Canadian Symbols Flashcards
6 cards from real CANADIAN practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.
Read the first 6 Canadian Symbols flashcards as text
The motto 'A Mari Usque Ad Mare' on the Canadian Coat of Arms is drawn from which Biblical source?
Answer: Psalm 72:8
The national motto 'A Mari Usque Ad Mare' ('From Sea to Sea') comes from Psalm 72:8 in the Bible: 'He shall have dominion also from sea to sea, and from the river unto the ends of the earth.' It was proposed by Samuel Leonard Tilley during Confederation discussions.
The maple leaf on the Canadian national flag has a specific number of points. How many points does it have?
Answer: 11
The stylized maple leaf on Canada's flag has exactly 11 points. The design was chosen in 1964 through a parliamentary committee process; the 11-point version was selected over earlier 13-point designs because it rendered more cleanly when the flag was fluttering in the wind.
Under which specific piece of federal legislation was the beaver officially proclaimed a symbol of Canada's sovereignty?
Answer: The National Symbol of Canada Act (1975)
The National Symbol of Canada Act, which received Royal Assent on March 24, 1975, officially recognized the beaver (Castor canadensis) as a symbol of Canadian sovereignty. The beaver had long been associated with Canada's fur trade history but required this legislation for formal national recognition.
On the Canadian Coat of Arms, the shield is divided into four quarters. Which quarter specifically represents Scotland?
Answer: A red lion rampant on a gold field
A red lion rampant on a gold (or) field represents Scotland in the upper-right quarter of the shield. The upper-left shows three golden lions on red for England; the lower-left shows a golden harp on blue for Ireland; and the lower-right shows three red maple leaves on white for Canada.
Before the adoption of the current Maple Leaf flag on February 15, 1965, what flag had served as Canada's de facto national flag?
Answer: The Canadian Red Ensign
The Canadian Red Ensign, which displayed the British Red Ensign defaced with the Canadian coat of arms, served as the de facto national flag before 1965. While the Union Jack was technically the national flag, the Red Ensign was used on government buildings abroad and had strong popular identification as 'the Canadian flag.'
Which of the following is the officially recognized national breed of horse in Canada, designated as a symbol of Canadian heritage?
Answer: The Canadian Horse (Cheval Canadien)
The Canadian Horse (Cheval Canadien) was officially recognized as a heritage breed and national symbol under the National Symbol of Canada Act amendment. Descended from horses brought to New France by Louis XIV in the 1660s, the breed survived harsh winters in isolation, developing exceptional hardiness. It is nicknamed 'the little iron horse.'