Events from the year 1948 in Canada.
Incumbents
Crown Monarch – George VI
Federal government Governor General – the Viscount Alexander of Tunis Prime Minister – William Lyon Mackenzie King (until November 15) then Louis St. Laurent Chief Justice – Thibaudeau Rinfret (Quebec) Parliament – 20th
Provincial governments
Lieutenant governors Lieutenant Governor of Alberta – John C. Bowen Lieutenant Governor of British Columbia – Charles Arthur Banks Lieutenant Governor of Manitoba – Roland Fairbairn McWilliams Lieutenant Governor of New Brunswick – David Laurence MacLaren Lieutenant Governor of Nova Scotia – John Alexander Douglas McCurdy Lieutenant Governor of Ontario – Ray Lawson Lieutenant Governor of Prince Edward Island – Joseph Alphonsus Bernard Lieutenant Governor of Quebec – Eugène Fiset Lieutenant Governor of Saskatchewan – Reginald John Marsden Parker (until March 23) then John Michael Uhrich (from March 24)
Premiers Premier of Alberta – Ernest Manning Premier of British Columbia – Boss Johnson Premier of Manitoba – Stuart Garson (until November 13) then Douglas Campbell Premier of New Brunswick – John McNair Premier of Nova Scotia – Angus Macdonald Premier of Ontario – George A. Drew (until October 19) then Thomas Laird Kennedy Premier of Prince Edward Island – J. Walter Jones Premier of Quebec – Maurice Duplessis Premier of Saskatchewan – Tommy Douglas
Territorial governments
Commissioners Commissioner of Yukon – John Edward Gibben Commissioner of Northwest Territories – Hugh Llewellyn Keenleyside
Events June 7 – Ontario election: George Drew's PCs win a second consecutive majority June 24 – Saskatchewan election: Tommy Douglas's Co-operative Commonwealth Federation wins a second consecutive majority July 22 – A second runoff referendum is held in the 1948 Newfoundland referendums; confederation with Canada is approved, leading to the eventual union between Canada and the Dominion of Newfoundland in March 1949. August 17 – Alberta election: Ernest Manning's Social Credit Party wins a fourth consecutive majority September 6 – The oil well Atlantic No. 3 (near Devon, Alberta), which had been running wild since March 21, catches fire. Smoke affects the atmosphere for hundreds of kilometres until the blaze is put out in November by a team led by Myron M. Kinley and Red Adair. October 19 – Thomas Kennedy becomes premier of Ontario, replacing George Drew November 13 – Douglas Campbell becomes premier of Manitoba, replacing Stuart Garson November 15 – Louis Saint Laurent becomes prime minister, replacing Mackenzie King
Arts and literature
Awards See 1948 Governor General's Awards for a complete list of winners and finalists for those awards. Stephen Leacock Award: Paul Hiebert, Sarah Binks
Sport February 2 – Barbara Ann Scott becomes the first Canadian to win the figure skating gold medal at the 1948 Winter Olympics in St. Moritz, Switzerland April 14 – The Toronto Maple Leafs win their seventh Stanley Cup by defeating the Detroit Red Wings 4 games to 0. April 30 – The Thunder Bay Junior Hockey League's Port Arthur West End Bruins win their only Memorial Cup by defeating the Ontario Hockey Association's Barrie Flyers 4 games to 0. All games were played at Maple Leaf Gardens in Toronto November 27 – The undefeated Calgary Stampeders win their first Grey Cup by defeating the Ottawa Rough Riders 12 to 7 in the 36th Grey Cup played at Varsity Stadium in Toronto. This Cup is notable for the Stampeders' fans making a party out of the game and launching the Grey Cup festival that precedes the championship game.
Births
January to March
January 10 – Craig Russell, female impersonator (d. 1990) January 12 – Gordon Campbell, politician and 34th Premier of British Columbia January 13 – Pat O'Brien, politician January 15 – Andy Jones, comedian, writer, actor and director January 16 – Cliff Thorburn, snooker player, former world number one
January 19 – Frank McKenna, businessman, politician, 27th Premier of New Brunswick and diplomat January 25 – Sarkis Assadourian, politician January 29 – Marc Singer, actor February 11 – Shaughnessy Cohen, politician (d. 1998) February 13 – Allan Legere, serial killer, rapist, and arsonist (d. 2026) February 21 – Chuck Cadman, politician (d. 2005) March 14 Pierre Granche, sculptor (d. 1997) Maria Minna, politician March 20 – Bobby Orr, ice hockey player March 31 – Gary Doer, politician and 20th Premier of Manitoba
April to June April 14 – Claude Vivier, composer (d. 1983 in France) April 16 – Reg Alcock, politician, minister, MP for Winnipeg South (1993–2006); President of the Treasury Board (2003–2006) (d. 2011) April 17 – Wilf Wedmann, high jumper (d. 2021) April 20 – Rémy Trudel, academic and politician May 11 – John Plohman, politician May 16 – Clif Evans, politician May 24 – Lorna Crozier, poet and essayist June 4 Margaret Gibson, novelist and short story writer (d. 2006) Sandra Post, golfer, first Canadian to play on the LPGA Tour June 5 – Bill Smart, middle-distance runner and judge June 7 – Welwyn Wilton Katz, children's author June 23 – Myles Goodwyn, musician (d. 2023) June 29 – Leo Burke, wrestler (d. 2024)
July to September
July 4 – Katherine Govier, novelist July 6 – Brad Park, ice hockey player July 8 – Raffi, children's entertainer, music producer, author and entrepreneur July 31 – Eddie Goldenberg, lawyer and political adviser (d. 2026) August 2 – Bob Rae, politician and 21st Premier of Ontario August 5 – Don Scott, politician August 14 – John Edzerza, Yukon MLA (d. 2011) August 31 – Marie-Lynn Hammond, folk singer-songwriter, broadcaster and playwright September 8 – Stephen Owen, politician (d. 2023) September 10 – Margaret Trudeau, wife of the late Pierre Trudeau, the 15th Prime Minister of Canada September 19 – James McCrae, politician September 21 – Bernard Jean, oboist, conductor, and music educator September 24 – Phil Hartman, actor, comedian, screenwriter and graphic artist (d. 1998)
October to December October 8 – Pat Binns, politician, 30th Premier of Prince Edward Island and diplomat October 9 – Brad Woodside, politician, Mayor of Fredericton, New Brunswick October 17 – Margot Kidder, actress (d. 2018) November 5 – Mike Neary, rower November 24 – Spider Robinson, science fiction author November 27 – David Branch, ice hockey administrator (d. 2026) December 7 – Jay Dahlgren, javelin thrower December 30 Rick Casson, politician Pierre Blais, jurist, politician and Minister December 31 – René Robert, ice hockey player (d. 2021)
Full date unknown Marc Lortie, diplomat
Deaths March 14 – Ernest Frederick Armstrong, politician (b. 1878) March 28 – John Duncan MacLean, teacher, physician, politician and Premier of British Columbia (b. 1873) May 20 – George Beurling, most successful Canadian fighter pilot of World War II (b. 1921) May 21 – James Ralston, lawyer, soldier, politician and Minister (b. 1881)
Full date unknown Margaret C. MacDonald, nurse (b. 1873)
See also List of Canadian films
References