Canada’s news from July 2019- update
July 1, 2019
Marnie McBean was named chef de mission of Canada’s Olympic team for the 2020 Tokyo Summer Games. The Toronto rower is a three-time Olympic gold medallist. July 29 – Canada’s chief electoral officer said voting day should not be moved. Election day could be no later than Oct. 21 under federal law, which this year fell on the Jewish holiday known as Shemini Atzeret, meaning Orthodox Jews are not permitted to work, vote or campaign.
August 2
Calgary MP Deepak Obhrai, the scarf-sporting, fun-loving elder statesman of the Conservative caucus and a beloved character on Parliament Hill who championed the virtues of tolerance and human rights, died just weeks after discovering an aggressive form of liver cancer. He had just turned 69. Sept. 18 TheLiberals launched into damage control mode after a photo was published by Time magazine showing party leader Justin Trudeau in “brownface” makeup at a 2001 costume party. The picture was taken at an “Arabian Nights” party at a B.C. private school. Another two photos and then a video soon emerged showing Trudeau also in “blackface.” Trudeau apologized for what he called a terrible mistake and said he was angry with himself for being so dumb. Sept27 – Thousands of Canadians hit the streets to demand “widespread, systemic change” to halt the scary impact of a warming planet. From St. John’s, N.L. to Tofino,
B.C., and as far north as Inuvik in the Northwest Territories, marches were held in at least 85 Canadian cities and towns, as part of the international climate movement. October 8
Canadian born scientist James Peebles was one of three people to win the 2019 Nobel Prize in Physics for their contributions to the understanding of the evolution of the universe and Earth’s place within it. Peebles was born in St. Boniface, Man.
Nov 4 – Elizabeth May stepped down as the leader of the federal Green party after 13 years in the job. She appointed deputy leader Jo-Ann Roberts as her interim successor. A leadership convention is to be held in Prince Edward Island in October 2020.
Dec 4 – Prime Minister Justin Trudeau went into damage-control mode after candid comments he made about U.S. President Donald Trump were captured on video and quickly broadcast around the world. It happened at a Buckingham Palace reception on the sidelines of the NATO Summit near London. Trump subsequently called Trudeau “two-faced,” but otherwise appeared to take the comments in stride, and followed up by calling Trudeau “a nice guy.” January 8 57 Canadians, and approximately 80 others ultimately travelling to Canada, are killed after Ukraine International Airlines Flight 752 was shot down by Iran shortly after takeoff from Tehran Imam Khomeini Airport. February 21
Ontario teachers holds a one-day province wide strike
March 6
Canada’s first COVID-19 death is recorded in North Vancouver.
April 18 – April 19 – A series of shootings and arson attacks takes place in various Nova Scotia locations, with 23 people killed May 30 – Protests across Canada begin in solidarity with Americans protesting the death of George Floyd, and against police issues and racism in Canada. June 7: Thousands fill downtown Toronto streets to protest anti-Black racismhad won the NBA championship. June 30, 2020: Canada has had more than 103,000 total cases of COVID-19, with more than 28,000 cases still active. Here’s what else you need to know to start your day