Ontario's Golden Horseshoe Trivia Quiz

Answer: The area is shaped like a horseshoe.

The Golden Horseshoe extends around the western end of Lake Ontario in a horseshoe shape. The word Golden comes from the multitude of manufacturing facilities and the resulting prosperity found within this area. Sorry for the trick question, but there are no Horseshoe Mountains.

Answer: Toronto

Originally Toronto was considered to be the anchor of the Golden Horseshoe as it was located at the far eastern end but, according to Wikipedia, the Golden Horseshoe now stretches as far as Oshawa to the east. As of February 2005 the Greater Golden Horseshoe also extends north to include Barrie.

Answer: Welland Canal

Since the Welland Canal was first incorporated in the 1820's to connect Lake Ontario and Lake Erie and bypass the Niagara escarpment, it has been deepened, enlarged and even rerouted over the years. It is still being improved to this day, with plans to eliminate most of the locks in favour of one gigantic lock.

Answer: Niagara Falls

Niagara Falls attracts many millions of tourists from all over the world each year. It is also famed as a honeymoon destination for newlyweds. The enormous flow of water over the falls provides hydro electric power to both the Canada and the U.S. although tunnels diverting the water to the hydro electric generators have diminished the volume of water going over the falls. Even with the diminished flow, it is still awe inspiring.

Answer: Kitchener-Waterloo

During the 1800's, there was a large influx of German immigrants to the Kitchener-Waterloo area. Prior to World War One, the original name of Kitchener was Berlin. A large German Amish community still populates the surrounding area. Other Germans immigrants brought many of their traditions from their homeland, including the celebration of Oktoberfest. Waterloo is a separate municipality but so close to Kitchener it is almost impossible to differentiate where one stops and the other begins, hence the double name of Kitchener-Waterloo.

Answer: General Motors- Oshawa

There are many world famous name brands that have manufacturing facilities in the Golden Horseshoe but probably the most famous is General Motors. As of 2006 General Motors was Canada's largest exporter of manufactured goods.

Answer: Wine

The Niagara region is a prime grape growing area with literally hundreds of vineyards. Besides good wines of every variety, the area is renowned for its ice wine. Ice wine is produced from grapes that have been frozen before being harvested, producing a delicious dessert wine.

Although many countries produce ice wine, the Niagara area is the largest producer in the world. You have to love those Canadian winters.

Answer: Burlington

There are Royal Botanical Gardens in many cities in the English speaking world but none can boast the assortment of lilacs grown in Burlington.

Answer: Monarch Butterflies

Many animals land on Point Pelee to rest before crossing Lake Erie but nothing is as impressive as thousands of Monarch Butterflies covering the trees and shrubs as they rest on their migration to their winter homes in Mexico and the Southern U.S.

Answer: The first long distance telephone call

Brantford can lay claim to many fames. Besides being Wayne Gretzky's home town it is also the home town of the late comedian, Phil Hartman, however the event that changed the way the world communicates, happened in August 1876 when Alexander Graham Bell made the first long distance telephone call to Paris, Ontario from his family homestead in Brantford.