Canadian Symbols

Question 1

The Canadian Crown

The Crown has been a symbol of the state in Canada for ____ years.

Queen Elizabeth II, who has been Queen of Canada since 1952, marked her Golden Jubilee in ____, and celebrates her Diamond Jubilee (60 years as Sovereign) in 2012.

The Crown is a symbol of ____, including Parliament, the legislatures, the courts, police services and the Canadian Forces.

Answer 1

The Crown has been a symbol of the state in Canada for 400 years.

Queen Elizabeth II, who has been Queen of Canada since 1952, marked her Golden Jubilee in 2002, and celebrates her Diamond Jubilee (60 years as Sovereign) in 2012.

The Crown is a symbol of government, including Parliament, the legislatures, the courts, police services and the Canadian Forces.

Question 2

A new Canadian flag was raised for the first time in ____.

Answer 2

A new Canadian flag was raised for the first time in 1965.

Question 3

Share more about the maple leaf as a Canadian symbol.

Answer 3

The maple leaf is Canada’s best-known symbol.

Maple leaves were adopted as a symbol by French Canadians in the 1700s, have appeared on Canadian uniforms and insignia since the 1850s, and are carved into the headstones of our fallen soldiers buried overseas and in Canada.

Question 4

It is said that the ____ (“fleur-de-lys”) was adopted by the French king in the year ____.

Answer 4

It is said that the lily flower (“fleur-de-lys”) was adopted by the French king in the year 496.

Question 5

Coat of arms and motto

As an expression of national pride after the ____, Canada adopted an official coat of arms and a national motto, A mari usque ad mare, which in Latin means ____.

Answer 5

As an expression of national pride after the First World War, Canada adopted an official coat of arms and a national motto, A mari usque ad mare, which in Latin means “from sea to sea.”

Question 6

Parliament buildings

The towers, arches, sculptures and stained glass of the Parliament Buildings embody the ____, ____ and ____ traditions and the Gothic Revival architecture popular in the time of ____.

Answer 6

The towers, arches, sculptures and stained glass of the Parliament Buildings embody the French,
English and Aboriginal traditions and the Gothic Revival architecture popular in the time of Queen Victoria.

Question 7

What is Canada’s national winter sport (and most popular spectator sport)?

Answer 7

Hockey is Canada’s most popular spectator sport and is considered to be the national winter sport.

Question 8

What is Canada’s second most popular sport?

Answer 8

Canadian football is the second most popular sport.

Question 9

What is Canada’s official summer sport?

Answer 9

Lacrosse, an ancient sport first played by Aboriginals, is the official summer sport.

Question 10

The beaver

Name 3 ways the beaver is represented as a Canadian symbol.

Answer 10

The beaver was adopted centuries ago as a symbol of the Hudson’s Bay Company.

It became an emblem of the St. Jean Baptiste Society, a French-Canadian patriotic association, in 1834, and was also adopted by other groups.

This industrious rodent can be seen on the five-cent coin, on the coats of arms of Saskatchewan and Alberta, and of cities such as Montreal and Toronto.

Question 11

____ and ____ are the two official languages and are important symbols of identity.

English speakers (____) and French speakers (____) have lived together in
partnership and creative tension for more than 300 years.

Answer 11

English and French are the two official languages and are important symbols of identity.

English speakers (Anglophones) and French speakers (Francophones) have lived together in partnership and creative tension for more than 300 years.

Question 12

Parliament passed the Official Languages Act in 1969.

What are its 3 main objectives?

Answer 12

• Establish equality between French and English in Parliament, the Government of Canada and
  institutions subject to the Act.
• Maintain and develop official language minority communities in Canada.
• Promote equality of French and English in Canadian society.

Question 13

National Anthem

____ was proclaimed as the national anthem in ____. It was first sung in Québec City in 1880.

French and English Canadians sing different words to the national anthem.

Answer 13

O Canada was proclaimed as the national anthem in 1980. It was first sung in Québec City in 1880.

Question 14

O Canada

Sing the song.

Answer 14

O Canada

O Canada! Our home and native land!
True patriot love in all thy sons command
With glowing hearts we see thee rise
The true North strong and free!
From far and wide, O Canada
We stand on guard for thee
God keep our land glorious and free!
O Canada, we stand on guard for thee
O Canada, we stand on guard for thee

Question 15

The Royal Anthem of Canada, ____, can be played or sung on any occasion when Canadians wish to honour the Sovereign.

Answer 15

The Royal Anthem of Canada, “God Save the Queen (or King),” can be played or sung on any occasion
when Canadians wish to honour the Sovereign.

Question 16

Official awards are called ____, consisting of orders, decorations and medals.

After using British ____ for many years, Canada started its own ____ system with the Order of Canada in 1967, the centennial ofConfederation.

Answer 16

Official awards are called honours, consisting of orders, decorations and medals.

After using British honours for many years, Canada started its own honours system with the Order of Canada in 1967, the centennial of
Confederation.

Question 17

What is the highest honour available to Canadians?

Answer 17

The Victoria Cross (V.C.) is the highest honour available to Canadians and is awarded for the most conspicuous bravery, a daring or pre-eminent act of valour or self-sacrifice, or extreme devotion to duty in the presence of the enemy.

The V.C. has been awarded to 96 Canadians since 1854.

Question 18

Canada has been a constitutional monarchy in its own right since Confederation in ____ during Queen Victoria’s reign.

Answer 18

Canada has been a constitutional monarchy in its own right since Confederation in 1867 during Queen Victoria’s reign.

Question 19

The red-white-red pattern comes from the flag of the ____, Kingston, founded in 1876.

Answer 19

The red-white-red pattern comes from the flag of the Royal Military College, Kingston, founded in 1876.

Question 20

____ and ____ had been colours of ____ and ____ since the Middle Ages and the national colours of Canada since 1921.

Answer 20

Red and white had been colours of France and England since the Middle Ages and the national colours of Canada since 1921.

Question 21

The ____ is our official Royal Flag.

Answer 21

The Union Jack is our official Royal Flag.

Question 22

The ____ served as the Canadian flag for about 100 years.

Answer 22

The Canadian Red Ensign served as the Canadian flag for about
100 years.

Question 23

The ____ became the symbol of French royalty for more than 1,000 years, including the colony of New France.

Answer 23

The fleur-de-lys became the symbol of French royalty for more than 1,000 years, including the colony of New France.

Question 24

Revived at ____, the fleur-de-lys was included in the Canadian Red Ensign.

In 1948 Quebec adopted its own flag, based on the ____ and the fleur-de-lys.

Answer 24

Revived at Confederation, the fleur-de-lys was included in the Canadian Red Ensign.

In 1948 Quebec adopted its own flag, based on the Cross and the fleur-de-lys.

Question 25

Coat of arms and motto

The arms contain symbols of ____, ____, ____ and ____ as well as red maple leaves.

Today the arms can be seen on ____, government documents and ____.

Answer 25

The arms contain symbols of England, France, Scotland and Ireland as well as red maple leaves.

Today the arms can be seen on dollar bills, government documents and public buildings.

Question 26

Parliament Buildings

The buildings were completed in the
1860s. The ____ was destroyed by an accidental fire in 1916 and rebuilt in 1922. The ____ is the only part of the original building remaining.

Answer 26

The buildings were completed in the
1860s. The Centre Block was destroyed by an accidental fire in 1916 and rebuilt in 1922. The Library is the only part of the original building remaining.