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This year marks the 143rd celebration of Canada Day.
This commemorates the day that Canada became a nation. The holiday is observed on July 1st (unless that day falls on a Sunday, in which case Canada Day is observed the following day).
On July 1, 1867, the British North America Act united the British colonies of Upper Canda, Lower Canada, New Brunswick, and Nova Scotia into "one dominion uner the name of Canada". These four colonies because Canada's first four provinces; Lower Canada was renamed Quebec, and Upper Canada was renamed Ontario.
The July 1 holiday was known as Dominion Day until October 27, 1982, when an act of Parliament established the name as Canada Day. The new name symbolized a step away from Canada's colonial past. The holiday had also sometimes been known as First of July or Confederation Day. Like Fourth of July festivities in the United States, Canada Day is celebrated with such summer pleasures as picnic, barbeques and fireworks.
The name Canada derives from an Iroquoian word for "village", kanata, that French explorers heard used to refer to the area near present-day Quebec City. today, Canada comprises ten provinces and three territories.
How much do you know about our great country?
Test your knowledge ... quiz your kids ... Have some fun!
Complete the quiz and check to see how you scored!
1. Who was the first Canadian to win the Nobel Peace Prize?
A. Cyrus Eaton
B. Brian Mulroney
C. Lester B. Pearson
2. How many lakes are there in Canada?
A. Unknown
B. 500 thousand
C. 1.2 million
3. The suspension of which of the following hockey players from an NHL game led to a riot in Montreal?
A. Maurice Richard
B. Wayne Gretzky
C. Ken Dryden
4. Which person had a wrongful conviction overturned by DNA evidence, 20 years after his imprisonment?
A. David Marshall
B. Clifford Olsen
C. David Milgaard
5. Canada has the longest covered bridge in the world (1,282 feet ong). Where is it located?
A. West Montrose, ON
B. La Sarre, QE
C. Hartland, NB
6. Who was the first Canadian in outer space?
A. Roberta Bondar
B. Marc Garneau
C. John Glenn
7. What university developed the world's first anti-gravity suit?
A. University of Toronto
B. Simon Fraser University
C. University of British Columbia
8. What important Second World War event occurred on June 6, 1944?
A. Normandy Invasion (D-Day)
B. The start of the Battle of Britain
C. The Dieppe Landing
9. How many National Parks are there in Canada?
A. 84
B. 25
C. 40
10. In which year did Canada adopt the metric system
A. 1975
B. 1985
C. 1970
11. Which Cree leader along with his fellow paddlers made his way from Ottawa to New York City in an attempt to quash a $17-billion development project on Cree and Inuit territories in northern Canada?
A. Matthew Coon Come
B. Elijah Harper
C. Phil Fontaine
12. What sport has been played in Canada for over 500 years?
A. Lacrosse
B. Ice Hockey
C. Football
13. What is Canada's most northern island?
A. Queen Charlotte
B. Ellesmere
C. Baffin
14. What city was devastated by sever ice storm in 1998?
A. Vancouver
B. Montreal
C. Winnipeg
15. When was "Oh Canada' proclaimed as Canada's national anthem?
A. 1870
B. 1935
C. 1980
To Check the answers click here.
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