2012: A Noteworthy Historical Year

Here are some of the reasons that 2012 is an especially noteworthy year for Manitoba history:

1612	400th anniversary of the first military event in the area that would become Manitoba, the visit to the northern area of the province by military explorer Thomas Button.
1812	200th anniversary of the arrival of the Selkirk Settlers at the Forks of the Red and Assiniboine rivers, leading ultimately to the City of Winnipeg, the start of widespread immigration to Western Canada, and introduction of European-style agriculture to the region. See also: Red River 200
1852	160th anniversary of the birth of Sigtryggur Jónasson, recognized as a Person of National Historic Significance. He served in the Legislative Assembly of Manitoba, edited the first Icelandic-language newspaper in North America (Framfari), and encouraged the immigration of large numbers of Icelanders to Manitoba.
1862	150th anniversary of the US Dakota War (Sioux Uprising). In the wake of the conflict, a number of Dakotas fled from Minnesota to Canada, forming a resident population that remains to this day. See information on the Flee Island Entrenchments and the Old Sioux Cemetery near Portage la Prairie.
1887	125th anniversary of the Winnipeg Press Club. The WPC elected its first executive on 12 February 1887, with a young John Dafoe serving as a founding director. The WPC is the oldest press club in Canada, and one of the oldest in North America.
1912	100th annivesary of the sinking of the RMS Titanic in the North Atlantic. Several Manitobans were aboard the ship at the time and there is a plaque commemorating them at the Winnipeg City Hall. 100th anniversary of the extension of Manitoba’s northern border to the 60th line of latitude, its present location. For more information, see From Postage Stamp to Keystone. This milestone was commemorated by a special issue of Manitoba History. 100th anniversary of the Winnipeg Art Gallery. For more information, see The Winnipeg Art Gallery in 1912 and 1987: An Historical Assessment. It’s twins! 100th anniversary of Kelvin High School and St. John’s High School. Other Winnipeg schools celebrating 100th anniversaries are Bannatyne School and Principal Sparling School. 100th anniversary of the birth of these Memorable Manitobans: Robert Adrain, John Anderson, Max Bell, Ben Berck, Richard Bowles, Gil Box, William Bullmore, Daniel Cameron, Steve Chornick, Marie Courchaine, Agnes Fontaine, Marguerite Gunter, Robert Guy, Shaun Herron, David Kilgour, Theodore Kristjanson, Peter McDonald, Edward McGill, Harry Munro, Tryggvi Oleson, Barbara Pentland, Sam Pesochin, Steve Peters, David Portigal, Lanny Remis, Maurice Ridley, Mary Robinson, Anne Ross, Hugh Ross, Svein Sigfusson, Eugene Slipetz, Hugh Smith, Maitland Steinkopf, Mel Stover, Harold Stubbs, Roger Teillet, Thomas Weir, and Joseph Zuken. 100th anniversary of these Historic Sites of Manitoba: Manitou Consolidated School No. 314 (Manitou), Prince Edward Hotel (Brandon), Bethel Lutheran Church and Cemetery (RM of Clanwilliam), Maley House (Brandon), Brandon Normal School (Brandon), St. Matthews Anglican Church (Brandon), Fort Rouge Theatre (Winnipeg), Confederation Building (Winnipeg), Alexander School No. 338 (Alexander), Moore Park Cemetery (RM of Odanah), Our Lady of Seven Sorrows Roman Catholic Church (Camperville), Roblin House (RM of Dufferin), Justice Consolidated School No. 696 (RM of Elton), Académie Saint-Joseph (Winnipeg), Western Glove Works (Winnipeg), St. James Fire Hall (Winnipeg), St. Claude Gaol (St. Claude), Pasadena Apartments (Winnipeg), Anvers Apartment (Winnipeg), Virden Municipal Building and Auditorium (Virden), and Rothesay Apartments (Winnipeg). 100th anniversary of the Manitoba Association of Parent Councils. 100th anniversary of the Arlington Bridge in Winnipeg (5 February 2012). Historian Christian Cassidy has prepared a three-part series on the history of the bridge. 100th anniversary of the Town of Transcona. See also: Transcona 100. 100th anniversary of the Fort Garry Horse, with celebrations being held on 12-15 April. See more information on their website. 100th anniversary of the incorporation of the Town of Beausejour. (It had become an incorporated Village four years earlier.) 100th anniversary of the incorporation of the Town of The Pas. Celebrations will be held on 3-5 August 2012. For more information, visit the Town’s centenary website: http://www.thepascentennial.bravehost.com
1942	70th anniversary of If Day (19 February 1942), when actors portraying German military personnel invaded Winnipeg as a means of encouraging Winnipeggers to support fundraising on behalf of the war effort.
1952	60th anniversary of the ascension of Queen Elizabeth II to the throne, known as her Diamond Jubilee. This makes her only the second monarch of the Commonwealth countries to reach this milestone, and just three years short of the record set by her great-great grandmother, Queen Victoria. 60th anniversary (26 January) of the Royal Canadian Artillery Museum at Canadian Forces Base Shilo.
1972	40th anniversary of the amalgamation of Winnipeg with its surrounding suburban municipalities (Charleswood, East Kildonan, Fort Garry, North Kildonan, Old Kildonan, St. Boniface, St. James-Assiniboia, St. Vital, Transcona, Tuxedo and West Kildonan) to form Unicity.

Are there other noteworthy anniversaries this year? If so, tell the MHS Webmaster.

How about 2013? See our initial list here.

Page revised: 1 November 2012