Alberta History Trivia Quiz

Answer: 1905

Alberta and Saskatchewan became provinces at the same time. Interestingly, British Columbia became a province in 1871, so it was cut off from the rest of Canada until 1905.

Answer: Oil was struck for the first time in Alberta

The first oil strike in Alberta happened at the Dingman No. 1 Well in Turner Valley. It was the start of the first of many oil booms that made Alberta one of the richest provinces in Canada.

Answer: Calgary Exhibition and Stampede

The first agricultural fair in Calgary was held in 1886 and in 1912 Weadick and the Big Four organized the "Frontier Days and Cowboy Championship Contest" also called the Stampede. In 1923 the Calgary Exhibition and the Stampede merged to form the "Calgary Exhibition and Stampede" and the 10 day festival has been held annually in July since.

Answer: Tsuu T'ina

The Tsuu T'ina, a native tribe from the area signed Treaty Seven in 1877. The government allotted the Tsuu T'ina land along Fish Creek, southwest of Calgary two years later at the urging of Chief Bull Head.

Answer: lodgepole pine

The Legislative Assembly officially adopted the lodgepole pine on May 30, 1984. This tree played an important role in the economic development of Alberta. As indicated by its name, it was the Indians' first choice for teepee poles.

Answer: Strong and free

Like all provincial mottos, the Alberta motto is in Latin on the coat of arms. It is "Fortis et Liber", Strong and Free. "Spem Reduxit" means Hope was Restored and is from New Brunswick. "Ut Incepit Fidelis Sic Permanet" is the Ontario motto, meaning "Loyal She Began, Loyal She Remains". "Multibus E Gentibus Vires", "From Many Peoples Strength", comes from Saskatchewan. All of Canada's provinces and territories have a motto, with the exception of Northwest Territories.

The motto of Nunavut is not in Latin, it is in Inuktitut.

Answer: Michael J Fox

Leslie Nielsen starred in the "Naked Gun" films as well as "Airplane!". Donald Sutherland, a prolific actor, is the father of Kiefer Sutherland. William Shatner is famous for his roles in the "Star Trek" series as Captain Kirk. All are from Canada.

Answer: United Farmers of Alberta

The United Farmers of Alberta government spanned some 14 years. Herbert Greenfield, John Edward Brownlee and Richard Gavin Reid served as premiers during this period.

Answer: Late Cretaceous - 75 million years ago

Dinosaur Provincial Park was established in 1955 near the town of Brooks, Alberta. It contains some of the richest dinosaur bone beds in the world.

Answer: Completion of Canadian Pacific Railway

The construction of the Canadian Pacific Railway was completed in May 1885. Transcontinental service commenced in mid 1886.

Answer: the Chinese

As many as 17,000 Chinese men came to Canada to work on the CPR between 1881 and 1884. They were paid $1 a day. From this they had to pay for food and cooking gear, as well as camping supplies.

Answer: May 30, 1907

The top of the shield is the red St. George's Cross, which was the official flag of the Hudson's Bay Company. Symbolizing the province's variety of landscapes, mountains, foothills, prairies, and wheat fields unfold beneath it.

Answer: Head-Smashed-In Buffalo Jump

From about 5500 BC until the 19th century natives would drive buffaloes off the precipice at the Head-Smashed-In Buffalo Jump. This site is now a UNESCO World Heritage Site, one of several such sites in Alberta.

Answer: petrified wood

Petrified wood symbolises Alberta's prehistoric past. It became the official stone in May 1977. Petrified wood is formed from trees that lived 60-90 million years ago. Petrification is the process in which mineral-laden water sinks into the wood of the tree. Over time, these minerals replace the wood and harden into stone.

Answer: Alberta's worst natural disaster

In 1903, near the town of Frank, Alberta, the Turtle mountain avalanche occured. In less than 2 minutes, 3 square kilometres of land were covered under 30 million cubic metres of rock. This was known as the Frank Slide. 76 miners were working in a mine nearby when the entrance was completely buried. Subsequently, the town of Frank had to be relocated.