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Alberta History Trivia Quiz

This quiz is about the history of our great province, Alberta! See how much you know.

A multiple-choice quiz by Team The Alberta Pioneers. Estimated time: 5 mins.

Author
Trufflesss

Time
5 mins

Type
Multiple Choice

Quiz #
335,806

Updated
Dec 03 21

# Qns
15

Difficulty
Average

Avg Score
9 / 15

Plays
633

Awards
Top 20% Quiz

One at a Time - Single Page - Timed Game

Question 1 of 15

1. In what year did Alberta become a province? Hint

1910

1900

1867

1905

NEXT>

Question 2 of 15

2. In 1914 the history of Alberta would be changed forever. What momentous event happened on May 14 at Turner Valley, southwest of Calgary? Hint

The first Calgary Stampede was held

Edmonton hosted the winter Olympics

Oil was struck for the first time in Alberta

The world's largest mall opened in Edmonton

NEXT>

Question 3 of 15

3. Guy Weadick and four financiers (The Big Four) came together in 1912 to organize what event that would later be billed as "The Greatest Outdoor Show on Earth"? Hint

Calgary Exhibition and Stampede

Canadian Finals Rodeo

Edmonton's Klondike Days

Lethbridge's Whoop-Up Days

NEXT>

Question 4 of 15

4. Which one of these districts was not one of the four which formed the provinces of Alberta and Saskatchewan? Hint

Athabasca

Saskatchewan

Alberta

Tsuu T'ina

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Question 5 of 15

5. What is the official tree of Alberta?

Hint

western pine

aspen

lodgepole pine

birch

NEXT>

Question 6 of 15

6. What is the motto of Alberta? Hint

Strong and free

From many peoples strength

Hope was restored

Loyal she began, loyal she remains

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Question 7 of 15

7. Which famous actor, known for his roles on "Family Ties" and in "Back to the Future", was born in Edmonton, Alberta? Hint

Michael J Fox

Donald Sutherland

Leslie Nielsen

William Shatner

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Question 8 of 15

8. Since 1905 the governing party in Alberta has changed only three times. What agricultural organization turned political party ruled the province from 1921 to 1935? Hint

Cattle Ranchers of Alberta

Calgary Co-op

United Farmers of Alberta

Farmers Unite!

NEXT>

Question 9 of 15

9. Located in the Alberta Badlands east of Calgary is Dinosaur Provincial Park. Dinosaur remains of over 300 specimens have been found here. From what era are they? Hint

Middle Triassic - 240 million years ago

Early Jurassic - 180 million years ago

Late Cretaceous - 75 million years ago

Pre-Cambrian - 600 million years ago

NEXT>

Question 10 of 15

10. What event between 1885 and 1886 led to the large influx of immigrants into Alberta?

Hint

Start of Gold Rush

Completion of Canadian Pacific Railway

Oil was struck

Fur Trading Expansion

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Question 11 of 15

11. Which of these ethnic groups was important in the building of the Canadian Pacific Railway? Hint

the Ukrainians

the native people

the Chinese

the French

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Question 12 of 15

12. On what date did King Edward VII give Alberta its first coat of arms?
Hint

May 30, 1907

May 21, 1905

January 1, 1907

September 28, 1906

NEXT>

Question 13 of 15

13. At what site, now near Fort Macleod, did native peoples drive buffalo over a precipice to their deaths in order to use the carcasses for food, clothing and making tools? Hint

Head-Smashed-In Buffalo Jump

Columbia Icefields

Kicking Horse Pass

Hoodoos in the Badlands

NEXT>

Question 14 of 15

14. What is the official stone of Alberta?

Answer: (Don't be "scared" - two words)

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Question 15 of 15

15. Who or what is Frank Slide? Hint

Alberta's premier during WWI

A natural rock formation in northern Alberta

Alberta's worst natural disaster

The name of the giant slide at the Capital Exhibition

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Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts

1. In what year did Alberta become a province?

Answer: 1905

Alberta and Saskatchewan became provinces at the same time. Interestingly, British Columbia became a province in 1871, so it was cut off from the rest of Canada until 1905.

2. In 1914 the history of Alberta would be changed forever. What momentous event happened on May 14 at Turner Valley, southwest of Calgary?

Answer: Oil was struck for the first time in Alberta

The first oil strike in Alberta happened at the Dingman No. 1 Well in Turner Valley. It was the start of the first of many oil booms that made Alberta one of the richest provinces in Canada.

3. Guy Weadick and four financiers (The Big Four) came together in 1912 to organize what event that would later be billed as "The Greatest Outdoor Show on Earth"?

Answer: Calgary Exhibition and Stampede

The first agricultural fair in Calgary was held in 1886 and in 1912 Weadick and the Big Four organized the "Frontier Days and Cowboy Championship Contest" also called the Stampede. In 1923 the Calgary Exhibition and the Stampede merged to form the "Calgary Exhibition and Stampede" and the 10 day festival has been held annually in July since.

4. Which one of these districts was not one of the four which formed the provinces of Alberta and Saskatchewan?

Answer: Tsuu T'ina

The Tsuu T'ina, a native tribe from the area signed Treaty Seven in 1877. The government allotted the Tsuu T'ina land along Fish Creek, southwest of Calgary two years later at the urging of Chief Bull Head.

5. What is the official tree of Alberta?

Answer: lodgepole pine

The Legislative Assembly officially adopted the lodgepole pine on May 30, 1984. This tree played an important role in the economic development of Alberta. As indicated by its name, it was the Indians' first choice for teepee poles.

6. What is the motto of Alberta?

Answer: Strong and free

Like all provincial mottos, the Alberta motto is in Latin on the coat of arms. It is "Fortis et Liber", Strong and Free. "Spem Reduxit" means Hope was Restored and is from New Brunswick. "Ut Incepit Fidelis Sic Permanet" is the Ontario motto, meaning "Loyal She Began, Loyal She Remains". "Multibus E Gentibus Vires", "From Many Peoples Strength", comes from Saskatchewan. All of Canada's provinces and territories have a motto, with the exception of Northwest Territories.

The motto of Nunavut is not in Latin, it is in Inuktitut.

7. Which famous actor, known for his roles on "Family Ties" and in "Back to the Future", was born in Edmonton, Alberta?

Answer: Michael J Fox

Leslie Nielsen starred in the "Naked Gun" films as well as "Airplane!". Donald Sutherland, a prolific actor, is the father of Kiefer Sutherland. William Shatner is famous for his roles in the "Star Trek" series as Captain Kirk. All are from Canada.

8. Since 1905 the governing party in Alberta has changed only three times. What agricultural organization turned political party ruled the province from 1921 to 1935?

Answer: United Farmers of Alberta

The United Farmers of Alberta government spanned some 14 years. Herbert Greenfield, John Edward Brownlee and Richard Gavin Reid served as premiers during this period.

9. Located in the Alberta Badlands east of Calgary is Dinosaur Provincial Park. Dinosaur remains of over 300 specimens have been found here. From what era are they?

Answer: Late Cretaceous - 75 million years ago

Dinosaur Provincial Park was established in 1955 near the town of Brooks, Alberta. It contains some of the richest dinosaur bone beds in the world.

10. What event between 1885 and 1886 led to the large influx of immigrants into Alberta?

Answer: Completion of Canadian Pacific Railway

The construction of the Canadian Pacific Railway was completed in May 1885. Transcontinental service commenced in mid 1886.

11. Which of these ethnic groups was important in the building of the Canadian Pacific Railway?

Answer: the Chinese

As many as 17,000 Chinese men came to Canada to work on the CPR between 1881 and 1884. They were paid $1 a day. From this they had to pay for food and cooking gear, as well as camping supplies.

12. On what date did King Edward VII give Alberta its first coat of arms?

Answer: May 30, 1907

The top of the shield is the red St. George's Cross, which was the official flag of the Hudson's Bay Company. Symbolizing the province's variety of landscapes, mountains, foothills, prairies, and wheat fields unfold beneath it.

13. At what site, now near Fort Macleod, did native peoples drive buffalo over a precipice to their deaths in order to use the carcasses for food, clothing and making tools?

Answer: Head-Smashed-In Buffalo Jump

From about 5500 BC until the 19th century natives would drive buffaloes off the precipice at the Head-Smashed-In Buffalo Jump. This site is now a UNESCO World Heritage Site, one of several such sites in Alberta.

14. What is the official stone of Alberta?

Answer: petrified wood

Petrified wood symbolises Alberta's prehistoric past. It became the official stone in May 1977. Petrified wood is formed from trees that lived 60-90 million years ago. Petrification is the process in which mineral-laden water sinks into the wood of the tree. Over time, these minerals replace the wood and harden into stone.

15. Who or what is Frank Slide?

Answer: Alberta's worst natural disaster

In 1903, near the town of Frank, Alberta, the Turtle mountain avalanche occured. In less than 2 minutes, 3 square kilometres of land were covered under 30 million cubic metres of rock. This was known as the Frank Slide. 76 miners were working in a mine nearby when the entrance was completely buried. Subsequently, the town of Frank had to be relocated.

Source: Author Trufflesss

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