1962 in Canada

[edit] Incumbents

March 21 - The birth-defect-causing drug thalidomide is banned
May 2 - The Canadian dollar is pegged to the U.S. currency
June 15 - Canada is the third power to reach space with the launch of scientific satellite
June 18 - In the 1962 Federal election John Diefenbaker's Progressive Conservative Party of Canada is reduced to a minority government
July 1 - First medicare plan is launched in Saskatchewan to great protest by doctors
July 30 - Trans-Canada Highway opens
August 6 - A Premiers Conference is held in Victoria, British Columbia
September 1 - Place Ville Marie opens in Montreal
September 29 - Alouette 1, Canada's first satellite is launched.
October 25 - The Bedford Institute of Oceanography opens in Nova Scotia
October 25-November 12 - The Cuban Missile Crisis occurs. An indecisive Diefenbaker refuses to put Canadian forces on alert, angering the U.S. government.
December 1-December 2 - The Winnipeg Blue Bombers win the Grey Cup in the famous fog bowl
December 11 - The last three hangings in Canada take place.
The Globe and Mail adds the Report on Business section

New books

Awards

See 1962 Governor General's Awards for a complete list of winners and finalists for those awards.
Stephen Leacock Award: W. O. Mitchell, Jake and the Kid

Television

Theatre