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Return to Timeline introduction

1970 AD to 1979 AD
Events listed relate to Canadian women with a few extra items added to give the timeline perspective.

This timeline is not all inclusive.

The timeline  was fun to prepare and hopefully it will be fun to read.  Perhaps it will even be  useful.

Events listed are drawn from various sources including those listed on other areas of http://famouscanadianwomen.com 

If you wish more information on the women listed in this timeline be sure and check out the birthdays listed in
"Do you share a birthday with a famous Canadian woman?"

LAST UPDATED December  2012

DATES

EVENTS

1970
 

 

1970 - The Canada Royal Commission on the Status of Women tables a report with recommendations to eliminate sexual inequality in Canada.

1970 - Sue Johanson opens in Don Mills Birth Control Clinic, the first such clinic in a High school in North America.

1970 - With the approval of three doctors abortion becomes available in some hospitals on a case-by case basis. ( http://herstory.womenspace.ca/timeline.html )

1970 -
The Abortion Caravan crosses Canada and stops in Ottawa with a specific demonstration at Parliament.  30 women chain themselves to the parliamentary gallery in the House of Commons, closing the Canadian parliament for the first time in its history.
Source : A History of Abortion in Canada http://www.prochoiceactionnetwork-canada.org/history.html (accessed July 30, 2003)


June  1970 - 
Dr Henry Morgentaler's office is raided by the police and he is charged with conspiracy to perform an abortion.
Source : A History of Abortion in Canada http://www.prochoiceactionnetwork-canada.org/history.html (accessed July 30, 2003)

November 20-21, 1970  -
The first national conference of the Canadian Women's Liberation Movement at the University of Saskatoon, Saskatchewan. Source: http://www.hartford-hwp.com/archives/44/279.html Reprinted from The Militant December 4, 1970. (accessed July 4, 2005)

1970 - The first Women's studies courses are offered at the University of Toronto, McGill University, University of Waterloo, Université de Montréal and the University of Guelph. . Source A Chronology of the development of women's studies in Canada. The Canadian Electronic Feminist Network http://www.unb.ca/PAR-L/chronology1.htm (accessed April 28, 2003. )

Births 1970:
1970 -
Born Sylvia Tennisco (1970 -   ) Graphic artist.
April 22, 1970 --
Born Robbyn Hermitage, champion badminton player. 
May 8, 1970 -
Born Naomi Klein (1970-   ) social activist and author.
July 7, 1970 -
Born Cree Summer, actress.
July 28, 1970 - Born
Isabelle Brasseur, with skating partner Lloyd Eisler she was one of Canada's finest pairs figure skating champions, with world and Olympic Medals.
August 21, 1970 -
Carrie-Anne Moss , international model and actress.
October 5, 1970 -
Born Tina Poitras top ranked sport walker.
November 30, 1970
- Born Sandra Oh, actress.

Deaths 1970:
July 9, 1970 -
Died Flora McCrae Eaton (1881-1970) businesswoman, social activist and author.
August 1970 - Died Marion Long (1882-1970) portrait painter.
October 20, 1970 -
Died
Judith Jasmin (1916-1972) pioneer and accomplished broadcast journalist.
October 22, 1970 -
Died
Pauline Donalda ( real name Pauline Lightstone) (1882-1970) internationally renowned opera singer.
1971 1971 - The University of British Columbia offers the first degree granting program in Woman's Studies. Source: Women's Studies by Renee Bondy in Herizon. Herison.ca (accessed July 2011)

November 12, 1971- Stewardess Mary Dohey saves the lives of passengers and crew of an Air Canada flight from a hijacker.

1971-
Mabel Margaret Van Camp (1920-2012) is the  1st  woman appointed to the bench of the Supreme Court of Ontario.

1971 - Gwen Landolt
 
forms "The Right to Life", an anti-abortion organization.

1971 - Joyce Wieland  (1931-1998.) is the first living Canadian woman artist to have a solo exhibition at the National Gallery of Canada.

1971 -
Robert Andras is appointed the firs federal minister responsible for the status of women. He is the first of several men to hold this position. Source: Women in History; a timeline by Kirsten Smith, Postmedia News March 9, 2011.

Births 1971:
May 25, 1971 -
Born Nicole Luiken, author.
June 26, 1971- Born Christine Nordhagen Vierling ( 1971-   ) world wrestling champion.
July 2, 1971 - Born Evelyn Lau, author, the youngest poet to be nominated for a Governor General's Award.
July 29, 1971 - Born Annie Perreault, once of Canada's most decorated Olympians.
October 3, 1971 - Born Angela Kelly (1971-   ) award winning soccer player and coach.

Deaths 1971:
February 14, 1971 -
Died Martha Scarrow (1912-1971) political member of the C.C.F. Party in Ontario.
March 25, 1971 - Died
Anne Douglas Savage ( 1896-1971) pioneer educator and artist.
December 11, 1971 - Died
Kate Aitken (1891-1971) journalist, author, radio and TV Personality, lecturer, "Busiest woman in the world".
December 15, 1971 - Died
Bernice R. Brown (1905-1971) Social Activist in PEI

1972 1972 - Rosemary Brown (1930-2003) is the first black woman elected to a provincial legislature as a member of the New Democratic Party in British Columbia. Source: British Columbia Federation of Labour.  http://bcfed.com/issues/women/history

1972 - Muriel McQueen Furgusson (1899-1997.) is named the first woman Speaker of the Senate of Canada and the becomes the first woman speaker in the Canadian Parliament.

1972 - The Canadian  Income Tax Act allows the deduction of the cost of child care from the income of working mothers.

1972 -
The Canadian Newsletter of Research on Women/ Recherches sur la femme-bulletin d'information begins publishing. Source A Chronology of the development of women's studies in Canada. The Canadian Electronic Feminist Network http://www.unb.ca/PAR-L/chronology1.htm (accessed April 28, 2003. )

1972 -
The Alberta Sexual Sterilization Act (1928) is repealed. 2,822 people had been sterilized. Many of the operations were illegal un the Act itself.  Source: Herstory: A Canadian Women's Calendar 2000 Page 72.

1972 - The Toronto Women's Bookstore starts out as a few shelves of books at a Toronto Women's Center on Dupont St. Source: A short history of the Toronto Women's Bookstore The Varsity, University of Toronto, February 4, 2010

1972 - Pat Messner (1954-   ) is  the first Canadian woman to win an Olympic medal in water skiing.

1972 -
Microwave Ovens hit the Canadian market.
Source : Canuck Chicks and Maple Leaf Mamas : women of the Great White North by Ann Douglas Toronto, McArthur and Co., 2002. pg 18

1972 - Eva Von Gencsy (1924-   ) founds Les Ballets Jazz de Montréal

1972 - Toronto policewomen are granted an unpaid maternity leave of twelve weeks. During thier leave they will not lose seniority nor suffer a decrease in salary.
Source: Herstory: Milestones in the History of the Toronto Police Service Women Online Accessed June 2011.


Births 1972 :
1972 - Born Rachel Zimmerman (1972-   ) inventor of a computer program using Bliss symbols to help the speaking impaired communicate.
February 16, 1972 -
Born Milaine Clouther, medal winning badminton player.
February 24, 1972 - Born Manon Rhéaume, first woman to play in the National Hockey League.
March 17, 1972 - Melissa Auf Der Maur (1972-   ) rock music performer
April 9, 1972 - Born Karen Clark medal winning synchronized swimmer.
May 16, 1972 - Born
Lucy Slade (1972-2011) medal winning Kayaker and canoeist.
June 19, 1972  - Born Anna Van Der Kamp, medal winning rower.
August 29, 1972 - Born Amanda Marshall singer.
September 3, 1972  - Born Christine Boudrias, Olympic medal winning speed skater.
September 27, 1972  - Born Clara Hughes, medal winning cyclist
October 10, 1972  - Born Marianne Limpert swimmer with 20 national titles and 81 international medals.
November 14, 1972  - Born Lori Dupuis (1972-  ) silver and gold medalist in women's Olympic Hockey.

Deaths 1972:
1972 - Died Albertine Caron-Legris (1906-1972) Pianist, composer and teacher.
January 10, 1972  - Died Mary Emma Quayle Innis (1899-1972) noted economic historian.
March 25, 1972 - Died
Beatrice Maude Bradshaw (1885-1972)  a well respected teacher and administrator in Manitoba.
July 31, 1972 - Died
Ethlyn Trapp (1891-1972) 1st  woman president of the  National Cancer Institute of Canada
November 1972 - Died Judy Hill (   -1972) Northern Canadian Nurse killed in plane crash.

1973 1973- The Montreal Gay Women publish the first Canadian lesbian journal, Long Time Coming.

1973 - The National Native Women’s Association is established in Winnipeg, Manitoba.

1973 - Sylvia Olga Fedoruk (1927-    ) is the first woman appointed to the Atomic Energy Control Board of Canada.

1973 - The first rape crisis telephone line is Canada is opened by Vancouver Rape Relief.
( http://herstory.womenspace.ca/timeline.html )

November 13, 1973 - Henry Morgentaler is acquitted of illegal abortion charges in Montreal.

1973 - Five undergraduate courses in Women's studies are offered at the University of British Columbia , the first academically credited women's studies program in Canada. Source A Chronology of the development of women's studies in Canada. The Canadian Electronic Feminist Network http://www.unb.ca/PAR-L/chronology1.htm (accessed April 28, 2003. )

1973 - Rosella Bjornson (1947-   ) is the first woman to be hired as First Officer in North America on scheduled jet equipment and the first woman hired by a commercial air line in Canada. She is also the first woman to e a member of the Canadian Air Line Pilots Association.
Source: Canadian Aviation Hall of Fame http://www.cahf.ca/members/B_members.htm (accessed July 18, 2005)

Births 1973:
March 13, 1973-  - Born Allison Higson (1973-   ) world record holder in the breast stroke swimming.
May 18, 1973 - Born Chantal Kreviazuk (1973-  ) award winning musician and singer.
November 9, 1973 - Born Gabrielle Miller (1973-  ) Canadian TV and movie actress.
November 22, 1973 - Born Cassie Campbell (1973-) Hockey player with 21 team medals national and Olympic .


Deaths 1973:
April 26,1973 -
Died Norma Abernethy (1914-1973) Pianist and teacher
September 17, 1973  - Died
Mary Susanne Edgar (1889-1973) youth leader and camp founder and director.
November 1973 - Alberta Letts (   -1973) Librarian

1974 1974 - The first National Conference on Women in Sport is held in Toronto. This leads the way to the creation of Sport's Canada's Women's Program. Source Canada Women's Foundation. History of the women's movement: selected moments of importance in the history of Canadian women , 2004 http://cdnwomen.org.

1974 - Pauline McGibbon
  (1910-2001)   is appointed Lieutenant Governor of the Province of Ontario (1974-1980) and became the first Canadian woman to obtain such a position.

1974 - The National Film Board of Canada opens Studio D. This is the first women's English film studio in the world. It will produce  films from a women's perspective. Source Canada Women's Foundation. History of the women's movement: selected moments of importance in the history of Canadian women , 2004 http://cdnwomen.org.

1974 - 17 year old Lucille Lessard is the first Canadian to win the  World Field Archery Championships.

1974 - Women comprise 80% of librarians in Canada. Men held 90% of administrative positions within the profession. Source: Canadian Chronology Http://tdi.uregina.ca/~maguirec/chron.html (accessed April 28, 2003)

1974 - Pauline Jewett
 (1922-1992)  is appointed president of Simon Fraser University, the first woman to be head of a major co-educational university in Canada.

1974 - CORA,  The Feminist Bookmobile is launched by Judith Quinlan and Ellen Woodsworth to take feminist literature to rural areas of Ontario. ( http://www.coolwomen.ca/)

June 1974 -
Toronto Police women are first placed on regular patrol duties with men . The women are expected to do the dame work as male colleagues.
Source: Herstory: Milestones in the History of the Toronto Police Service Women Online Accessed June 2011.


August 16, 1974 - Long distance swimmer, 16 year old Cindy Nicholas, breaks the record for a crossing of Lake Ontario.

September 17, 1974 - The Royal Canadian Mounted Police accept 4 women recruits, the first females to join the force.

November 1974 - Gladys Jolly becomes the first woman to command men assigned to a police station in Toronto, Ontario. Source: Herstory: Milestones in the History of the Toronto Police Service Women Online Accessed June 2011.

1974 - Medical doctor Major Wendy Clay qualifies for her pilot's wings six years before the pilot classification of the Canadian Armed Forces is opened to all women. Source "Women throughout Canadian military history." in Canadian Forces Personnel Newsletter Issue 2/05 23 February 2005.

1974 - The Canadian Abortion Rights Action League (CARAL) is founded as the first national group promoting abortion rights in Canada.
Source : A History of Abortion in Canada http://www.prochoiceactionnetwork-canada.org/history.html (accessed July 30, 2003)

1974 - The Aboriginal Nurses Association of Canada is established. Source : www.anac.on.ca

1974 - Catherine Parr Trail
(1802-1899), pioneer and author is designated a National Historic Person by the Historic Sites and Monument Board. An historic plaque is erected at Young's Point, Ontario in 1995.

1974 - Constance R. Glube, (1931 -   )
ONS becomes the 1st Canadian woman to be appointed as City Manager        (Halifax, Nova Scotia) Source" Protocol Office, Order of Nova Scotia. Online Accessed June 2011.

Births 1974:
June 1,1974 -
Born Alanis Morissette,(1974-   ) award winning singer
July 7, 1974 - Born Jennifer Jones (174-   ) international medalist in Curling.
August 1, 1974 - Born Beckie Scott, (1974-   ) Olympic gold medalist in Cross Country skiing.
September 3,1974 - Born Amanda Lynn Mayhew (1974-   )model, magazine editor and entrepreneur
October 28, 1974 - Born Naida Cole (1974-   ), piano soloist.

Deaths 1974:
August 17, 1974 -
Died
Cecilia Krieger (1894-1974) noted mathematician.

December 15, 1974 - Died Helen Griffith Wylie Watson (1911-1974) award winning nurse and officer in the Order of Canada.
1975
 
1975 - The United Nations declares International Women's Year 1975 - it will become a whole decade!

1975 - The World YWCA Councils holds its meeting in Vancouver, British Columbia. 450 delegates participate from 70 member countries.

1975 - Grace Hartman (1918-1993.) is  elected to the national president of the Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE) and is the first woman to hold the top position in a Canadian Union.  http://www.coolwomen.ca/

February 18, 1975 - Sylvia Ostry (1927-    ) becomes the first woman to hold the rank of Deputy Minister in the government of Canada.

May 30, 1975 -
The Canadian Post Office issues a commemorative stamp honouring the life of Marguerite Bourgeoys (1620-1700), founder of the Congregation de Notre-Dame de Montréal. Mother Marguerite Bourgeoys was canonized ( declared a Saint in the Roman Catholic Church in October 1982.

1975 - Rosemary Brown is the first woman to run for the leadership of a federal party. She loses he New Democratice  leadership to Ed Broadbent. Source: Women in History: a timeline by Kristen Smith Postmedia News March 3, 2011.

1975 - Cathy Townsend (1937-   )   is the first Canadian woman to win the Bowling Cup.

1975 - Dow Chemical introduces the Zip Lock sandwich bag. Source : Canuck Chicks and Maple Leaf Mamas : women of the Great White North by Ann Douglas Toronto, McArthur and Co., 2002.

1975 - The Historic Sites and Monument Board erect an historic plaques for National Historic Person, Catherine Parr Trail (1802-1899) , pioneer and author at Young's Point, Ontario.

Births 1975:
January 28, 1975-
Born Anne Montming, winner of 19 international medals in the sport of diving.
September 6, 1975 - Born Juliette Kang internationally celebrated violinist.

Deaths 1975:
1975 -
Died
Katharine McLennan (1892-1975) an historian who was passionate about the restoration of Louisbourg.
1975 -
Died
Mary Evelyn Gannon (1900-1975) "Just Mary" storey teller supreme wrote for Radio, TV and books.
J
anuary 3, 1975 -
Died Mary Gannon (1900-1975) author of the Just Mary and Maggy Muggins stories for youth.
January 25, 1975 -
Died
Charlotte Whitton (1896-1975) Social activist, politician, and first woman to become mayor of a large urban centre in Canada (Ottawa)
February, 1975 - Died
Anna Mae Aquash (1945-1976) Social activist on behalf of Aboriginal North Americans.
February 22, 1975 - Died
Kateryna Antonovych (1887-1975) artist.
May 3, 1975 -  Died
Sarah (Nini) Fischer, (1896-1975) internationally renowned soprano who was made an honorary member of the Royal College of Music in London.
May 14, 1975 - Died
Hilda Neatby (1904-1975), historian, author, educator and critic of the Canadian education system.
September 24, 1975 - Died
Patricia Lowther (1935-1975) respected poet, the Patricia Lowther Award now honours the best Canadian Poets.

1976 1976 - The United Nations hosts the first international conference on women in Mexico City.

1976 - Iona Campagnolo (1932-  ) is appointed the first federal Minister of Sport for Canada.
 

February  1976 - Catherine Priestner (now Priestner-Allinger) is the first Canadian woman to win an individual medal in speed skating at the Olympic Winter Games, Innisbruck, with a silver in the 500 metre event.


February 16, 1976 - Stewardess Mary Dohey becomes the firs living person to receive the Cross of valour
in recognition for saving the lives and crew of an air Canada flight in 1971.

July 17- 31, 1976-  Montreal hosts the Olympic Games.

December 5, 1976 - The first Canadian women to be granted the Rhodes Scholarships to continue their education are selected. Melanie Dobson, Mary Sheppard, Eileen Gillespie and Jessie Sloan head for Oxford University.  Previously Rhodes Scholarships had been available only to men.

1976 - Sue Holloway  (1955-   )  is the first Canadian woman to ever compete in both winter and summer Olympic Games in the same year.

1976 - Roberta Jamieson
(1953-   ) is the first aboriginal woman in Canada to become a lawyer
Source: Roberta Jamieson: Chief Six Nations of the Grand River Territory. Contemporary Canadian Biographies. Thompson Gale, August 2003. (Accessed online June 2008.)


1976 - MATCH International Centre, a Canadian-based non-governmental organization, is established  by Canadian women following their attendance at the 1975 United Nations Conference for Women held in Mexico City. It is created to bring to life a feminist vision of what development work can, and should, mean: equality, dignity, opportunity, and a better life for women and men, the world over. Source:  http://www.web.net/~matchint/en/about.html  (accessed May 15, 2004)

1976 - Eaton's Department Stores closes their catalogue services after several years of losses exceeding millions of dollars. It is the death of a Canadian tradition. Source: Before e-commerce : a history of mail order catalogues http://wwwcivilization.ca/cpm/catalog/catooooe.html  (Accessed December 4,  2004.


Births 1976:
March 19, 1976 -
Born Rachel Blanchard, actress.
August 27, 1976 - Born Sarah Chalke, Star of TV and movies.
October 21, 1976 - Born Melanie Turgeon, medal winning alpine skier.

Deaths 1976:
1976 -
Died Mona Parsons (1901-1976) used her home in the Netherlands a a refuge for escaping allied airmen until she was captured by the Germans.
April 7, 1976 - Died Born Rebecca Belle Watson (1911? - 1976) Vancouver, British Columbia Community Activist.
November 22, 1976 - Died
Leila Wightman (1899-1976) the firs Canadian woman to own and run a telephone company 1947.

1977 1977 - The Canadian Citizenship Act is amended to allow women to confer Canadian Citizenship on their children.

March 22, 1977 - the photo image of movie star Bridgette Bardot hugging a seal hits the world press wires. It was a tactic in the international animal rights activities in Northern Newfoundland. Source: 100 days that changed Canada. (Toronto: Harper Collins, 2011)

1977 - Sandra Lovelace
,
an aboriginal woman from Tobique Reserve in New Brunswick, appeals to the United Nations Human Rights Commission against the injustice of Canada's Indian Act which gave native status through the male head of the household. The UNHRC would rule in Lovelace's favour. Source: Many names to consider by Thomas Axworthy in The Ottawa Citizen Monday, April 11, 2005 pg. A13.

1977 - Mary Wong of Hamilton Ontario becomes the first Canadian of Chinese descent to be appointed as a Citizenship Court Judge.

1977 -
Highway signs appear in metric system.

1977 - The Manitoba Bar admits Lawyer Marion Ironquil Meadmore, the first aboriginal Canadian woman, to the bar. Source: Canadian Chronology Http://tdi.uregina.ca/~maguirec/chron.html (accessed April 28, 2003)

1977 - The first Canadian "Take Back The Night March" is held in Vancouver, British Columbia.
( http://herstory.womenspace.ca/timeline.html )
 

1977 - Melanie Dobson, Mary Sheppard, Eileen Gillespie and Jessie Sloan are the first Canadian women to win Rhodes Scholarships to Oxford University in England. Source: Canadian Chronology Http://tdi.uregina.ca/~maguirec/chron.html (accessed April 28, 2003)  


1977 - The first home pregnancy test is available. Source : Canuck Chicks and Maple Leaf Mamas : women of the Great White North by Ann Douglas Toronto, McArthur and Co., 2002.

1977 - Simpson's Sears catalogue services is bought out and becomes Sears Canada. Source: Before e-commerce : a history of mail order catalogues
http://wwwcivilization.ca/cpm/catalog/catooooe.html December 2004.

Births 1977:
1977 -
Born Natasha Cecily Bacchus, track athlete.
April 14, 1977 - Born Jessica Rakoczy World Lightweight boxing champion
June 28, 1977 - Born Measha Bruggergosman (1977-   ) international respected opera singer.


Deaths 1977:
July 26. 1977 - -
Died Gena Brancombe (1881-1977) composer, choir conductor, teacher and pianist.
December 6, 1977 - Died
Josephine A. Daphinee (1875-1977) a founder of the Canadian Federation of Business and Professional Women
December 25, 1977 - Died Emma Caslor (1913-1977) folksinger and pianist.

1978 September 21, 1978 - the Canadian Post office issues a commemorative stamp celebrating the life of Marguerite d'Youville (1701-1771) founder of the "Grey Nuns".

1978 - Judy Cameron
is
the first woman pilot hired by Air Canada.

1978 -
Birth control pills carry warnings of health risk for smokers and women over forty years of age.

1978 - Statistics Canada  reports that women university graduates earned $4,000 to $7,000 less than men with equivalent. jobs and skills.

1978 - Helen Marie Rathwell, A Saskatchewan farm wife,  wins a landmark decision, from the  Supreme Court of Canada which grants half the property acquired in her husband’s name.

1978 -
The Canadian Omnibus Bill is passed, eliminating pregnancy as a basis for layoff or dismissal.

1978 - The Independent order of the Daughters of the Empire officially become the IODE.

1978 -
The Simone de Beauvoir Institute at Concordia University, Montreal is founded 'to promote the understanding of the historical and contemporary situation of women in society.' Source A Chronology of the development of women's studies in Canada. The Canadian Electronic Feminist Network http://www.unb.ca/PAR-L/chronology1.htm (accessed April 28, 2003. )

1978 - Corporal Gail Toupin is the first woman member of the Sky Hawks, the Canadian Army's skydiving demonstration team.
Source "Women throughout Canadian military history." in Canadian Forces Personnel Newsletter Issue 2/05 23 February 2005.

Births: 1978:
November 17, 1978 - Born Rachel Anne McAdams (1978-   ) actress

Deaths 1978:
November 18, 1978 - Died Rose Marie Reid (1906-1978) swim suit fashion icon and entrepreneur.
May 9, 1978 - Died
Dorothy Steeves (1895-1978) Social activist and Member of British Columbia Legislature 1934-1945.
1979 1979 - The first female students enrolled in Canadian military colleges.

June 10, 1979 - The Feminist Party of Canada is launched in Toronto.

1979 -
Herizon, Canada's feminist magazine begins publishing as a regional newspaper. Source: Herizon.ca (accessed July 2011)

1979 - The University of Guelph, Guelph, Ontario establishes an undergraduate BA program in Women's studies.
Source A Chronology of the development of women's studies in Canada. The Canadian Electronic Feminist Network http://www.unb.ca/PAR-L/chronology1.htm (accessed April 28, 2003. )

1979 - Nellie J. Cournoyea
 ( 1940-    )  is elected to the Legislature of the Northwest Territories and becomes the first native woman to lead a provincial territorial government in Canada.

1979 -
Jean Casselman-Wadds (1920-2011) is the first woman to be appointed as Canadian High Commissioner to Great Britain. Sources: Obituary. Ottawa Citizen December 3, 2011.

November 4, 1979 -
Laverna Katie Dollimore (1922-2011) administrative diplomatic civil servant aides in saving American Diplomats during the Iranian revolution. Source: Remembering Laverna Dollimore a woman ahead of her time by Robert Wright. Ottawa Citizen November 4, 2011; She got more adventure than she bargained for in Tehran by Nora Ryell The Globe and Mail, December 13, 2011. Page R5.  

1979 -
Pat Messner (1954-    ) is the first Canadian woman to win a world championship in waterskiing.

1979 - Rosella Bjornson (1947-   ) is the first pregnant commercial air pilot!! Source Rosella Bjornson Canadian Hall of Fame inductee . Canadian Ninety-nines http://www.canadian99s.org/articles/P_bjornson.htm (accessed July 18, 2005)

1979 - Ione Christensen
(1933 - ) becomes the Commissioner of the Yukon Territories.

1979 - Eleanor Reed Townsend (1944-1988) became the first woman to win the open class (open to both men and women) national fiddle competition.

Births:
January 8, 1979 -
 Born Sarah Polly,  actress.
January 21, 1979  - Born lana Miller,  actress.
August 12, 1979  - Born Cindy Klassen, medal winning world champion speed skater.
November 30, 1979  - Born Severn Cullis-Suzuki ( 1979_   ) international environmentalist.

Deaths 1979:
October 15, 1979 -
Died Gladys Cameron MacGregor Watt  (   - 1979) Canadian live theatre & historical building conservator.
November 12, 1979 - Died
Elizabeth "Bonnie" Bjarnarson (1893-1979)  trained nurse awarded the Manitoba Good Citizenship Award for meritorious service.

   

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