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The Famous Five Trivia Quiz

The Famous Five were influential social reformers, changing the status of women in Canada forever. Test your knowledge about the Famous Five!

A multiple-choice quiz by Team The Alberta Pioneers. Estimated time: 4 mins.

Author
StetsonHat

Time
4 mins

Type
Multiple Choice

Quiz #
347,059

Updated
Aug 30 24

# Qns
10

Difficulty
Average

Avg Score
7 / 10

Plays
327

One at a Time - Single Page - Timed Game

Question 1 of 10

1. What was the issue that the Famous Five took to the Supreme Court of Canada? Hint

Does the word 'person' in The British North America Act include women?

Do women have the right to divorce their husbands?

Do women have the right to vote?

Does the word "person" in the British North America Act include children?

NEXT>

Question 2 of 10

2. The Famous Five includes the first woman in the British Empire to be elected to a legislative body (above the level of county council). What was her name? Hint

Nellie McClung

Cairine Wilson

Kim Campbell

Louise McKinney

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Question 3 of 10

3. What was another name for The Famous Five? Hint

The Amazing Five

The Intrepid Five

The Fantastic Five

The Valiant Five

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Question 4 of 10

4. All of the famous five were born and raised in Alberta.

True

False

5. Emily Murphy fought for women's rights and is remembered for that as one of the Famous Five. However, some other views she held has been a source of criticism for Murphy. What did these views pertain to? Hint

Communism and nationalization of industries

She held no controversial viewpoints

Nazism and antisemitism

Racism and eugenics

NEXT>

Question 6 of 10

6. The Supreme Court of Canada actually ruled against the women in the case before them. Which body ultimately ruled that women were indeed persons under the law? Hint

Court of Queen's Bench of Alberta

Parliament of Canada

Judicial Committee of the Privy Council

UN Human Rights Council

NEXT>

Question 7 of 10

7. How many of the Famous Five actually served in the Senate? Hint

None

Three

One

All five

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Question 8 of 10

8. In which Alberta city famous for its yearly Stampede exhibition and for the 1988 Winter Olympics, is there statue commemorating the Famous Five? Hint

Edmonton

Calgary

Vancouver

Montreal

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Question 9 of 10

9. Which of the Famous Five was a prolific author and penned her autobiography entitled "Clearing in the West: My Own Story"? Hint

Nellie McClung

Louise McKinney

Irene Parlby

Henrietta Edwards

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Question 10 of 10

10. What honour was bestowed on the Famous Five in 2009 by the Canadian Senate? Hint

They were named "honorary senators"

A peak in the Canadian Rockies was named "Mt. Valiant Five"

They were elevated to the nobility

They received the title of "Dame"

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Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts

1. What was the issue that the Famous Five took to the Supreme Court of Canada?

Answer: Does the word 'person' in The British North America Act include women?

The Supreme Court of Canada decided that in order to be considered for public office, a person must be "fit and qualified", so only men were eligible.

Trufflesss

2. The Famous Five includes the first woman in the British Empire to be elected to a legislative body (above the level of county council). What was her name?

Answer: Louise McKinney

With her election to the Alberta legislature in 1917, Louise McKinney became the first woman in the British Empire to be so elected. She represented the riding of Claresholm and would occupy her seat until 1921.

StetsonHat

3. What was another name for The Famous Five?

Answer: The Valiant Five

Their other name is The Valiant Five. They took their case to the Supreme Court of Canada on August 27, 1927, and the decision was rendered on April 24, 1928.

Trufflesss

4. All of the famous five were born and raised in Alberta.

Answer: False

Although famous mainly as Albertans, none of the Famous five was actually born there. Henrietta Edwards was a Quebecer while Murphy, McClung and McKinney originally hailed from Ontario. Irene Parlby was born in London, England, and came to Canada at the age of 28.

StetsonHat

Answer: Racism and eugenics

In her efforts to combat drug abuse, Murphy singled out people of Chinese origin, calling them "visitors" to Canada who should be removed from the country if need be. Murphy also advocated eugenics as a way to control overpopulation. She held that mentally handicapped children were a "menace" and that mentally ill patients should be forcibly sterilized to prevent them from having children of their own.

Source: Alberta Online Encyclopedia (http://www.abheritage.ca/famous5/achievements/murphy_eugenics.html) and Wikipedia

StetsonHat

6. The Supreme Court of Canada actually ruled against the women in the case before them. Which body ultimately ruled that women were indeed persons under the law?

Answer: Judicial Committee of the Privy Council

Until 1949 the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council, sitting in London, England, was 'court of last resort' for Canada and could overturn decisions of the Supreme Court of Canada. It ruled the exclusion of women a "relic" in overturning the Supreme Court verdict.

StetsonHat

7. How many of the Famous Five actually served in the Senate?

Answer: None

Although some of the famous five were appointed or elected to office none of them served in the Senate. The first female senator was Cairine Wilson who was appointed to that position in 1930.

StetsonHat

8. In which Alberta city famous for its yearly Stampede exhibition and for the 1988 Winter Olympics, is there statue commemorating the Famous Five?

Answer: Calgary

The statue is located in the Olympic Park, Calgary. The monument was created by Barbara Paterson and depicts the moment when the Famous Five read the good news that they had been successful in their endeavour.

There is an identical monument on Parliament Hill in Ottawa. It was unveiled on October 18, 2000. October 18 is recognised as "Persons Day" in Canada.

Trufflesss

9. Which of the Famous Five was a prolific author and penned her autobiography entitled "Clearing in the West: My Own Story"?

Answer: Nellie McClung

Born in Ontario in 1873, Nellie McClung was not only known as one of The Five but also served as a provincial legislator in Alberta. She advocated women's suffrage as well as prohibition and family values. Her writing career started with her autobiography in 1935 and included some 16 titles in all. She passed away in 1951.

StetsonHat

10. What honour was bestowed on the Famous Five in 2009 by the Canadian Senate?

Answer: They were named "honorary senators"

In October 2009 the Canadian Senate named the five women as honorary senators in commemoration of their accomplishments. They were previously pictured on the Canadian $50 banknote as well.

StetsonHat

Source: Author StetsonHat

This quiz was reviewed by FunTrivia editor bloomsby before going online.
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