1868 - (February 3, 2017)

In 1868 Canada has turned 1 year old. It is a young country with many challenges. Thomas D'Arcy McGee, one of the fathers of Confederation, is allegedly assassinated by a Fenian, Patrick Whelan (the Fenians were an Irish nationalist association whose goal was to achieve independence of Ireland from Britain).

Thomas D'Arcy McGee is often labelled as Canada's first nationalist.
Source of images: https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/2/23/ThomasDArcyMcGee.jpg

From the funeral procession of Thomas D'Arcy McGee in Ottawa on April 13, 1868
Source of image: http://www.cbc.ca/history/histo_en_fichiers_ep/a_220.jpg

In 1868 another individual who played a very important role in Canada's history died. Laura Secord, the great heroine of the War of 1812 died on October 17, 1868 the age of 93 in Chippewa, Ontario.
Laura Secord, who was born in Massachusetts, is most famous for trekking 32 km (20 miles) from American-occupied territory in the Niagara Penninsula to inform the British Army and their Mohawk allies about an impending attack by an army of 500 American troops. Her information prevented a potential defeat of the British and their Mohawk allies at the battle of Beaver Dams on June 22, 1813. Her contribution was largely forgotten until the visit by Edward, Prince of Wales, in 1860 on his visit to Canada. 

Commemorative Canadian postage stamp, 2012.
Source of image (Canada Post)