Canadian Symbols and Identity Study Guide for the Citizenship Test

Canada's national symbols reflect its history and values. The national flag, with its single red maple leaf on a white square between two red bands, was first raised in 1965. The maple leaf itself is Canada's best-known symbol. “O Canada” is the national anthem, and the Crown is a symbol of government shared by all Canadians.

Other important symbols include the beaver, the coat of arms, and the national motto “A mari usque ad mare,” which means “from sea to sea.” Canada's official sports are ice hockey in winter and lacrosse in summer. These symbols and traditions are a common source of citizenship test questions.

Key facts to remember

The current national flag was first raised in 1965.
The maple leaf is Canada's most recognizable symbol.
“O Canada” is the national anthem.
Canada's official sports are ice hockey in winter and lacrosse in summer.
The national motto “A mari usque ad mare” means “from sea to sea.”

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Symbols & Identity practice questions & answers

82 questions from this topic, with answers and explanations.

Fill in the blank. Quebec's Fête nationale, the feast of St. John the Baptist, is celebrated on ______.
Answer: June 24
Quebec's Fête nationale, the feast of St. John the Baptist, is celebrated on June 24.
Fill in the blank. The current red-and-white maple leaf flag of Canada was first raised in ______.
Answer: 1965
Discover Canada states the maple leaf flag was raised for the first time in 1965.
What is the largest religious affiliation in Canada?
Answer: Catholic.
Discover Canada notes the majority of Canadians identify as Christian, with Roman Catholics the largest religious affiliation.
The “Group of Seven” were famous Canadian pioneers in which field?
Answer: Landscape painting.
Discover Canada notes the Group of Seven, founded in 1920, developed a distinctive style of landscape painting capturing Canada’s rugged wilderness.
Fill in the blank. Remembrance Day is observed each year on ______.
Answer: November 11th.
Discover Canada states Remembrance Day is observed on November 11th.
Fill in the blank. Canada's national summer sport is ______.
Answer: Lacrosse
Discover Canada names lacrosse as the national summer sport and hockey as the national winter sport.
True/False. The red-and-white maple leaf flag has been Canada's national flag since Confederation in 1867.
Answer: False
False. The maple leaf flag was first raised in 1965; before that the Canadian Red Ensign was used.
Fill in the blank. In 1972, ______ scored the winning goal for Canada in the Canada–Soviet Summit Series.
Answer: Paul Henderson
In 1972, Paul Henderson scored the winning goal for Canada in the Canada–Soviet Summit Series, 'the goal heard around the world.'
What does the Canadian flag look like?
Answer: White with a red border on each end and a red maple leaf in the centre.
The National Flag of Canada is white with red borders and a single red maple leaf in the centre per Discover Canada.
True/False. The beaver was adopted centuries ago as a symbol of the Hudson's Bay Company.
Answer: True
True. The beaver was adopted as a symbol of the Hudson's Bay Company and appears on the five-cent coin.
What is the Victoria Cross awarded for?
Answer: Bravery in battle against the enemy
The Victoria Cross is the highest honour available to Canadians, awarded for the most conspicuous bravery or self-sacrifice in the presence of the enemy.
True/False. The Victoria Cross is the highest honour available to Canadians for bravery in the face of the enemy.
Answer: True
True. The Victoria Cross is Canada's highest honour, awarded for the most conspicuous bravery in the presence of the enemy.
The CN Tower, one of Canada’s most famous landmarks, is located in which city?
Answer: Toronto.
The CN Tower in Toronto is a famous Canadian landmark and one of the world’s tallest freestanding structures.
Which of the following helps explain what it means to be Canadian and express our national identity?
Answer: Canadian symbols such as the maple leaf
Canada's symbols (objects, events and people such as the maple leaf) help explain what it means to be Canadian and express our national identity.
Fill in the blank. The cross and the ______ can be found on the Quebec flag adopted in 1948.
Answer: lily (fleur-de-lys)
In 1948 Quebec adopted its own flag, based on the cross and the fleur-de-lys (lily), a historic symbol of French royalty.
Fill in the blank. Canada's motto, 'A Mari Usque Ad Mare,' means ______.
Answer: From sea to sea.
Discover Canada translates 'A Mari Usque Ad Mare' as 'from sea to sea'.
True/False. Wayne Gretzky is considered one of the greatest hockey players of all time.
Answer: True
True. Wayne Gretzky, who played for the Edmonton Oilers from 1979 to 1988, is one of the greatest hockey players of all time.
About how many Francophones (people whose first language is French) live in Canada?
Answer: About seven million
There are about seven million Francophones (first-language French speakers) and about 18 million Anglophones in Canada.
What is the meaning of the Remembrance Day poppy?
Answer: To remember the sacrifice of Canadians who have served or died in wars up to the present day.
The Remembrance Day poppy honours the sacrifice of Canadians who served or died in wars up to today.
What song is Canada's national anthem?
Answer: O Canada.
'O Canada' is Canada's national anthem per Discover Canada ('God Save the King/Queen' is the royal anthem).
Canada's national colours, red and white, come from which two European countries?
Answer: England and France
Red and white had been the colours of France and England since the Middle Ages, and became Canada's official colours in 1921.
When is Canada Day and what does it celebrate?
Answer: We celebrate the anniversary of Confederation July 1st of each year.
Canada Day is July 1, celebrating the anniversary of Confederation.
Which provincial flag features the fleur-de-lys?
Answer: Quebec
Quebec's provincial flag (the Fleurdelisé) features the fleur-de-lys per Discover Canada.
True/False. Sir John A. Macdonald Day is celebrated on January 11.
Answer: True
True. January 11 is recognized as Sir John A. Macdonald Day, marking the birthday of Canada's first Prime Minister.
True/False. Canada's two official languages are English and Spanish.
Answer: False
False. Canada's two official languages are English and French.
True/False. The fleur-de-lys is a historic symbol of English royalty.
Answer: False
False. The fleur-de-lys is a symbol of French royalty; it appears on Quebec's flag.
True/False. The national colours of Canada are blue and white.
Answer: False
False. Canada's national colours are red and white.
What does Victoria Day celebrate?
Answer: Queen Victoria and the official birthday of the reigning Sovereign
Discover Canada explains Victoria Day honours Queen Victoria and is celebrated as the official birthday of the reigning Sovereign.
True/False. Quebec is Canada's only officially bilingual province.
Answer: False
False. New Brunswick is Canada's only officially bilingual province.
True/False. The beaver appears on the Canadian five-cent coin (the nickel).
Answer: True
True. The beaver can be seen on the Canadian five-cent coin (the nickel).
Fill in the blank. In 1967 Canada created its own honours system with ______.
Answer: The Order of Canada
Canada started its own honours system with the Order of Canada in 1967, the centennial of Confederation.
Fill in the blank. Canada's official Royal Flag is the ______.
Answer: Union Jack
The Union Jack is Canada's official Royal Flag.
According to Discover Canada, what is the second most popular sport in Canada (after hockey)?
Answer: Canadian football
Discover Canada names Canadian football as the second most popular sport in Canada.
Who donated the Stanley Cup, hockey's championship trophy, in 1892?
Answer: Lord Stanley, the Governor General
The Stanley Cup, the NHL championship trophy, was donated by Lord Stanley, the Governor General, in 1892.
What is a Francophone?
Answer: A person who speaks French as their first language
Discover Canada defines a Francophone as a person whose first language is French.
Fill in the blank. The championship trophy of the Canadian Football League is the ______.
Answer: Grey Cup
Professional teams in the Canadian Football League compete for the Grey Cup, donated by Lord Grey, the Governor General, in 1909.
True/False. 'O Canada' was first sung in Quebec City in 1880 and became the national anthem in 1980.
Answer: True
True. 'O Canada' was first sung in Québec City in 1880 and proclaimed the national anthem in 1980.
True/False. New Brunswick is the only officially bilingual province in Canada.
Answer: True
True. New Brunswick is Canada's only officially bilingual province.
Where and when was 'O Canada' first sung?
Answer: Quebec City, in 1880
'O Canada' was first sung in Quebec City in 1880; it became the official national anthem in 1980.
True/False. Remembrance Day is celebrated on July 1.
Answer: False
False. Remembrance Day is November 11; July 1 is Canada Day.
True/False. The maple leaf is Canada's best-known symbol.
Answer: True
True. The maple leaf is Canada's best-known symbol, used since the 1700s and 1800s.
Fill in the blank. 'O Canada' became the official national anthem in ______.
Answer: 1980
The guide notes O Canada was proclaimed the official national anthem in 1980, though first sung in 1880.
Which flag served as Canada's national flag for about 100 years before the maple leaf flag was adopted in 1965?
Answer: The Canadian Red Ensign
The Canadian Red Ensign served as Canada's flag for about 100 years before the maple leaf flag.
Fill in the blank. Basketball was invented in 1891 by ______.
Answer: James Naismith
Basketball was invented by Canadian James Naismith in 1891.
Give the first line of Canada’s national anthem?
Answer: O Canada! Our home and native land!
The national anthem 'O Canada' opens with 'O Canada! Our home and native land!' per Discover Canada.
Fill in the blank. Canada's national winter sport is ______.
Answer: Hockey.
Discover Canada names hockey Canada's national winter sport (lacrosse is the summer sport).
Fill in the blank. The two official languages of Canada are ______.
Answer: English and French.
Discover Canada states English and French are Canada's two official languages.
True/False. Lacrosse is Canada's official national winter sport.
Answer: False
False. Hockey is the official winter sport; lacrosse is the official summer sport.
What is the name of the Royal Anthem of Canada?
Answer: God Save the Queen (or King).
Discover Canada names God Save the Queen (King) as the Royal Anthem of Canada.
Fill in the blank. The Peace Tower on Parliament Hill was built in memory of ______.
Answer: Canadians who died in the First World War
The Peace Tower (completed 1927) was built in memory of the First World War; its Memorial Chamber holds the Books of Remembrance.
True/False. Soccer has the most registered players of any sport in Canada.
Answer: True
True. Soccer has the most registered players of any game in Canada, though hockey is the most popular spectator sport.
Curling, a popular Canadian ice game, was introduced by which pioneers?
Answer: Scottish pioneers
Curling, an ice game, was introduced to Canada by Scottish pioneers.
Which of the following is NOT a symbol of Canada?
Answer: The bald eagle
The maple leaf, beaver, flag, fleur-de-lys and coat of arms are Canadian symbols. The bald eagle is a national symbol of the United States.
True/False. Lacrosse, a sport first played by Aboriginal peoples, is Canada's official summer sport.
Answer: True
True. Lacrosse, an ancient sport first played by Aboriginal peoples, is Canada's official summer sport; hockey is the official winter sport.
Which of the following would NOT be considered a national historic site?
Answer: A food bank
National historic sites include battlefields, archaeological sites, buildings and sacred spaces. A food bank is not a national historic site.
True/False. The Royal Anthem of Canada is 'God Save the King (or Queen).'
Answer: True
True. 'God Save the King (or Queen)' is the Royal Anthem of Canada.
True/False. The beaver appears on Canada's ten-dollar bill.
Answer: False
False. The beaver appears on the five-cent coin (the nickel).
Which animal is an official symbol of Canada?
Answer: The beaver.
The beaver is an official emblem/symbol of Canada per Discover Canada.
What is a symbol of government in Canada, including Parliament, the legislatures, the courts, police services and the armed forces?
Answer: The Crown.
The Crown has been a symbol of the state in Canada for 400 years. It is a symbol of government, including Parliament, the legislatures, the courts, police services and the armed forces.
True/False. Canada's men's and women's Olympic hockey teams both won gold medals at the 2010 Vancouver Winter Games.
Answer: True
True. Both of Canada's Olympic hockey teams won gold at the 2010 Winter Games in Vancouver. Watch the year on test day: versions of this question swap in a wrong year like 2012.
The distinctive red-white-red pattern of the Canadian flag comes from the flag of which institution?
Answer: The Royal Military College, Kingston.
The new Canadian flag was raised for the first time in 1965. Its red-white-red pattern comes from the flag of the Royal Military College, Kingston, Ontario.
Who assigned Canada's national colours, white and red, in 1921?
Answer: King George V.
King George V assigned Canada's national colours (white and red) in 1921, the colours of our national flag today.
When is Victoria Day celebrated?
Answer: The Monday preceding May 25.
Victoria Day falls on the Monday preceding May 25 and marks the Sovereign's birthday.
Fill in the blank. Thanksgiving Day is celebrated on the ______.
Answer: Second Monday of October.
Thanksgiving Day falls on the second Monday of October. Labour Day is the first Monday of September.
Sir Wilfrid Laurier Day is observed on which date?
Answer: November 20.
Sir Wilfrid Laurier Day is November 20. Sir John A. Macdonald Day is January 11, and Remembrance Day is November 11.
True/False. The Centre Block of the Parliament Buildings was destroyed by an accidental fire in 1916 and rebuilt in 1922.
Answer: True
True. 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.
The Peace Tower was completed in 1927 in memory of what?
Answer: The First World War.
The Peace Tower was completed in 1927 in memory of the First World War.
What does the Memorial Chamber within the Peace Tower contain?
Answer: The Books of Remembrance, with the names of those who died serving Canada.
The Memorial Chamber within the Peace Tower contains the Books of Remembrance, in which are written the names of soldiers, sailors and airmen who died serving Canada in wars or while on duty.
The fleur-de-lys was adopted by the French king in which year?
Answer: 496.
The fleur-de-lys, adopted by the French king in the year 496, is a symbol of French royalty. Revived at Confederation, it was included in the Canadian Red Ensign.
True/False. In 1834, the beaver became an emblem of the St. Jean Baptiste Society, a French-Canadian patriotic association.
Answer: True
True. The beaver, adopted centuries ago as a symbol of the Hudson's Bay Company, became an emblem of the St. Jean Baptiste Society, a French-Canadian patriotic association, in 1834.
True/False. Maple leaves are carved into the headstones of Canada's fallen soldiers buried overseas and in Canada.
Answer: True
True. Canadian soldiers began using the maple leaf in the 1850s, and maple leaves are carved into the headstones of our fallen soldiers buried overseas and in Canada.
True/False. French and English Canadians sing different words to the national anthem.
Answer: True
True. French and English Canadians sing different words to O Canada, which was proclaimed as the national anthem in 1980 and first sung in Quebec City in 1880.
The Victoria Cross has been awarded to how many Canadians since 1854?
Answer: 96.
The Victoria Cross, the highest honour available to Canadians, has been awarded to 96 Canadians since 1854, per Discover Canada.
Who was the first Canadian to be awarded the Victoria Cross?
Answer: Lieutenant Alexander Roberts Dunn.
Then Lieutenant Alexander Roberts Dunn, born in present-day Toronto, was the first Canadian awarded the Victoria Cross. William Hall of Horton, Nova Scotia earned it in the Siege of Lucknow in 1857, and Robert Hampton Gray was the last Canadian recipient, in August 1945.
Fill in the blank. Canada's honours system consists of orders, ______ and medals.
Answer: Decorations.
Canada has its own system of honours consisting of orders, decorations and medals, beginning with the Order of Canada in 1967, the centennial of Confederation.
True/False. Ice hockey was developed in Canada in the 1800s.
Answer: True
True. Ice hockey, Canada's most popular spectator sport and national winter sport, was developed in Canada in the 1800s.
Which of the following was a celebrated Canadian writer?
Answer: Stephen Leacock.
Canadian men and women of letters included Stephen Leacock, Louis Hemon and Mordecai Richler; Joy Kogawa, Michael Ondaatje and Rohinton Mistry have diversified Canada's literary experience.
Sir Ernest MacMillan and Healey Willan won international recognition as ______.
Answer: Musicians.
Musicians Sir Ernest MacMillan and Healey Willan won international recognition for Canada.
Les Automatistes of Quebec, most notably Jean-Paul Riopelle, were pioneers of what?
Answer: Modern abstract art in the 1950s.
Les Automatistes of Quebec were pioneers of modern abstract art in the 1950s, most notably Jean-Paul Riopelle. Quebec's Louis-Philippe Hebert was a celebrated sculptor of historical figures.
Kenojuak Ashevak pioneered modern ______ art.
Answer: Inuit.
Kenojuak Ashevak pioneered modern Inuit art with etchings, prints and soapstone sculptures.
Marshall McLuhan and Harold Innis were world-famous Canadian ______.
Answer: Pioneer thinkers.
Marshall McLuhan and Harold Innis were pioneer thinkers who won world fame for Canada.
At the 1996 Olympic Summer Games, who became a world-record sprinter and double Olympic gold medallist?
Answer: Donovan Bailey.
In 1996 at the Olympic Summer Games, Donovan Bailey became a world-record sprinter and double Olympic gold medallist. Chantal Petitclerc became a world champion wheelchair racer and Paralympic gold medallist.

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