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Nova Scotia History Trivia

Nova Scotia History Trivia Quizzes

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5 quizzes and 50 trivia questions.
1.
  Halifax Explosion   best quiz  
Multiple Choice
 10 Qns
The Halifax Explosion in Halifax Harbor was the biggest man-made explosion before the invention of the atomic bomb. This quiz is based on that horrific event which has never been forgotten throughout the years.
Tough, 10 Qns, funnytrivianna, Jun 13 11
Tough
funnytrivianna gold member
2149 plays
2.
  The Halifax Explosion    
Multiple Choice
 10 Qns
This was probably one of the most infamous explosions in Canadian history in the 20th century. Take a journey into the fascinating details of this unique explosion. Good luck!
Average, 10 Qns, apathy100, Aug 16 19
Average
apathy100 gold member
Aug 16 19
1293 plays
3.
  History of Halifax, Nova Scotia   great trivia quiz  
Multiple Choice
 10 Qns
Halifax, Nova Scotia is one Canada's chief ports and has a history stretching back for thousands of years before the arrival of Europeans. This quiz deals with Halifax's history from its early days to World War II.
Average, 10 Qns, Joepetz, Mar 01 21
Average
Joepetz gold member
Mar 01 21
348 plays
4.
  Questions on Nova Scotia   great trivia quiz  
Multiple Choice
 10 Qns
I hope you enjoy this quiz about Nova Scotia, the province of my birth.
Average, 10 Qns, zaphae, Apr 09 07
Average
zaphae
2144 plays
5.
  Test yourself! Nova Scotia Quiz    
Multiple Choice
 10 Qns
How much do you know about Nova Scotia?
Average, 10 Qns, alicia_88, Nov 15 11
Average
alicia_88
1619 plays
trivia question Quick Question
Halifax experienced an economic decline in 1818 after the British moved their North American naval headquarters out of the city to where?

From Quiz "History of Halifax, Nova Scotia"




Related Topics
  Nova Scotia [Geography] (10 quizzes)


Nova Scotia History Trivia Questions
1. The area that is now Halifax was first settled by a group of indigenous people called Mi'kmaq who named their community Jipugtug. What does that mean in English?

From Quiz History of Halifax, Nova Scotia

Answer: Great Harbor

Indeed, Halifax's harbor was essential to its growth once the Europeans settled in the area in the 18th century. The city was named Halifax in 1749 after George Montagu-Dunk, the 2nd Earl of Halifax who helped found the modern-day city.

2. The collision that caused the Halifax Explosion involved two ships. One was the Mont Blanc. Can you name the other ship involved in this collision?

From Quiz Halifax Explosion

Answer: Imo

The two ships were the Mont Blanc, a general cargo, munitions ship from France and the other ship was the IMO, a general cargo, charter ship for Belgian Relief from Norway.

3. On December 7th 1917, one day after the Halifax explosion, what type of storm struck the city?

From Quiz Nova Scotia

Answer: Snow Storm

The city was struck unexpectedly by a giant snowstorm. The Halifax explosion killed almost 2,000 people leaving over 9,000 injured in the surrounding towns.

4. The official berry of Nova Scotia is:

From Quiz Nova Scotia

Answer: blueberry

Early American colonists made grey paint by boiling blueberries in milk. If you want to make a tasty blueberry cobbler, try this recipe - http://www.foodreference.com/html/blueberry-cobbler.html

5. What is the name of Nova Scotia's first governor who defeated the Mi'kmaq and Acadians in Father Le Loutre's War in 1749, essentially winning Halifax for Britain? His nephew led the British during the American Revolution.

From Quiz History of Halifax, Nova Scotia

Answer: Edward Cornwallis

The British had previously negotiated peace treaties with the native indigenous population in 1725 but Cornwallis' establishment of military bases and other institutions upset the Mi'kmaq and violated the treaties. The Mi'kmaq had the support of the French, who held territory nearby, but they were both soundly defeated by the British. As a result, the aiding Acadians were banished from the area and Britain had total control of Nova Scotia.

6. On which date did the disaster occur?

From Quiz Halifax Explosion

Answer: December 6, 1917

The explosion occurred on December 6, 1917. Halifax Harbour was very crowded with many ships as it was wartime. Many vessels were destroyed or damaged in the this tragic event, but only two ships were involved in the collision that caused the explosion.

7. Which village located on the Bedford Basin housed many liberated slaves from the U.S.A.?

From Quiz Nova Scotia

Answer: Africville

Africville was originally known as Campbell Road. The residents of Halifax and the inhabitants of Campbell Road quickly became known as Africville. In the 1960s, the Halifax Council decided to destroy the village. They removed the residents and turned the village into a park, now known as Seaview Park.

8. This small island off the coast of Nova Scotia is often referred to as the "graveyard of the Atlantic".

From Quiz Nova Scotia

Answer: Sable Island

Sable Island, 193 km offshore, is one of Nova Scotia's 3,809 coastal islands. It's also famous for its ponies.

9. What was the name of the French ship that was involved in this catastrophic event?

From Quiz The Halifax Explosion

Answer: Mont-Blanc

The Mont-Blanc was a French ammunition ship that was heading on its voyage to Europe to supply troops with weaponry. On board the ship were wet and dry picric acid, TNT, gun cotton, and benzol. This combination of materials was a highly explosive mixture and would cause the worst explosion in Canadian history.

10. On what day in 1761 did the Mi'kmaq and the British "bury the hatchet" in a ceremony that marked the end of 75 years of warfare between the two?

From Quiz History of Halifax, Nova Scotia

Answer: June 25

Governor Jonathan Belcher hosted several Mi'kmaq in a burying the hatchet ceremony in a symbolic end to the fighting that had characterized the city for nearly a century. Today, Nova Scotians celebrate Treaty Day on October 1 as recognition of this event as well as the treaties the Mi'kmaq signed with the British during the period of fighting. October 1 was chosen because that is the day in 1752 the British gave the Mi'kmaq gifts as a goodwill gesture.

11. Approximately how many people perished in this terrible disaster?

From Quiz Halifax Explosion

Answer: 1,900

Over 1,900 lives were lost, with the death toll rising to over 2,000 within 12 months.

12. What two ships were involved in the Halifax Explosion?

From Quiz Nova Scotia

Answer: Mont Blanc and Imo

The Mont Blanc (meaning white mountain) left New York Harbour on December 1st, 1917 and arrived in Halifax on December 6th. It was packed with explosives and oil. The Imo was leaving the Halifax Harbour, bound for New York.

13. The official flower of Nova Scotia is:

From Quiz Nova Scotia

Answer: the mayflower

This lovely little flower grows in wooded areas, close to the ground and usually blossoms in late April and in May.

14. The Norwegian ship known as "Imo" left Bedford Basin at 7:30 am (the same time the French vessel left). To which U.S. city was the Imo voyaging?

From Quiz The Halifax Explosion

Answer: New York

The Imo was heading off to New York City to pick up relief supplies and then would head off to Belgium where the cargo was to be dropped off. It has been debated as to who was at fault for the collision, however, what has been well documented is that a series of disastrous manouvers by both ships contributed to the collision.

15. Why did Halifax see a sudden surge in its population during the American Revolution?

From Quiz History of Halifax, Nova Scotia

Answer: American loyalists to Britain fled to Halifax

When the war was over and the American colonists earned victory and independence, those living in the colonies who supported Britain fled to Halifax to escape persecution. Also, new American laws forbade anyone from holding federal office without having lived in America for a certain period of time (it differed by office.) Some loyalists, who had fled to Nova Scotia before the end of the war, would find themselves powerless even if they did have political support in their area; so most of them stayed in Halifax.

16. Building on 325 acres of land were destroyed. Which area of Halifax, suffered the greatest loss?

From Quiz Halifax Explosion

Answer: North End

Most of the North End Halifax was destroyed, being leveled immediately. What was not leveled was burned due to the stockpiles of coal in the cellars for the winter.

17. Which actress who played Paige on Falcon beach was born in St. Margaret's Bay, Nova Scotia?

From Quiz Nova Scotia

Answer: Jennifer Kydd

Jennifer Kydd plays the lead role of Paige on Falcon Beach. It is one of CTV's top shows. She started her acting career in 2002.

18. The small community in Halifax was bulldozed and its residents were relocated in the hope of revitalizing a poor and neglected area.

From Quiz Nova Scotia

Answer: Africville

The destruction of Africville and compensation for it's residents is still under debate. For more information on this "not so shiny" piece of Nova Scotia history, please check out http://archives.cbc.ca/IDD-1-69-96/life_society/africville/

19. The Mont Blanc was completely shattered in the explosion and many parts of her landed miles away. Which part of this ship, which weighed over a half a ton, is now in the famous area called Point Pleasant Park, along the shores of Halifax?

From Quiz Halifax Explosion

Answer: anchor shank

Part of the anchor shaft (weighing approximately 1140 pounds) was blown approximately two and a half miles through the air over Citadel Hill, when the munitions ship caught fire and exploded in Halifax Harbor. The City of Halifax raised this anchor in 1936, mounted it in a rock cairn close to the Northwest Arm, within 200 feet of where it had originally landed.

20. This ship was the pride of Nova Scotia and never lost a race while captained by Captain Angus J. Walters.

From Quiz Nova Scotia

Answer: The Bluenose

In January 1946, the grand champion Bluenose struck a reef in waters just off Haiti, and was damaged beyond repair. Fortunately all hands were rescued.

21. Each Christmas, a tree glitters in Prudential Park to thank those Americans who risked their lives to help with medical supplies and public safety. In what city does this tree light up each year?

From Quiz The Halifax Explosion

Answer: Boston

News of the disaster reached Boston later that morning and as a result, a train of public safety workers and medical personnel were rushed to Halifax with emergency supplies. As hospitals were already overcrowded and with the Canadian medical staff already overworked, the support of the United States has been commemorated with a tree that glitters each Christmas in Boston, Massachusetts. This tree was donated to the city of Boston by the province of Nova Scotia.

22. Halifax experienced an economic decline in 1818 after the British moved their North American naval headquarters out of the city to where?

From Quiz History of Halifax, Nova Scotia

Answer: Bermuda

While Halifax served its purpose during the War of 1812 as a naval base, the British decided that it was in their best interest to move their naval headquarters further away from the United States. Bermuda was chosen as a replacement because British ships in the Caribbean had also successfully captured enemy ships and the seas there were finally becoming free of pirates.

23. What is Nova Scotia's biggest island?

From Quiz Nova Scotia

Answer: Cape Breton

Cape Breton is in Northern Nova Scotia, connected to the mainland by the Canso Causway. It has four counties: Richmond, Victoria, Cape Breton and Inverness.

24. Nova Scotia became part of Canada on:

From Quiz Nova Scotia

Answer: July 1, 1867

Nova Scotia was Canada's wealthiest province at the time.

25. Which committee was established on January 22, 1918 by the Canadian government to handle the majority of claims associated with the Halifax Explosion?

From Quiz The Halifax Explosion

Answer: Halifax Relief Commission

The Halifax Relief Commission was established and handled pensions, claims for loss and damage, rehousing and the rehabilitation of explosion victims. In 1976, this committee was disbanded by the Canadian government, however, the remaining victims of the explosion were then compensated by the Department of Veteran Affairs. http://museum.gov.ns.ca/mma/AtoZ/HalExpl.html

26. The Welsford-Parker Monument was built in 1860 and is Canada's second oldest war memorial. It is dedicated to two soldiers who died during which European War in 1855?

From Quiz History of Halifax, Nova Scotia

Answer: Crimean War

Augustus Welsford and William Parker were killed during the Siege of Sevastopol in the Crimean War. Both men were from Halifax. The Welsford-Parker Monument was build by George Lang and is the only monument in North America to casualties of the Crimean War.

27. Rescue efforts were hampered by a winter blizzard. How many inches of snow fell the day after the explosion?

From Quiz Halifax Explosion

Answer: 16 inches

Sixteen inches of snow fell on December 7th, the day after the explosion. The wind and snow hampered rescue operations. The snow shrouded the ruins and the oily soot that covered everything.

28. What is the official type of berry of Nova Scotia?

From Quiz Nova Scotia

Answer: The Blueberry

Blueberries in Nova Scotia are almost always grown in Oxford. Raspberries are very expensive and a lot are grown in Cape Breton or the U.S.A. Cranberry plants are very low to the ground, 2cm to 5cm. It turns a deep red colour when it is ripe. Blackberries are commonly grown in Mexico and South America. Quite a few are grown in Canada and the US as well.

29. This "event" occurred in Shag Harbour, Nova Scotia on October 4, 1967.

From Quiz Nova Scotia

Answer: a UFO was reported to have crashed in the Sound

The unknown object was referred to as a "UFO" in official Canadian government documents. A Canadian Naval recovery effort immediately followed, perhaps aided in part by the U.S. military.

30. Many died, many were injured. Homes were destroyed and many people were homeless without shelter in the cold of winter. Approximately how many survivors were without adequate housing?

From Quiz Halifax Explosion

Answer: 25,000

There were as many as 1,600 immediate deaths in the blast, the tidal wave that followed and in the buildings that collapsed. An additional 9,000 people were injured (6,000 seriously). 1,630 homes were completely demolished in the explosion, with 12,000 more houses damaged by fires that broke out from heat lamps, lanterns and coal fires. Roughly 6,000 people were left homeless and without shelter and 25,000 without adequate housing.

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