June 17th

Thursday June 17^th

Today’s Word: Laugh at your problems, everybody else does.

1909

In a public vote, Calgary's ratepayers narrowly approved the purchase of the first motorised fire wagon in Canada. The issue was hotly contested: those in favour of the motorised fire apparatus claimed quicker response times and cheaper accommodation costs, while those who wished to maintain the horse-drawn equipment suggested that automotive technology was still largely unproven and the costs of failure was too great.

1928

Amelia Earhart embarked on the first trans-Atlantic flight by a woman. She flew from Newfoundland to Wales in about 21 hours.

1961

The New Democratic Party of Canada is founded with the merger of the Cooperative Commonwealth Federation (CCF) and the Canadian Labour Congress.

1988

Prime Minister Brian Mulroney welcomes the G-7 leaders of the world's seven biggest industrial democracies to Toronto for their annual economic summit

1994

O.J. Simpson fails to turn himself in to the LAPD at a prearranged time and is later spotted in a white Ford Bronco on a Los Angeles expressway. After a low-speed pursuit through the freeways and streets of Brentwood, O.J. is finally arrested live on television in the driveway of his mansion.

2005

Two former Tyco executives were convicted of looting their company of more than $600 million.

2005

Seeding is about 96% complete.

Birthdays

1871- Anna Swan of Nova Scotia, at 2.27 metres (7'5") marries Martin Buren of Kentucky, at 2.19 metres (7'2"); world's tallest married couple work for Barnum Circus.

Tommy Burns - born in 1881 - is the only Canadian born world heavyweight champion boxer.