See also: 1872 in Canada, other events of 1873, 1874 in Canada and the list of 'years in Canada'.

Events

• February 26 - Gédéon Ouimet becomes Premier of Quebec, replacing Pierre-Joseph-Olivier Chauveau
• April - James Pope becomes Premier of Prince Edward Island for the second time, replacing Robert Haythorne
• April 1 - The SS Atlantic is wrecked off Peggys Cove
• April 2 - The Pacific Scandal breaks out
• May 13 - Sixty are killed in a coal mine explosion in Nova Scotia
• May 23 - North-West Mounted Police are founded to police the Northwest Territories, which then included the region today of Alberta and Saskatchewan
• June 1 - The Cypress Hills Massacre occurs
• July 1 - Prince Edward Island joins the Canadian Confederation.
• August 25 - a cyclone hits Cape Breton Island killing 500 and causing much damage
• September - L. C. Owen becomes Premier of Prince Edward Island, replacing James Pope
• September 23 - The Canadian Labour Union is founded
• November 5 - Pacific Scandal: the Canadian House of Commons passes a vote of no confidence in Sir John A. Macdonald's government
• November 7 - Pacific Scandal: Sir John A. resigns as Prime Minister of Canada, and Alexander Mackenzie is appointed in his place
• November 8 - Winnipeg incorporated as a city

Births

• January 10 - George Orton, athlete
• January 19 - Thomas Dufferin Pattullo, Premier of British Columbia
• February 4 - Étienne Desmarteau, athlete
• April 9 - Walter E. Foster, Premier of New Brunswick
• April 10 - George Black, politician
• May 12 - J. E. H. MacDonald, artist
• May 17 - Albert Edward Matthews, Lieutenant Governor of Ontario
• August 27 - Maud Allan, dancer
• September 20 - Sidney Olcott, filmmaker
• October 20 - Nellie McClung, feminist
• November 21 - Aime Benard, Manitoba politician
• December 8 - John Duncan MacLean, Premier of British Columbia
• December 9 - George Blewett, philosopher

Deaths

• May 20, George-Étienne Cartier, politician.