Events January 1 - The towns Fort William and Port Arthur are merged to create Thunder Bay, Ontario January 16 - The federal govenrment announces plans to convert the nation to the metric system February 2 - Canada becomes an official observer at the Organization of American States February 5 - An oil tanker runs aground in Chedabucto Bay, Nova Scotia causing a major oil spill February 16 - Police recover the Grey Cup after it was stolen the previous December February 17 - The use of phosphates in laundry detergent is banned March 2 - Keith Spicer is appointed as the first Official Languages Commissioner March 7 - A total solar eclipse affects the Maritimes The first Artic Winter Games commence in Yellowknife March 20 - The Francophonie is established with Canada as a founding member April 5 - Bobby Orr becomes the first NHL defensemean to win the scoring title May 2 - Montreal is awarded the 1976 Summer Olympics May 12 - Robert Bourassa becomes Premier of Quebec after his Liberals defeat Daniel Johnson's Union Nationale May 22 - The Vancouver Canucks join the NHL May 22 - The CRTC issues the first Canadian content rules for television and radio May 29 - The Hudson's Bay Company moves its headquarters from London, England to Winnipeg, Manitoba June 23 - The first Juno Awards for Canadian music are held June 26 - The federal voting age is lowered from 21 to 18 July 5 - 109 people are killed in the crash of an Air Canada DC-8 August 2 - Three Canadians are killed when a ferry collides with a Soviet freighter off British Columbia August 17 - Arthur Erickson is awarded at Expo 70 for his design of the Canadian pavillion October 5 - October Crisis: British Trade Commissioner James Cross is kidnaped by the FLQ October 10 - October Crisis: Quebec Minister of Labour Pierre Laporte is kidnapped by the FLQ October 16 - October Crisis: Pierre Trudeau introduces the War Measures Act to deal with hte FLQ threat October 17 - October Crisis: The body of Pierre Laporte is found in the trunk of a car October 28 - Gerald Regan becomes Premier of Nova Scotia after his Liberals defeat George Smith's Conservatives November 12 - Richard Hatfield becomes Premier of New Brunswick after his Conservatives defeat Louis Robichaud's Liberals December 3 - October Crisis: James Cross is released unharmed by the FLQ December 28 - October Crisis: The FLQ kinappers of Pierre Laporte are cuagt The Royal Commission on the Status of Women reports to Parliament TV Ontario begins broadcasting INCO builds the world's tallest smokestack at Copper Cliff, Ontario The Pierre Laporte Bridge opens in Quebec City, at the time it is Canada's longest bridge The Don't Make a Wave Committee, the predecessor organization to Greenpeace is founded in Vancouver The first ACTRA Awards are held Arts and Literature New Books The Collected Works of Billy the Kid - Michael Ondaatje S th story I to: trew adventure - Bill Bissett Fifth Business - Robertson Davies The Journals of Susanna Moodie - Margaret Atwood Il est par là, le soleil - Roch Carrier The National Dream - Pierre Berton La Rivière sans repos - Gabrielle Roy Counterblast - Marshall McLuhan New Plays The Ecstacy of Rita Joe - George Ryga Awards See 1970 Governor General's Awards for a complete list of winners and finalists for those awards. Stephen Leacock Award: Farley Mowat, The Boat Who Wouldn't Float Vicky Metcalf Award: Farley Mowat Film Paul Almond's Act of the Heart opens Births February 24 - Jeff Garcia, football player May 12 - Mike Weir, golfer September 1 - Mitsou, singer December 23 - Catriona LeMay Doan, Olympic gold medalist in speed skating Maher Arar Lynn Coady, writer Naomi Klein, activist writer Deaths January 29 - Lawren Harris, Group of Seven painter March 23 - Del Lord, film director October 17 - Pierre Laporte, Quebec Cabinet minister