1972 in Canada

Events from the year 1972 in Canada. == Incumbents == === Crown === Monarch – Elizabeth II === Federal government === Governor General – Roland Michener Prime Minister – Pierre Trudeau Chief Justice – Gérald Fauteux (Quebec) Parliament – 28th (until 1 September) === Provincial governments === ==== Lieutenant governors ==== Lieutenant Governor of Alberta – Grant MacEwan Lieutenant Governor of British Columbia – John Robert Nicholson Lieutenant Governor of Manitoba – William John McKeag Lieutenant Governor of New Brunswick – Hédard Robichaud Lieutenant Governor of Newfoundland – Ewart John Arlington Harnum Lieutenant Governor of Nova Scotia – Victor de Bedia Oland Lieutenant Governor of Ontario – William Ross Macdonald Lieutenant Governor of Prince Edward Island – John George MacKay Lieutenant Governor of Quebec – Hugues Lapointe Lieutenant Governor of Saskatchewan – Stephen Worobetz ==== Premiers ==== Premier of Alberta – Peter Lougheed Premier of British Columbia – W.A.C. Bennett (until September 15) then Dave Barrett Premier of Manitoba – Edward Schreyer Premier of New Brunswick – Richard Hatfield Premier of Newfoundland – Joey Smallwood (until January 18) then Frank Moores Premier of Nova Scotia – Gerald Regan Premier of Ontario – Bill Davis Premier of Prince Edward Island – Alexander B. Campbell Premier of Quebec – Robert Bourassa Premier of Saskatchewan – Allan Blakeney === Territorial governments === ==== Commissioners ==== Commissioner of Yukon – James Smith Commissioner of Northwest Territories – Stuart Milton Hodgson == Events == === January to June === January 1 - Winnipeg is merged into a megacity January 1 - Canada's ban on cigarette advertisements on film, radio, and television goes into effect January 1 - Canada's capital gains tax comes into effect January 18 - Frank Moores becomes premier of Newfoundland, replacing Joey Smallwood, who had governed for 23 years February 1 - The Atlantic Pilotage Authority is established February 25 - The Pickering Nuclear Power Plant opens April 15 - Canada and the United States sign the Great Lakes Water Quality Agreement May 31 - The "member" level of the Order of Canada is created June 16 - The Churchill Falls hydro-electric facility opens === July to December === July 14 - Donald MacDonald of the Canadian Labour Congress becomes the first non-European head of the International Confederation of Free Trade Unions July 21 - Global Television Network network licence approved by the CRTC August 30 - Frank Arthur Calder becomes the first Native Cabinet minister in Canadian history when he is appointed to the Cabinet of British Columbia September 1 - An arson attack on the Blue Bird Café in Montreal kills 37 and leads to nationwide changes to fire codes. September 4 – Armed robbers steal 18 paintings, including a Rembrandt, along with 38 pieces of jewellery, from the Montreal Museum of Fine Arts, valued at $2 million at the time in what is not only Canada's largest art theft but its largest theft of private property ever. Except for one returned in an attempt to negotiate a ransom, none of the paintings have been recovered nor have the thieves ever been identified publicly. September 12 - Heritage Canada is established September 15 - David Barrett becomes premier of British Columbia, replacing W.A.C. Bennett, who had governed for 20 years September 27 - The sale of fire crackers is banned in Canada September 28 - CITY-TV begins broadcasting in Toronto October 30 - Federal election: Pierre Trudeau's Liberals win a minority November 9 - Anik I, the world's first non-military communications satellite is launched. December - The government's Parliamentary Flag Program begins December 14 - Muriel McQueen Fergusson becomes the first female Speaker of the Senate of Canada. === Full date unknown === Government pensions are indexed to cost of living The Art Bank is established The Government of Ontario renames all departments to ministries. == Arts and literature == === New works === Robertson Davies: The Manticore Margaret Atwood: Survival: A Thematic Guide to Canadian Literature Mordecai Richler: Shovelling Trouble John Newlove: Lies Milton Acorn: More Poems for People Donald Jack: Exit Muttering Leona Gom: Kindling Joy Fielding: The Best of Friends Farley Mowat: A Whale for the Killing Marshall McLuhan: Culture Is Our Business === Awards === See 1972 Governor General's Awards for a complete list of winners and finalists for those awards. Stephen Leacock Award: Max Braithwaite, The Night They Stole the Mounties' Car Vicky Metcalf Award: William Toye == Sport == March 18 – Toronto Varsity Blues win their sixth (and fourth consecutive) University Cup by defeating the Saint Mary's Huskies 5 to 0. The final game was played at the Palais des Sports in Sherbrooke, Quebec May 11 – Parry Sound's Bobby Orr is awarded his second Conn Smythe Trophy May 14 – Quebec Major Junior Hockey League's Cornwall Royals win the Memorial Cup by defeating the Ontario Hockey Association's Peterborough Petes 2 to 1. The final game was played at the Ottawa Civic Centre. September 28 – Canada defeats the Soviet Union in the Summit Series 4 games to 3. The deciding Game 8 was played at Luzhniki Palace of Sports in Moscow October 11 – The World Hockey Association is established with four Canadian teams (Ottawa Nationals, Quebec Nordiques, Winnipeg Jets and Alberta Oilers) November 25 – Alberta Golden Bears win their second Vanier Cup by defeating the Waterloo Lutheran Golden Hawks 20–7 in the 8th Vanier Cup played at Varsity Stadium in Toronto December 3 – Hamilton Tiger-Cats win their sixth Grey Cup by defeating the Saskatchewan Roughriders 13–10 in the 60th Grey Cup played at Ivor Wynne Stadium in Hamilton == Births == === January to June === January 1 Jennifer Hale, actress and singer Barron Miles, defensive back for the BC Lions in the CFL January 3 - Drake Berehowsky, ice hockey player and coach January 4 – Brad Zavisha, ice hockey player January 7 - Susan Cushman, rhythmic gymnast January 10 - Jonathan Ohayon, archer January 16 – Dameon Clarke, actor and voice actor January 25 - Katrina Von Sass, volleyball player January 29 - Shaun Majumder, comedian and actor January 30 - Chris Simon, ice hockey player February 2 - Naheed Nenshi, politician, Mayor of Calgary February 3 - Michael Kovrig, diplomat and hostage victim February 7 - Jamie Shannon, actor and director February 12 - Owen Nolan, ice hockey player March 13 - Sherri Field, field hockey player March 17 - Melissa Auf der Maur, bassist and photographer March 22 - Elvis Stojko, figure skater, Olympic silver medalist and World Champion April 1 - Rob Anders, politician April 2 - Graham Hood, middle-distance runner April 4 - Lisa Ray, model and actress0 April 9 - Karen Clark, synchronized swimmer April 15 - Arturo Gatti, boxer, (died 2009 in Canada|2009) April 17 - Terran Sandwith, ice hockey player April 21 - Stefan Brogren, actor and director April 24 - Nicolas Gill, judoka and Olympic silver medalist May 5 - Brad Bombardir, ice hockey player May 5 - Devin Townsend, vocalist, guitarist and record producer May 6 - Martin Brodeur, ice hockey player May 7 - Ray Whitney, ice hockey player June 6 - Erin Woodley, synchronised swimmer June 15 - Krista Thompson, field hockey player June 17 - Steven Fletcher, politician and Minister June 26 - Garou, singer June 30 - Molly Parker, actress === July to December === July 4 - Mike Knuble, ice hockey player July 5 - Robert Esmie, Olympic athlete August 1 Marc Costanzo, musician Tanya Reid, actress August 2 – Kelly Richardson, Canadian contemporary artist August 23 – Anthony Calvillo, Canadian Football League quarterback August 27 - Mike Smith, actor August 29 - Amanda Marshall, pop-rock singer September 4 - Daniel Nestor, Serbian born tennis player September 12 - Lori Strong, artistic gymnast September 20 - Sergio Di Zio, actor September 21 - Erin Fitzgerald, voice actress September 27 - Clara Hughes, cyclist, speed skater and Olympic medalist October 5 - Aaron Guiel, baseball player October 11 - Brigitte Soucy, volleyball player October 17 - Cameron Baerg, rower and Olympic silver medalist November 1 - Glen Murray, ice hockey player November 10 - Trevor Devall, voice actor and podcaster November 11 - Adam Beach, actor November 22 - Gabe Khouth, actor and voice actor (died 2019) November 26 - Chris Osgood, ice hockey player December 11 - Daniel Alfresson, Swedish ice hockey player December 19 - Charles Lefrançois, high jumper December 23 - Christian Potenza, actor and voice actor == Deaths == January 2 - James White, World War I flying ace (b.1893) January 6 - Samuel McLaughlin, businessman and philanthropist (b.1871) February 7 - William Henry Fenton, Ontario MLA (b. 1883) April 7 Al Boliska, radio and television broadcaster (b. 1932) Woodrow Stanley Lloyd, politician and 8th Premier of Saskatchewan (b.1913) May 28 - Edward VIII, Duke of Windsor, former King of Canada (b.1894) August 20 - A. M. Klein, poet, journalist, novelist, short story writer and lawyer (b.1909) October 31 - Bill Durnan, ice hockey player (b.1916) December 27 - Lester B. Pearson, politician, 14th Prime Minister of Canada, diplomat and 1957 Nobel Peace Prize recipient (b.1897) == See also == 1972 in Canadian television List of Canadian films of 1972 == References ==