TODAY IN HISTORY: Canada says we’re sorry

In 1761, Britain’s King George III and his wife, Charlotte, were crowned in Westminster Abbey. In 1862, U.S. President Abraham Lincoln first issued the Emancipation Proclamation freeing the slaves. The final proclamation was issued Jan. 1, 1863. They brought freedom to about 200,000 slaves.

In 1877, Chief Crowfoot signed a treaty with Canada. Crowfoot, feeling threatened by the deluge of unruly American traders in the area, put his mark on “Treaty Number Seven” which gave the Queen “all the rights, titles and privileges whatsoever” to his people’s land in the Prairies. In return, the aboriginals got reserves, payments and annuities.

In 1914, a German submarine sank three British cruisers, killing 1,400 crewmen.

In 1930, Parliament passed the Unemployment Relief Act.

In 1950, Dr. Ralph Bunche became the first black to win the Nobel Peace Prize.

In 1967, in Montreal, “Expo 67” broke the attendance record of 42,973,561 set in 1958 in Brussels.

In 1980, a full-scale war erupted between Iran and Iraq after months of border skirmishes. The war lasted almost eight years.

In 1988, the federal government announced a $300 million compensation package and apology for the 22,000 Japanese Canadians interned during the Second World War. In 1942, Japanese Canadians, considered security risks, were moved to camps inland from the B.C. coast and their property was confiscated. In making the compensation announcement, Prime Minister Brian Mulroney said, “No amount of money can right the wrong,” but added, “error is an ingredient of humanity.”

In 1992, the United Nations voted to expel Yugoslavia from the General Assembly.

In 1996, Ludmilla Chiriaff, dance pioneer and founder of Les Grands Ballets Canadiens, died in Montreal at age 72.