1948 in Canada

Events from the year 1948 in Canada.

Incumbents

June 7 – Ontario election: George Drew's PCs win a second consecutive majority
June 24 – Saskatchewan election: Tommy Douglas's Co-operative Commonwealth Federation wins a second consecutive majority
July 22 – A second runoff referendum is held in the 1948 Newfoundland referendums; confederation with Canada is approved, leading to the eventual union between Canada and the Dominion of Newfoundland in March 1949.
August 17 – Alberta election: Ernest Manning's Social Credit Party wins a fourth consecutive majority
September 6 – The oil well Atlantic No. 3, which had been running wild since March 21, catches fire. Smoke affects the atmosphere for hundreds of kilometres until the blaze is put out in November by a team led by Myron M. Kinley and Red Adair.
October 19 – Thomas Kennedy becomes premier of Ontario, replacing George Drew
November 13 – Douglas Campbell becomes premier of Manitoba, replacing Stuart Garson
November 15 – Louis Saint Laurent becomes prime minister, replacing Mackenzie King

See 1948 Governor General's Awards for a complete list of winners and finalists for those awards.
Stephen Leacock Award: Paul Hiebert, ''Sarah Binks''

February 2 – Barbara Ann Scott becomes the first Canadian to win the figure skating gold medal at the 1948 Winter Olympics in St. Moritz, Switzerland
April 14 – The Toronto Maple Leafs win their seventh Stanley Cup by defeating the Detroit Red Wings 4 games to 0.
April 30 – The Thunder Bay Junior Hockey League's Port Arthur West End Bruins win their only Memorial Cup by defeating the Ontario Hockey Association's Barrie Flyers 4 games to 0. All games were played at Maple Leaf Gardens in Toronto
November 27 – The undefeated Calgary Stampeders win their first Grey Cup by defeating the Ottawa Rough Riders 12 to 7 in the 36th Grey Cup played at Varsity Stadium in Toronto. This Cup is notable for the Stampeders' fans making a party out of the game and launching the Grey Cup festival that precedes the championship game.

January 10 – Craig Russell, female impersonator
January 12 – Gordon Campbell, politician and 34th Premier of British Columbia
January 13 – Pat O'Brien, politician
January 15 – Andy Jones, comedian, writer, actor and director
January 16 – Cliff Thorburn, snooker player, former world number one
January 19 – Frank McKenna, businessman, politician, 27th Premier of New Brunswick and diplomat
January 25 – Sarkis Assadourian, politician
February 11 – Shaughnessy Cohen, politician
February 13 – Allan Legere, serial killer, rapist, and arsonist
February 21 – Chuck Cadman, politician
March 14
*Pierre Granche, sculptor
*Maria Minna, politician
March 20 – Bobby Orr, ice hockey player
March 31 – Gary Doer, politician and 20th Premier of Manitoba

April 14 – Claude Vivier, composer
April 16 – Reg Alcock, politician, minister, MP for Winnipeg South ; President of the Treasury Board
April 17 – Wilf Wedmann, high jumper
April 20 – Rémy Trudel, academic and politician
May 11 – John Plohman, politician
May 16 – Clif Evans, politician
May 24 – Lorna Crozier, poet and essayist
June 4
* Margaret Gibson, novelist and short story writer
* Sandra Post, golfer, first Canadian to play on the LPGA Tour
June 5 – Bill Smart, middle-distance runner and judge
June 7 – Welwyn Wilton Katz, children's author
June 23 – Myles Goodwyn, musician
June 29 – Leo Burke, wrestler

July 4 – Katherine Govier, novelist
July 8 – Raffi, children's entertainer, music producer, author and entrepreneur
August 2 – Bob Rae, politician and 21st Premier of Ontario
August 5 – Don Scott, politician
August 14 – John Edzerza, Yukon MLA
August 31 – Marie-Lynn Hammond, folk singer-songwriter, broadcaster and playwright
September 8 – Stephen Owen, politician
September 10 – Margaret Trudeau, wife of the late Pierre Trudeau, the 15th Prime Minister of Canada
September 19 – James McCrae, politician
September 21 – Bernard Jean, oboist, conductor, and music educator
September 24 – Phil Hartman, actor, comedian, screenwriter and graphic artist

October 8 – Pat Binns, politician, 30th Premier of Prince Edward Island and diplomat
October 9 – Brad Woodside, politician, Mayor of Fredericton, New Brunswick
October 17 – Margot Kidder, actress
November 5 – Mike Neary, rower
November 24 – Spider Robinson, science fiction author
November 27 – David Branch, ice hockey administrator
December 7 – Jay Dahlgren, javelin thrower
December 30
* Rick Casson, politician
* Pierre Blais, jurist, politician and Minister
December 31 – René Robert, ice hockey player

March 14 – Ernest Frederick Armstrong, politician
March 28 – John Duncan MacLean, teacher, physician, politician and Premier of British Columbia
May 20 – George Beurling, most successful Canadian fighter pilot of World War II
May 21 – James Ralston, lawyer, soldier, politician and Minister