Today in history

two days later, while Canada followed suit on Sept. 10.

In 1948, the Communist North China People's Republic was founded.

In 1961, Leslie Frost's Conservative government in Ontario introduced a three-per-cent sales tax. It became known as the “Frost Bite.”

In 1971, British Columbia banned alcohol and tobacco advertising.

In 1972, Bobby Fischer became the first American world chess champion, defeating Russia's Boris Spassky in a 24-game match in Rejkavik, Iceland.

In 1979, the U.S. spacecraft “Pioneer 2” transmitted data to Earth after passing within 20,000 kilometres of Saturn.

In 1980, one-legged runner Terry Fox was forced to quit his cross-canada “Marathon of Hope” near Thunder Bay, Ont. Cancer had spread to his lungs. Fox lost his right leg to the disease several years earlier and began his “Marathon of Hope” to raise funds for cancer research. He died in June 1981.

In 1985, the Canadian Commercial Bank folded.

In 1988, the CBC became the first Canadian broadcaster to use so-called “people meters” to measure its audience.

In 1989, baseball commissioner Bartlett Giamatti died of a heart attack at age 51. A week prior to his death, he banned Cincinnati Reds and alltime hits leader Pete Rose from baseball for life over allegations he bet on the sport.

In 1990, the Toronto Argonauts and B.C. Lions set a CFL record by combining for 111 points in a 68-43 Toronto victory at Skydome (now Rogers Centre). The game also included a record 50 points -- 27 by Toronto -- in the second quarter.

In 1995, Paul Bernardo was convicted of firstdegree murder in the sex-slayings of Ontario schoolgirls Leslie Mahaffy and Kristen French. A jury also found him guilty of seven other charges, including kidnapping and sexual assault. He was sentenced to life in prison.

In 1985, a joint American-french expedition found the wreckage of the British luxury liner “Titanic” about 900 kilometres off Newfoundland. The wreckage was located by a robot submarine four kilometres down in an ocean canyon. The “Titanic,” touted as unsinkable, went down in April 1912, on its maiden voyage after it struck an iceberg.

In 1999, French President Jacques Chirac, visiting Canada, said France would not recognize Quebec immediately after a “Yes” vote in a referendum.

In 1999, 22 of baseball's 68 permanent umpires found themselves jobless, the fallout from their union's failed attempt to force an early start to negotiations for a new labour contract.

In 2000, Rogers Communications bought 80 per cent of the Toronto Blue Jays baseball club from Belgian brewers Interbrew for US$112 million.

In 2003, the Netherlands became the first country to make marijuana available as a prescription drug, allowing pharmacies to sell it to chronically ill patients.

In 2008, hurricane Gustav slammed into the heart of Louisiana's fishing and oil industry with 176 km/h winds, delivering only a glancing blow to New Orleans.

In 2011, Lloyd Robertson, 77, ended his career as the longest national news anchor in North America. He had spent 35 years with “CTV National News” and six years prior to that at the helm of CBC'S nightly news broadcast. Robertson was replaced by Lisa Laflamme.