Events from the year 1881 in Canada.

This article needs additional citations for verification. (October 2019)

Quick Facts Decades:, See also: ...

← 1880 1879 1878 1881 in Canada → 1882 1883 1884
Decades:	1860s 1870s 1880s 1890s 1900s
See also:	History of Canada Timeline of Canadian history List of years in Canada

Close

• January 17 – The Interprovincial Bridge connecting Ottawa to Hull, Quebec, opens
• February 16 – The Canadian Pacific Railway is incorporated
• April 4 – The 1881 census finds Canada's population to be 4,324,810
• May 24 – The overloaded steamer Victoria' capsizes on the Thames River near London, Ontario, killing 182 people.
• October – Clifton, Ontario, is renamed to Niagara Falls.
• December 2 – Quebec election: Joseph-Adolphe Chapleau's Conservatives win a majority

• January 2 – Frederick Varley, artist and member of the Group of Seven (d.1969)
• January 20 – Fred Dixon, politician (d.1931)
• March 18 – Oliver Seibert, professional ice hockey player (d.1944)
• June 17 – Tommy Burns, only Canadian born world heavyweight champion boxer (d.1955)
• September 27 – James Ralston, lawyer, soldier, politician and Minister (d.1948)
• October 23 – Al Christie, film director, producer and screenwriter (d.1951)
• November 4 – Hector Authier, politician, lawyer and news reporter/announcer (d.1971)
• November 19 – Robert James Manion, politician (d.1943)
• December 20 – Télesphore-Damien Bouchard, politician (d.1962)
• December 29 – George Washington Kendall (d.1921)
• December 31 – Albert Sévigny, politician (d.1961)
• December 31 – Elizabeth Arden (birth name, Florence Nightingale Graham), founder, Elizabeth Arden cosmetics (d.1966)

• January 28 – Luc Letellier de St-Just, politician and 3rd Lieutenant Governor of Quebec (b. 1820)

John A. Macdonald expounds on CPR's troubled past and secure future in House of Commons speech ^[2]

British editorial labels CPR and Canada bad investments ^[3]

Wilfrid Laurier accuses Conservatives of "having sacrificed the public cause to personal cupidity" ^[4]

Governor General speaks on prospects of Northwest Territories ^[5]

Importance of steamboats to colonization along Saskatchewan River ^[6]

Ojibwa entertain Governor General at Rat Portage (Kenora), Ont. (Note: racial stereotypes) ^[7]

Chief Poundmaker tells Cree and Blackfoot legends to Governor General on tour ^[8]

Colourful Blackfoot riders meet Governor General (Note: "savage" and other stereotypes) ^[9]

Journalist describes beautiful Qu'Appelle Valley in gorgeous sunset ^[10]

Nova Scotia woman tries to find maid for $4/month, and describes some of the work ^[11]