On Canada’s 150th birthday, we remember some of the most fascinating and important events and people in Canada’s history year by year: • On July 1, 1867, the British colonies of Canada, Nova Scotia and New Brunswick were united into the Dominion of Canada under the British North America Act and then divided into the provinces of Ontario, Quebec, Nova Scotia and New Brunswick • In a fierce battle that took place from April 9–12, 1917, Canadians took Vimy Ridge in a nation-defining battle in France during World War I • On October 18, 1929, women were officially declared “persons” under the law after Canada’s Famous Five women took their case all the way to the Privy Council of England • Newfoundland was the last colony to join Confederation on March 31, 1949 • On September 28, 1972, Paul Henderson scored the winning goal for Canada against the Soviet Union in the Summit Series of Hockey • On December 14, 2015, the Truth and Reconciliation Commission made public its final report with 94 Calls to Action to “redress the legacy of residential schools and advance the process of Canadian reconciliation” • Throughout the spring and summer of 1980, Terry Fox became Canada’s hero; his Marathon of Hope raised millions of dollars for cancer research, a legacy carried on to this day • On April 1, 1999, Nunavut was made a separate territory, resulting in the map of Canada as we now know it • At the stroke of noon on February 15, 1965, the Red Ensign was lowered, and the Maple Leaf was raised as Canada’s new flag. And so many more...

Jackson believes that, in the twine of life, there are two special genes unique to humankind—hope and humour—and he thinks we should all turn to the funny side of life in the face of adversity. He must have quite the sense of humour, then, since he’s been struck by lightning five times! Alan is a prolific writer of nonfiction and a creator of worlds in the fiction realm. Alan lives in Toronto with a wife named M and a squirrel called Mommy. He is the author of various Blue Bike titles, including Weird Canadian Weather, Weird Ontario Weather and Weird Ontario Laws.

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