Canadian Historical Events is a daily guide to the important events that shaped Canada to what it is today. It is a compilation of significant events for the month of May including the birth and death of famous Canadians as well as laws promulgated by authorities. The list is constantly updated to incorporate the most recent events.
Canada Historical Events in May
| Day | Year | Event |
| 1 | 1857 | Death: John Scott, first mayor of Bytown (now Ottawa) and representative in the Legislative Assembly of the Province of Canada. |
| 1 | 1896 | Charles Tupper becomes the 6th prime minister of Canada. |
| 2 | 1670 | Establishment of Hudson Bay Company, the oldest corporation in Canada and now owns and operates retail stores across the country. |
| 4 | 1898 | The Vicariate Apostolic of Pontiac in Quebec was elevated to become the Diocese of Pembroke in Ontario. |
| 6 | 1708 | Death: François de Laval, first bishop of Quebec and founder of Université Laval, the oldest centre of higher education in Canada. |
| 8 | 1919 | The Université de Montréal was given a papal charter by Pope Benedict XV. |
| 10 | 1534 | French explorer Jacques Cartier starts his exploration of Newfoundland and other parts of eastern Canada. |
| 10 | 1972 | The University of Waterloo Act, 1972 was passed to govern the University of Waterloo in Ontario. |
| 12 | 1970 | The 69th IOC Session in Amsterdam announced that Montreal won the bid to hold the 1976 summer Olympic games. |
| 17 | 1939 | King George VI and Queen Elizabeth arrived by ship in Quebec City, the first visit of a Britain’s reigning monarch to Canada. |
| 18 | 1785 | Saint John in New Brunswick was established by royal charter during the reign of King George III, becoming the first incorporated city in Canada. |
| 20 | 1776 | Birth: Simon Fraser, a Canadian explorer and fur trader who charted much of what is now British Columbia. |
RELATED: Canadian Historical Events in January, February, March, April, June, July, August, September, October, November, December