1966 in Canada - Definition and Overview

See also: 1965 in Canada, other events of 1966, 1967 in Canada and the Timeline of Canadian history.

Incumbents

• Prime Minister - Lester B. Pearson
• 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 - John Robarts
• Premier of Prince Edward Island - Walter Shaw then Alex B. Campbell
• Premier of Quebec - Jean Lesage then Daniel Johnson, Sr.
• Premier of Saskatchewan - W. Ross Thatcher

Events

• January 1 - The Canada Pension Plan and the Quebec Pension Plan both begin operation
• March 4 - The Munsinger Affair is Canada's first major political sex scandal
• March 12 - Bobby Hull sets the record for the most goals in an NHL season
• June 5 - The Union Nationale under Daniel Johnson, Sr. are elected in Quebec.
• June 16 - Daniel Johnson, Sr., becomes premier of Quebec, replacing Jean Lesage
• July 28 - Alexander B. Campbell becomes premier of Prince Edward Island, replacing Walter Shaw
• October 1 - The CBC becomes the first Canadian television network to broadcast in colour.
• October 14 - Montreal inaugurates its metro system (see Montreal Metro).
• October 17 - The Montreal Metro opens
• December 31 - The Centennial flame in front of Parliament Hill is lit
• The Revolutionary Strategy and the Role of the Avant-Garde outlining the strategy of the FLQ is written.
• Grey Cup - Saskatchewan Roughriders win 29-14 over the Ottawa Rough Riders
• Vanier Cup - St. Francis Xavier X-Men win 40-14 over the Waterloo Lutheran Golden Hawks
• Stanley Cup - Montreal Canadiens win 4-2 over the Detroit Red Wings

Arts and literature

New works

• Cold Mountain. Singing Hands Series 3 by B. P. Nichol
• The Circle Game by Margaret Atwood
• Expeditions by Margaret Atwood
• Speeches for Doctor Frankenstein by Margaret Atwood

Awards

• See 1966 Governor General's Awards for a complete list of winners and finalists for those awards.
• Stephen Leacock Award: George Bain, Nursery Rhymes to Be Read Aloud by Young Parents with Old Children
• Vicky Metcalf Award: Fred Savage

Music

• March 3 - Canadian Neil Young, joins Stephen Stills and Richie Furay to form Buffalo Springfield.

Televsion

• Star Trek premieres starring Montreal actor William Shatner

Births

• February 27 - Donal Logue, actor
• March 25 - Jeff Healey, musician
• April 24 - David Usher, musician
• May 2 - Belinda Stronach, politician
• May 12 - Anne Ottenbrite, swimmer
• May 23 - Gary Roberts, hockey player
• June 18 - Kurt Browning, figure skater
• June 26 - Kirk McLean, hockey player
• September 10 - Joe Nieuwendyk, hockey player
• September 21 - Wilhelm Schroeder, musician
• September 27 - Gerry Byrne, politician
• October 25 - Wendel Clark, hockey player
• December 1 - Larry Walker, baseball star
• December 21 - Kiefer Sutherland, actor

Deaths

• July 11 - Andrew McNaughton, army officer and politician