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
Canada's official national colours (red and white) were formally confirmed by royal proclamation in which year?
Answer: 1921
King George V confirmed red and white as Canada's official colours in 1921 — the same year the present Royal Arms of Canada were granted. Although these colours appeared on earlier Canadian heraldry, they had no formal status until that proclamation.
The Canadian Horse was officially proclaimed Canada's national breed by federal legislation in which year?
Answer: 2002
The Canadian Horse Heritage and Preservation Act came into force in 2002, officially declaring the Canadian Horse (Cheval Canadien) the national breed. The breed descends from horses brought to New France in the 1660s and developed in isolation, making it a uniquely Canadian heritage animal.
"O Canada" became Canada's official national anthem under the National Anthem Act in which year?
Answer: 1980
Although "O Canada" had been widely used since 1880 and was commonly played at public events, it only received formal legal status as the national anthem on July 1, 1980, through the National Anthem Act — more than 100 years after Confederation.
The beaver was proclaimed Canada's official national symbol under the National Symbol of Canada Act in which year?
Answer: 1975
Parliament passed the National Symbol of Canada Act in 1975, formally recognizing the beaver (Castor canadensis) as an emblem of Canadian sovereignty. Although the Hudson's Bay Company had featured the beaver on its coat of arms since 1678, official federal recognition did not come until 1975.
On the Royal Arms of Canada, the shield is supported by two heraldic animals. Which correctly identifies them and their positions as seen by a viewer looking at the arms?
Answer: A lion on the left and a unicorn on the right
In heraldry, 'dexter' means the shield bearer's right, which is the viewer's left. The Arms of Canada feature a lion (representing England) on the heraldic dexter — the viewer's left — and a unicorn (representing Scotland) on the heraldic sinister — the viewer's right. No beaver or moose appears as a supporter, despite being national symbols.
Canada's National Tartan was designed by David Weiser in 1964, but in which year did Parliament officially adopt it as the national tartan through legislation?
Answer: 2011
Although Weiser created the tartan in 1964 to mark Canada's upcoming centennial, and it was registered with the Court of the Lord Lyon in Scotland, it did not receive formal parliamentary recognition as Canada's national tartan until 2011. The tartan's colours symbolize key Canadian emblems: maple leaves (red), snow (white), forests (green), lakes and rivers (blue), and royal connections (gold).