1925
Oscar Emanuel Peterson is born the fourth of five children in the talent rich St. Antoine neighborhood of Montreal to a family of amateur musicians

1932
After recovering from a bout of tuberculosis, Peterson, who had also been studying the trumpet, concentrates on the piano and honing a style in the tradition of Art Tatum

1939
At the behest of his older sister Daisy, Peterson wins a Canadian Broadcasting Corporation amateur contest. This leads to appearances on national radio and television broadcasts

Buoyed by his performance in the CBC contest, Peterson drops out of Montreal high school to pursue a musical career full time.

1947
Music impresario Norman Granz hears a live broadcast of Peterson performing at an area Montreal lounge on the way to the airport to leave town. Taken by Peterson's sound, Granz orders the car to take him to the lounge where the musician was performing. THis would begin a lifelong friendship and musical relationship that would greatly benefit both men.

1949
Peterson makes his US debut in Norman Granz’ Jazz at the Philharmonic series at Carnegie Hall. He is immediately hailed as a new star on the international jazz scene.

Peterson begins capitalizing on his breakthrough performance at Carnegie Hall by releasing a stream of records on Granz’ Verve and Pablo record labels.

Begone Dull Care, an abstract film presentation based on Peterson's music, is released

1950
Peterson wins Down Beat magazine’s Reader’s Poll for the first time; he would go on to win it 13 more times over the course of his career

1951
Peterson forms a trio with Ray Brown on bass and Charlie Smith on drums. This initial team of musicians establishes the Oscar Peterson trio as an important brand in the jazz field.

1953
Guitarist Herb Ellis becomes the third member of the Oscar Peterson trio. This line-up would go on to become one of the most influential ensembles in jazz history.

1956
The Oscar Peterson trio releases Oscar Peterson trio at the Stratford Shakespearean Festival. The album is widely regarded as the landmark album in Peterson's career.

1958
Herb Ellis leaves the Oscar Peterson Trio leaving a gaping hole that Peterson and Brown believed could not be adequately replaced with another guitarist. Ellis is replaced by drummer Ed Thigpen thus bringing the trio to its original formation of instruments.

1960
Peterson helped open Toronto's Advanced School of Contemporary Music only to see the project stall due to financial difficulties three years later.

1970s
Oscar Peterson forms another landmark trio featuring celebrated guitarist Joe Pass and bassist Niels-Henning Ørsted Pedersen. This formation of the Oscar Peterson Trio would, according to many jazz critics, set standards for composition and technical expertise.

1972
Peterson is made an Officer of the Order of Canada, and is later promoted to Companion, the Order’s highest rank, in 1984.

1974
Peterson expands the trio into a quartet by adding British drummer Martin Drew to the line up. The band also begins recording widely with other leading jazz figures.

1978
Oscar releases a landmark double album recorded live in Paris that features a host of jazz greats including vibraphonist Milt Jackson.

Peterson is inducted into the Canadian Music Hall of Fame.

1991
Peterson receives a Toronto Arts Award for lifetime achievement.

Peterson is named chancellor of York University in Toronto and serves as the titular head of the university until 1994.

1993
Peterson suffers a serious stroke that leads to a damaged left hand that threatens his musical career. Within two years, Peterson resumes touring and releases studio and live recordings for the Telarc record label.

Prime Minister and longtime Peterson fan and friend Jean Chrétien offers Peterson the position of Lieutenant-Governor of Ontario. Peterson declines the offer due to lingering health problems caused by his recent stroke.

1997
Peterson receives a Grammy for Lifetime Achievement and an International Jazz Hall of Fame Award.

1999
Concordia University in Montreal renames their Loyola-campus concert hall Oscar Peterson Concert Hall in his honor.

Peterson is awarded the Praemium Imperiale World Art Award

2004
Music in the Key of Oscar, a biographical film of Peterson crafted from a two part BBC series broadcast in the 90’s, is released

 2005
At a celebration of Peterson’s 80th birthday at the HMV flagship store in Toronto, the Canada Post unveils a commemorative postage stamp in the pianist’s honor. Peterson becomes the first living person other than a reigning monarch to obtain a commemorative stamp in Canada.

2007
Peterson's health declines rapidly and leads to the cancellation of his performance at the 2007 Toronto Jazz Festival and his attendance at a June 8th Carnegie Hall all-star performance staged in his honor.

On December 23, Oscar Peterson passes of kidney failure at the age of 82 in his home in Mississauga, Ontario, a western suburb of Toronto.