Montreal Quebec - Canadian Marconi's radio station XWA licensed as CFCF Montreal; broadcasts first commercial radio show; station started in December 1919; reputedly the oldest in the world.

Also On This Day...

United Nations New York - Secretary of State for External Affairs Lester B. Pearson 1897-1972 proposes a UN police force for Suez, to separate Egypt from the invading French, British, and Israelis. The United Nations implements his international emergency force scheme, and it becomes the model for all later UN peacekeeping actions.

And in Today's Canadian Birthdays...

Thomas Coltrin Keefer 1821-1915
civil engineer, land developer, was born on this day at Thorold, Ontario in 1821; died in Ottawa Jan 7, 1915. Like his father Samuel, one of the promoters of the Welland Canal, Keefer grew up on engineering projects, and as a youth helped build the Erie Canal in New York State. In the early 1850s, he started the survey of the Grand Trunk Railroad, and planned the Victoria Bridge in Montreal. In the 1860s, he settled in Ottawa, where he built the city waterworks (1874) and managed the Rockcliffe estate and Rideau Falls milling operations of his father in law Thomas Mackay. He sold the Mackay mansion, Rideau Hall, to the government in 1872, and built a new estate, the Manor House, today the residence of the Papal Nuncio. His major work, The Philosophy of Railroads (1849) was an international success, and he was the founding President of the Canadian Society of Civil Engineers in 1887.

Also Frederick Dobson Middleton 1825-1898
soldier, was born on this day at Belfast, Northern Ireland in 1825; dies in London, England Jan. 25, 1898. Middleton was educated at the Royal Military College, Sandhurst; 1842 given first commission, serves in Australia, New Zealand, India, Burma, Gibralter, and Malta; staff officer in India during 1857-1858 Mutiny; recommended twice for Victoria Cross; in Canada 1868-1870, where he marries his second wife, Eugénie Doucet of Montreal; 1870s executive officer at Sandhurst; 1884 general officer in command of Canada's militia; 1885 outbreak of Northwest Rebellion; divides forces in three, and cautiously moves against Métis stronghold of Batoche; April 24, mauled by Gabriel Dumont at Fish Creek; May 12 overruns Batoche; May 15 captures Riel; returns east in June after surrender of Pitikwahanapiwiyin (Poundmaker) and recovery of whites held by Indians; knighted by Queen Victoria; 1890 resigns Militia post after Commons committee criticizes him for misappropriation of furs from Métis Charles Bremner during the resistance; returns to England and is appointed keeper of the crown jewels.

Also James Douglas 1837-1918
mining engineer, industrialist, philanthropist, was born on this day at Quebec City in 1837; dies in New York City June 25, 1918. Douglas developed mines in the US Southwest.

Also Raoul Dandurand l861-1942
politician, was born on this day in l861; dies March 11, 1942. Dandurand was a Senator for 44 years, l month, 17 days, from Jan. 22 , 1898 to Mar. 11, 1941.

Also Howie Meeker 1924-
NHL hockey player, MP, commentator, was born on this day at Kitchener, Ontario, in 1924. Meeker played Junior B in Stratford, and was recruited by Hap Day for the Toronto Maple Leafs, but had to go overseas with the Canadian Armed Forces for three years; in the 1946-47 season, he took the Calder Memorial Trophy as NHL rookie of the year, scoring five goals in one game; 1953 back injury ended his career; served as Conservative MP in the early 1950s; started 30-year career in broadcasting for Hockey Night in Canada on CBC and later with TSN.

Also Bobby Breen 1927-1990
actor, was born on this day at Toronto in 1927; died March 30, 1990. For a list of his movies, check out the Internet Movie Database..

Also Kate Reid 1930-1993
actor, was born on this day at London England in 1930; died of cancer on March 27 1993 at Stratford, Ontario. Reid came to Canada as an infant, and grew up in Toronto. She studied at the Royal Conservatory of Music, and started her acting career in summer straw hat theatre, going on to play at Toronto's Crest Theatre and the Stratford Festival, where her memorable roles included Lady Macbeth and Kate in The Taming of the Shrew. She then played Martha in Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf on Broadway, and won an Emmy nomination for her 1963 TV performance as Queen Victoria in Disraeli. She played in Arthur Miller's The Price (1968) and Edward Albee's A Delicate Balance, both written with her in mind. Since then she has appeared in stage plays, TV roles and movies, ranging from Jalna and Nelly McClung to Death of a Salesman, The Andromeda Strain, Atlantic City, Death Ship, Gavilan and Dallas. For a list of all Reid's roles, check out the Internet Movie Database.

Also Richard Sévigny 1957-
NHL goaltender, was born on this day in 1957.

Also Tommy Henry 1969-
CFL defensive back, was born on this day in 1969. Henry plays for the Edmonton Eskimos.

Also Corey Schwab 1970-
NHL goaltender, was born on this day at North Battleford, Saskatchewan, in 1970. Schwab selected by the New Jersey Devils in the 10th round (200th pick overall) of the 1990 NHL Entry Draft; now with Tampa Bay Lightning.

Also Eric Fichaud 1975-
NHL goaltender, was born on this day at Anjou, Quebec, in 1975. Fichaud was selected by the Toronto Maple Leafs in the first round (16th pick overall) of the 1994 NHL Entry Draft; traded to the New York Islanders for Benoit Hogue, third-round draft pick (Ryan Pepperall) and fifth-round pick in 1996 Draft on April 6, 1995; acquired from N.Y. Islanders for Mike Watt, June 18, 1998; now with Nashville Predators.