Events from the year 1939 in Canada.
Incumbents
Crown
Monarch – George VI
Federal government
Governor General – John Buchan
Prime Minister – William Lyon Mackenzie King
Chief Justice – Lyman Poore Duff (British Columbia) Parliament – 18th
Provincial governments
Lieutenant governors
Lieutenant Governor of Alberta – John C. Bowen
Lieutenant Governor of British Columbia – Eric Hamber
Lieutenant Governor of Manitoba – William Johnston Tupper
Lieutenant Governor of New Brunswick – Murray MacLaren
Lieutenant Governor of Nova Scotia – Robert Irwin
Lieutenant Governor of Ontario – Albert Edward Matthews
Lieutenant Governor of Prince Edward Island – George DesBrisay DeBlois (until September 11) then Bradford William LePage Lieutenant Governor of Quebec – Esioff-Léon Patenaude (until December 30) then Eugène Fiset Lieutenant Governor of Saskatchewan – Archibald Peter McNab
Premiers
Premier of Alberta – William Aberhart
Premier of British Columbia – Thomas Dufferin Pattullo
Premier of Manitoba – John Bracken
Premier of New Brunswick – Allison Dysart
Premier of Nova Scotia – Angus Lewis Macdonald
Premier of Ontario – Mitchell Hepburn
Premier of Prince Edward Island – Thane Campbell
Premier of Quebec – Maurice Duplessis (until November 9) then Adélard Godbout
Premier of Saskatchewan – William John Patterson
Territorial governments
Commissioners
Controller of Yukon – George A. Jeckell
Commissioner of Northwest Territories – Charles Camsell
Events
May 17 – King George VI and Queen Elizabeth begin their royal tour of Canada, eventually visiting every province and Newfoundland. September 3 – The Department of Labour establishes the Wartime Prices and Trade Board to control inflation September 7 – Prime Minister Mackenzie King calls for a special session of Parliament, to discuss a declaration of war versus Nazi Germany. The session lasts until September 13. September 10 – World War II: Canada declares war on Germany, one week after the United Kingdom does so September 11 – World War II: Canada establishes a High Commission of Canada in Australia. Australia reciprocates the next day. September 16 – World War II: The Royal Canadian Navy escorts the first of many transatlantic convoys September 28 – World War II: Air training facilities are set up in Canada to train pilots from Britain and the rest of the Commonwealth. October 25 – The Quebec election is won by the Liberals under Joseph-Adélard Godbout. December 17 – World War II: The 1st Canadian Infantry Division lands in Scotland en route to England. The division is accompanied by a team of announcers and technicians, who set up Radio Canada's overseas service. November 9 – Adélard Godbout becomes premier of Quebec for the second time, replacing Maurice Duplessis
Year-long
Canada expands its international presence by establishing High Commissions in Australia, Ireland, New Zealand and South Africa.
Sport
February 12 – The Trail Smoke Eaters win the 1939 Ice Hockey World Championships for Canada. April 16 – The Boston Bruins win their second Stanley Cup (and last until 1970) by defeating the Toronto Maple Leafs 4 games to 1. April 17 – The Ontario Hockey Association's Oshawa Generals win their first Memorial Cup by defeating the Edmonton Junior Hockey League's Edmonton Athletic Club Roamers 3 games to 1. The deciding Game 4 was played at Maple Leaf Gardens in Toronto. December 9 – The Winnipeg Blue Bombers win their second Grey Cup by defeating the Ottawa Rough Riders 8 to 7 in the 27th Grey Cup played in Lansdowne Park in Ottawa.
Births
January to March
January 3 - Bobby Hull, ice hockey player
January 11 - Anne Heggtveit, alpine skier and Olympic gold medalist
January 14 - Martha Gibson, actress
January 19 - Grant Notley, politician (d. 1984) February 3 - Ovid Jackson, politician February 10 - Adrienne Clarkson, journalist and 26th Governor General of Canada March 1 - Marlene Catterall, politician March 5 - Peter Woodcock, serial killer and child rapist (d. 2010) March 8 - Lynn Seymour, ballerina (d. 2023) March 17 - Bill Graham, politician (d. 2022) March 20 - Brian Mulroney, politician and 18th Prime Minister of Canada March 26 - Patrick Lane, poet (d. 2019)