← → Events from the year 1943 in Canada.

Slightly confused 1st Infantry Division invades Sicily against "bewildered" and "sorry looking" Italian defenders[3] Film: Canadian and U.S. troops train for Italian invasion[4] Film: Canadian soldiers and nurses embark for Italian invasion[5] Cartoon: Axis forces quickly retreating from "Sicilian landings"[6] Command crucial, but battles are won "by human beings displaying judgment, coolness and courage" (and in Sicily's "unending heat")[7] Seaforth Highlanders take Monte San Marco in Italy, despite steep, muddy terrain and intense German fire[8] Top German generals recognize disadvantages fighting Allies in Italy, including "Canadians clever at making use of terrain"[9] Canadian infantry and tanks press "a literally yard-by-yard advance" through Ortona streets, houses, and even rooms[10] Film: Canadian troops fighting in Ortona[11] Germans leave Ortona and their dead – "Civilians[...]too dazed to realize the enemy had gone; Canadians[...]too tired to care"[12] Guide for battlefield first aid emphasizes combat practicality, like common sense, self-reliance, improvisation, effective care and carrying on fight[13] Newspaper illustration of RCAF Spitfire planes strafing freight trains in Europe[14] Photo: Canadians in joint landing operation with U.S. forces against Japanese invaders on Kiska Island, Alaska[15] "The Jewish reservoir of the East, which was able to counterbalance the western assimilation, no longer exists"[16] At end of fourth year of war, Prime Minister King calls for greater effort and sacrifice to defeat faltering Axis[17] National registration certificate of Mrs. Ethel Louise Buck, Spirit River, Alberta[18] "We are few, very few" – Quebecker laments that there are not enough pacifists in province to even produce their newsletter[19] Advisory group chair foresees postwar period of more skilled labour, greater production, new products and technology, and huge demand[20] U.S.-U.K. agreement creates executive committee with Canadian representation to guide nuclear development[21] Canada wants multilateral general agreement to reduce tariffs, and to encourage U.S.A. and Canada to "buy in order to sell"[22] Report with proposed economic reforms for benefit of Prairie provinces, adjacent U.S.A., and world at large[23] Canada threatens to step back if not given more say in new UN Relief and Rehabilitation Organization[24] Lester Pearson complains to External Affairs about U.S. censorship of official's call from legation in Washington to Ottawa[25] Government returns about 15% of seized Japanese-Canadian fishing fleet to owners[26] "So reactionary to Liberal principles" – PM King depressed by cabinet's close-minded attitude to steelworker strike[27] Cartoon: Hitler says of strikers, "They are really working for me!

"[28] Communist Tim Buck's submission on labour relations to National War Labor Board emphasizes wage policy and collective bargaining[29] Because of their difficulty finding housing and jobs, British Columbia MLA raises funds for halfway house for women discharged from mental institutions[30] As they fund-raise for bombers, London's Women's Voluntary Services thanks Manitobans for gifts of clothes and mobile canteens[31] "You can't refuse this cake, it was sent me all the way from Canada" – touring WVS speaker enjoys local hospitality[32] "Defend[ing] freedom and culture of humanity" – Shostakovich's thank-you for Toronto performance of his Seventh Symphony[33] Photo: RCAF member meets famed actor who plays "Rochester" on Jack Benny's radio comedy show[34]