As we close out the final Friday of March, we’re looking back at a day that brought both historic natural disasters and significant “firsts” for Canada.
1964: The Great Alaska Earthquake On this day in 1964—Good Friday—the strongest earthquake ever recorded in North America (a massive 9.2 magnitude) struck Alaska. While the impact was felt heavily in Canada with a tsunami hitting Port Alberni, B.C., the stories from the epicenter in Anchorage are truly harrowing.
I (Bill) actually went to school with a couple of kids who lived in Anchorage during the quake. Their father was right in the thick of the recovery, using a crane to pull houses back out of the bay after the ground beneath them simply gave way. It’s hard to imagine the scale of it—entire neighborhoods like Turnagain Heights sliding into the water—but seeing the community pull together with heavy machinery to save what they could is a testament to that northern resilience.
1964: A Time Capsule Since we’re focused on that pivotal year, let’s look at what was capturing our attention while the recovery was underway:
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Top Movie: The historical epic Becket, starring Richard Burton and Peter O’Toole, was the big ticket at the cinema. Or, if you were looking for something lighter, the original Pink Panther was just hitting its stride.
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Top Song: It was the height of the British Invasion. The Beatles were untouchable—“Can’t Buy Me Love” was the brand-new #1 hit this week, while “She Loves You” was still a staple on every Canadian radio station.
1948: Ray Bourque and a Hockey Legacy For the hockey fans, March 27th has always been a “lucky” day for legends. Ray Bourque, one of the greatest defensemen to ever play the game, seemed to have his best nights on this date throughout his career. It’s also the day in 1952 that Turk Broda became the first goaltender in NHL history to appear in 100 Stanley Cup playoff games.
Warmly,
Bill & Marilyn
Founders of Canadian Senior Moment
**Bill Gould** spent 43 years as a long-haul truck driver before trading the steering wheel for a keyboard to help fellow Canadians navigate the road of retirement. A freelance writer, published author, and editor of over 50 books, Bill co-founded *Canadian Senior Moment* with his wife, Marilyn, to provide a trusted space for seniors to find clarity, safety, and connection in the digital age. When he isn’t troubleshooting “tech gremlins” or sharing childhood memories of the Prairies, he can be found in his woodshop or working on his latest novel.