MEDIA
Who was known as the "King of Radio" in the 1930s and 40s?
JACK BENNY (1894-1974) - Jack Benny was one of the leading entertainers of the twentieth century with a highly popular comedic career in radio, television and film. "Canadians loved Jack Benny"! He put Vancouver on the map when his show aired in Canada as well as the US, in April of 1944. Mobs of fans and the Canadian military members came to see Jack Benny broadcast his show from Vancouver to raise money for the Victory Loan drive. ( or "War Loan Drive" -when performers urged Americans to purchase as many bonds as possible to help fund the war efforts).
What flower is associated with the Canadian Cancer Society?
DAFFODIL -Cancer organizations around the world use the daffodil as a symbol of hope for all people affected by cancer. Daffodils mark the return of spring and new life. It was first used in Toronto, Canada in the 1950s during volunteer organized coffee mornings to raise money for cancer awareness and research. Guests were given a daffodil as thanks for their support. The daffodil eventually replaced the sword which had been the Cancer Society emblem since establishment in 1929.
What type of new telephone was invented in 1963?
TOUCH-TONE - The first touch-tone phone was introduced in 1963 by Bell Telephone, which was part of the Bell System, an American telecommunications network. Unlike rotary phones that used a spinning dial, touch-tone phones had a keypad with buttons. This marked a major step forward in telephone technology. Canada received its first touch-tone phone service in 1964, just a year after it was introduced in the United States.
What is the largest organ in the human body?
SKIN—The skin is the largest organ of the human body. It makes up about 16% of your total body weight, and the average adult has about 1.5 to 2 square meters of skin. Our skin is not only our largest organ but also one of the most vital for survival and overall health.
It protects the body from germs, UV rays, and injury
It regulates body temperature
It allows sensation (touch, heat, pain)
It produces vitamin D when exposed tosun
What is Earth's largest continent?
ASIA - Among the seven continents, Asia is the biggest continent by land size. Asia stretches from the East Mediterranean Sea to the Western Pacific Ocean, with an area of approximately 45 million square kilometers, Guinness World Records report. The continent holds more than 40 countries, including China and India which are world’s two most populous countries.
Who was the first woman to appear on television?
BETTY WHITE - The first woman to appear on television was Betty White, in 1939, on an experimental broadcast. She was also the first woman to produce a national TV show series, "Life with Elizabeth", and the first star in a sitcom. For her lengthy work in radio and television, and film, Betty White twice earned the Guinness World of Record for the longest TV career by a female entertainer.
Which flower is harvested to produce the spice saffron?
CROCUS - The Crocus is a perennial flower that is planted in the fall for an early spring delight and is one of the first flowers to bloom in the spring. Saffron is obtained from the dried stigma of Crocus sativus, and autumn blooming species. It is valued as spice and dyestuff, and is one of the most expensive spices in the world.
Which product did Procter & Gamble introduce in 1961 that revolutionized baby care?
PAMPERS—Pampers were launched in 1961 as one of the first mass-market disposable diapers. The idea came from Vic Mills, a P&G researcher and grandfather, who wanted a more convenient diapering option for his grandson. The product revolutionized baby care, and Pampers began globalization with entry to Canada and Japan in 1971.
The body sheds about 40 million of these each day, what are they?
SKIN CELLS - the human body sheds millions of skin cells every day — around 30,000 to 40,000 cells per minute! On average, you shed about 1.5 pounds (0.7 kg) of dead skin cells each year. These skin cells come from the outermost layer, the epidermis, which is constantly renewing itself.
Most of the dust you see in your home? It’s partly made up of these tiny, dead skin flakes! Shedding skin is a normal and healthy process that helps protect the body and keep the skin fresh and functional.
In which ocean will you find the Falkland Islands?
(known for the Falkland War )
ATLANTIC OCEAN - Known for the 1982 Falkland War, which was a ten-week undeclared war between Argentina and the United Kingdom over two British territories in the South Atlantic. The conflict lasted 74 days and ended with an Argentine surrender , returning the islands to British control. During the hostilities, 2500 got wounded and almost 1000 military personnel got killed. Today, the Falklands are known for their abundant wildlife and rugged beauty.
In what year did TV broadcasting start in Canada?
1952 - PERCY SALTZMAN, a meteorologist, was the first person to appear on Canada's inaugural television broadcast in 1952 and the country's first TV weatherman. He was the first live talking Canadian face to be seen on television when CBC television launched its English-language service on September 8, 1952. In 1969, along with Lloyd Robertson, Percy Saltzman hosted 10 days of the first Moon Landing for CBC Television.
What is the national flower of India?
LOTUS - The lotus is the national flower of India, and is seen as a symbol of spiritual enlightement, wealth and triumph, a sacred flower that occupies a unique position in the art and mythology of ancient India. The lotus has a lifecycle like any other plant. With its roots latched to mud, it submerges every night into river water and miraculously re-blooms the next morning, sparingly clean. As a result, this has led the lotus to have associations as the flower with rebirth and spiritual enlightenment.
This 1963 movie was the most expensive film ever made at the time.
CLEOPATRA—The 1963 film Cleopatra, starring Elizabeth Taylor and Richard Burton, was the most expensive film ever made at the time. It was a box office success, grossing around $57 million domestically. However, because of its massive cost, it initially lost money and nearly bankrupted 20th Century Fox. It eventually made a profit, but only after years of international sales and re-releases. It is considered a landmark in Hollywood history due to its scale, costumes, and the real-life romance between Taylor and Burton.
What is the name of the bone that connects the skull to the spine?
ATLAS—The bone that connects the skull to the spine is called the atlas. It is the first cervical vertebra, and it sits directly under the skull and supports the head. It allows the head to nod up and down. The axis (second cervical vertebra, C2) sits just below the atlas and allows the head to rotate side to side. It’s called the atlas because, just like the "giant Atlas" in Greek mythology who carried the world on his shoulders, this bone carries the head on top of your spine.
What's the city with the most diversity in terms of language?
NEW YORK CITY - It’s actually New York City. This city of immigrants is also the most linguistically diverse city in the world. There are over 800 languages spoken in New York City. For reference, the most linguistically diverse country in the world is Papua New Guinea, with 820 languages. New York crams almost that many into a single city. Nowhere else comes close. Even London “only” has around 300 different languages.
What was the first year that the Olympic Games were broadcast?
1936 (BERLIN GAMES) - The first Olympic Games to be broadcast on television were the 1936 Summer Olympics held in Berlin, Germany. These broadcasts were very limited—they were shown only on special viewing screens in and around Berlin, not to the general public at home. It was the first time the Olympic Games were televised, and it was done by the German Post Office using early black-and-white TV technology.
Canada had its first televised Olympics during the 1956 Summer Olympics held in Melbourne, Australia.
What type of flower is a daffodil classified as?
PERENNIAL BULB - A daffodil is classified as a perennial bulb because it is a flowering plant that grows from a bulb and comes back year after year. Perennials are plants that live for more than two years, while bulbs are underground storage organs that contain nutrients to help the plant survive through periods of dormancy. Daffodils fit into both categories, making them a perennial bulb plant.
What is the name of the famous boxer who changed his name to Muhammed Ali?
CASSIUS CLAY - Cassius Clay changed his name to Muhammad Ali in 1964 after winning the world heavyweight boxing title. Clay announced that he had joined the Nation of Islam. Shortly afterward, the group's leader, Elijah Muhammad, gave him the name Muhammad Ali, which he publicly adopted.
Ali said the name Cassius Clay was a “slave name” and that Muhammad Ali was his “free name”—representing his new identity, faith, and values.
What organ filters waste from the blood?
KIDNEYS—The main function of the kidneys is to filter waste and extra fluids from the blood to make urine. They remove waste products and toxins from our body and balance fluids and electrolytes (like salt and potassium); they help control blood pressure. They make hormones that help produce red blood cells and keep our bones healthy.
In short, kidneys keep our blood clean and our body balanced!
Which island is the largest in the Caribbean?
CUBA—Cuba is the largest island in the Caribbean and is significantly larger than any other island in the region. About 110,000 square kilometers, about the size of Newfoundland. The population difference between the two is that Cuba has 11 million compared to Newfoundland's 530,000. Cuba is well known for its music, like salsa, cha-cha-cha, and rumba, as well as its world-famous "Cuban" cigars.
What is the name for a broadcast that is transmitted over the internet?
PODCAST - A podcast is like an old-fashioned radio show, but instead of tuning in at a specific time, you can listen whenever it’s convenient for you. Podcasts are recordings of people talking about different topics—like music, history, health, gardening, storytelling, or news—and you can play them on a smartphone, tablet, or computer.
Think of it like borrowing a favourite radio program from a library—you choose what you want to hear, and it plays whenever you're ready. Many seniors enjoy podcasts because they’re easy to use, informative, and feel like friendly voices keeping you company.
What part of the flower is responsible for producing pollen?
STAMEN - The stamen, specifically the anther located at the tip of the stamen, is responsible for producing pollen. The stamen is the male productive organ of the flower. Pollen is essential for sexual reproduction of flowering plants. Pollen produced by plants is often associated with hay fever, a common condition that causes inflammation in the nose when the immune system overreacts to inhaled allergens.
Who was the British fashion designer who invented a daring and revealing new type of clothing?
MARY QUANT —Mary Quant, a British fashion designer, is widely credited with popularizing the "mini skirt" in the 1960s. She named the mini skirt after her favorite car—the Mini Cooper—and saw it as a symbol of liberation for women. The look quickly caught on and became one of the most iconic fashion trends of the decade, associated with the "Swinging Sixties" and youth culture.
What part of the human body is the most complex and does not feel pain?
THE BRAIN—The brain is the most complex part of the human body, and interestingly, the brain itself does not feel pain. While the brain controls how we feel pain, it doesn’t have pain receptors—so it can’t actually sense it directly. That’s why, during some brain surgeries, patients can be awake without feeling pain in the brain itself.
However, the tissues around the brain—like the scalp, meninges (the layers covering the brain), and blood vessels—do have pain receptors and can feel pain.
Which country is Dubai located in?
THE UNITED ARAB EMIRATES - In the early 20th century, life began to change dramatically. The discovery of oil in the 1950s transformed the sleepy fishing villages of Abu Dhabi and Dubai into hubs of rapid development. Skyscrapers began to rise where palm huts once stood. On December 2, 1971, seven emirates united to form a new country: the United Arab Emirates. It since has prioritized education, infrastructure, and diplomacy, using its oil wealth not only to modernize but to build a peaceful and globally respected nation.