Nice and Simple Canadian History Quiz

Answer: John A. Macdonald

John Alexander Macdonald was born in Glasgow, Scotland, the son of Hugh Macdonald and Helen Shaw. When he was five years old, the family moved to Kingston, Upper Canada. At the age of 15, he began legal studies in Kingston, and by the age of 19 opened his own law office there.

He became known as a quick-witted and ingenious trial lawyer. Later, he was named solicitor for both of Kingston's banks. He was married twice, to Isabella Clark on September 1, 1843 (d. 1857), and to Susan Agnes Bernard on February 16, 1867.

Answer: 1867

Confederation of Canada (the process of Canada becoming independent of Britain) happened in 1867, but since then the shape and number of provinces has changed considerably.

Answer: Manitoba

The birth of Canada as a nation took place on July 1, 1867, and originally Canada consisted of the provinces of Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, Ontario and Quebec. There are now 10 provinces and three territories in Canada.

Answer: village

The origin of the name "Canada" comes from Jacques Cartier's expedition up the St. Lawrence River in 1535. The Iroquois pointed out the route to the village of Stadacona, the future site of Quebec City, using the word "kanata," the Huron-Iroquois word for "village". Jacques Cartier used the word Canada to refer to both the settlement of Stadacona and the land surrounding it subject to Chief Donnacona.

Answer: Nunavut

In 1999 Nunavut became the largest and newest territory in Canada. Nunavut extends to the North Pole, and includes most of Canada's Arctic islands, including Ellesmere, Baffin, Devon, Prince of Wales, Southampton, and Coats islands.

Answer: Newfoundland

European exploration of North American had begun before Christopher Columbus was even born. Vikings were exploring in Iceland, and Greenland, and had really began the "Age of Exploration." But, when they began to search furthur they got to a place that they called "Vinland" (present day Newfoundland), and settled there.

But before long they were fighting with Canadian Natives and were easily defeated and driven out of Canada.

Answer: 1952

Remarkably, Canada's gold came 50 years to the day an amateur team called the Edmonton Waterloo Mercurys won the nation's last Olympic gold.

Answer: Alexander Mackenzie

Alexander Mackenzie was the next elected Prime Minister after John A. Macdonald. Unlike Macdonald, Mackenzie did not see the Canadian Pacific Railway as a key in the success of the nation. After Mackenzie was finished as Prime Minister, Macdonald took over once again.

Answer: 1976

Defining the Toronto skyline, the CN Tower is Canada's most recognizable and celebrated icon. At a height of 553.33m (1,815 ft., 5 inches), it is one of the world's tallest towers, an important telecommunications hub, and the centre of tourism in Toronto.

Answer: Donald A. Smith

Here is a quote from someone who witnessed it: "Soon there remained but a single rail to be laid ... The spectators, numbering probably fifty outside of the workmen, intently watched each spike as it was driven. Finally, there remained but one more spike to be driven. It was partly driven in and a hammer was given to Sir Donald Smith to drive it home ... in a most workmanlike manner ... Everybody cheered. The locomotives whistled and shrieked; several short speeches were made; hands were shaken, and Major Rogers, the discoverer of the pass named after him, became so gleeful that he up-ended a huge tie and tried to mark the spot by the side of the track by sticking it in the ground."

-- C.P. Staff Bulletin, Feb. 1939