Chronology Canada: Date 1953-0

date	event	tags	firsts
1953 26 - 27 Sep	In Winnipeg, where the conference met in the Cowan home, relaxation from more serious discussion was achieved by a play "The Fireside Wood is Green" presented by the Community Players. [CBN No 46 November 1953 p5]	Teaching Conference; Winnipeg, MB
1953 26 - 27 Sep	In Toronto over 70 Bahá'ís from 15 localities registered for the conference. A wall-size map of the province, with the assemblies and goals marked, provided visual aid in grasping the scope of the task facing the Bahá'ís of Ontario. [CBN No 46 November 1953 p5]	Teaching Conference; Toronto, ON
1953 23 Sep	Ted and Joan Anderson arrived in Whitehorse, Canada, and were named Knights of Bahá'u'lláh for the Yukon. The first local spiritual assembly was elected in 1959. When they left in 1972 there were some 400 Bahá'ís in the area. [BW13:457; KoB255263; LynnEchvarria2008p57; CBN No46 Nov 1953 p3] The Andersons established an organization called the Indian Advancement Association for Indigenous people, which later was changed to the Native Brotherhood and Yukon Association of Non-status Indians. Many of the early Bahá'ís in the Yukon were Indigenous elders. In addition to contributing to the growth and development of the Bahá'í community in the Yukon, these Bahá'ís also significantly contributed to the revitalization of the Indigenous cultures and language of the Yukon. [NSA website]	Ted Anderson; Joan Anderson; Knights of Bahá'u'lláh; Susan Rice; Marion Jack; Emogene Hoagg; Orcella Rexford; Local Spiritual Assembly, formation; Whitehorse, YT
1953 22 Sep	Kathleen Weston MacLeod moved from her pioneering post in Charlottetown to the Magdalene Islands. She was followed by her husband Ernest. Although she was qualified as a nurse she was unable to work at the Catholic hospital and so took a job as a temporary replacement for the teacher in an English school. The local minister launched a rumour campaign against her and so she called a meeting of the parents of her school to reveal that she was a Bahá'í and to explain the tenants of the Faith. They expressed their overwhelming support for her in oppositions to the minister's efforts to have her teacher's permit revoked and to have her leave the Island. Because she was not able to find employment she departed on the 22nd of December and was replaced by Kay Zinky in February 1954. She was an American from Colorado Spring, Colorado, whose husband, a non-Bahá'í, supported her during her stay of one year, until February 1954. Margaret and Larry Rowdon with their daughter Ayn arrived in the summer of 1954. They stayed until 1969. During this time the rest of their children, Leslie, Ruth, Devin, Karen and Bret were born. [CBN No 49 Feb 1954 p2; CBN No 54Jul 1954 p2] [CBN Vol 18 No 1 May 2005 p24-26; HB25; BW13:453; KoB278-280] The first person to declare on the Magdalens was Carole Bates, originally from Nova Scotia. [HB116]	Kathleen Weston; Knights of Bahá'u'lláh; Kay Zinky; Margaret Rowdon; Larry Rowdon; Ayn Rowdon; Carole Bates; Ernest MacLeod; Magdalen Islands, QC	first person to declare on the Magdalens was Carole Bates
1953 20 Sep	The North Atlantic Regional International Picnic was held at the Kappus Farm, McClen Road, in Burt, New York. [CBN No 33 September 1953 p2]	International picnic; Burt, NY
1953 17 Sep	Dick Stanton arrived in Baker Lake on the 17th of September to become a Knight of Bahá'u'lláh for Keewatin. He was forced to leave in November of 1958 but Ken and Mary McCulloch to maintain the post. In the early 1960's Dick pioneered to China for five years. [CBN No 45 October 1953 p2; CBN No 47 December 1953 p1; KoB263-264 ] On his way from Churchill, Manitoba, to his pioneer post at Baker Lake, Dick Stanton presented a copy of Bahá'u'lláh and the New Era to the library of the Hudson Bay vessel which serviced that northern outpost. [BN No 276 November 1953 p4]	Knight of Bahá'u'lláh; Dick Stanton; Ken McCulloch; Mary McCulloch; Baker Lake, NU
1953 8 Sep	Jameson and Gale Bond arrived in Arctic Bay in the District of Franklin and were named Knights of Bahá'u'lláh. They stayed until 1955. They were in Cambridge Bay from 1955 until 1962 and then Mr Bond served as the Northern Services Officer, the first to hold this government position. [BW13:451, SDSC127; KoB264-268]	Jameson Bond; Gale Bond; Knights of Bahá'u'lláh; Arctic Bay, NU; Cambridge Bay, NU
1953 5 - 6 - 7 Sep	Maritime Summer Conference was held during the Labour Day weekend at Little Sands on Prince Edward Island. Bahá'ís from three of the Atlantic Provinces attended-with a total of 18 adults and one youth. Peggy Ross of Scarboro gave a course on "The Reality of Man". The Charlottetown friends presented the play written by Ruhiyyih Khanum, A Spiritual Assembly's Growing Pains. This play included a scene from a real incident which took place in early Montreal Bahá'í history between Ruhiyyih Khanum and Charlottetown Bahá'í Ernest Harrison. [CBN No 45 October 1953 p4]	Maritime Summer Conference; - Conferences; Peggy Ross; Ernest Harrison; Amatul-Bahá Ruhiyyih Khanum; Plays; Spiritual Assembly's Growing Pains (play); Little Sands, PE
1953 2 Sep	Doris Richardson arrived on Grand Manan Island and was named a Knight of Bahá'u'lláh. She remained there until 1974 The first declaration, Arno Chesley, on the island was in 1958. [BW13:452; CBN No 321 November, 1957 p5; KoB276-277; CBN No 45 October 1953 p1]	Doris Richardson; Knights of Bahá'u'lláh; Arno Chesley; Grand Manan Island, NB
1953 Sep	A list of National committees with their mandates and addresses of the secretaries was published in the Canadian Bahhá'í News. [CBN No 44 September 1953 p5]	National Committees
1953 Sep	Edythe MacArthur arrived at her post in the Queen Charlotte Islands (Haida Gwaii) and took up residence in Tlell. She found employment as a cook on a dude ranch. She was the first pioneer to the Queen Charlotte Islands (Haida Gwaii) In 1954 she asked the Guardian for permission to pioneer to Africa and it was granted. [CBN No 45 October 1953 p2; KoB272-273]	Edythe MacArthur; Knight of Bahá'u'lláh; Queen Charlotte Island, BC; Haida Gwaii, BC
1953 8 - 15 Aug	The annual Ontario Summer Conference was held this year at Geneva Park, Lake Couchiching, a Y.M.C.A. camp. There was an attendance of about 90 for the entire week, with about 120 for the first weekend. The principal speaker for the occasion was Dr. Stanwood Cobb of Washington, D.C., well-known lecturer and author of many books on the spiritual aspect of the Faith. The subject of his series of lectures was "Deepening the Spiritual Life". A course on "The Art of Consultation" was conducted by Violet Wuerfel, of Detroit. Margery McCormick, of Chicago, brought the warmth of her loving personality to the conference and was instrumental in conducting daily classes for inquirers drawn from the staff and other guests of the camp. Gisela Commanda, of the nearby Rama Indian Reservation, (Rama First Nation) gave interesting and informative talks on the life of the Indian and had several displays on hand. Several Baha'is visited the Reservation and made valuable contacts.	Ontario Summer Conference; Stanwood Cobb; Violet Wuerfel; Margery McCormick; Gisela Commanda; Lake Couchiching, ON
1953 Aug	Douglas Martin became a Bahá'í. [UC43]	Douglas Martin; Toronto, ON
1953 27 Jul	Siegfried (Fred) Schopflocher, Hand of the Cause of God, passed away in Montreal and was buried beside the grave of Sutherland Maxwell in Mount Royal Cemetery at the Guardian's suggestion. He was born in Germany in 1877. [BW12:664-666, LOF390, TG119, CBNS 24 July 2014, Bahá'í Chronicles, SCRIBD, Schopflocher, Siegfried (1877–1953) by Will C. van den Hoonaard; CBN No 43 August 1953 p4; CBN No 44 September 1953 p2; MtC185-187] Shoghi Effendi had appointed him among the second contingent on the 29th of February, 1952. [MoCxxiii] See TG32, 228 and LoF384-390 for short biographies. See Schopflocher, Siegfried by Will C. van den Hoonaard. For his obituary see BW12:664–6. He was known as the "Chief Temple Builder" because of his great contributions to the completion of the first Mashriqu'l-Adhkár of the West. [BW12:664-666] He made significant contributions to Green Acre both financially and administratively. During the period 1924 to 1947 he was elected to the National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá'ís of the United States and Canada fifteen times. He served on the National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá'ís of Canada from its formation until his passing. He was instrumental in the purchase of the first property for the Haziratu'l Quds. For a brief biography see Bahá'í Chronicles. Find a grave. His funeral was held on the 31st of July presided by the chair of the National Spiritual Assembly John Robarts. The eulogy was delivered by the vice-chair, Rowland Estall. [CBN No 46 November, 1953 p7-10] On August 23, the Montreal Assembly arranged a memorial service in the Maxwell Home which was attended by members of the National Assembly and friends, mainly from the Montreal area. This service in Fred's home community was intimate and personal. Many people recalled with loving gratitude personal associations with Fred, kindly and helpful things he had done in his unobtrusive way, gifts of hospitality or consideration that they had treasured sometimes for many years. [CBN No 46 November 1953 Insert] A memorial service was held in the Temple in Wilmette on the 28th of August. [CBN No 46 November, 1953 p3]	Siegfried Schopflocher; - Hands of the Cause; Births and deaths; In Memoriam; Hands of the Cause, Second Contingent; Mashriqu'l-Adhkár, Wilmette; Montreal, QC
1953 14 Jul	Gale Keass and Jameson Bond were married in the Maxwell home, the first marriage to be performed there since it was declared a Shrine. [UC43]	Gale Keass; Jameson Bond; Marriage; Montreal Shrine; Montreal, QC	first marriage in the Shrine.
1953 10 Jul	The accidental death of Eddie Elliot, the first African-Canadian Bahá'í. He was a hydro-line worker and met his death while working on a high-voltage transformer. [CBN No 45 October, 1953 p4] He had grown up in the same household as Mary Maxwell because his mother was employed as a maid and lived in the house. He was a long-time member of the Local Spiritual Assembly and was often called upon to chair. He also maintained his membership in a Christian Church and came to the Faith through Rev Este's church, the Union United Church, the only African Canadian church in Montreal. [OBBC91-92] Only a few months previous to his passing the Guardian had invited him to Haifa and then he continued on to attend the African Intercontinental Teaching Conference in Kampala in February, 1953 as a representative of the National Spiritual Assembly. [CBN No 43Aug 1953 p2; BN No 267 May 1953 p5-7; CBN No 45 October, 1953 p4] Eddie Elliot is considered the first Black Canadian Bahá'í. [MC2p184]	In Memoriam; Eddie Elliot; Montreal, QC	first Black Canadian Baha'i
1953 c. Jul	Emmanuel Rock, the first to fill a Canadian post overseas, found employment on a short termcontract as Assistant Audit Officer for the Samoan Government. [CBN No 44 September 1953 p2] The Winnipeg Assembly has adopted Emmanuel Rock in Samoa. [CBN No47 December 1953 p1]	Pioneer; Emmanuel Rock; Samoa
1953 (Summer)	First Bahá'í w@ddmg in London was solemnized between Dorothy Boys and Bob Smith, the Secretary and Chairman of London Assembly. Friends attended from Toronto, Hamilton and Forest. [CBN No 45 October 1953 p5]	Marriage; Dorothy Boys; Bob Smith; London, ON	first Bahá'í wedding in
1953 28 Jun	The Hazira Committee reported that the cost of modification of the building at 188 St. George Street to permit public use under Toronto bylaws was exceedingly high. The Guardian was asked for a decision on the advisability of disposing of it for a less costly centre. [CBN No43 August 1953 p3]	Haziratul-Quds (Bahá'í centres); Toronto, ON
1953 Jun	In a message from the Guardian he stated that of all the objective of the Ten Year Plan for Canada, the purchase of the site of the Mother Temple and the settlement of pioneers in the thirteen virgin territories and islands, eleven of which were situated in North America and two in the South Pacific Ocean, may be regarded as the most important. [CBN No 44 September 1953 p1; MC2p181]	Ten Year Crusade
1953 20 Jun	Shoghi Effendi designated the Maxwell home in Montreal as a Shrine. [MtC179; CBN No 45 October 1953 p1]	Montreal Shrine; Montreal, QC	first Bahá'í Shrine in North America
1953 14 Jun	The 12th annual International Picnic was held at Queenston Heights with 300 in attendance. Mrs. Mary Magdalin Wilkin of Youngstown, N.Y., and Bert Rakovsky from Westmount,QC, were the speakers and Arthur Mushlian, Ingersoll, ON., was chairman. Mrs. Stanley Bolton brought greetings from Australia. Through the efforts of the Hambourg Baha'is, the Brass Band of the Six Nations Reserve, Hambourg, N.Y., provided music. The band attracted the attention of other picnickers and between selections manyheard about the Faith from the Bahá'ís. [CBN No 43 August 1953 p2]	International picnic; Queenston Heights, ON
1953 Jun	Hand of the Cause Siegfried Schopflocher made a tour of Western Canada to inform the friends of his trip to Haifa, his talks with the Guardian and his plans for the Ten Year Crusade. Stops were made in Winnipeg, Regina, Saskatoon, Calgary and Edmonton. [CBN No 43 August, 1953 p2]	Hands of the Cause, Activities; Siegfried Schopflocher; Travel Teaching; Winnipeg, MB; Regina, SK; Saskatoon, SK; Calgary, AB; Edmonton, AB
1953	It was reported that with the arrival of Fran Bachynski in Charlottetown they had a sufficient number to complete their Assembly. [CBN No42 July 1953 p4]	Local Spiritual Assembly, formation; Fran Bachynski; Charlottetown, PE
1953 (Ater the Chicago Conference)	Dr. Stanley Bolton and Mariette Germaine Roy Bolton of Australia visited Canada after the Chicago Conference. Dr. Bolton was the chairman of the National Spiritual Assembly of Australia and he and Mrs. Bolton were both natives of Canada. They visited Toronto and Winnipeg. While in Toronto they addressed two meetings in the Centre and showed pictures of the Australian Summer School, Bolton Place, which was donated to the Faith by the Boltons. [CBN No 42 July 1953 p3-4]	Stanley Bolton; Winnipeg, MB; Toronto, ON
1953 21 May	Ruhíyyih Khánum gave the Maxwell home at 1548 Pine Avenue West in Montreal, to the Canadian Bahá'í Community. [UC41]	Montreal Shrine; Amatul-Bahá Ruhiyyih Khanum; Montreal, QC
1953 17 May	Following his attendance at the Intercontinental Conference in Wilmette Hand of the Cause Furutan made a tour of Canada with an interpreter, Mr M Anvar. They visited several communities in Western Canada and attended the Feast of Grandeur in Edmonton. [CBN No 41 June, 1953 p3] Visits were also made to Winnipeg,London, Ottawa, Toronto, and Kingston and others. [CBN No 42 July, 1954 p5] The tour concluded in the Maritimes with visits to Moncton and lastly Saint John. [CBN No 43 August, 1953 p2]	- Hands of the Cause; `Alí-Akbar Furútan; Winnipeg, MB; Edmonton, AB; Ottawa, ON; London, ON; Kingston, ON; Moncton, NB; Saint John, NB
1953 9 or 10 May	Following her attendance at the Intercontinental Conference in Wilmette Ruhiyyih Khanum met with Bahá'í friends in her former home. She discussed the donation of the Maxwell House to the National Spiritual Assembly as a shrine and suggested how it might be suitably used. The following day friends gathered in Mount Royal Cemetery for a commemorative service for her father, Sutherland Maxwell. Rose petals from the Tomb of Bahá'u'lláh were scattered on the grave. [CBN Vol 13 No 3 July 2000 p5] She was accompanied by Hand of the Cause and member of the International Council Amelia Collins. [CBN No 41 June 1953 p3; CBN No 45 October, 1953 p3]	Amelia Collins; Amatul-Bahá Ruhiyyih Khanum; Sutherland Maxwell; Montreal Shrine; Montreal, QC
1953 3 - 4- 5- 6- May	The All-American Intercontinental Teaching Conference was held in Chicago for delifileration on plans designed to establish the Faith in all unoccupied territories of the West and also to adopt measures to assist other National Assemblies. Through the association in this Conference of the four National Spiritual Assemblies of the West, and the consecrated consultation of a great throng of Bahá'ís from Canada, the United States, Central America and South America, the dynamic spirit will be created for the launching of our role in the great World Crusade. The Jubilee Program included the National Convention of the the Bahá'ís of the United States, a series of public meetings, the dedication of the House of Worship on the 2nd of may and an International Conference. The whole program ran from the 29th of April until the 6th of May. [CBN No 35 November 1952 p2]	All-American Intercontinental Teaching Conference; Teaching Conference; Chicago, IL; Wilmette, IL
1953	The Hazira Committee was replaced by The Hazira and Temple Committee. [CBN No 41 June 1953 p2]	Haziratul-Quds (Bahá'í centres); Montreal, QC
1953 29 Apr - 1 May	The Jubilee Celebration commemorating the Centenary of the birth of the Mission of Bahá'u'lláh was held in the Medinah Temple in Chicago. [CBN No 42 July, 1953 p2] The House of Worship in Wilmette was consecrated in a simple ceremony for Bahá'ís only on the 1st of May with the public dedication on the following day. [BW12:143, 152; ZK93; CBN No43 Aug 1953 p2] For details of the dedication see BW12:152–4. A most wonderful and thrilling motion will appear in the world of existence," are 'Abdu'l-Bahá's own words, predicting the release of spiritual forces that must accompany the completion of this most hallowed House of Worship. "From that point of light," He, further glorifying that edifice, has written, "the spirit of teaching … will permeate to all parts of the world." And again: "Out of this Mashriqu'l-Adhkár, without doubt, thousands of Mashriqu'l-Adhkárs will be born." "It marks the inception of the Kingdom of God on earth. [CoF69 Message of 21 March 1949]	Mashriqu'l-Adhkár (House of Worship); Holy Year; Great Jubilee; Chicago, IL
1953 29 - 30 Apr	The sixth National Convention took place in the Unitarian Church of Forest Hill Village and was attended by sixteen delegates as well as over 100 visitors. Elected were: John Robarts, (chairman), Lloyd Gardner, (treasurer), Rowland Estall, (vice chair), Laura Davis, (secretary), Winnifred Harvey, Emeric Sala, Rosemary Sala, Albert Rakovsky and Audrey Westhaeser. [CBN No 41 June, 1953 p2] This convention marked the end of the Five Year Plan that had been given to Canada in 1948 upon the formation of the National Spiritual Assembly.	National Spiritual Assembly; National Convention; John Robarts; Lloyd Gardner; Rowland Estall; Laura Davis; Winnifred Harvey; Emeric Sala; Rosemary Sala; Albert Rakovsky; Audrey Westheuser; National Spiritual Assembly, election of; Toronto, ON
1953 Ridván	Canada and the world embarked on the Ten Year Crusade (1953-1963). See [MtC173-276] for the years 1953-1957. The objectives of Canada's Plan were: Opening following virgin territories eleven North America: Anticosti Island, Baranof Island, Cape Breton Island, Franklin, Grand Manan Island, Keewatin, Labrador, Magdalen Islands, Miquelon Island and St. Pierre Island, Queen Charlotte Islands, Yukon; Opening two Asias Marquesas Islands, Samoa Islands. Consolidation faith Iceland, Greenland, Mackenzie, Newfoundland. Purchase land Toronto anticipation construction first Haziratu'l-Quds Canada. Establishment national Bahá'í endowments. Doubling number local spiritual assemblies. Raising number incorporated spiritual assemblies nineteen. Formation Israel branch Canadian National Spiritual Assembly. Establishment American Asian teaching committees entrusted task stimulate coordinate teaching activities initiated plan. "Appeal members entire community worthy allies chief executors Abdu'l-Bahá's divine plan dedicate themselves immediate requirements steadily unfolding mission discharge nobly sacred strenuous tasks ahead contribute memorable share prosecution decade long world spiritual crusade pay befitting tribute through future accomplishments memory founder faith occasion most great jubilee commemorating centenary declaration his mission city Baghdad." (signed) Shoghi	Ten Year Crusade; - Plans; Israel Branch of the Bahá'ís of Canada; Haziratul-Quds (Bahá'í centres)
1953 (Ridván)	The close of the Second Seven Year Plan that had been pursued by the Bahá'ís of the United States and Canada 1946-1953. Worldwide there were 2,425 localities, 611 Local Spiritual Assemblies, 100 countries,island and dependencies open to the Faith and 12 National Spiritual Assemblies formed. [UC43] Thirty local Spiritual assemblies were formed in Canada. [CBN No 76 May 1956 p6]	Second Seven Year Plan; Statistics
1953 Jan	A special edition of the Canadian Bahá'í News focused on the purpose of the Haziratu'l-Quds as a symbol of unity and focus that will contribute to the prestige of the Faith. The Guardian asked other National Communities to contribute to the project. [CBN No 35 January 1953; Bahá'í Canada Summer/Fall 2023 p16]	Haziratul-Quds (Bahá'í centres)
1953 (In the year)	Shoghi Effendi launched the Ten Year Crusade. It called for the settlement of 131 international goal by Canada and the United States. [UC38]	- Teaching Plans; Ten Year Crusade
1953 (In the year)	Spiritual Assemblies were formed in London, Verdum, Saskatoon, Oshawa, St Catharines, Kingston, New Westminster, Westmont, Belleville, Pickering and Etobicoke, the 20th to the 30th to form. [CBN No 46 November, 1953 p2]	Local Spiritual Assembly, formation; London, ON; Verdun, QC; Saskatoon, SK; Oshawa, ON; St. Catharines, ON; Kingston, ON; New Westminster, BC; Westmount, QC; Belleville, ON; Pickering, ON; Etobicoke, ON
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