Category: Éphémérides (anglais)

US begins vaccinating for COVID-19 using the Moderna vaccine.

“Gangnam Style” by Psy becomes the first video to reach one billion views on YouTube.

“The Sign” single released in the US by Ace of Base (Billboard Song of the Year 1994).

Montreal Machine football team play first CFL game.

270 people were killed when Pan Am Boeing 747 exploded over Lockerbie, Scotland, due to a terrorist attack.

David Crosby, Stephen Stills and Graham Nash (Crosby, Stills & Nash) premiere together in California.

Charles de Gaulle was elected to a seven-year term as the first president of the Fifth Republic of France.

Walt Disney debuted the first, full-length, animated feature in Hollywood, CA. The movie was “Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs.”

French film “Zouzou” premieres in Paris, starring Josephine Baker; 1st black woman to star in a major motion picture

French Scientists Pierre and Marie Curie discover radium.

Ibsen’s “A Doll’s House” was first performed in Copenhagen, Denmark, with a revised happy ending.

United States Space Force founded, an armed forces branch dedicated to space warfare.

Elizabeth II becomes the oldest monarch of the United Kingdom, surpassing Queen Victoria, who lived for 81 years, 7 months and 29 days.

General Noriega, Panama’s former dictator, was overthrown by a United States invasion force invited by the new civilian government. The project was known as Operation Just Cause.

Guy Lafleur, Montreal, became 10th NHLer to score 500 goals.

“The Godfather Part II”, directed by Francis Ford Coppola and starring Al Pacino and Robert De Niro, is released (Academy Awards Best Picture 1975).

Henri Richard of the Montreal Canadiens scores his 1,000th point.

Elvis Presley receives his draft notice to join the US Army for National Service.

Canadian National Railways established (N America’s longest, 50,000 KM)

Official opening of the Chateau Frontenac hotel in Quebec City.

Opening of first Montreal Post Office.

US electoral collage votes 304 to 227 to nominate Donald Trump for President over the objections of seven faithless electors.

US House of Representatives votes to impeach President Bill Clinton, forwarding the articles of impeachment to the Senate for a trial.

“Titanic” opened in American movie theaters.

“Platoon” directed by Oliver Stone and starring Charlie Sheen, Tom Berenger and Willem Dafoe is released (Academy Awards Best Picture 1987)

Ottawa ends commercial relations with South Africa, to protest Apartheid racial policies.

Ron Wood joined The Rolling Stones.

Stanley Kubrick’s X-rated film “A Clockwork Orange” starring Malcolm McDowell premieres.

Chinese invasion of Tibet forces the Tibetan spiritual leader the Dalai Lama to flee.

Start of the First Indochina War.

The first games of the new National Hockey League (NHL) were played. Five teams made up the league: Toronto Arenas, Ottawa Senators, Quebec Bulldogs, the Montreal Canadiens and the Montreal Wanderers.

Charles Dickens’ “A Christmas Carol” was first published in England.

Robinson Crusoe leaves his island after 28 years (as per Daniel Defoe).

In the final of the anthology, Lionel Messi and Argentina defeated France to put a hand on the World Cup of soccer. Lionel Messi adds to his collection the only trophy missing in his phenomenal career.

South Africa announces detection of new variant of COVID-19, called Beta (501.V2), which is driving a second wave of infections.

US House of Representatives votes to impeach President Donald Trump for abuse of power (230-197) and obstruction of Congress (229-198).

The last US troops withdraw from Iraq, formally ending the Iraq War.

James Cameron’s “Avatar” starring Sam Worthington, Zoe Saldana and Sigourney Weaver, released in the US, becomes highest-grossing film of all time (since surpassed).

Céline Dion signs a $10 million contract with Sony Music.

“Wonder Woman” debuts on ABC.

“A Star is Born” film directed by Frank Pierson with Barbra Streisand and Kris Kristofferson, premieres.

Quebec government founds the multi-campus Université du Québec; Quebec’s first public university and its fourth French language institution; includes six constituent universities, in Montreal, Trois-Rivières, Chicoutimi, Rimouski, Hull and Rouyn.

“The Pink Panther” film premieres directed by Blake Edwards and starring Peter Sellers and David Niven.

Tchaikovski’s ballet “Casse-noisette” premieres in St Petersburg.

Slavery was abolished in the United States with the 13th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution being ratified.

Jean-Antoine Panet elected first President of the Lower Canada Assembly; first Quebec elections.

China’s 1st domestically built aircraft carrier, the Shandong, enters naval service.

“Star Wars: The Last Jedi” takes more than $450m worldwide in its opening weekend.

U.S. President George H.W. Bush, Canadian Prime Minister Brian Mulroney and Mexican President Carlos Salinas de Gortari signed the North American Free Trade Agreement.

The first episode of television series The Simpsons, “Simpsons Roasting on an Open Fire”, airs in the United States.

Opening of Quebec Autoroute 15.

“Goldfinger”, 3rd James Bond film, starring Sean Connery and Honor Blackman premieres in London.

Beatles 1st British TV appearance (People & Places).

First contingents of Canadian First Division start arriving in England for service in World War II.

First issue of Vogue is published.

Opening of 1st legislative assembly of Lower Canada in Quebec city.

Taylor Swift’s Eras Tour became the first in music history to break the billion-dollar mark in worldwide revenue, according to Pollstar’s year-end 2023 rankings. Swift’s Eras Tour grossed a record US$1.04 billion, with 4.35 million tickets sold over 60 dates, according to the concert publication.

14 people found guilty of 2015 terror attacks on Charlie Hebdo office and supermarket in Paris.

Final episode of TV talk show “Larry King Live” airs on CNN.

Avatar, directed by James Cameron, was internationally released.

Pop diva Céline Dion marries her long-time manager René Angélil.

O.J. Simpson becomes 1st NFL running back to rush for 2,000 yards in a season.

The Miami Dolphins became the first NFL team to go unbeaten and untied in a 14-game regular season. The Dolphins went on to defeat the Washington Redskins in Super Bowl VII.

Jimi Hendrix Experience releases its 1st single, “Hey Joe”.

Canadien rookies Jean Béliveau and Bernie Geoffrion play their first NHL game, tying the Rangers 1-1; Boom Boom scores his first career goal.

French fashion designer Christian Dior and his backer Marcel Boussac found fashion house Christian Dior.

Charlie Chaplin begins his film career at Keystone for $150 a week.

The Taj Mahal Palace & Tower hotel opens its doors to guests for the first time.

In New York, 530 buildings were destroyed by fire.

Last recorded eruption of Mount Fuji in Japan..

Mount Vesuvius in Italy erupts, burying many villages under lava flows and killing around 3,000 people.

MacKenzie Scott announces she has given away more than $4 billion to 384 non profit organizations across the US

China successfully lands its first moon rover (Yutu) on the moon.

Boeing’s new 787 Dreamliner makes its maiden flight from Seattle, Washington.

“Million Dollar Baby”, directed by Clint Eastwood and starring Hilary Swank and Morgan Freeman is released (Best Picture 2005).

The Leaning Tower of Pisa reopens after 11 years and $27,000,000 to fortify it.

Jean Perron appointed head coach of the Quebec Nordiques, after Ron Lapointe resigns to battle cancer.

Chris Haney and Scott Abbott develop the board game Trivial Pursuit.

American Psychiatric Association declares homosexuality is not a mental illness

Gemini 6 launched; makes 1st rendezvous in space (with Gemini 7).

Commons votes to adopt design for a new National Flag of Canada.

Albert Camus’ play “The Just Assassins” (“Les Justes”) premieres in Paris.

“Gone With the Wind,” based on the novel by Margaret Mitchell, premiered at Loew’s Grand Theater in Atlanta. The movie starred Vivien Leigh and Clark Gable.

The Walt Disney Company buys most of 21st Century Fox for $52.4 billion

Amazon announces its 1st delivery by drone 2 km from their warehouse in the UK.

“Star Wars: The Force Awakens” directed by J.J. Abrams and starring Daisy Ridley, John Boyega and Harrison Ford has its world premiere at the TCL Chinese Theatre in Los Angeles.

Muntadhar al-Zaidi throws his shoes at then-U.S. President George W. Bush during a press conference in Baghdad, Iraq.

Ben Johnson named Canada’s Male Athlete of the Year.

Israel annexes Golan Heights (occupied during the 1967 Six-Day War).

The Jackson Five made their first network television appearance in the US when they appeared on The Ed Sullivan Show.

Prime Minister of Canada, Lester B. Pearson announces that he is retiring from politics, succeeded by Pierre E. Trudeau.

The National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing (NASCAR) started its activities in Daytona Beach, Florida,

Norwegian Roald Amundsen’s expedition is the 1st to each the South Pole.

The Montgolfier brothers’ first balloon lifts off on its first test flight.

The British driver Lewis Hamilton on Mercedes wins his 7th world title of formula 1 drivers, tied with Michael Schumacher.

Former Iraqi President Saddam Hussein is captured near his home town of Tikrit.

Lucien Bouchard resigns his seat in the House of Commons and his Bloc québécois leadership to run for the leadership of the Parti québécois.

“Driving Miss Daisy” directed by Bruce Beresford and starring Morgan Freeman and Jessica Tandy is released (Best Picture 1990)

Eugene Cernan and Harrison Schmitt begin the third and final extra-vehicular activity (EVA) or “Moonwalk” of Apollo 17. To date they are the last humans to set foot on the Moon.

The Beatles sign a formal agreement to be managed by Brian Epstein.

James Dean begins his career with an appearance in a Pepsi commercial.

Jean Béliveau joins the Quebec Citadelles junior hockey team; later Canadiens star.

Avalanche kills 10,000 Austrian and Italian troops in 24 hrs in Tyrol

First music store in America opens (Philadelphia).

New Zealand was discovered by Dutch navigator Abel Tasman.

British General Election won by Boris Johnson’s Conservative Party in landslide win with 80 seat majority.

American Media Inc. publisher of “National Enquirer” admits paying hush money to mistresses of US President Donald Trump

Paul Martin becomes Prime Minister of Canada after resignation of Jean Chretien.

Jean Chrétien names Lise Thibault as Lieutenant Governor of Quebec; first woman and first handicapped person to hold the post.

“Rainman” directed by Barry Levinson and starring Dustin Hoffman and Tom Cruise premieres in New York (Best Picture 1989).

DC-8 crashes near Gander, Newfoundland; 258 die

Oiler Wayne Gretzky notches another NHL record, reaching his 50 goal mark in only 39 games.

“Saturday Night Fever”, a film starring John Travolta, premieres in NYC.

Arthur Ashe becomes 1st black to be ranked #1 in tennis.

Guglielmo Marconi sends the first transatlantic radio signal, from Poldhu in Cornwall to Newfoundland, Canada.

Opening of the Victoria Bridge to rail traffic, as first passenger train crosses the iron tubular structure.

1st Canadian coins circulated (1 cent, 5 cent, 10 cent & 20 cent).

Washington, DC, was established as the capital of the United States.

In Vienna, 22-year-old Ludwig van Beethoven received one of his first lessons in music composition from Franz Joseph Haydn.