1960 in Canada

Events from the year 1960 in Canada.

Incumbents

January – The Board of Broadcast Governors begins hearings in Winnipeg to determine alternatives to CBC Television. Hearings are conducted throughout the country. Eventually, numerous licences are given to: Halifax—the Finlay MacDonald group—CJCH-TV; Montreal—the Canadian Marconi Co.—CFCF-TV; Ottawa—Ernie Bushnell's group—CJOH-TV; Toronto—Baton—the Bassett group—CFTO-TV; Winnipeg—Ralph S. Misener & Associates—CJAY-TV ; Edmonton—the CBC, ; Calgary—the Love organization—CFCN-TV; Vancouver—the Vantel group—CHAN-TV.
January 2 – Paul Sauvé, Premier of Quebec, dies in office.
January 8 – Antonio Barrette becomes premier of Quebec.
April 24 – Television station CBWFT signs on for the first time as Radio-Canada Winnipeg.
June 8 – Saskatchewan election: Tommy Douglas's Co-operative Commonwealth Federation wins a fifth consecutive majority.
June 22 – 1960 Quebec general election: Barrette's ruling Union nationale, is defeated by the Quebec Liberal Party, led by Jean Lesage, beginning the 'Quiet Revolution' in the historically conservative province.
June 27 – 1960 New Brunswick general election: The Liberals, led by Louis Robichaud defeat the Progressive Conservative government of Hugh John Flemming.

July 1 – Status Indians are given the right to vote.
July 9 – Seven-year-old Roger Woodward became the first person accidentally to fall over the Horseshoe Falls and survive.
July 12 – Louis Robichaud becomes premier of New Brunswick, replacing Hugh John Flemming.
July 22 – Vincent Massey becomes the first Canadian to receive the Royal Victorian Chain.
July 25–27 – The first First Ministers conference is held.
August 10 – The Canadian Bill of Rights is given royal assent.
September – York University's first class begins learning.
September 19 – The University of Calgary is founded.
December 17 – Quebec becomes the last province to agree to the National Health Act.

French beginning to be recognized as language taught in schools outside of Quebec
L'Anse aux Meadows, evidence of Viking colonization of North America is discovered in Newfoundland
The Ford Frontenac is introduced exclusively to the Canadian market.

See 1960 Governor General's Awards for a complete list of winners and finalists for those awards.
Stephen Leacock Award: Pierre Berton, ''Just Add Water and Stir''

January 16 – Gordie Howe becomes the leading scorer in National Hockey League history, passing Maurice Richard.
April 14 – The Montreal Canadiens win their 12th Stanley Cup by defeating the Toronto Maple Leafs 4 games to 0. The deciding game was played in Maple Leaf Gardens in Toronto
May 8 – The Ontario Hockey Association's St. Catharines Teepees win their second Memorial Cup by defeating the Central Alberta Hockey League's Edmonton Oil Kings 4 games to 2. The deciding Game 6 was played at Maple Leaf Gardens in Toronto
October 6 – Maurice Richard's number is retired by the Montreal Canadiens in a ceremony at the Montreal Forum
November 26 – The Ottawa Rough Riders win their fifth Grey Cup by defeating the Edmonton Eskimos 16 to 6 in the 48th Grey Cup played at Vancouver's Empire Stadium. Toronto's Ron Stewart became the first Canadian to win the game's official MVP award.

January 12 – Oliver Platt, actor
January 24 – Mark Reeds, Canadian-American ice hockey player and coach
February 11 – Grant Main, rower and Olympic gold medalist
February 12 – George Elliott Clarke, poet and playwright
February 14 – Walt Poddubny, ice hockey player and coach
February 14 – Meg Tilly, actress and dancer
February 17 – Lindy Ruff, ice hockey player and coach
February 28 – Dorothy Stratten, model, actress and murder victim
March 7 – Gail Greenough, equestrian
March 13 - John Greyson, filmmaker
March 15 – Carole Rouillard, long-distance runner
March 18 - Guy Carbonneau, retired professional ice hockey player
April 8 - Pat Duncan, politician and sixth Premier of Yukon and the first Liberal government
April 10 – Drew Caldwell, politician
April 12 - Toren Smith, manga publisher and translator
April 20 - Eria Fachin, pop singer
April 29 – Robert J. Sawyer, science fiction writer
May 3 – Jennifer Luce, architect
May 8 - Patrick McKenna, actor
May 11 - Gildor Roy, actor

July 5 – Brad Loree, actor and stuntman
July 19
* Atom Egoyan, filmmaker
* Raymond Laflamme, physicist
July 22 – Jane Patterson, judoka
July 25 – Alain Robidoux, snooker player
July 28 – Anna Marie Malone, long-distance runner
July 31 – Dale Hunter, ice hockey player and coach
August 17 – Chris Potter, actor
August 27 – Mike Mahovlich, javelin thrower
August 30
* Mark Eyking, politician
* Guy A. Lepage, actor
September 14 – Callum Keith Rennie, actor
September 21 – David James Elliott, actor
September 25 - Sonia Benezra, TV and radio interviewer and personality and actress
October 8 - François Pérusse, comedian and humor
November 2 – Paul Martini, pair skater
November 6 – Kevin Neufeld, rower and Olympic gold medallist
November 8
* Anne Dorval, actress
* Robert Libman, politician, architect and leader of Equality Party
November 20 - Marc Labrèche, actor, comedian and host
December 28 – Ray Bourque, ice hockey player