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Canadian Citizenship Test

Chapter 5

Canadian symbols

The flag and the maple leaf, the Crown, the beaver and the fleur-de-lys, the anthems, the honours system and the national holidays.

Test yourself on this chapter

The Canadian flag and the maple leaf

A 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 at Kingston, founded in 1876. Red and white had been the colours of France and England since the Middle Ages and became Canada's national colours in 1921. The Union Jack is Canada's official Royal Flag, and the Canadian Red Ensign served as the flag for about a hundred years. Provinces and territories have their own flags too. The maple leaf is Canada's best-known symbol: French Canadians adopted maple leaves as a symbol in the 1700s, they appeared on Canadian uniforms and insignia from the 1850s, and they are carved into the headstones of fallen Canadian soldiers buried at home and overseas.

Testable facts

  • A new Canadian flag was raised for the first time in 1965
  • The red-white-red pattern of the Canadian flag comes from the flag of the Royal Military College, Kingston, founded in 1876
  • Red and white had been colours of France and England since the Middle Ages
  • Red and white have been the national colours of Canada since 1921
  • The Union Jack is Canada's official Royal Flag
  • The Canadian Red Ensign served as the Canadian flag for about 100 years
  • The provinces and territories also have flags that embody their distinct traditions
  • The maple leaf is Canada's best-known symbol
  • Maple leaves were adopted as a symbol by French Canadians in the 1700s
  • Maple leaves have appeared on Canadian uniforms and insignia since the 1850s
  • Maple leaves are carved into the headstones of fallen Canadian soldiers buried overseas and in Canada

Other Canadian symbols

The Crown has symbolised the state in Canada for four centuries and stands for government as a whole — Parliament, the legislatures, the courts, police services and the Canadian Forces. The fleur-de-lys, the lily flower, is said to have been adopted by the French king in 496 and was the symbol of French royalty for more than a thousand years, including in New France; revived at Confederation, it went into the Canadian Red Ensign, and in 1948 Quebec adopted its own flag based on the Cross and the fleur-de-lys. The beaver was adopted centuries ago as the symbol of the Hudson's Bay Company, became an emblem of the St. Jean Baptiste Society in 1834, and appears on the five-cent coin and on the coats of arms of Saskatchewan, Alberta, Montreal and Toronto. After the First World War Canada adopted an official coat of arms and the Latin motto A mari usque ad mare, meaning from sea to sea.

Testable facts

  • The fleur-de-lys is said to have been adopted by the French king in the year 496
  • The fleur-de-lys became the symbol of French royalty for more than 1,000 years, including the colony of New France
  • The fleur-de-lys was included in the Canadian Red Ensign
  • In 1948 Quebec adopted its own flag, based on the Cross and the fleur-de-lys
  • The beaver was adopted centuries ago as the symbol of the Hudson's Bay Company
  • The beaver became an emblem of the St. Jean Baptiste Society, a French-Canadian patriotic association, in 1834
  • The beaver can be seen on the five-cent coin
  • The beaver appears on the coats of arms of Saskatchewan and Alberta and of cities such as Montreal and Toronto
  • As an expression of national pride after the First World War, Canada adopted an official coat of arms and a national motto
  • Canada's national motto is A mari usque ad mare, which in Latin means from sea to sea
  • The Canadian coat of arms contains symbols of England, France, Scotland and Ireland as well as red maple leaves

Parliament buildings, the anthem and honours

The Parliament Buildings' towers, arches, sculptures and stained glass carry French, English and Aboriginal traditions in the Gothic Revival style popular in Queen Victoria's time; they were completed in the 1860s. The Centre Block burned down accidentally in 1916 and was rebuilt in 1922, and the Library is the only part of the original building left. The Peace Tower was finished in 1927 in memory of the First World War, and its Memorial Chamber holds the Books of Remembrance naming those who died serving Canada. O Canada was proclaimed the national anthem in 1980, having first been sung in Québec City in 1880; French and English Canadians sing different words to it. The Royal Anthem, God Save the King or Queen, may be played whenever Canadians wish to honour the Sovereign. An honours system of Canada's own began in 1967, Confederation's hundredth year, starting with the Order of Canada. The Victoria Cross is the highest honour available to Canadians, awarded for the most conspicuous bravery, and has gone to 96 Canadians since 1854.

Testable facts

  • The Parliament Buildings were completed in the 1860s
  • The Centre Block was destroyed by an accidental fire in 1916 and rebuilt in 1922
  • The Library is the only part of the original Parliament building remaining
  • Completed in 1927, the Peace Tower commemorates the First World War
  • The Memorial Chamber within the Peace Tower contains the Books of Remembrance
  • The Books of Remembrance record the names of those who died serving Canada in wars or while on duty
  • O Canada was proclaimed as the national anthem in 1980
  • O Canada was first sung in Québec City in 1880
  • French and English Canadians sing different words to the national anthem
  • The Royal Anthem of Canada can be played or sung on any occasion when Canadians wish to honour the Sovereign
  • Confederation's centennial year, 1967, brought Canada its own honours system, opening with the Order of Canada
  • The Victoria Cross is the highest honour available to Canadians
  • The Victoria Cross rewards the most conspicuous bravery before the enemy: valour, self-sacrifice or extreme devotion to duty
  • The Victoria Cross has been awarded to 96 Canadians since 1854

Official languages and popular sports

English and French are the two official languages and important symbols of identity; Anglophones and Francophones have lived together in partnership and creative tension for more than 300 years. You must have adequate knowledge of English or French to become a Canadian citizen, and adult applicants aged 55 or over are exempt from that requirement. Parliament passed the Official Languages Act in 1969 with three aims: establish equality between French and English in Parliament, the Government of Canada and institutions subject to the Act; maintain and develop official language minority communities; and promote the equality of French and English in Canadian society. On sport, hockey is the most popular spectator sport and the national winter sport, developed in Canada in the 1800s; the National Hockey League plays for the Stanley Cup, donated by Governor General Lord Stanley in 1892. Canadian football is second most popular, and curling, introduced by Scottish pioneers, is popular too.

Testable facts

  • English and French are the two official languages and are important symbols of identity
  • Anglophones and Francophones have lived together in partnership and creative tension for more than 300 years
  • You must have adequate knowledge of English or French to become a Canadian citizen
  • Adult applicants 55 years of age or over are exempted from the language requirement
  • Parliament passed the Official Languages Act in 1969
  • The Official Languages Act aims to establish equality between French and English in Parliament, the Government of Canada and institutions subject to the Act
  • The Official Languages Act aims to maintain and develop official language minority communities in Canada
  • The Official Languages Act aims to promote equality of French and English in Canadian society
  • Ice hockey was developed in Canada in the 1800s
  • The National Hockey League plays for the championship Stanley Cup
  • The Stanley Cup was donated by Lord Stanley, the Governor General, in 1892
  • Canadian football is the second most popular sport in Canada
  • Curling was introduced by Scottish pioneers and is popular in Canada
  • Soccer has the most registered players of any game in Canada

National holidays and important dates

The calendar of national public holidays and other important dates runs: New Year's Day on 1 January; Sir John A. Macdonald Day on 11 January; Good Friday, the Friday immediately before Easter Sunday, and Easter Monday, the Monday immediately after; Vimy Day on 9 April; Victoria Day, the Monday before 25 May, marking the Sovereign's birthday; Fête nationale in Quebec on 24 June, the Feast of St. John the Baptist; Canada Day on 1 July; Labour Day on the first Monday of September; Thanksgiving Day on the second Monday of October; Remembrance Day on 11 November; Sir Wilfrid Laurier Day on 20 November; Christmas Day on 25 December; and Boxing Day on 26 December.

Testable facts

  • New Year's Day is January 1
  • Sir John A. Macdonald Day is January 11
  • Good Friday is the Friday immediately preceding Easter Sunday
  • Easter Monday is the Monday immediately following Easter Sunday
  • Vimy Day is April 9
  • Victoria Day is the Monday preceding May 25 and marks the Sovereign's birthday
  • Fête nationale in Quebec is June 24, the Feast of St. John the Baptist
  • Canada Day is July 1
  • Labour Day is the first Monday of September
  • Thanksgiving Day is the second Monday of October
  • Remembrance Day is November 11
  • Sir Wilfrid Laurier Day is November 20
  • Christmas Day is December 25 and Boxing Day is December 26

This is an independent study resource and is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or authorised by the government of Canada. Practice questions are written from the official study guide and are not the real exam questions. No government publishes those.