A page from the Toronto Star reports on Canadian protests in response to the Tiananmen Square incident.

The Tiananmen Square incident was a series of protests and demonstrations in China in the spring of 1989 that culminated on June 3–4 with a forceful crackdown in Beijing. It is commemorated annually on June 4 and drew global condemnation. Canadians reacted strongly, holding street protests against the actions of China's government. In response, the Canadian government initiated humanitarian measures, notably easing immigration rules for Chinese nationals, especially students, already in Canada, allowing many to seek permanent residency. This event significantly strained Canada-China relations. The events were witnessed firsthand by Canadians in China at the time, many of whom continued to share their accounts and bear witness in the years that followed. Successive Canadian governments and politicians have maintained a stance of condemnation, frequently raising human rights concerns related to the incident.