Events from the year 2008 in Canada.
Incumbents
Crown Monarch – Elizabeth II
Federal government Governor General – Michaëlle Jean Prime Minister – Stephen Harper Chief Justice – Beverley McLachlin (British Columbia) Parliament – 39th (until 26 September) then 40th (from November 18)
Provincial governments
Lieutenant governors Lieutenant Governor of Alberta – Norman Kwong Lieutenant Governor of British Columbia – Steven Point Lieutenant Governor of Manitoba – John Harvard Lieutenant Governor of New Brunswick – Herménégilde Chiasson Lieutenant Governor of Newfoundland and Labrador – Edward Roberts (until February 4) then John Crosbie Lieutenant Governor of Nova Scotia – Mayann Francis Lieutenant Governor of Ontario – David Onley Lieutenant Governor of Prince Edward Island – Barbara Oliver Hagerman Lieutenant Governor of Quebec – Pierre Duchesne Lieutenant Governor of Saskatchewan – Gordon Barnhart
Premiers Premier of Alberta – Ed Stelmach Premier of British Columbia – Gordon Campbell Premier of Manitoba – Gary Doer Premier of New Brunswick – Shawn Graham Premier of Newfoundland and Labrador – Danny Williams Premier of Nova Scotia – Rodney MacDonald Premier of Ontario – Dalton McGuinty Premier of Prince Edward Island – Robert Ghiz Premier of Quebec – Jean Charest Premier of Saskatchewan – Brad Wall
Territorial governments
Commissioners Commissioner of Yukon – Geraldine Van Bibber Commissioner of Northwest Territories – Tony Whitford Commissioner of Nunavut – Ann Meekitjuk Hanson
Premiers Premier of the Northwest Territories – Floyd Roland Premier of Nunavut – Paul Okalik (until November 14) then Eva Aariak Premier of Yukon – Dennis Fentie
Events
January to March January 3 – In Montreal, a false bomb threat forces the closing of Victoria Bridge for four and a half hours. January 12 – A road accident near Bathurst, New Brunswick leaves eight people dead, including seven teenagers and one woman. They were all members of the Bathurst High School basketball team. January 15 – Europol Operation Koala arrests 9 Canadians in connection to an international paedophile ring. January 28 – CTV's Canada AM adds a second hosting team in western Canada, expanding the program to six hours and becoming the first morning television program in North America to air live in all time zones. February 11 – The first of three treatment facilities open in Halifax Regional Municipality a $400 million project to clean up the Halifax Harbour February 13 – An explosion occurs at a Taco del Mar on Broadway Street in Vancouver. February 20 – A large fire in Toronto, ON destroyed several buildings on the south side of Queen Street West, between Bathurst and Portland Streets.Queen Street Fire Article March – The Apple iPhone is expected to be released on Rogers Wireless service provider. March 3 – The 2008 Alberta general election occurs. The Progressive Conservative party, led by Ed Stelmach, wins the election with a majority. March 17 – Federal by-elections in Toronto Centre, Willowdale, Desnethé—Missinippi—Churchill River and Vancouver Quadra. March 28 – The start of the 2008 Canadian Commercial Seal Hunt
April to June April 5 – The Quebec City Armoury burns down. April 19 – Bowie Seamount on the British Columbia Coast becomes a Marine Protected Area. April 26 – The Toronto Transit Commission's union, the ATU Local 113 voted against a contract causing mayhem throughout the city as they gave only an hour's notice to Torontonians. Strike ended the day after when they were forced back to work through legislation. It also revived the debate as to whether the TTC is an essential service or not. May 23 – The National Assembly of Quebec unanimously adopts a motion defending the maintenance of the Crucifix in the National Assembly. May 29 – The Ukrainian Famine and Genocide (“Holodomor”) Memorial Day Act is assented. May 30 – Maxime Bernier resigned from his federal cabinet post as Minister of Foreign Affairs, after a scandal where it was discovered that he had left confidential NATO briefing documents at the home of his former girlfriend, Julie Couillard. She was a former model who had past romantic links with members of the Hells Angels. June 11 – The federal government officially apologizes for the systematic abuses inflicted to Aboriginal children in the residential school system. June 14 – Howard Hampton announces his resignation from the leadership of the Ontario New Democratic Party, resulting in the commencement of the 2009 Ontario New Democratic Party leadership election. June 20 – Presidential candidate John McCain speaks before the Economic Club of Toronto.
July to September July 1 – Chief of the Defence Staff (Canada) General Rick Hillier's term is set to end; Hillier is replaced by Walter Natynczyk. August – 2008 Canada listeriosis outbreak. August 10 – Toronto Explosions leaves 2 dead and thousands evacuate their homes. August 28 – The governor general announces the creation of the Sacrifice Medal. August 30 – The former Liberal MP Blair Wilson announces he is joining the Green Party of Canada, becoming the party's first MP. September 7 – Stephen Harper issues the writs for the 2008 federal election. Federal by-elections which had been scheduled in Westmount—Ville-Marie, Saint-Lambert and Guelph for September 8 are pre-empted by the election call. September 19 – A fire, later confirmed as arson by two young offenders, destroys the historic Sudbury Steelworkers Hall in Sudbury, Ontario. September 29 – The S&P/TSX Composite Index drops by 840.93 points, the most in eight years, in reaction to the American financial crisis.
October to December October 1 – French-language debate for federal party leaders October 2 – English-language debate for federal party leaders October 10 – 2008 British Columbia pipeline bombings: Letters were sent to local media outlets warning oil and gas companies to leave the area saying: "We will no longer negotiate with terrorists which you are as you keep endangering our families with crazy expansion of deadly gas wells in our home lands". October 12 – 2008 British Columbia pipeline bombings: An explosion occurred on a sour gas pipeline to the east of Dawson Creek British Columbia. October 14 – The 40th Canadian general election results in the Conservative Party of Canada holding the largest number of seats in the third consecutive minority Parliament. Stephen Harper remains Prime Minister. October 16 – 2008 British Columbia pipeline bombings: A second blast hit a natural gas pipeline. Workers discovered the blast site at approximately 10 a.m. MT off British Columbia Highway 2. October 20 – Stéphane Dion announces his resignation as Leader of the Liberal Party of Canada, effective upon the selection of his successor in May 2009. October 22 – 2008 financial crisis: The Canadian dollar drops below for the first time since mid-2005. October 31 – 2008 British Columbia pipeline bombings: A third bomb detonated at a natural gas wellhead in the region of Dawson Creek November 14 – Eva Aariak is selected as the new premier of Nunavut at the Nunavut Leadership Forum in Iqaluit."Nunavut names new premier", The Globe and Mail, November 14, 2008. December 1 – 2008 Canadian parliamentary dispute: The Liberal Party of Canada and the New Democratic Party sign an agreement to form a coalition government with the support of the Bloc Québécois if they are successful in defeating the Conservative minority government in a confidence vote. December 4 – The 40th Canadian Parliament is prorogued until January 26, delaying the planned non-confidence vote. December 8 – 2008 Quebec general election December 10 – Michael Ignatieff becomes the interim leader of the Liberal Party, succeeding Stéphane Dion. He is expected to be ratified as permanent leader at the May 2009 Liberal leadership convention. December 28 – Two avalanches occur near Fernie, killing eight people and injuring three others.
Date not known Has God Forsaken Africa?, a Canadian 2008 documentary film is released. Mirella Amato, trilingual beer consultant, beer sommelier, and author founds Beerology company. Vast Studios is founded in Toronto.Game List at Vast Studios Official Site
Arts and literature December 8 – Marc Mayer is appointed director of the National Gallery of Canada."Mayer confirmed as gallery director", The Globe and Mail, December 8, 2008.
Film
March 3 – 28th Genie Awards
Literature
Music April 6 – Juno Awards of 2008
Television
Sport January 16 – January 20 – 2008 Canadian Figure Skating Championships Men's medalists – Patrick Chan, gold; Jeffrey Buttle, silver; Shawn Sawyer, bronze. Women's medalists – Joannie Rochette, gold; Mira Leung, silver; Cynthia Phaneuf, bronze. Pairs' medalists – Anabelle Langlois / Cody Hay, gold; Jessica Dubé / Bryce Davison, silver; Meagan Duhamel / Craig Buntin, bronze. Dance medalists – Tessa Virtue / Scott Moir, gold; Kaitlyn Weaver / Andrew Poje, silver; Allie Hann-McCurdy / Michael Coreno, bronze. February 11 – February 17 – 2008 Four Continents Figure Skating Championships Jeffrey Buttle wins the silver medal in the men's singles division. Tessa Virtue and Scott Moir win the gold medal in ice dance. Joannie Rochette win the silver medal in the woman's singles division. March 17 – March 23 – 2008 World Figure Skating Championships March 19 – Jessica Dubé/Bryce Davison win the bronze medal in pairs. March 21 – Tessa Virtue/Scott Moir win the silver medal in ice dancing. March 22 – Jeffrey Buttle win the gold medal and became world champion in men's singles. March 22 – March 30 – The 2008 World Women's Curling Championship is held at the Wesbild Centre in Vernon, British Columbia, Canada. Jennifer Jones' rink from Canada won the gold medal and became world champions. April 4 – April 14 – The 2008 World Men's Curling Championship is held at Ralph Engelstad Arena in Grand Forks, North Dakota. Kevin Martin's rink from Canada won the gold medal and became world champions. April 30 – 2008 CFL draft: Moose Jaw native and Saskatchewan Huskies Canadian football player Dylan Barker is chosen first overall by the Hamilton Tiger-Cats. May 25 – The Spokane Chiefs win their second Memorial Cup by defeating the Kitchener Rangers 4 to 1. The entire tournament was played at the Kitchener Memorial Auditorium July 19 – August 3 – 2008 Rogers Cup Canada Masters Tennis Tournament: Men's event held in Toronto, women's event held in Montreal. September 10 – Jeffrey Buttle retires from competitive figure skating.Jeffrey Buttle retires from figure skating September 19 – Laval, Quebec's El Generico (Sami Zayn) and Marieville, Quebec's Kevin Steen win their first ROH Tag Team Championship by defeating at the Boston University for Ring of Honor's Driven 2008 November 22 – The Laval Rouge et Or win their fifth Vanier Cup by defeating the Western Ontario Mustangs 44 to 21 in the 44th Vanier Cup played at Ivor Wynne Stadium in Hamilton November 23 – The Calgary Stampeders win their sixth Grey Cup by defeating the Montreal Alouettes 22 to 14 in the 96th Grey Cup played at Olympic Stadium at Montreal. Niagara Falls, Ontario's Sandro DeAngelis was awarded the game's Most Outstanding Canadian
Deaths
January January 1 – Stefanie Rengel, age 14, is stabbed to death. David Bashaw, 17, and Melissa Todorovic, 15, were both tried as adults. Convicted of first-degree murder, they received life sentences. January 3 – Milt Dunnell, sportswriter (born 1905) January 4 – Mort Garson, electronic musician (born 1924) January 5 – John Ashley, referee in the National Hockey League (born 1930) January 10 – Allan McEachern, lawyer, judge and university chancellor (born 1926) January 11 – Murray Cohl, film producer, co-founder of the Toronto Film Festival and Canada's Walk of Fame (born 1929) January 19 – Don Wittman, sportscaster (born 1936)Your View: Remembering Don Wittman