05/14/1994
Jeanne Sauvé begins her term as Governor General of Canada.

05/14/2003
The first modernized CF-18 fighters are accepted into service. In total, 80 of Canada’s front-line Hornets receive the upgrade completed by Boeing. Known as the first phase of upgrades, the Hornets would have better radar, navigational and electronics equipment.

05/15/1917
Prime Minister Robert Borden returns to Canada after attending an imperial war conference with British and dominion leaders in England.

05/16-17/1943
Nineteen specially modified Lancaster bombers from 617 Squadron, Royal Air Force, including members of the Royal Canadian Air Force, strike at German dams in the Ruhr Valley. The attack breaches a number of dams causing a spectacular flood that disrupts the water and power supply systems serving Germany’s industrial heartland.

05/16/1944
The River-class frigate HMCS Beacon Hill is commissioned into the Royal Canadian Navy.

05/16/1951
Chinese forces in Korea launch part 2 of spring offensive.

05/17/1944
First Canadian Infantry Division faces sharp fighting against strong German delaying forces as it advances towards the Adolf Hitler Line in Italy.

05/17/1961
Canada hosts President John F. Kennedy and his wife Jackie. Addressing Parliament, Kennedy states: “Geography has made us neighbours. History has made us friends.”

05/18/1915
Canadians launch their first attacks against Festubert, France.

05/18/1917
Canadian Prime Minister Robert Borden announces that the voluntary system of recruitment no longer suffices for the war effort.

05/18/1944
Polish troops take Monte Cassino in Italy.

05/19/1909
Parliament passes The Canadian Red Cross Society Act which establishes the Canadian Red Cross. Prior to this date it operated as a branch of the British Red Cross.

05/19/1980
A cloud of ash rises 24 kilometres into the air following the eruption yesterday of Mount St. Helens in Washington State.

05/20/1941
German airborne forces invade the island of Crete in the Mediterranean.

05/20/1998
Canadian involvement in Operation Determination ends. The purpose of the operation was to blockade all Iraqi ports and intercept any shipping attempting to leave or enter the area.