1888 in Canada

January 19 – Thomas Greenway becomes premier of Manitoba, replacing David H. Harrison.
June 20 – The Northwest Territories holds its first general election; 22 members of the Legislative Assembly are elected. All are independents; there are no party politics in the territories.
July 11 – The Manitoba general election is held.

Boundary survey started by Dr. William H. Dall of the United States and Dr. George M. Dawson of Canada.

Arts and literature

January 18 – Charles Gavan Power, politician, Minister and Senator (d.1968)
January 20 – Ethel Wilson, novelist and short story writer (d.1980)
February 28 – George Pearkes, politician, soldier and recipient of the Victoria Cross (d.1984)
March 24 – Samuel Rosborough Balcom, politician (d.1981)
April 6 – Leonard Brockington, lawyer, civil servant and first head of the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (CBC) (d.1966)
April 8 – Dora Mavor Moore, actor, teacher and director (d.1979)
April 23
- Joseph Georges Bouchard, politician (d.1956)
- Georges Vanier, soldier, diplomat and Governor General of Canada (d.1967)
April 28 – Harry Crerar, General (d.1965)
May 3 – Johan Helders, photographer

July 11 – John Keiller MacKay, soldier, jurist and 19th Lieutenant Governor of Ontario (d.1970)
August 3 – Margaret Murray, journalist
September 2 – Dorothy Stevens, artist
September 7 – William Bryce, politician
September 15 – Filip Konowal, soldier, Victoria Cross recipient in 1917 (d.1959)
September 18
- Grey Owl, writer and conservationist (d.1938)
- William Duncan Herridge, politician and diplomat (d.1961)
October 23 – Onésime Gagnon, politician and the 20th Lieutenant Governor of Quebec (d.1961)
November 3 – Joseph Oscar Lefebre Boulanger, politician and lawyer (d.1958)
November 11 – S. E. Rogers, politician (d.1965)
November 25 – Joseph W. Noseworthy, politician (d.1956)
December 2 – Major James Coldwell, politician (d.1974)

January 17 – Big Bear, Cree leader (b. c1825)
February 4 – Sévère Rivard, lawyer, politician and 17th Mayor of Montreal (b.1834)
March 2 – William Elliott, farmer, merchant and politician (b.1834)
April 21 – Thomas White, journalist and politician (b.1830)
May 3 – William Alexander Henry, politician (b.1816)
May 12 – Élie Saint-Hilaire, educator, farmer and politician (b.1839)
May 30 – James Ferrier, merchant, politician and 4th Mayor of Montreal (b.1800)
August 4 – Charles-Joseph Coursol, lawyer, politician and 13th Mayor of Montreal (b.1819)
August 24 – John Rose, politician (b.1820)
October 1 – James Gibb Ross, merchant and politician (b.1819)

House of Commons committee hears of cartels conspiring to control products ranging from groceries to coal to stoves and coffins^[2]

Indenture form between "Guardian" and caretaker/employer who agrees to pay immigrant boy and give him "good clothing and schooling" etc. for work^[4]

U.S. Supreme Court rules on Alexander Graham Bell's telephone patent in light of previous invention claimed by "a poor mechanic"^[5]

Brief visit to Chinatown temple in Victoria, B.C.^[6]

In report on northern lands, Senate committee points out unwanted wildlife loss from "greater ease in their capture" and use of poison^[7]

Lecturer describes dogs of Hudson Strait Inuit^[8]

^ "Queen Victoria | The Canadian Encyclopedia". www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca. Retrieved 5 December 2022.
^ Report of the Select Committee Appointed(...)to Investigate and Report upon Alleged Combinations in Manufactures, Trade and Insurance in Canada (May 16, 1888). Accessed 9 October 2020
^ "Pacific Cable Telegraph between Canada and Australia[...]," Privy Council Minutes, February 18–27, 1888, pgs. 331-5. Accessed 10 October 2019 http://www.bac-lac.gc.ca/eng/discover/politics-government/orders-council/Pages/item.aspx?IdNumber=41533 (flip to pg. 331 and click on image to enlarge)
^ Youth indenture form (Pursuant to March 9, 1888 Order in Council), Immigration Program: Headquarters central registry files: C-4709, Image 379 Library and Archives Canada. Accessed 26 May 2024
^ Chief Justice Waite, "Telephone Cases (Part Three Three)" (March 18, 1888). Accessed 10 October 2020
^ James Carmichael, A Holiday Trip; Montreal to Victoria and Return via the Canadian Pacific Railway[...] (1888), pgs. 28-9 Accessed 10 October 2019
^ Senate Committees, 6th Parliament, 2nd Session: Select Committee on Resources of the Great Mackenzie Basin, Vol. 1, pg. 13 Accessed 1 October 2020
^ Wm. A. Ashe, "The Eskimos of Hudson Straits," Lectures Given at the Quebec Garrison Club, 1888-9 (1889), pgs. 25-6, 43-5. Accessed 10 October 2019