Wanderlust World Wanderlust World * 1731: The first European settlers arrive in Manitoba when a group of French-Canadian fur traders establish a settlement at Fort la Reine (now Portage la Prairie).
* 1774: The North West Company is founded, and its headquarters are established at Grand Portage on the north shore of Lake Superior.
* 1812: The War of 1812 between the United States and Great Britain begins. This conflict will determine Manitoba's political future.
* 1816: The Selkirk Settlement, a colony of Scottish settlers, is established at Red River Colony (now Winnipeg). The settlers suffer significant hardships over the years due to conflict with the surrounding Métis community.
* 1869: The Red River Rebellion, a Métis uprising led by Louis Riel, erupts. Following negotiations between Riel and Canadian Prime Minister John A. Macdonald, Manitoba joins Canada as a province on July 15, 1870.
* 1870: Manitoba enters the Canadian Federation on July 15, becoming Canada's fifth province. Winnipeg is formally declared the capital of Manitoba.
* 1881: The Canadian Pacific Railway (CPR) reaches Winnipeg, connecting the province to the rest of Canada and sparking a period of rapid economic growth.
* 1919: The Winnipeg General Strike, a six-week strike by labour unions, becomes one of the most famous conflicts in Canadian history.
* 1960: Manitoba's capital, Winnipeg, is flooded by the Red River. This significant natural disaster causes $8 million in damage and leads to an extensive re-development of downtown Winnipeg.
* 1969: The construction of the James Bay hydroelectric project begins. This mega-project, completed in 1987, provides Hydro-Manitoba with significant hydropower resources.
* 1999: The government of Manitoba establishes the Canadian Museum for Human Rights in Winnipeg.
* 2013: Winnipeg is the site of the 2013 Pan American Games.