When was ontario founded

Toronto became the first city in Ontario in In , Ontario and Quebec became separate provinces. This was declared in the British North America Act. Ontario is Canada's second largest province, covering more than 1 million square kilometres , square miles - an area larger than France and Spain combined.

Lawrence River and the Great Lakes to the south. Learn more about these resources below:. Ontario's many lakes, rivers and streams played a central role in the province's history and development.

For Aboriginal peoples and the early European settlers, the lakes and rivers were a means of transportation and a source for food. Waterways determined the patterns of settlement as well as the patterns of industrialization. Harvested wood is used to make building materials, pulp and paper and a wide range of other value-added products, such as furniture and flooring.

But there is more than one kind of forest in Ontario. These include the deciduous forest of southern Ontario and the Great Lakes - St. Lawrence Forest of central Ontario. Ontario's varied climate and geography support habitat for more than 3, species of plants, species of fish, 50 species of amphibians and reptiles, species of birds, and more than 81 species of mammals. In Ontario's southernmost regions, you will find prickly pear cactus and sassafras trees, while polar bears roam our northern tundra.

Common fish in Ontario include yellow perch, bluegill, northern pike, and walleye. The mammals that call Ontario home include beavers, black bears, muskrats, gray wolves, white-tailed deer and walrus. Familiar birds include blue jays, northern cardinals, great blue herons, red-tailed hawks, great horned owls and pileated woodpeckers. Look carefully and you might see some reptiles and amphibians, including eastern garter snakes, northern leopard frogs, eastern massasauga rattlesnakes, midland painted turtles or one of 11 types of salamanders and newts.

Since then, Ontario's provincial parks have stood for protection of the natural environment and enjoyment of the great outdoors. Today, Ontario's vast system of parks and protected areas totals over 9 million hectares, and includes areas of magnificent old-growth forest, woodland caribou ranges, wilderness rivers, wetlands and habitat for rare and endangered plants and animals. Our parks attract about 10 million visitors each year and provide places for outdoor activities such as camping, hiking, swimming, canoeing, nature viewing and fishing.

Parks are also important for scientific research, environmental monitoring and outdoor education. Most importantly, Ontario's provincial parks will protect and conserve our rich natural and cultural heritage for the benefit of future generations.

It produces more than 25 different metal and non-metal mineral products. Ontario stone was used to build the Ontario legislature, the federal parliament buildings in Ottawa, and the Canadian Embassy Washington, DC. The ancient rocks of the Canadian Shield cover two-thirds of Ontario and host many mineral deposits.

Younger sedimentary rocks also contain valuable minerals and unconsolidated glacial deposits are another important source of mineral riches. Amethyst, a variety of 6-sided purple quartz crystal, was adopted as Ontario's official gemstone in Amethyst, while occurring worldwide, is in rich supply along Lake Superior's north shore near Thunder Bay. It is also found in the Bancroft and North Bay areas. Ontario is an important Canadian petroleum refining region, ranking second behind Alberta in refinery production in Six facilities 4 fuel refineries, a petro-chemical facility, and a lubes plant produced With the exception of transportation, natural gas is the major fuel used by all sectors of the economy, including residential, commercial and industrial heating.

Together, these stations are capable of generating approximately 35, megawatts of electricity. An earthquake measuring 5. Though no lives were lost and only minimal damage occurred, the quake was unique in that it was felt as far away as New York. The Legislative Assembly of Ontario declared 21 January of each year Lincoln Alexander Day citing Alexander's life as "an example of service, determination and humility.

Always fighting for equal rights for all races in our society, and doing so without malice, he changed attitudes and contributed greatly to the inclusiveness and tolerance of Canada today.

Members of the Nipissing First Nation voted in favour of adopting their own constitution , or Gichi-Naaknigewin, believed to be the first such document among First Nations communities in Ontario. Its purpose is to allow the nation to define its membership and create laws. Legal experts say it is unclear, however, whether this constitution will run up against Canadian laws such as the Indian Act , which it is designed to replace.

Elizabeth Dowdeswell, former undersecretary general of the United Nations, was sworn in as Ontario Lieutenant-Governor. The Ontario Court of Justice in Guelph, ON, sentenced former Conservative staffer Michael Sona to nine months in prison for his role in the robocall scandal that erupted in the wake of the federal election. On the day of the election, 6, Guelph voters received automated calls directing them to incorrect voting locations.

Sona was the only person charged in relation to the fraudulent calls. Prolific choreographer and director Brian Macdonald died in Stratford, Ontario. Rob Ford , the municipal politician who became an international celebrity during his scandal-plagued term as the mayor of Toronto from to 20 14, died after a battle with cancer.

A staunch conservative , Ford campaigned against tax hikes and fought to cut spending at City Hall, famously running for office under the slogan "stop the gravy train. Composer Howard Cable died in Toronto , Ontario , at age Over a prolific career that spanned more than seven decades, Cable made a profound impact on music in Canada.

In addition to his work in radio , television and musical theatre , he composed, arranged and conducted music for a wide variety of organizations and bands. In response to the recommendations of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission , Ontario premier Kathleen Wynne formally apologizes on behalf of the provincial government for the abuses committed against Indigenous peoples in the residential school system , as well as for the oppressive policies and practices supported by past Ontario governments.

Toronto police chief Mark Saunders publicly expressed "regret" on behalf of his force for the bathhouse raids. On 5 February of that year, Toronto police officers arrested about gay men on charges of being found in a common bawdy house or keeping a common bawdy house. Most of the charges were dropped, but the raids further persecuted and marginalized a group whose rights were largely unprotected in Canadian society of the time.

Novelist, short-story writer and journalist Austin Clarke died in Toronto at age Clarke grew up in Barbados and moved to Canada in to study at the University of Toronto.

The first-time Olympian from Toronto skyrocketed to fame in the space of two weeks, stepping onto the podium again and again as the country looked on with amazement. She took home gold in the m freestyle, silver in the m butterfly and bronze in both the 4x m freestyle relay and 4x m freestyle relay.

An internationally exhibited winner of the Sobey Art Award, Pootoogook came from a family of accomplished Inuit artists. She moved from Cape Dorset , Nunavut, to Ottawa in , after achieving international recognition. The incident resulted in an internal investigation and, ultimately, a three-month demotion for Hrnchiar, who pleaded guilty to two charges under the Police Services Act.

Zimmerman was a long-time executive at Noranda Mines , serving first as assistant comptroller in then rising through the ranks to become president and CEO in Zimmerman retired in He was appointed an Officer of the Order of Canada in Nineteen-year-old Sam Oosterhoff became the youngest member of Provincial Parliament in the history of Ontario , winning the riding of Niagara West—Glanbrook in a by-election.

They lost the match 5—4 in penalty shootout. See also Soccer. The award is given out annually by a panel of Canadian sports journalists. Tom Harpur, theologian, priest and journalist with the Toronto Star , died at the age of Ontario Superior Court judge Edward Belobaba ruled in favour of Sixties Scoop victims, finding that the federal government did not take adequate steps to protect the cultural identity of on- reserve children taken away from their homes.

This was the first victory of a Sixties Scoop lawsuit in Canada. Labour leader Bob White died in Kincardine , Ontario. Among his many achievements as a union organizer, White was the founding president of the Canadian Auto Workers union. In , he was appointed an Officer of the Order of Canada. Short story writer and novelist Bonnie Burnard died in London , Ontario , at age The four books she published in her lifetime earned her critical acclaim and literary prizes , including the Giller Prize in for her novel A Good House.

Progressive Conservative politician Gerry Martiniuk died at the age of Martiniuk served as a Member of the Provincial Parliament of Ontario from to Historian Michael Bliss died in Toronto , Ontario. He received many career honours, including the Order of Canada , honorary degrees from six universities and honorary fellowship in the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada.

For many years he was in demand as a lecturer, speaker and public intellectual in North America and Europe. Hungarian chess master Zoltan Sarosy, who emigrated to Halifax and then Toronto after the Second World War , died at the age of of natural causes. At the time of his death, he was considered one of the oldest people in Canada. The Supreme Court of Canada ruled that Indigenous peoples do not have the power to veto resource development projects such as pipelines.

Arnold Chan, Liberal member of Parliament for the Ontario riding of Scarborough -Agincourt, died at age 50 after a battle with cancer. He was remembered by colleagues in Parliament and at the Legislative Assembly of Ontario, where he previously served as an aide, as an exemplary politician who deeply valued democracy and civic engagement.

A member of provincial parliament with a seat in Brampton , the year-old Sikh criminal lawyer served as deputy leader of the Ontario NDP before stepping down to run for the federal leadership. Singh is the first member of a visible minority to lead a federal political party in Canada.

Toronto's oldest artifact trusted to the care of the city over 80 years after its discovery. An Indigenous arrowhead, estimated to be between 4, and 6, years old, has been trusted to the care of the city of Toronto by the woman who discovered it during a class trip to Fort York in Jeanne Carter discovered what is now considered the oldest artifact discovered on the present-day territory of the city of Toronto.

The race was triggered after party leader Patrick Brown was forced to step down following accusations of sexual assault. This victory ended nearly 15 years of Liberal government, first under Dalton McGuinty from to , and then under Kathleen Wynne from to A total of 58 per cent of the electorate exercised its right to vote , compared to 51 per cent in the previous election. Kathleen Wynne resigned as leader of the Ontario Liberal Party.

Former teacher and union leader Paul Dewar died at age 56 after a year-long battle with brain cancer. He was finance minister and minister of international trade under Prime Minister Brian Mulroney. Search The Canadian Encyclopedia. Remember me. I forgot my password. Why sign up? Create Account. September 03, Government and Politics Treaty of Paris This treaty ended the American Revolution, recognizing the independence of the American colonies.

October 27, Communication and Transportation Rail Disaster at Chatham At Baptiste Creek, 24 km west of Chatham, Ont, a gravel train was hit by an express train that was running 7 hours late. January 01, Government and Politics Gradual Civilization Act Passed in the Province of Canada The government attempts to assimilate First Nations men by offering them the right to vote if they voluntarily enfranchise. September 20, Government and Politics Resources and Environment Treaty 5 Treaty 5 was concluded at Lake Winnipeg ceding an area of approximately , sq.

August 14, Resources and Environment World's Richest Vein of Silver A claim was filed for what turned out to be the richest silver vein in the world, at Cobalt, Ont, by railway workers. October 11, Communication and Transportation First Long-distance Transmission An Ontario Hydro transmission line brought Niagara Falls-generated electricity to Berlin Kitchener , Ont, the first long-distance transmission of electricity in Canada.

July 11, Resources and Environment South Porcupine Fire A forest fire swept into the Northern Ontario town, killing about 50 people and burning the town to the ground. July 29, Communication and Transportation Resources and Environment Cochrane and Matheson Burn Fires started by lightning and locomotive sparks combined into a firestorm that struck Cochrane and Matheson, Ont, burning both towns and killing at least people.

January 18, Resources and Environment Brantford Adds Fluoride to Water Brantford, Ont, was one of 3 North American cities to add fluoride to its drinking water in an experiment in the prevention of tooth decay.

Some went south seeking refuge with the Susquehannock, some went west, and others headed for New France. By the time they finished, southern Ontario was nearly devoid of population and the Iroquois had won control of the fur trade in the area.

Although they lived south of Lake Ontario Ohio, Pennsylvania , they were an influence on travel and growth in Ontario. Their control of the Mohawk River left only the St Lawrence River for access to the Great Lakes region for more than one hundred years.

Like the Iroquois, New France also wanted control of the fur trade to ensure profit for their growing colony, and to exclude the English. To do this, the French established trading posts and armed them with soldiers. After their success against the native population of Ontario, the Iroquois turned their attention upon New France. For twenty years, , the colony was under constant surprise attacks. Because of this, it was unsafe for any settler to clear or take care of their lands.

However, France wasn't interested in the happenings in the New World as they were busy fighting a war with Spain. As a colony Canada would have a governor and an intendant who would report to the King. Then he sent military aid to help deal with the Iroquois threat. The Iroquois were suffering from a smallpox epidemic, and after getting a glimpse at the military re-inforcements, chose to sign a peace treaty instead of engaging in a full-fledge war.

In several native Chiefs convened at Sault Ste Marie and gave consent for their tribes to become subjects of France. They approached the Governor of Quebec and made it known they were willing to venture into the wilds to expand New France's trading territory. The Governor was interested but insisted they conduct their exploration on his terms, be accompanied by two of his government employees, and give half the profits to New France.

Radisson and Des Groseilliers were not impressed that they would have to take along two inexperienced persons, and left New France without the permission of the governor.

By winter they had traveled as far as Lake Superior and made camp with the Ojibwa. Many at camp died that winter due to starvation, but come spring eighteen nations took part in the Feast of the Dead.

Radisson and Des Groseilliers saw the opportunity to expand their fur trading and took it. They returned to Montreal with representatives and canoes filled with furs expecting the Governor to be pleased. Instead the governor fined them and imprisoned Des Groseilliers for disobeying his order.

After the homecoming they received in New France, they headed for France where they were rejected. King Charles agreed to finance their expedition and they set out for Hudson Bay.

Radisson's trip was cut short when his ship was damaged in a storm, but Des Groseilliers completed the trip and spent a year collecting beaver pelts of impressive quality.

Rupert's Land was all land surrounding rivers that flowed to Hudson Bay, and it covered nearly eight million square kilometers. Trading posts were established on Hudson Bay, and the nearby Cree tribe was made trading partners.

Back in New France The fort itself had actually been planned by the last governor of the One Hundred Associates Company but construction wasn't started until Frontenac became governor. This would become the first permanent European settlement on the Great Lakes. But Frontenac's gains in land spread the resources of the colony too thin, and with their expanding fur trade they were alienating their native allies.

The Iroquois were still seeking control of the fur trade and were still at odds with New France who were trading with their enemies. Frontenac had told the King that the Iroquois posed no threat to New France, and when he was recalled to France in he left New France in the precarious situation of not being ready to defend itself or its allies against attack. So when the Iroquois took on the tribes in the west Ontario they won. During this time the Iroquois had allied themselves with the English, and when DeNonville arrived in Cataraqui they weren't interested in negotiating.

DeNonville was recalled by the King and Frontenac returned as governor. In June war between England and France was again declared. The colonists of New France were prepared to do battle with their English neighbours for control of the fur trade. In , preparations were made in New England to invade Canada and for the next several years the British tried to conquer Quebec. They were unsuccessful and the borders remained unchanged. In the war was ended with the signing of the Treaty of Ryswick, with the French agreeing to return all confiscated British land in America.

New France also suffered economically. The fur trade was starting to dwindle due to European fashion no longer demanding as many furs.

In , one hundred years of fighting amongst native nations was put to an end when 1, delegates representing more than 40 nations signed a peace treaty. Things weren't going so well for the newcomers -- peace between England and France did not last long and in the early 's they were yet again at war, both in Europe and in the New World. While the French in the colony were winning their battles, their European counterparts were not.

So treaty by treaty the French lost their colony to the British. And it was a vast colony - by , New France covered territory that stretched east-west from Newfoundland to the Prairies, and north-south from Hudson Bay to the Gulf of Mexico.