It happened on a… September 9

Australia experiences its earliest and most severe start to the fire season after fighting dozens of bushfires in Queensland and New South Wales.

Queen Elizabeth II becomes Great Britain’s longest-reigning monarch at 63 years and seven months, beating the previous record set by her great-great-grandmother, Queen Victoria.

Sega releases the first 128 bit video game console the Dreamcast.

Pope John Paul II arrives in Quebec City to begin 12 day tour of Canada. His itinerary is – Trois-Rivières, Montreal, St. John’s, Moncton, Halifax, Toronto, Winnipeg, Edmonton, Vancouver and Ottawa-Hull.

Gordie Howe of the Detroit Red Wings retired from the National Hockey League (NHL).

John Lennon releases his “Imagine” album.

In Canada, the Official Languages Act comes into force, making the French language equal to the English language throughout the Federal government.

Elvis Presley appears on The Ed Sullivan Show for the first time.