's first BOMARC Missile squadron is formed
• The Co-operative Commonwealth Federation becomes the New Democratic Party
• The Massey Lectures are created
• The new home for the Hockey Hall of Fame opens in Toronto
• CTV is founded

Arts and Literature

New Books

• Morley Callaghan - A Passion in Rome
• Max Aitken - Courage
• Margaret Atwood - Double Persephone
• Farley Mowat - Owls in the Family

Awards

• See 1961 Governor General's Awards for a complete list of winners and finalists for those awards.
• Stephen Leacock Award: Norman Ward, Mice in the Beer

Births

• January 1 - Wendy Baker, former Canadian field hockey goalkeeper
• January 18 - Mark Messier, hockey player
• January 26 - Wayne Gretzky, hockey player
• January 27 - Tony Clement, politician
• February 21 - Paul Edwards, Manitoba politician
• March 16 - Todd McFarlane, comic book artist
• April 6 - Gene Eugene, actor and musician
• April 10 - Barb Tarbox, activist
• May 1 - Clint Malarchuk, hockey goalie
• May 8 - Greg Thomey, comedian
• May 9 - Darren Praznik, Manitoba politician
• May 27 - Northern Dancer, race horse
• May 31 - Corey Hart, singer
• June 1 - Paul Coffey, hockey player
• June 9 - Michael J. Fox, actor
• July 1 - Michelle Wright, singer
• July 12 - Camilla Scott, actor
• July 26 - Alan Lowe, politician
• August 25 - Marie Saint Pierre, fashion designer
• August 25 - Dave Tippett, hockey player and coach
• September 12 - Mylène Farmer, musician
• September 24 - Nancy Garapick, swimmer
• September 30 - Erica Ehm, vj and tv actor
• November 2 - k.d. lang, singer/songwriter
• December 8 - André Bachand, politician
• December 10 - Mark McKoy, Olympic athlete
• December 18 - Brian Orser, figure skater
• December 30 - Ben Johnson, sprinter
• December 31 - Douglas Coupland, writer

Deaths

• July 12 - Mazo de la Roche, artist
• July 15 - John E. Brownlee, Premier of Alberta