Notable Women from Saskatchewan Quiz

Answer: Sandra Schmirler

Sandra Marie Schmirler was born on June 11th, 1963 in Biggar, Saskatchewan, where she grew up active in several sports, including volleyball, badminton, and swimming. She discovered curling in middle school and quickly emerged as an exceptional talent, competing in provincial playdowns and eventually joining elite rinks in Saskatchewan. By the early 1990s, Schmirler had become one of Canada's top curlers, skipping her team to multiple Scott Tournament of Hearts titles and World Curling Championship victories.

Her greatest achievement came at the 1998 Winter Olympics, when she led Team Canada to the first women's curling gold medal in Olympic history. Known affectionately as "Schmirler the Curler," she balanced fierce competitiveness with warmth, humility, and an unwavering dedication to her teammates. Tragically, her life and career were cut short when she died of cancer in 2000 at the age of 36. Her legacy lives on through numerous honours, including induction into the Canadian Sports Hall of Fame and the establishment of the Sandra Schmirler Foundation, which supports neonatal care across Canada.

Answer: Shirley Douglas

Shirley Jean Douglas was born on April 2nd, 1934 in Weyburn, Saskatchewan, into a household deeply rooted in political activism; her father was Tommy Douglas, the future founder of Canada's universal healthcare system. She pursued the performing arts at a young age, attending the Banff School of Fine Arts and later the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art in London, before launching a long and varied acting career. After several early stage and television roles in the UK, Douglas returned to Canada in the late 1950s, continuing to build an impressive résumé across theatre, film, and television. Her work ranged from period dramas to science‑fiction series, and she even shared the stage with her son Kiefer Sutherland in a 1997 production of "The Glass Menagerie."

Alongside her acting, Douglas became known for her passionate political involvement. She advocated strongly for civil rights, opposed the Vietnam War, and supported public healthcare initiatives. Her activism occasionally came with personal cost - including a brief arrest connected to Black Panther fundraising efforts - but it also cemented her reputation as a courageous and principled voice in Canadian public life. For her contributions to the arts and her unwavering commitment to social justice, she was appointed an Officer of the Order of Canada in 2003.

Answer: Kaylyn Kyle

Kaylyn McKenzie Kyle was born on October 6th, 1988 in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, growing up in a highly athletic family - her father played professional hockey, her mother competed in volleyball, and her sister Courtnee also played soccer at the national level. She began playing soccer at a young age and excelled quickly, earning recognition from the Saskatchewan Soccer Association and joining the University of Saskatchewan's team in 2006. Her skill and leadership soon earned her a place in professional leagues in Canada, Sweden, and the United States, ultimately leading to her debut with the Canadian national team in 2008.

Kyle was a core member of the squad that won bronze at the 2012 London Olympics, a historic moment for Canadian team sports. Over her international career, she earned 101 caps, contributing to Olympic, Pan American Games, and CONCACAF successes. After retiring from professional play, Kyle transitioned into broadcasting, serving as a soccer analyst and host for national and international sports networks. Beyond the field, she is an ambassador for the humanitarian organization Right To Play, continuing her commitment to global youth development.

Answer: Catriona Le May Doan

Catriona Ann Le May Doan was born on December 23rd, 1970 in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, and began speed skating at an early age. Although she participated in multiple sports, her exceptional sprinting ability on the ice soon set her apart. She competed in her first Olympic Games in 1992 and 1994, but her rise to international prominence came in the late 1990s. In 1997, she became the first woman ever to skate the 500‑metre event in under 38 seconds, a world record that heralded her arrival as one of the most dominant sprinters in speed‑skating history.

Le May Doan won Olympic gold in the 500 metres at both the 1998 Nagano and 2002 Salt Lake City Games, making her the first Canadian to defend an Olympic title in an individual event. She also earned multiple world championship titles and held numerous world records throughout her career. Following her retirement in 2003, she became a respected broadcaster, motivational speaker, and sports leader, eventually serving as Canada's chef de mission for the 2022 Winter Olympics. Her achievements earned her the Order of Canada and induction into the Canadian Sports Hall of Fame.

Answer: Sylvia Fedoruk

Sylvia Olga Fedoruk was born on May 5th, 1927 in Canora, Saskatchewan, the daughter of Ukrainian immigrants. After excelling academically in high school, she enrolled at the University of Saskatchewan, where she completed both a Bachelor's and Master's degree in physics. Soon after, she joined the Saskatoon Cancer Clinic as a radiation physicist, working with Dr. Harold Johns on pioneering cobalt‑60 radiation therapy. This major medical breakthrough - known as the "cobalt bomb" - transformed cancer treatment around the world and established Fedoruk as a leading figure in nuclear medicine research.

Her career expanded beyond the laboratory as she took on roles such as professor of oncology, consultant to international nuclear agencies, and the first female trustee of the Society of Nuclear Medicine. In 1988, Fedoruk became the first woman to serve as Saskatchewan's Lieutenant Governor, adding public service to her long list of accomplishments. Her life balanced scientific innovation with athletic pursuits - she was an accomplished curler - and she was recognized with numerous honours, including the Order of Canada and the Governor General's Award in Commemoration of the Persons Case.

Answer: Hayley Wickenheiser

Hayley Wickenheiser was born on August 12th, 1978 in Shaunavon, Saskatchewan, where she first played hockey on outdoor rinks built by her father. Her exceptional talent became evident early - by age 15 she had earned a place on Canada's national women's team, making her the youngest player ever to do so at the IIHF Women's World Championship. She went on to become the most decorated and influential female hockey player in Canadian history.

Over a 23‑year international career, Wickenheiser competed in five Olympic Games, winning four gold medals and one silver while earning two tournament MVP titles. She also made history as the first woman to score a goal in a men's professional league and later served on the International Olympic Committee's Athletes' Commission. After retiring from hockey in 2017, she pursued a medical career and worked as a physician while serving as an assistant general manager for the Toronto Maple Leafs. Her numerous honours include induction into the Hockey Hall of Fame and the Order of Canada.

Answer: Tatiana Maslany

Tatiana Gabriele Maslany was born on September 22nd, 1985 in Regina, Saskatchewan, to parents who encouraged creativity and multilingualism - her mother was a translator, and Maslany grew up speaking English, German, and some French. She began acting in community theatre productions at age nine and continued performing throughout high school while taking roles across Canada with her family's support. After graduation, she pursued theatre work full‑time, eventually moving to Toronto to further her acting career.

Maslany worked steadily in Canadian television and film for over a decade before her breakthrough role in the science‑fiction series "Orphan Black" (2013-2017). Her critically acclaimed performance portraying multiple genetically identical but psychologically distinct clones earned her a groundbreaking Emmy Award, making her the first Canadian to win a major dramatic acting category for a Canadian series (in 2016). She has also starred in projects ranging from the documentary "Woman in Gold" (2015) to the Marvel series "She‑Hulk: Attorney at Law" (2022).

Answer: Gayleen Froese

Gayleen Froese was born in 1972 in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, and developed interests in both music and writing early in life. She later attended Ryerson University in Toronto, where she studied communication and media before launching a dual career as a novelist and singer‑songwriter. Her first album, "Obituary" (1997), earned the Undiscovered Artist Award from CBC Radio, and she became a fixture at music festivals, including showcases at North by Northeast.

Froese published her debut novel "Touch" in 2005, followed by works that blended mystery, urban fantasy, and supernatural elements. Her "Ben Ames Case Files" detective series expanded her readership, with the first novel in the series "The Girl Whose Luck Ran Out" (2022) translated internationally.

Answer: Mary Greyeyes Reid

Mary Greyeyes Reid was born on November 14th, 1920 on the Muskeg Lake Cree Nation reserve in Saskatchewan. Raised largely by her grandmother and educated at St. Michael's Residential School, she developed a strong sense of independence and determination amid limited opportunities for Indigenous students.

Inspired by her brother David's military service during the Second World War, she made the courageous decision to enlist. In 1942, she passed the Canadian Women's Army Corps entrance test - despite limited formal schooling - and became the first First Nations woman to serve in Canada's armed forces. Greyeyes was stationed first in Aldershot, England, where she worked in cooking and laundry, later transferring to London to serve in military headquarters.

Answer: Connie Kaldor

Connie Isabelle Kaldor was born on May 9th, 1953 in Regina, Saskatchewan, and initially pursued a career in theatre after completing her BFA at the University of Alberta. She performed with several prominent theatre groups across Canada before shifting her focus to music in 1979. By founding her own independent label - Coyote Entertainment - she carved out a place in the Canadian folk scene at a time when women were still fighting for visibility on major festival stages.

Over the decades, Kaldor has released numerous albums, toured internationally, hosted her own television show, and written award‑winning children's music. Her contributions to Canadian culture have earned her three Juno Awards, membership in the Order of Canada, and recognition from institutions such as the University of Regina and the Western Literature Association.