Events from the year 1966 in Canada.
Incumbents
Crown
Monarch – Elizabeth II
Federal government
Governor General – Georges Vanier
Prime Minister – Lester B. Pearson
Chief Justice – Robert Taschereau (Quebec) Parliament – 27th
Provincial governments
Lieutenant governors
Lieutenant Governor of Alberta – John Percy Page (until January 6) then Grant MacEwan Lieutenant Governor of British Columbia – George Pearkes Lieutenant Governor of Manitoba – Richard Spink Bowles Lieutenant Governor of New Brunswick – John B. McNair Lieutenant Governor of Newfoundland – Fabian O'Dea Lieutenant Governor of Nova Scotia – Henry Poole MacKeen Lieutenant Governor of Ontario – William Earl Rowe Lieutenant Governor of Prince Edward Island – Willibald Joseph MacDonald Lieutenant Governor of Quebec – Paul Comtois (until February 22) then Hugues Lapointe Lieutenant Governor of Saskatchewan – Robert Hanbidge
Premiers
Premier of Alberta – Ernest Manning
Premier of British Columbia – W.A.C. Bennett
Premier of Manitoba – Dufferin Roblin
Premier of New Brunswick – Louis Robichaud
Premier of Newfoundland – Joey Smallwood
Premier of Nova Scotia – Robert Stanfield
Premier of Ontario – John Robarts
Premier of Prince Edward Island – Walter Shaw (until July 28) then Alexander B. Campbell Premier of Quebec – Jean Lesage (until June 16) then Daniel Johnson, Sr. Premier of Saskatchewan – Ross Thatcher
Territorial governments
Commissioners
Commissioner of Yukon – Gordon Robertson Cameron (until November 7) then James Smith Commissioner of Northwest Territories – Bent Gestur Sivertz
Events
January 1: The Canada Pension Plan and the Quebec Pension Plan both begin operation February 25: Toronto Transit Commission inaugurates the Bloor-Danforth Subway line. March 4: The Munsinger Affair is Canada's first major political sex scandal May 1: Army camps, RCAF stations, and the RCN's land-based installations become Canadian Forces bases. Training schools and the pay system are unified. May 18: Paul Joseph Chartier is killed when a bomb he is carrying goes off on Parliament Hill June 5: The Union Nationale under Daniel Johnson, Sr. is elected in Quebec.
June 16: Daniel Johnson, Sr., becomes premier of Quebec, replacing Jean Lesage
July 28: Alexander B. Campbell becomes premier of Prince Edward Island, replacing Walter Shaw September 1: The CBC becomes the first Canadian television network to broadcast in colour, followed within days by the private-sector CTV Television Network. October 14: Montreal inaugurates its metro system (see Montreal Metro). October 17: The Montreal Metro opens November 4: Bill C-243, The Canadian Forces Reorganization Act, is introduced in Parliament. December 31: The Centennial Flame in front of Parliament Hill is lit The Revolutionary Strategy and the Role of the Avant-Garde outlining the strategy of the FLQ is written. The Seasonal Agricultural Workers Program is established. The Medical Care Act is passed, helping set up the Medicare system
Unknown
The Glenbow Museum opens in Calgary.
Arts and literature
New works
Cold Mountain. Singing Hands Series 3 by B. P. Nichol
The Circle Game by Margaret Atwood
Expeditions by Margaret Atwood
Speeches for Doctor Frankenstein by Margaret Atwood
Beautiful Losers by Leonard Cohen
Awards
See 1966 Governor General's Awards for a complete list of winners and finalists for those awards. Stephen Leacock Award: George Bain, Nursery Rhymes to Be Read Aloud by Young Parents with Old Children Vicky Metcalf Award: Fred Savage
Music
March 3: Canadian Neil Young, joins Stephen Stills and Richie Furay to form Buffalo Springfield.