Highlights of the day

  • 1942 HMCS Assiniboine rams German submarine U-210 in the fog, finally sinking her with a 4.7 inch shell.
  • 1945 Bomber Enola Gay drops A-bomb on Hiroshima, at 8:15 am; made with Canadian uranium.
  • 1991 Roland Michener dies at age 91; Governor General 1967-74

List of Facts for August 6

  • 1497 John Cabot departs for Bristol, likely from Cape Race vicinity; after exploring coast of Nova Scotia; Italian merchant and explorer Giovanni Caboto Montecataluna. Cape Race, Newfoundland
  • 1654 Pierre-Esprit Radisson starts his first western trading journey with his brother-in-law Médart des Groseilliers; they winter at Green Bay, Wisconsin. Lachine, Québec
  • 1654 Robert Sedgwick captures Port Royal. Port Royal, Nova Scotia
  • 1671 Charles Albanel sets out from Québec to explore Hudson Bay and verify presence of Pierre Radisson and Médart des Groseilliers; on orders of Jean Talon. Québec, Québec
  • 1777 American Revolutionary War - John Johnson, with John Butler and Joseph Brant and a force of Loyalists and Indians, ambushes American Gen. Nicholas Herkimer carrying reinforcements. Oriskany, New York
  • 1777 American Revolutionary War - Nicholas Herkimer moves to relieve Fort Stanwyck; attacked by Mohawks under Joseph Brant; badly wounded; Mohawks retreat when reinforcements arrive from Fort Stanwyck. Oriskany, New York
  • 1827 Treaty of London concludes Conference of 1827; confirms the joint occupancy of Oregon territory and fixes co-dominion west of the Rockies; either side free to end arrangement at 12 months notice. London, England
  • 1858 George-Étienne Cartier and John A. Macdonald get all their ministers to resign and exchange portfolios for one day to get around a technicality; called the ‘Double Shuffle’ by the Opposition.
  • 1866 British Imperial statute unites Vancouver Island and the British Columbia mainland; the Island had originally been granted to the Hudson’s Bay Company and became a colony in 1850. London, England
  • 1884 Government of the Northwest Territories sets up public school system; including separate schools. Saskatchewan
  • 1894 Kootenay Mining & Smelting Company re-registered in British Columbia: F. W. Herrick, president. Victoria, BC
  • 1903 Outburst in Morrissey No.1 mine; no fatalities. BC
  • 1904 Re-alignment of Great Northern Railroad mainline in Montana completed between Whitefish and Jennings through Rexford eliminates Haskell Pass. BC
  • 1909 Albert Mutz declares the rebuilt Fernie brewery formally open. Fernie, BC
  • 1914 First World War - Government bans export of food, coal, military and naval stores; except to Britain, Japan, France, Russia, and US allies. Ottawa, Ontario
  • 1914 Fist fight between Alderman Joe Clarke and Mayor Billy McNamara enlivens a meeting of the Edmonton City Council. Edmonton, Alberta
  • 1930 Mackenzie King resigns as Prime Minister. Ottawa, Ontario
  • 1931 Prince Edward Island Election - James Stewart leads Conservatives to victory in provincial elections. PEI
  • 1932 Opening of new Welland Ship Canal. Welland, Ontario
  • 1939 Regular air mail service inaugurated to Britain. Montréal, Québec
  • 1940 Vancouver’s Theatre Under the Stars company opens its First season at the Malkin Bowl in Stanley Park; will produce operettas and musicals annually until 1963. Vancouver, BC
  • 1942 Second World War - Canadian destroyer HMCS Assiniboine pursues and rams German submarine U-210 in the fog, finally sinking her with a 4.7 inch shell. North Atlantic August 6 - Second World War - HMCS Kenora is commissioned. Esquimalt, BC
  • 1943 Second World War - Canadian Army First Infantry Division and First Tank Brigade go into reserve; after victory in Sicily. Sicily, Italy
  • 1946 Kinnaird incorporated as a village. Kinnaird, BC
  • 1954 Henry W. Newlands dies; Lieutenant-Governor of Saskatchewan 1921-1931. Saskatchewan
  • 1960 NFL Pittsburgh Steelers beat the CFL Toronto Argonauts, 43-16 in a summer exhibition game. Toronto, Ontario
  • 1962 Premiers Conference held in Victoria, BC
  • 1971 English rock band Procul Harum records a live album with the Edmonton Symphony Orchestra at the city’s Jubilee Auditorium; one of the cuts, ‘Conquistador’, becomes a hit single the following year. Edmonton, Alberta
  • 1974 Canadian peacekeeper killed during Greek-Turkish fighting on Cyprus. Cyprus
  • 1986 Bill Vander Zalm sworn in as Social Credit premier of British Columbia, replacing Bill Bennett. Victoria, BC
  • 1990 Canada agrees to join trade embargo against Iraq ordered by UN Security Council; fear of similar aggression toward Saudi Arabia. United Nations, New York
  • 1991 Roland Michener dies at age 91; Governor General 1967-74; MLA, MP; Speaker of the Commons 5 years; Alberta native a Rhodes Scholar; set up Order of Canada. Toronto, Ontario
  • 1991 Bob Rae recognizes First Nations right to self government; Ontario to devolve powers to each nation; policing, justice, medical care, education and resources. Thunder Bay, Ontario
  • 1991 Environment Minister Jean Charest announces new Aulavik National Park on Banks Island in Western Arctic; 12,000 sq km; Aulavik means ‘where people travel’ in Inuit. Ottawa, Ontario
  • 1992 Energy Industry - Ottawa and Newfoundland will cover 75% of Hibernia operating expenses May 15-November 1 to $127 million; will keep Chevron, Mobil and Petro-Canada operating until Gulf replaced. Ottawa, Ontario
  • 1992 Saskatchewan wrestler Jeff Thue wins a silver medal at the Summer Olympics in Barcelona. Barcelona, Spain
  • 1996 Catherine Callbeck resigns as Premier of Prince Edward Island; First woman elected head of a provincial government. Charlottetown, PEI
  • 2002 Joe Clark announces decision to resign as leader of the Progressive Conservative Party of Canada. Ottawa, Ontario