History
Who served as the first Prime Minister of Canada?
A) Sir Wilfrid Laurier
B) Alexander Mackenzie
C) Sir John A. Macdonald
C) Sir John A. Macdonald
John A. Macdonald served as Prime Minister of Canada for a total of 19 years. He served across two distinct periods: from July 1, 1867, to November 5, 1873, and again from October 17, 1878, until his death on June 6, 1891.
This July celebration is the official national holiday of Canada, that marks the anniversary of the Constitution Act of 1867 and is regarded as "the country's birthday".
Canada Day!
People celebrate Canada Day by wearing red and white, attending local festivals, enjoying outdoor barbecues, concerts, parades, and watching fireworks.
Which Canadian province has the largest overall population?
A) Ontario
B) British Columbia
C) Alberta
A) Ontario
Ontario holds about one-fifth of the world’s fresh water, spanning over 250,000 lakes. Larger than France and Spain combined, it features the world’s largest freshwater island (Manitoulin Island) and longest freshwater beach (Wasaga Beach).
This beloved Canadian comfort food originating from Quebec in the late 1950s. This savory dish consists of three main ingredients and can be found at local chip trucks.
Poutine
The name "poutine" is Québécois slang that roughly translates to "mess," which perfectly describes this indulgent dish.
What is the national animal of Canada?
A) Moose
B) Beaver
C) Canadian Goose
B) Beaver
The beaver is a symbol of Canada because of its central role in the historical fur trade and its reputation as an industrious, resilient builder.
When did Canada officially become a country?
A) 1763
B) 1867
C) 1905
B) 1867
The British North America Act established the Dominion of Canada on July 1, 1867, uniting the provinces of Ontario, Quebec, New Brunswick, and Nova Scotia.
This annual spring event held in Ottawa featuring over one million blooming flowers, and serves as a symbol of the historic friendship between Canada and the Netherlands.
The Tulip Festival
People celebrate the tulip festival by strolling through the vast floral displays, enjoying historical and cultural exhibits, and participating in outdoor community activities.
Which ocean does Canada NOT border?
A) Arctic
B) Pacific
C) Indian
C) Indian
Canada borders the Atlantic to the east, Pacific to the west, and the Arctic to the north.
This sugar candy is made by boiling sap, and is part of traditional culture in Quebec, Eastern Ontario, and New Brunswick.
Maple Taffy
It is made by boiling maple sap past the point where it would form maple syrup, but not so long that it becomes maple butter or maple sugar.
Which of these famous foods was invented in Canada?
A) Fortune Cookies
B) Hawaiian Pizza
C) Cheeseburger
B) Hawaiian Pizza
The Hawaiian pizza was indeed invented in 1962 by Greek-Canadian restaurateur Sam Panopoulos at the Satellite Restaurant in Chatham, Ontario.
Which was the last province to enter Canadian Confederation?
A) Prince Edward Island
B) Newfoundland and Labrador
C) Alberta
B) Newfoundland and Labrador
After voting in a referendum, the province officially joined Canada on March 31, 1949.
This Canadian September observance, also known as Orange Shirt Day, honors the children who never returned from residential schools. It also honors survivors, their families, and their communities, while promoting ongoing reconciliation efforts.
National day for truth and reconciliation
Actionable ways to participate include wearing orange to honor residential school survivors, learning about Indigenous history, and supporting Indigenous-led organizations and businesses.
This savory item is a wet-cured, unsmoked meat made from pork loin, is found mainly in Ontario.
Peameal Bacon ("Canadian Bacon")
Toronto pork packer William Davies, who moved to Canada from England in 1854, is credited with its development.
Which Canadian city is home to the world's first UFO landing pad?
A) Roswell, Ontario
B) St. Paul, Alberta
C) Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan
B) St. Paul, Alberta
Built in 1967 as part of Canada's centennial celebrations, it is a 130-ton concrete structure with a raised platform, a large map of Canada made of stones from each province, and a time capsule scheduled to be opened in 2067.
What animal is cited by The Canadian Encyclopedia as having the greatest impact on the early exploration and history of Canada?
A) The Caribou
B) The Moose
C) The Beaver
C) The Beaver
Driven by the European demand for felt hats, the pursuit of waterproof beaver pelts forced explorers and Voyageurs deep into uncharted territory, mapping out extensive waterways, establishing trade routes, and founding early settlements.
This Canadian May holiday honors royalty by celebrating the official birthday of the reigning monarch. Informally known as the "May Long Weekend," it is widely celebrated as the unofficial kickoff to the Canadian summer.
Victoria Day
Canadians celebrate Victoria Day—the unofficial start of summer—by gathering for spectacular fireworks displays, hosting the first backyard barbecues of the season, and enjoying the spring weather outdoors.
Canada is famous for its vast lakes. Which is the largest freshwater lake that is entirely within Canada
A) Great Bear Lake
B) Lake Superior
C) Lake Winnipeg
A) Great Bear Lake
Despite having only 15 fish species, the lake’s isolated, freezing waters grow them huge. It holds the world records for both the Lake Trout (a massive 78.86 lbs) and the Arctic Grayling.
This dessert is named after a city in British Columbia and consists of three layers of confections.
Nanaimo bars
It consists of three layers: at the bottom, a wafer, nut, and coconut crumb base; custard icing in the middle; and a layer of chocolate ganache on top.
In which Canadian province can you find a desert?
A) British Columbia
B) Manitoba
C) Saskatchewan
A) British Columbia
The Okanagan Desert is the common name for a semi-arid shrubland located in the southern region of the Okanagan Valley in British Columbia and Washington.
In what year did the Bank of Canada officially phase out the distribution of the Canadian one-cent piece (the penny)?
A) 2005
B) 2010
C) 2013
C) 2013
While production stopped in 2012, the federal government officially stopped distributing pennies to financial institutions in February 2013.
This June cultural and national holiday honors French Canadians. While rooted in religious traditions, it has evolved into a vibrant celebration of Francophone identity, history, and culture.
Saint-Jean-Baptiste Day (la Saint-Jean)
Across Quebec and by Francophone communities all over Canada, it is marked by engaging with French-Canadian culture through large public gatherings and intimate family traditions.
What is the longest river entirely contained within Canada?
A) St. Lawrence River
B) Mackenzie River
C) Fraser River
B) Mackenzie River
This French Canadian dish, originating from the province of Quebec, is a traditional part of the Christmas réveillon and a popular New Year's Eve meal.
Tourtière
Made with minced pork, veal or beef and potatoes. Wild game meat such as bear or venison is sometimes used.
Other than hockey, what is the official sport of Canada?
A) Basketball
B) Curling
C) Lacrosse
C) Lacrosse
The designation was made official in 1994 when the Parliament of Canada passed the National Sports of Canada Act, which declared ice hockey as the national winter sport and lacrosse as the national summer sport.