The Greatest Canadian Inventions Quiz

Answer: All of these

It is undetermined the exact year that the birch bark canoe was invented, however, many accounts credit the Ojibway peoples of North America with inventing the birch bark canoe. Travel by water was the quickest means of transportation because there was no access by rail, car, or horse in early Canadian history. It has been determined, however, that as North America grew, and as the fur trade became such a large and prosperous event, the French set up the first canoe factory in 1750 in Trois-Rivieres, Quebec. At this time, a birch bark canoe could hold up to twelve persons and more than 2000 kilograms in cargo weight. Today, there are a variety of canoes and kayaks that a person can use for travel, sport, or recreation. Each of these models could not have been produced without the First Nations People of Canada. The birch bark canoe made #20 on the list of Canadian inventions.

Information about the birch bark canoe was extracted from "The History of The Canoe" at http://www.canoe.ca/AllAboutCanoes/canoe_history.html.

Answer: He was daydreaming.

While in Brantford, Ontario, Alexander Graham Bell thought of a new communication device. Bell had gone to his "daydreaming place" and brainstormed about a new "telegraph" device that he was creating. While daydreaming, he realized that it was possible to create an instrument that allowed electric currents to undulate in the same manner that air does when sound is produced. This daydream was the basis for his invention of the telephone. On March 10, 1876, while working at Boston University, Bell submitted his infamous telegraph speaking the words "Mr. Watson, come here, I need you". The telephone was ranked as the #2 all time Canadian invention.

Information about Alexander Graham Bell and his telephone invention was found while researching "The Greatest Canadian Invention" at http://www.cbc.ca/greatest/top_ten/nominee/bell-alexander-graham.html.

Answer: 24

Prior to 1878, travel was especially difficult for people because they were consistently having to reset their time pieces according to the local time whenever they arrived in a new community. This often created nightmares for railway station masters that were responsible for creating time schedules for North America's transcontinental railway as it was chaotic and often led to confusion for travellers. Fleming developed a solution that is still used as our universal time zone system. He took a map and divided the world into 24 different time zones, thus creating a 24 hour day. Each time zone would have a one hour time difference between them. With this system, the idea of time became simple and practical for all citizens of the world to understand. Standard time was ranked as the #15 all time Canadian invention.

Information on Standard Time was found using the online source Wikipedia. For more information go to http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Universal_Time#Universal_Time_and_standard_time.

Answer: Separable Baggage Check Tags

In 1882, John Mitchell Lyons, a Canadian from the Maritime provinces of Canada devised a simple device that made travelling easier for people around the world. The separable baggage check tag was invented so that luggage would arrive at its final destination without passengers worrying about their luggage. The ticket showed the issuing station, the destination, and a consecutive number for reference. The lower half of the ticket was given to the passenger, while the upper half, with a hole at the top, was inserted into a brass sleeve and then attached to the baggage by a strap.

Today, these tags have bar codes that can be scanned easily so that luggage will make it to their final destination on time. These separable bag tags made it to #50 on Canada's all time invention list.

Answer: He wanted to keep students fit during the winter.

Dr. James Naismith invented the sport of basketball as a means to keep his students both occupied and physically fit during the long winter months. This sport was very vigourous, active, and fun. A peach basket was used as a net for scoring, a soccer ball was used as the ball, and players played on a court that was half the size of present day courts. The invention of basketball made it to #21 on the all time Canadian inventions list.

Information about the invention of basketball was researched from Wikipedia online encyclopedia as well as the Library and Archives of Canada website http://epe.lac-bac.gc.ca/100/205/301/ic/cdc/naismith/default.htm.

Answer: Bread

Charles E. Saunders had developed this strain of wheat product in 1904. By 1908, this type of wheat because commonly used across Canada and in other locations around the world. One of the advantages that many farmers found with this variety of wheat is that it actually matured approximately 10 days earlier than other forms of wheat. This particular strand of wheat could be milled into a fine powder/flour that could be easily used to make bread products. One disadvantage of this wheat was that the stems easily rusted or rotted. As a result, Saunders tried to develop newer and improved varieties of wheat including Ruby, Reward, and Garnet varieties. His innovation reached #26 on the all-time Canadian inventions list.

Information about Marquis Wheat was selected from the Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada website as well as from the online source Wikipedia.

Answer: Screws

The Robertson Screw is unique from all other types of screws in that it has a square draw in the top of it. In order to use the Robertson Screw, one must use a screwdriver with a square tip on it. These types of screws are used primarily in Canada, however, they are gaining popularity in other locations of the world. Robertson Screws have a variety of tip sizes and the driver that is to be used will have a specific colour. For example, a No.3 screw will require a yellow colour coded strip, while a No.8 screw will requre a red colour coded strip. The Robertson Screw reached #7 on the all-time Canadian invention list.

Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robertson_screw

Answer: The zipper

Making #8 on the all-time list of Canadian inventions was the zipper. Invented in 1913 by Gideon Sundback, the zipper eliminated people from having to worry about using buckles and buttons on a daily basis in order to get dressed. Buttons and buckles often made daily dressing difficult and time consuming. Sundback's invention made life easier for people around the world.

For more information visit The Greatest Canadian Invention at http://www.cbc.ca/inventions/.

Answer: Insulin

Frederick Banting has been credited with isolating insulin in 1921. Banting and his assistant Charles Best began experimenting on dogs during the summer of 1921. They tied string around the pancreatic duct of the dogs and within several weeks, the pancreatic digestive cells had died. As they had been absorbed by the immune systems of the dogs, these cells had left behind thousands of islets (producing what is now known as insulin). Banting and Best used this serum on a dog that was pancreatectomized and managed to keep it alive for the summer. By 1922, this "insulin" was being tested on humans. Improvements were made with this new medicine and it has become the basis for assisting thousands of people with diabetes and their struggle to survive. In 1923, Banting and J.J.R. MacLeod (a Scottish physician that played a minimal role in the development of insulin) were awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in Physiology or Medicine for isolating insulin. Banting was extremely insulted that his assistant Charles Best was not given credit for the discovery and immediately shared his prize with Best. The isolating of insulin was ranked #1 on the all-time Canadian invention list.

Information about Frederick Banting and the invention of insulin can be found at http://nobelprize.org/nobel_prizes/medicine/laureates/1923/banting-bio.html.

Answer: Walkie Talkie

The walkie talkie was the first hand held two-way radio transceiver that was intentionally developed for use during the Second World War. According to the Donald L. Hings website (http://dlhings.ca/walkietalkie.html), Donald L. Hings was officially given credit for the development of the walkie talkie and was given credit for its help and significance to helping with the war effort. Hings had developed his model, the C-58 following his research in developing a civilian model in 1937. By 1942, the C-58 was in use during the war. Following the war, Hings started his own electronics research and development company.

By the time of his death, Hings had more than 50 patents in both the Canada and the United States. He was given the Order of Canada in 2001 and was posthumously inducted into the Telecommunications Hall of Fame in 2006.

He would pass away in 2004 leaving behind him a legacy that will never be forgotten in Canada. Hings invention made it to #31 on the all-time Canadian invention list.

Answer: Electronic Music

According to Hugh Le Caine's biographical website, in 1945, Hugh Le Caine became an instant hero in the music world when he invented the Electronic Music Synthesizer. Le Caine had attended Queen's University in 1939 where he would study physics and would work on the development of some of the worlds first radar systems. In 1945, he started his own personal music studio where he would work on the design of electronic instruments such as the Electronic Sackbut. This Electronic Sackbut would be recognized as the first voltage controlled synthesizer. Hugh Le Caine's invention would lead to other common musical devices now used today such as the electronic keyboard and mixers. His invention would reach #34 on the all-time Canadian invention list.

To visit the biographical website of Hugh Le Caine see http://dlhings.ca/walkietalkie.html.

Answer: Ice Hockey

The instant replay was first used by the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation in 1955 during a National Hockey League game on Hockey Night In Canada. It was first used by George Retzlaff of the CBC. Instant replay is typically used to determine that the correct call was made regarding a goal being scored, penalty called, etc. In the early days of instant replay, they were typically used to re-show what happened during a specific play (e.g. to re-show a save or goal). Today, however, replays are used to determine if a goal should be disallowed, if a penalty should be assessed, or to determine if time has run out. The instant replay made it up to #21 on Canada's all-time invention list.

Information about the instant replay can be found at the Wikipedia online encyclopedia website.

Answer: Cheese Curds

The poutine is probably the most famous food invention that was made in the country of Canada. In its most simple form, a poutine is a dish consisting of french fries, cheese curds, and gravy on top. Throughout the years, other ingredients have been added such as peas, turkey, and beef. In Canada, the poutine has become a fast-food staple and is served at many locations including New York Fries, McDonalds, Harvey's, A&W, and more. According to the inventor, he came up with the idea of the poutine when a customer ordered french fries while waiting for his cheese curds at the Kingsey cheese factory. He claims that the gravy was added later on as a means to keep the fries and cheese curds warm The poutine made it to #10 on the all-time Canadian invention list.

Interesting information about the Montreal poutine was found at http://www.montrealpoutine.com/history.html.

Answer: STS-2

The Shuttle Remote Manipulator System (SRMS), or Canadarm, is capable of handling loads of up to 65000 pounds in space (due to gravity). It is a highly durable device that is used on a variety of important space related missions and in its first 50 missions, the Canadarm did not fail a single time. In fact, since the Columbia disaster in February 2003, the Canadarm has been used on every space mission to test and inspect for any damages to the heat shield that may have occurred during launch. Canadarm was ranked at #14 on the all-time Canadian invention list.

Information about the Canadarm was found using the online source Wikipedia.

Answer: He developed Java programming language

Closing out this Funtrivia quiz is the inventor of the Java programming language that is used on many internet websites and personal computers. James Gosling developed this program in 1994 while working on a project called "Oak" and Sun Microsystems officially released the program in 1995. When Gosling invented the Java system, he had five particular goals in mind:

1. The use of object-oriented programming methods.
2. The same program should be executed on multiple operating systems.
3. It would have built-in support for using computer networks.
4. Codes could be executed from remote sources in a secure environment.
5. The program should be easy to use.

This modern day invention made it all the way to #12 on the all-time Canadian invention list. Information about James Gosling and Java programming language has been selected from the Alberta Heritage webpage (http://www.abheritage.ca/abinvents/inventors/jamesgosling_biography.htm) as well as from the online source Wikipedia.