Every Canadian knows a handful of dates that changed our history: July 1, 1867, when Canada came together at Confederation; November 11, 1918, when the guns of the First World War fell silent; and September 28, 1972, when Paul Henderson scored perhaps the most important hockey goal of all time. But our nation’s history, now more than 50,000 days long, runs much deeper than those iconic moments.

In 100 Days That Changed Canada, Canada’s History Society has selected the 100 days that truly formed this nation. Some of the dates will surprise. Ken Dryden argues that it wasn’t September 28, the date of the Henderson goal, but September 2, when the Soviets destroyed the Canadian team 7–3, that truly changed the course of hockey history. Lawrence Hill argues for the importance of October 25, 1962, when Nova Scotia decided to raze Africville in Halifax, as a key moment in Canada’s race relations. Longtime CBC commentator Don Newman proposes that Canada experienced a major nation-building moment when, on February 2, 2002, it went to war in Afghanistan.

100 Days That Changed Canada includes contributions from Christopher Moore, Peter Mansbridge, Charlotte Gray, Dick Pound, Tim Cook, Adrienne Clarkson, Bob Rae, J.L. Granatstein, Rona Maynard, Peter C. Newman, Margaret Wente and Brian Williams. In the spirit of the bestselling 100 Photos That Changed Canada, 100 days that changed Canada forever are reflected in words and pictures.

MARK COLLIN REID is the editor-in-chief and director of content development at Canada’s History. An award-winning journalist, he has worked as an editor, reporter, and photographer for Canwest News Service, the Calgary Herald, the New Brunswick Telegraph Journal, and the Saint John Times Globe. Two of his books, 100 Photos That Changed Canada and 100 Days That Changed Canada, were bestsellers. A graduate of Dalhousie University and the University of King’s College, Reid lives in Winnipeg, Manitoba.

Canada's National History Society's profile page