Today in History

seven main doors for its headquarters in New York. The doors, which cost $75,000, were a gift from the people of Canada to the United Nations. The nickel-silver doors had actually been installed the previous October when the UN headquarters was completed.

In 1958, Nikita Khrushchev became Soviet premier, in addition to head of the Communist Party.

In 1964, the most violent earthquake known to have struck North America hit southern Alaska. The magnitude-8.3 quake affected over 500,000 square kilometres and killed 131 people.

In 1966, an instrument package was launched from Churchill, Man., to study the aurora borealis. It was the first all-canadian space project.

In 1968, Soviet cosmonaut Yuri Gagarin, the first man in space, died when his plane crashed during a training flight. Gagarin, who travelled in space in 1961, was 34.

In 1973, Marlon Brando turned down the best actor Oscar for “The Godfather” to protest Hollywood’s treatment of natives.

In 1977, in the world’s worst airplane disaster, 582 people died when two jumbo jets collided and burned on a runway at Tenerife in the Canary Islands. (The worst single-plane disaster was the 1985 crash of a Japan Air Lines jet, which killed 520.)

In 1980, 123 workers died when a North Sea floating oil field platform, the Alexander Kielland, capsized during a storm.

In 1992, New York state walked away from a $17 billion contract with Quebec Hydro in a dispute over price. The utility said the move would not affect plans to build the contentious $12.6 billion Great Whale project in northern Quebec. But the project was shelved in November 1994.

In 1998, Canada’s health ministers announced a $1.1-billion compensation package for people who contracted hepatitis C through tainted blood. But the aid was limited to those infected between 1986 and mid-1990, when screening was available but not used. On Nov. 22, 2004, the Liberal government under Prime Minister Paul Martin announced it was willing to talk about compensating everyone who contracted hepatitis C through tainted blood, regardless of when they might have been infected.

In 1998, U.S. regulators approved a new drug to treat impotence. Viagra became an instant success. It was

Sherbrooke Women’s Connection

On March 9, the ladies met at the Hut. We listened to the music of Matthew Dixon, and enjoyed the 12 minute video of Jada sharing her walk through drug addiction and eating disorders to discover the love, joy and fulfillment that could be hers.

Our special feature, Barbara Heath shared with us some of the history of The Townships Sun and how we might get involved.

Our next meeting will be on April 13 at 9:30 a.m. at the ANAF Unit #318 (The Hut), 300 St. Francis St., Sherbrooke (Lennoxville Borough).

The theme “Pursuing my dream!” The speaker Jennifer Poirier will share her faith journey. Marlene Dixon, an accomplished organist and pianist, will bring us special music.

Our special feature, Mylene Carriveau will talk about Les baies de l”amour (Buckthorn berries). She will have tea and jam products for sale. Come and bring a friend. Admission charged. For more information, please call Pauline at 819-563-8061. approved in Canada a year later.

In 2000, the Canadian Alliance became the official Opposition party in the House of Commons.

In 2002, comedian Milton Berle died after a battle with colon cancer. He was 93.

In 2003, the final report on the crash of Swissair Flight 111 off Nova Scotia in 1998, said the wiring that fed a controversial onboard entertainment system likely contributed to a fire that brought the plane down.

In 2004, Kevin Taft was elected leader of the Alberta Liberal Party.

In 2009, U.S. President Barack Obama announced an extra 4,000 U.S. soldiers would be deployed to Afghanistan, on top of the 17,000 already committed, to train that country’s military and police forces.

In 2011, Cpl. Yannick Scherrer of Montreal was killed by an I.E.D. blast while on foot patrol near Nakhonay, southwest of Kandahar city. It brought to 155 the total number of Canadian military members who died as part of the Afghan mission since it began in 2002.

In 2012, former Mountie Janet Merlo launched a class-action lawsuit against the RCMP, alleging widespread sexual harassment.

In 2013, Richard Kachkar, who hit and killed Toronto police officer Sgt. Ryan Russell with a snowplow in January 2011, was found not criminally responsible because he was mentally ill. He was sent to a mental health facility in Whitby, Ont.

In 2015, the Supreme Court’s 5-4 decision gave Ottawa the right to order the destruction of Quebec’s data in the now defunct federal long-gun registry. Quebec said it would proceed with its own gun registry.

In 2015, Italy’s highest court overturned the murder conviction against Amanda Knox and her ex-boyfriend over the 2007 slaying of Knox’s university roommate Meredith Kercher, bringing a definitive end to the high-profile case that captivated trial-watchers on both sides of the Atlantic.

In 2016, a breakaway Pakistani faction of the militant Taliban group claimed responsibility for a massive suicide bombing targeting Christians celebrating Easter at a park in Lahore, Pakistan, killing 70 - mostly women and children - and wounding over 300.

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