Notable Women from British Columbia Quiz

Answer: Kim Campbell

Avril Phaedra Douglas "Kim" Campbell was born on March 10th, 1947 in Port Alberni, B.C. After earning degree in Political Science at U.B.C. in 1969 she pursued a doctorate in Soviet government, which she did not complete, instead earning another Bachelor's at U.B.C., this time in Law. She practiced law briefly in Vancouver while also running for the provincial legislature, getting elected on her second try with the British Columbia Social Credit Party in 1986. In 1988, Campbell decided to move into federal politics, and she won the seat for Vancouver Centre in the election that year with the Progressive Conservatives. During her tenure she held the cabinet appointments of Minister of State, Justice, National Defence and Veterans Affairs.

In February of 1993, Prime Minister Mulroney announced his impending retirement, which prompted a leadership convention for the Progressive Conservatives. On June 13th, Kim Campbell won the party leadership, and replaced Mulroney as P.M. on June 25th. Unfortunately, her reign did not last very long as the next federal election (in October) saw the Liberal Party soundly defeat the Progressive Conservatives, with Jean Chrétien becoming the new Prime Minister of Canada.

Campbell has been named to both the Order of British Columbia and the Order of Canada for her accomplishments.

Answer: Diana Krall

Diana Jean Krall was born on November 16th, 1964 in Nanaimo, B.C. She began learning music at a young age and became involved with jazz for the first time while in high school. After winning a scholarship to the Berklee College of Music in Boston, she completed her schooling and relocated to Los Angeles to pursue her musical career.

Krall released her first album "Stepping Out" in 1993 and just a few years later, earned her first Grammy and Juno Award wins in 2000 for her (1999) fifth studio album "When I Look in Your Eyes". She has continued to produce albums and has also appeared in a number of movies (usually as a singer). Her 15th studio album "This Dream of You" was released in 2020. Krall has been named to both the Order of British Columbia and the Order of Canada for her work.

Answer: Emily Carr

Emily Carr was born on December 13th, 1871 in Victoria, B.C. and passed away in 1945 (also in Victoria). She was a painter and author who became one of the most significant Canadian artists in Canada's history, although her work was not widely recognized until later in life. She actually stopped painting for a number of years, until in 1927 a number of her works were featured in an exhibit at the National Art Gallery. The success of the exhibit prompted her to return to her art.

The Canadian Encyclopedia refers to Emily Carr as a Canadian Icon who was an artist of stunning originality and strength. Emily was named a 'Person of National Historic Significance' in 1950. In 2013, her painting 'The Crazy Stair (The Crooked Staircase)' sold for $3.39 million at a Toronto art auction.

Answer: Yvonne de Carlo

Yvonne De Carlo (born Margaret Yvonne Middleton) was born on September 1st, 1922 in Vancouver, B.C. She trained as a dancer at a very young age and began her entertainment career after moving to Los Angeles in the early 1940s. She attained stardom in 1945 with her role in "Salome, Where She Danced", going on to more prominent parts and earning the moniker "The Queen of Technicolor".

At the height of her career, she starred as Moses' wife Sephora in Cecil B. DeMille's "The Ten Commandments" (1956), and as her movie star status waned in the 1960s, she took on another role for which she became well-known, as Lily Munster in "The Munsters" (1964-66). De Carlo continued acting until the mid-1990s, after which she had a minor stroke. She passed away in 2007 from heart failure.

Answer: Christine Sinclair

Christine Margaret Sinclair was born on June 12th, 1983 in Burnaby, B.C. She began playing organized soccer at the age of four and played multiple sports while growing up. At the age of 11 she played for B.C.'s provincial Under-14 team, and was tagged for the Under-18 national team at 15. Just a year later, she was playing for the senior national women's team, beginning a spectacular international playing career. In January of 2020, she set the record for the most goals by an individual in international play (in both men's and women's soccer) with her 185th goal.

Sinclair has played in five Women's World Cup competitions for Canada, and has been named the FIFA World Player of the Year seven times (amongst many other accolades). She was also made an Officer of the Order of Canada in 2017.

Answer: Judith Forst

Judith Doris Forst (née Lumb) was born on November 7th, 1943 in New Westminster, B.C. Forst received her Bachelor of Music in 1964 from the University of British Columbia before joining the Vancouver Opera Association training program in 1966. Just two years later she won an audition for the Metropolitan Opera in New York, where she stayed until 1975, after which she returned to Vancouver.

She continued to sing with the Canadian Opera Company and has travelled extensively throughout Canada and the United States for different roles, as well as a few times in Europe. Judith Forst was named to the Order of Canada in 1991, and to the Order of British Columbia in 2001.

Answer: Carrie-Anne Moss

Carrie-Anne Moss was born on August 21st, 1967 in Burnaby, B.C. Although she had experience in musical theatre as a young teen, Moss did not begin her acting career until her early 20s, landing her first television role while living in Spain in the early 1990s. In 1992, she relocated to Los Angeles and underwent formal training with the American Academy of Dramatic Arts.

After a number of years of working in small roles in both television and film, Moss got her breakthrough role as Trinity in "The Matrix" in 1999. While she hasn't had a role quite as prominent as that since then, Moss has stated "The Matrix gave me so many opportunities. Everything I've done since then has been because of that experience. It gave me so much." (New York Daily News interview).

Answer: Elsie MacGill

Elizabeth Muriel Gregory "Elsie" MacGill was born on March 27th, 1905 in Vancouver, B.C. She was a trailblazer for women in higher education in Canada, not only becoming the first woman to earn her master's in aeronautical engineering and working in her field, but also becoming a staunch advocate for women's rights. Later in her life (1960s) she was the president of the Canadian Federation of Business and Professional Women's Clubs and was also a commissioner of the Royal Commission on the Status of Women in Canada.

During the Second World War, MacGill oversaw production of Hawker Hurricane fighters, earning the nickname, 'Queen of the Hurricanes'. Elsie MacGill was named to the Order of Canada in 1971. She passed away in 1980 after a short illness. She was inducted into Canada's Aviation Hall of Fame in 1983.

Answer: Nelly Furtado

Nelly Kim Furtado was born on December 2nd, 1978 in Victoria, B.C. She had a strong musical upbringing, learning to sing and play various musical instruments, and even writing songs at the age of 12. After graduating high school, Furtado moved to Toronto to pursue a music career.

In 1999, Furtado signed a record deal with Dreamworks Records and released her first single, "Party's Just Begun (Again)" for the soundtrack for the movie "Brokedown Palace". Her first solo album "Whoa, Nelly!" came out the next year, with the lead single "I'm Like a Bird" earning her her first Grammy for Best Female Pop Vocal Performance. That same year she won her first Junos for Best New Solo Artist, Best Songwriter, and Best Producer, in addition to Best Single for "I'm Like a Bird". Furtado's third studio album, "Loose" (2006) was her first to reach Number One in Canada and the United States (and seven other countries). Her sixth studio album, "The Ride", was released in 2017.

Answer: Margaret Trudeau

Margaret Joan Trudeau (née Sinclair) was born on September 10th, 1948 in Vancouver, B.C. Apart from her marriage to Prime Minister Pierre Trudeau (from 1971 until 1984) and being the mother of Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, Margaret has also made a name for herself.

Having been herself diagnosed with bipolar disorder, Trudeau has used her status and public persona to become an advocate for others with the disorder. She wrote the book "Changing My Mind" about her experience with it (published in 2011), as well as three other books. She also worked for many years in support of (as honorary president and ambassador) WaterAid Canada, an NGO dedicated to developing sustainable water supplies and sanitation in developing countries.