1983_in_Canada

1983 in Canada

See also: 1982 in Canada, other events of 1983, 1984 in Canada and the Timeline of Canadian history.

1 Incumbents
2 Events
3 Arts and literature
4 Births
5 Deaths

Incumbents

See 1983 Canadian incumbents for more

Events

January 1 - The metric system of weights and measures is officially adopted by the federal government although Imperial units are still used.
January 17 - Saskatchewan MLA Colin Thatcher resigns as Minister of Energy and Mines after several well-publicised disputes with premier Grant Devine.
January 21 - JoAnn Thatcher, wife of Saskatchewan MLA Colin Thatcher, is murdered in her Regina home. Colin would later be convicted of the crime.
February 1 - Pay television begins operating in Canada.
February 15 - the Tamarack Review ceases publication
March 4 - Bertha Wilson is appointed Canada's first female Supreme Court justice
March 5 - Steve Podborski wins Gold at the World Cup of Skiing
April 1 - the spending mandate by Premier Bill Bennett's government expires without a sitting of the House or the calling of an election: constitutional interregnum and crisis
April 5 - Lieutenant-Governor David Lam summons Premier Bennett to Government House. The L-G issues emergency warrants to cover spending until a snap election.
June 2 - Air Canada Flight 797 makes an emergency landing in Cincinnati, Ohio - a fire kills 23 of 41 passengers onboard.
June 9 - Bill 101, protecting the French language in Quebec is ruled unconstitutional
June 11 - Brian Mulroney replaces Joe Clark as leader of Progressive Conservative Party of Canada
June 19 BC Place in Vancouver opens
July 23 - Gimli Glider: Air Canada flight 143 crash-lands in Gimli, Manitoba.
October 1 - North Atlantic Salmon Conservation Organization is established
November 17 - The Western Grain Transportation Act is passed
December 23 - Jeanne Sauvé is appointed Canada's first female Governor General
Canada agrees to allow testing of American cruise missiles in the west
Grey Cup - Toronto Argonauts won 18-17 over the British Columbia Lions
Vanier Cup - Calgary Dinos won 31-21 over the Queen's Golden Gaels
The Point Lepreau Nuclear Generating Station, the first Nuclear power plant in the Maritimes

Arts and literature

New books

A Time for Judas - Morley Callaghan
Unearthing Suite - Margaret Atwood
Seagull on Yonge Street - Bill Bissett

Awards

See 1983 Governor General's Awards for a complete list of winners and finalists for those awards.
Books in Canada First Novel Award: W.P. Kinsella, Shoeless Joe
Gerald Lampert Award: Diana Hartog, Matinee Light
Pat Lowther Award: Rhea Tregebov, Remembering History
Stephen Leacock Award: Morley Torgov, The Outside Chance of Maximilian Glick
Vicky Metcalf Award: Claire Mackay

Film

Graham Greene makes his film debut in Running Brave
David Cronenberg's The Dead Zone is released
A film is made of Farley Mowat's Never Cry Wolf, named Never Cry Wolf.

Births

February 2 — Jordin Tootoo, ice hockey player
February 9 — Keith Beavers, backstroke and medley swimmer
March 3 — Olia Berger, judoka
April 7 — Kyle Labine, actor
April 28 — Dan Mangan, singer-songwriter
May 20 — Dan Blackburn, ice hockey goalie
June 22 — Sheena Lawrick, Olympic softball player
July 21 — Tara Campbell, water polo player
September 27 — Jay Bouwmeester, ice hockey player
November 4 — Melanie Kok, rower

Deaths

June 2 - Thomas John Bentley, politician
June 12 - Norma Shearer, actor
July 13 - Gabrielle Roy, author
July 29 - Raymond Massey, actor
Alden Nowlan, author
Stan Rogers, musician
Yves Theriault, author
Graham Spry, broadcaster

Contents

Incumbents

Events

Arts and literature

Births

Deaths