YE OLDE DEPARTMENT
PARLIAMENTARY DISRUPTION
OTTAWA HISTORIES AND MYSTERIES
MADE IN CANADA
A NECESSARY CATEGORY
100
This department's predecessors include the Department of Manpower and Immigration, the Department of Employment and Immigration, and the Department of Citizenship and Immigration
What is IRCC?
100
Referred to in the House as the "Physical molestation of the Member from Berthier—Maskinongé", this incident resulted in Prime Minister Trudeau apologizing repeatedly, but not receiving any sanctions.
What was elbowgate?
100
In 1945 this apartment (located six blocks from JETS!) housed a soon-to-be famous defector from this country.
What is the USSR? (Igor Gouzenko)
100
Canada exported about 86 million litres of it in 2025 - with almost all of it produced in Quebec.
What is maple syrup?
100
I'm feeling 33, but in 2013 Taylor Swift was feeling this.
What is 22?
200
Created in 1868, this federal department is one of Canada's oldest.
What is DND?
200
British MP Michael Heseltine earned himself the nickname 'Tarzan' for picking up this ceremonial object and swinging it at the opposition benches in 1976.
What is the mace?
200
On this downtown street, there are eleven scowling heads and one with a mysterious smile.
What is (93) Sparks Street?
200
Containing three ingredients, and with disputed origins in 1950/60s Quebec, it gained popularity in the 1970s and has become a stereotypical Canadian dish.
What is poutine?
200
This cosmic force is a cat, purring in my lap 'cause it loves me.
What is karma?
300
The old Department of National Health and Welfare eventually split into these two - now separate - departments.
What are Health Canada and Employment and Social Development Canada (ESDC)?
300
The House was in the midst of a debate on the transport of fish, when members were sent scrambling in response to this emergency - with Prime Minister Borden and his secretary escaping on their hands and knees.
What is the Parliament Hill Fire of 1916?
300
Largely unnoticed and located at the corner of Sussex and Bruyere, they are the second oldest of these in all of North America.
What are sun dials? (1851)
300
This business originated in Bobcaygeon, Ontario in 1937. Today, you can go to two locations in Ottawa to get yourself flavors such as Banana Boat, Campfire Smores, and the Tragically Chip.
What is Kawartha Dairy?
300
Taylor's husband plays this position, which combines the duties of an offensive lineman and a wide receiver.
What is tight end?
400
The Department of Consumer and Corporate Affairs no longer exists; many of its responsibilities are now found in this department.
What is Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada (ISED)?
400
In 1881, MPs debated banning this from Parliamentary premises, in reaction to “the brawls and scenes which have disgraced not only this but previous Parliaments”.
What is the sale of alcohol?
400
In 1988, an abandoned train car and a 'beer tunnel' were located by a construction worker investigating a water main break in this flat area of Ottawa, which was once home to a brewery and warehouse.
What is Lebreton Flats?
400
Joe is advertising this product, of which Canadians bought nearly 2 billion litres in 2023-2024
What is beer?
400
Swift's first No. 1 album on the Billboard 200 was this 2010 album featuring “Mine” and “Back to December.”
What is Speak Now?
500
This department was created in 1993 from the merger of the Department of Communications and parts of the Department of the Secretary of State portfolio.
What is Canadian Heritage?
500
In response to a new policy imposing a surcharge on student loans, protestors threw this raw food product from the galleries during Question Period in 1990 - resulting in a Speaker's Ruling regarding the complicity of certain members.
What is macaroni?
500
In November 2005, Ottawa experienced a mysterious ten day event where hundreds of residents were affected by an unknown signal that jammed these devices.
What are garage doors?
500
Developed at the National Research Council, this technology became Canada's most famous contribution to the Gemini and Apollo space programs.
What is the Canadarm?
500
T-Swizzle last performed in Ottawa on this date.
What is July 6, 2015?