Can You Name More Than 11 of These Things Canadians Would Know?

By: Ashley Linkletter
Estimated Completion Time
3 min
Can You Name More Than 11 of These Things Canadians Would Know?
Image: Richard Legner / Moment / Getty Images

About This Quiz

Canada is a diverse country in just about every way possible. Its multiple climates range from west coast rainforests to sprawling prairies as far as the eye can see to snow-covered tundras free from any signs of human civilization. The people who call Canada home have lived here for generations (or thousands of years), or they've just arrived — 20% of Canada's population is made up of recent immigrants. Canada's multi-party political system may seem confusing to outsiders, but here it makes sense to have more than two federal parties to vote for. Canada is a relatively young nation, and many of its most important historical events have happened within the last century and a half (although its history may seem longer, due to the country's deep ties to the British monarchy).

The questions in this quiz are themselves diverse, just like Canada and its inhabitants. It's time to think about all of the things that make Canada such a great nation, and some that show work needs to be done. 

O Canada! Put on your Leafs hat, crank up that Neil Young and grab a Nanaimo bar to snack on. Now's your chance to show off what you really know about the Great White North!

Canadians 1
Wiki Commons by White House
Who was the prime minister of Canada in 2018 ?
Sir John A. Macdonald
Pierre Trudeau
Justin Trudeau
Stephen Harper
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Leader of the Liberal Party, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau was elected into office in 2015. Prior to becoming prime minister, Trudeau worked as a drama teacher, club bouncer, snowboarding instructor and camp counsellor.

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Canadians 2
LauriPatterson / E+ / Getty Images
Out of the following ingredients, which one is not used to make poutine?
Cheese sauce
Cheese curds
Gravy
French fries
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Invented in the 1950s, poutine is beloved all across Canada, especially in its home province of Quebec. Traditionally it's made with french fries, squeaky cheese curds and brown gravy. This gravy may be homemade, canned or from a powder — St-Hubert is a favourite brand.

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Canadians 3
rmfox / E+ / Getty Images
Canada has two national sports, one being hockey. What is the second sport?
Curling
Lacrosse
Badminton
Basketball
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Lacrosse is the national summer sport of Canada, with hockey being the national winter sport. Despite the fact that Canada is so closely associated with ice hockey, lacrosse was the only national sport until 1994.

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Canadians 4
Wiki Commons by SimonP / CBC
What does the acronym CBC stand for?
Canadians Being Canadians
Central Broadcasting Committee
Canada Broadcasts Canada
Canadian Broadcasting Corporation
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

The CBC, or Canadian Broadcasting Corporation, is a federal Crown corporation, which means it's owned by the state. Founded in 1936, the CBC has both English and French divisions in radio and television, and it is a huge producer of Canadian content.

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Canadians 5
Hey Darlin / DigitalVision Vectors / Getty Images
All of the Great Lakes are big, but which one is the biggest?
Lake Superior
Lake Huron
Lake Ontario
Lake Erie
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Not only is Lake Superior the largest of the Great Lakes, but it's also the second largest in the world by surface area, behind the Caspian Sea, and it's the largest freshwater lake measured by area. It's also the deepest and coldest of the Great Lakes, with its greatest depth measuring 406 metres and average depth measuring 147 metres.

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Canadians 6
bgblue / DigitalVision Vectors / Getty Images
How many provinces does Canada have?
12
2
10
5
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Canada has ten provinces: British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, Ontario, Quebec, Newfoundland and Labrador, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia and Prince Edward Island, listed from west coast to east coast.

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Canadians 7
RyersonClark / E+ / Getty Images
In addition to provinces, Canada also has territories. How many territories are there?
3
2
5
1
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Canada has three territories: Yukon Territory, Northwest Territories and Nunavut. Separating from the Northwest Territories on April 1, 1999, snowy Nunavut is Canada's newest territory. Its capital is Iqaluit, which means "place of many fish" in Inuktitut.

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Canadians 8
Wiki Commons by Kris Krüg
Hockey fans everywhere should know the answer to this question. Who is the Great One?
Bobby Orr
Mario Lemieux
Gordie Howe
Wayne Gretzky
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

The Great One, also known as Wayne Gretzky, is known for being the best hockey player in the history of the sport. Gretzky's unique knack for strategy and predicting the actions of his opponents led to him holding the NHL record for most assists and goals ever.

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Canadians 9
Wiki Commons
Canada is a member of which of the following?
Commonwealth of Nations
Group of England
Collection of World Nations
United British Nations
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Along with another 52 countries, including Australia, South Africa and New Zealand, Canada belongs to the Commonwealth of Nations. It is a voluntary association of former British colonies and Britain itself. The Commonwealth has two main branches, the Commonwealth Secretariat and the Commonwealth Foundation.

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Canadians 10
Wiki Commons by Justin Higuchi
Swallow it down! Which Canadian singer released the hit album "Jagged Little Pill"?
Sarah McLachlan
Alanis Morissette
Celine Dion
Chantal Kreviazuk
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Alanis Morissette's third studio album, "Jagged Little Pill," went on to become one of the best-selling albums of all time, selling an impressive 33 million copies worldwide. "Jagged Little Pill" sold two million copies in Canada alone.

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Canadians 11
Wiki Commons by Larry D. Moore
This famous Canadian author has written at least 17 novels, with the most recognizable being "The Handmaid's Tale." Who are they?
Margaret Atwood
Margaret Laurence
Alice Munro
Louise Penny
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Margaret Atwood's substantial contributions to the postmodern literary era have been nothing short of incredible. In addition to her reputation as a novelist, she is a respected poet, children's author and writer of economic theories.

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Canadians 12
Danielle Donders / Moment / Getty Images
What is the capital of Canada?
Toronto
Ottawa
Victoria
Edmonton
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Although it isn't the largest or most populated city in Canada, Ottawa was chosen by Queen Victoria as the nation's capital for a very diplomatic reason: the city is between Toronto (English speaking) and Montreal (French speaking). This meant she would look impartial to the English and French settlements.

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Canadians 13
Wiki Commons by Martin C. Barry
Canada Day is on July 1, a day when Canadians celebrate the anniversary of their country's formation. In what year did Canada officially become a country?
1965
1867
1812
1910
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

On July 1, 1867, the sovereign dominion in Canada was formed from the confederation of Canada's colonies, New Brunswick and Nova Scotia. The colonies of Canada consisted of Upper and Lower Canada, which eventually became Ontario and Quebec, respectively.

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Canadians 14
Wiki Commons by George Lancefield
Who was the first prime minister of Canada?
John A. Macdonald
Jean Chrétien
Lester B. Pearson
Pierre Trudeau
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Sir John A. Macdonald was Canada's first prime minister. A member of the early Conservative Party of Canada, Macdonald held the position of prime minister for 19 nonconsecutive years — the second longest term as prime minister in the history of Canada.

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Canadians 15
Wiki Commons by F. Antolín Hernandez
Which of the following singer-songwriters is not Canadian?
Bryan Adams
Neil Young
Randy Bachman
Bob Dylan
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Many famous singer-songwriters have the privilege of calling Canada home, including all of the examples listed above (with the exception of Bob Dylan). Other talented Canadians include Michael Bublé, Burton Cummings, Paul Anka, Gordon Downie and Daniel Lanois.

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Canadians 16
martinedoucet / E+ / Getty Images
Canada has two official languages. One is English; what is the other?
French
Spanish
Celtic
Italian
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Around 7.2 million consider French their first language — that's about 20% of the Canadian population as a whole. French is mainly spoken in Quebec, but it can also be heard in Ontario and New Brunswick. In fact, New Brunswick is Canada's only officially bilingual province.

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Canadians 17
Feng Wei Photography / Moment / Getty Images
What is the name of Canada's longest highway?
Queen Elizabeth II Highway
Trans-Canada Highway
Mackenzie Highway
Stoney Trail
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

The Trans-Canada Highway will take you all the way from Victoria, British Columbia, to St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador. Plan to spend two weeks driving along the 7,821-kilometre highway if you want to travel from one coast to the other — while seeing the beautiful sights along the way, of course.

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Canadians 18
kolb_art / DigitalVision Vectors / Getty Images
What percentage of Canadians live within 160 kilometres of the Canada/United States border?
25%
60%
5%
90%
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Despite the vastness of Canada in terms of its geography, around 90% of the population lives within 160 kilometres of the border. Why? Put simply, the further north you head, the colder it gets, making it a poor location for growing crops or simply living comfortably.

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Canadians 19
Wiki Commons by s. yume
How many times has Canada hosted the Olympics?
3
0
1
5
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Canada has had the honour of hosting the Olympics three times: Montreal hosted the Summer Olympic Games in 1976, Calgary hosted the Winter Olympic Games in 1988, and Vancouver hosted the Winter Olympic Games in 2010.

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Canadians 20
Images Etc / Moment Mobile
Who is Canada's Head of State?
Prince Charles
Justin Trudeau
Queen Elizabeth II
Prince Harry
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Going by their formal title, Canada's Head of State and Queen of Canada is Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II. The Queen's role is largely symbolic, the personal embodiment of the Crown in Canada. In turn, the Crown bestows the responsibility of governing the people on the Canadian government.

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Canadians 21
Wiki Commons by Denelson83 / George F.G. Stanley
In what year was the national flag of Canada unveiled?
1965
1900
1867
1995
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

The Canadian flag, as it is known today, replaced the Canadian Red Ensign flag (upper left) in 1965. Created by George Stanley, the flag's design was partially inspired by the Royal Military College of Canada's flag. The modern flag design was chosen in a unanimous vote by 14 members of the Liberal Party and Conservative Party of Canada.

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Canadians 22
Wiki Commons by Arthur Goss
This Nobel Laureate discovered insulin. What is their name?
Alexander Graham Bell
William Lyon Mackenzie King
Lester B. Pearson
Frederick Grant Banting
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Sir Frederick Grant Banting discovered the therapeutic properties of insulin in 1920, in the city of London, Ontario. Banting House is now a museum known for its Flame of Hope, a flame that has been burning since 1989 to symbolize the eternal hope for a diabetes cure.

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Canadians 23
Extreme Media / E+ / Getty Images
Canadians love their beer! What is the name of the oldest brewery in Canada?
Canadian Breweries Ltd.
Labatt's Brewery
Molson Coors Canada Brewery
Steam Whistle Brewing
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

The Molson Brewery, now known as the Molson Coors Beverage Company, was founded in 1786, making it not only Canada's longest-running brewery but also North America's oldest brewery. The original brewery is located in Montreal. There are now plants in Toronto, St. John's, Moncton and Chilliwack.

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Canadians 24
Zhou Jiang / Moment / Getty Images
What kind of leaf is on the Canadian flag?
Maple
Oak
Birch
Poplar
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

An important national symbol dating back as far as 1867, an 11-pointed maple leaf adorns the Canadian flag. Ten points represent the ten provinces; the eleventh point illustrates the fact that the provinces form one nation.

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Canadians 25
Wiki Commons by Concierge.2C
How many major political parties does Canada have?
3
1
2
8
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

The three main political parties in Canada are the Liberal Party, the Conservative Party and the New Democratic Party (NDP). The Green Party and the Bloc Québécois are smaller federal parties which continue to influence the Canadian political landscape.

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Canadians 26
Wiki Commons by Joy
What kind of dessert was made famous in Nanaimo, British Columbia?
British Columbia cake
Nanaimo bars
Nanaimo ice cream sundae
Canada cookies
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

For chocolate lovers only! Thought to be invented in 1953, Nanaimo bars are a layered bar dessert made with a bottom layer of graham cracker and coconut, a middle layer of thick custard and a top layer of chocolate ganache.

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Canadians 27
Wiki Commons by GoToVan
Let's go to the mall! Do you know where North America's largest mall is located?
Calgary
Toronto
Edmonton
Vancouver
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

The West Edmonton Mall is actually the biggest mall in North America, not just Canada. If shoppers get bored of the mall's more than 800 stores, they can always check in to one of two hotels, sample food from over 100 restaurants, go to the World Waterpark or ride the Mindbender indoor roller coaster.

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Canadians 28
Much / Bell Media
Looking to watch MTV in Canada? Which channel should you tune into instead?
MuchMusic
YTV
CBC
Global TV
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Launched in 1984, MuchMusic was the predictor of all things cool for Canadian youth in the '80s and '90s. Unfortunately, like MTV in the U.S., MuchMusic has removed almost all of its music programming and now mainly broadcasts reality shows and movies.

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Canadians 29
Wiki Commons by Carport
What is the name of Canada's largest provincial park?
Polar Bear Park
Algonquin Park
Queen Victoria Park
Pinery Provincial Park
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Situated in the far north of Ontario by Hudson Bay, Polar Bear Park covers a whopping 2,355,200 hectares, or 23,552 square kilometres. Despite its size, Polar Bear Park is primarily a conservation area and can only be accessed by air. Special permission must be given in order to visit the park.

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Canadians 30
Wiki Commons © 1994, Her Majesty the Queen in Right of Canada
Canada's official motto is "A Mari usque ad Mare." What does this mean?
"Land of the polite"
"From sea to sea"
"The Big White North"
"Across land to sea"
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Canada's official motto wasn't applied to the Royal Coat of Arms until 1921. Although the motto had been unofficially in use since the early 1900s, it wasn't until after World War I that King George V and the federal Cabinet authorized its inclusion on Canada's coat of arms.

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Canadians 31
Basic Elements Photography / Moment / Getty Images
Which of these oceans does not border Canada?
Indian Ocean
Atlantic Ocean
Pacific Ocean
Arctic Ocean
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Thanks to Canada's massive geographic sprawl, it sits between the Pacific Ocean to the west, the Arctic Ocean to the north and the Atlantic ocean to the east — hence the official motto, "from sea to sea."

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Canadians 32
tulissidesign / Rebecca R Jackrel / Feng Wei Photography / Claude-Olivier Marti / E+ / Moment / Getty Images
Many species of wildlife call Canada home. Which one was chosen as the country's national animal?
Moose
Polar bear
Elk
Beaver
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

The beaver was chosen as Canada's national animal, due to the economic and historical importance of the beaver fur pelt trade. It was relied on so heavily that by the middle of the 19th century, beavers were nearly hunted to extinction. However, thanks to conservation efforts, beavers are once again plentiful in Canada.

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Canadians 33
Marius Gomes / Moment / Getty Images
Parliament Hill is in which major Canadian city?
Ottawa
Toronto
Victoria
Montreal
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Also known as The Hill, Parliament Hill is located in the nation's capital, Ottawa, Ontario. The three main Parliament Buildings are the East, West and Centre Blocks. The Centre Block houses the Senate and House of Commons chambers, while the other buildings are generally used for offices and administrative purposes.

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Canadians 34
Safwat Ghabbour / Moment / Getty Images
What is Canada's most populous city?
Montreal
Calgary
Vancouver
Toronto
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Toronto, the capital of Ontario, is the most populous city in Canada, with approximately 5 million citizens in the greater metropolitan area. The city of Toronto is Canada's main hub for finance (Bay Street), entertainment (Toronto International Film Festival) and multiculturalism.

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Canadians 35
Wiki Commons by GoToVan
When did Canada host the FIFA Women's World Cup?
2011
2000
2015
1999
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

In 2015, six Canadian cities were chosen to host the 2015 FIFA Women's World Cup: Edmonton; Winnipeg; Vancouver; Ottawa; Montreal and Moncton, New Brunswick. The players not only had to fly long distances between matches, but they also had to cross up to five time zones. Talk about jet lag!

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Richard Legner / Moment / Getty Images