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About This Quiz
Do you know a loonie from a toonie? Any idea what a chinook is? And what the heck is poutine, anyway? If you're thinking of moving to Canada, you have to be prepared to answer these questions if you want to fit in with your new neighbors. Think you've got what it takes? Take our quiz to find out!
So you think the grass is greener on the other side of the border, eh? Every U.S. Presidential election brings out a swarm of voters who swear they are leaving the country if their preferred candidate doesn't win. While some want to get as far away as possible, others head just across the border to Canada, one of the closest U.S. neighbors.
There's lots of reasons Canada is a smart choice for American ex-pats. One of the biggest is that it isn't all that different from the U.S.; sure, they have a Prime Minister instead of a President and provinces instead of states, but culturally it's fairly similar -- and many Canadians speak English, so you don't even have to learn a new language.
On top of that there's plenty of natural beauty and strong safety nets, including universal healthcare. Best of all, it's fairly easy for skilled U.S. workers to make the leap, though it does require some time and effort.
Convinced you've got what it takes to move to Canada? Take our quiz and find out whether you'll soon be picking up your morning coffee at Tim Horton's instead of your local coffee shop!
First, some general questions about our neighbors to the North. Approximately how big is the country of Canada?
Nearly 4 million square miles
Canada is huuuuuge. Covering over 5,500 miles (8,850 km) wide from Atlantic to Pacific coasts, Canada is comprised of six time zones, almost 30% larger than Australia, almost 20 times the size of Spain, and more than 142 times the size of Ireland.
About 3 million square miles
Just under 1 million square miles
Approximately 500 square miles
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What is a "toonie"?
An insane wacko, of course!
Another name for a "loonie," which is a one-dollar coin
A nickname for the two-dollar coin
A loon on the Canadian dollar coin led to it being nicknamed the “loonie.” The toonie or twoonie is the tongue-in-cheek nickname for the two dollar coin.
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What's the correct response to the question, "How's she bootin’er?"
What did you say about my sister!?
My boots are fine, thanks.
Doing pretty well, how about you?
"How's she bootin’er?" is Canadian slang for “How are you doing?”
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What is the capital of Canada?
Toronto
Montreal
Vancouver
Ottawa
Ottawa is the capital city of Canada. It stands on the south bank of the Ottawa River in the eastern portion of Southern Ontario.
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What is a double-double?
Chewing two sticks of Double-Mint gum.
Coffee with two creams and two sugars.
A double-double is coffee with two creams and two sugars. A triple-triple is cream and sugar times three.
Gloves under mittens
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How many provinces and territories make up Canada?
8 provinces and 3 territories
10 provinces and 3 territories
The ten provinces are Alberta, British Columbia, Manitoba, New Brunswick, Newfoundland and Labrador, Nova Scotia, Ontario, Prince Edward Island, Quebec, and Saskatchewan. The three territories are Northwest Territories, Nunavut, and Yukon.
10 provinces and 2 territories
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Which of these is a "chinook," in Canadian parlance?
A type of salmon
A warm wind that blows from west to east during late winter to early spring
A Chinook is a warm wind that blows from west to east during late winter to early spring.
An Eskimo
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Who is the Prime Minister?
Stephen Harper
Justin Trudeau
Stephen Harper is the previous Canada Prime Minister, François Hollande is the President of France, and David Cameron is Prime Minister of the United Kingdom.
François Hollande
David Cameron
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What is the largest city in Canada by population?
Vancouver
Regina
Toronto
In the 2011 census, Toronto had a population of 2,615,060, making it the fourth most populous city in North America, after Mexico City, New York City, and Los Angeles. It is considered an alpha global city, and is is widely recognized as one of the most multicultural and cosmopolitan cities in the world. Toronto is well known for its skyscrapers and high-rise buildings (in particular, the CN Tower, the tallest free-standing structure in the western hemisphere). As Canada's commercial capital, the city is home to the Toronto Stock Exchange, the headquarters of Canada's five largest banks, and the headquarters of many large Canadian and multinational corporations.
Halifax
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Team sports are hugely popular in Canada. Which of these is NOT a go-to activity among Canucks?
Lacrosse
Ice hockey
Basketball
American football
Lacrosse is the official summer sport in Canada, and ice hockey is its equivalent in winter. Other popular sports include baseball, rugby, Canadian football, soccer and curling.
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Which of these celebrities is NOT Canadian?
Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson
Ron Howard
Other famous Canadians include: Michael J. Fox, Shania Twain, William Shatner, Alex Trebek, and Alexander Graham Bell.
Mike Myers
James Cameron
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Which of these is "back-bacon"?
Pancakes with bacon baked inside
Returning to an eating establishment for more bacon!
Cured bacon rolled in cornmeal
Back-bacon or “peameal bacon” is cured bacon rolled in cornmeal.
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Canadians use the metric system, except when they don't. Which of these are usually NOT reported in metric?
Road signs
Gas prices
Current temperature
Your response when asked your height or weight
Canadians typically discuss the weather in degrees Celsius, purchase gasoline in litres, observe speed limits set in kilometres per hour (km/h), and read road signs and maps displaying distances in kilometres.
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Is the Imperial gallon larger or smaller than the U.S. liquid gallon?
Smaller
Larger
Think questions like these are a waste of time? Think again. On July 23, 1983, Air Canada Flight 143 ran out of fuel about halfway through its Montreal to Edmonton flight. The amount of fuel that had been loaded was miscalculated because of a confusion as to the calculation of the weight of fuel using the metric system, which had recently replaced the imperial system for use with the 767.
Trick question, they're the same size!
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What is Canada's number 1 export?
Precious metals and gems
Timber
Automobiles
Oil
Oil represented $77.8 billion of Canada's $408.7 billion in exports for 2015 (Oil represents 19% of Canada's total exports).
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The cold is something to consider. On average, how cold is Canada in January?
-10 degrees Fahrenheit
18 degrees Fahrenheit
We got this temperature by averaging the January highs and lows of the 33 most populous cities in Canada. You'd be quite a bit colder in Winnipeg, Manitoba, for example, which has an average low of -2°F.
25 degrees Fahrenheit
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Let's get serious. As a U.S. citizen, what documentation do you need to enter Canada?
A passport or other proof of U.S. citizenship, plus a valid photo ID
There are a variety of documents that provide proof of U.S. citizenship to get INTO Canada. Getting back into the U.S. is a bit trickier, and will require a passport, EDL/EIC, or other document that complies with the Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative.
A standard driver's license
Only a U.S. passport or Enhanced Driver's License will get you into Canada
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How long can you stay in Canada as a visitor (without a visa)?
You always need a visa to enter Canada.
Six months
If you are a U.S. Citizen, a border services officer at the port of entry in Canada will determine how long you can stay in Canada. Most visitors are allowed a six-month stay from the day they entered Canada. If the officer authorizes a stay of less than six months, they will indicate in your passport the date by which you must leave Canada.
As long as you want, no questions asked!
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You crossed the border without a lot of forethought, but now you'd like to stay. Can you get a work visa?
Yes, any U.S. citizen who applies will get a work visa
Maybe, depending on how valuable your work experience is.
If you don't have a job offer from a Canadian company in the bag, you'll want to get an open work permit. You will only get one of those if your work experience is Skill Level 0, A or B in the National Occupational Classification, which are for jobs that require a college or vocational education.
Maybe, but you'll need to leave Canada first to apply
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Let's say you have a work or student visa, and now you want to become a Canadian citizen. What needs to happen first?
You need to pass a citizenship test
You need to be a permanent resident first
Before you can even apply for Canadian citizenship, you'll need to be a permanent resident. If you're a U.S. citizen, you can apply under the Federal Skilled Worker Program, the Federal Skilled Trades Program
or the Canadian Experience Class, depending on your work experience. You'll also need to pass a language test.
You need to have lived in Canada at least 5 years
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As we all know, Canada has "cradle-to-grave," nationalized health care. At what point would a U.S. citizen be eligible for this perk?
Once you cross the border, you can apply!
Anyone with a work or student visa can apply!
Only Canadian citizens and permanent residents may apply for public health insurance.
All Canadian citizens and permanent residents may apply for public health insurance. When you have it, you do not pay for most health-care services as health care is paid for through taxes.
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You're a Skilled Worker and have successfully become a permanent resident of Canada! What are the other basic criteria for citizenship?
4 years as a tax-paying resident; pass the citizenship test; pass a French or English test
All of the above, plus you can't have committed a crime in or outside of Canada in those four years
In addition to the above criteria, you will also need to indicate your intention to reside in Canada, or work for Canada outside the country as a Crown servant.
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Still here? Let's find out how you would fare on the citizenship test. The next six questions will come from an actual practice test. First, what are the three main groups of Aboriginal peoples?
First Nations, Métis and Inuit.
The Constitution Act, 1982 recognized three main groups of Aboriginal peoples in Canada: the First Nations and the Inuit, who were the first Aboriginal groups in Canada, and the Métis, who emerged after the settlement of Canada.
Acadians, Métis and Inuit.
Inuit, Métis and Acadians.
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What are the two official languages of Canada?
English and Métis.
Inuktitut and French.
English and French.
According to the 2011 census, English and French are the mother tongues of 56.9% and 21.3% of Canadians respectively.
English and Inuktitut.
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When is Canada Day and what does it celebrate?
June 15 of each year to celebrate the anniversary of Confederation.
August 8th of each year to celebrate the joining of British Columbia to Confederation.
We celebrate the anniversary of Confederation July 1st of each year.
Canada Day marks the joining of the British North American colonies of Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, and the Province of Canada into a federation of four provinces, on July 1, 1867. The four new provinces formed the Dominion of Canada.
May 21st of each year to remember Queen Victoria.
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What do you call the Queen's (Sovereign's) representative in the provinces?
Premier.
Member of the Legislative Assembly.
Lieutenant-Governor.
On the advice of the prime minister, the Governor General of Canada appoints the lieutenant governors to carry out most of the monarch's constitutional and ceremonial duties- known as serving at His Excellency's pleasure- in the provinces and territories. The office is the core of authority in a province.
Senator
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What is the difference between the role of the Governor General and that of the Prime Minister?
The Governor General is the representative of the Sovereign; the Prime Minister oversees provincial policies.
The Governor General is the representative of the Sovereign; the Prime Minister selects the Cabinet ministers and is responsible for operations and policy of government.
The Sovereign, currently Queen Elizabeth II, appoints the Governor General. The commission is for an unfixed period of time—known as serving at Her Majesty's pleasure—though five years is the normal convention. Governor General selects as Prime Minister the person most likely to command the confidence of the elected House of Commons; this individual is typically the leader of the political party that holds the largest number of seats in that chamber.
The Governor General links Canada to 52 other nations and the Prime Minister is the guardian of Constitutional freedoms.
The Governor General is the symbol of Canadian sovereignty and the Prime Minister is his aide.
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Give the first two lines of Canada's national anthem?
O Canada! Our home and native land! True patriot love in all thy sons command.
Here's the first verse in its entirety: O Canada! Our home and native land! / True patriot love in all thy sons command. / With glowing hearts we see thee rise, / The True North strong and free! / From far and wide, O Canada, / We stand on guard for thee. / God keep our land, glorious and free! / O Canada, we stand on guard for thee; / O Canada, we stand on guard for thee.
O Canada! Our province and native land! True patriot love in all thy sons command.
O Canada! From far and wide, O Canada, We stand on guard for thee.
O Canada! We stand on guard for thee.
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We hope you enjoyed this test of your Canadian potential. Do you still want to move?
Yes! I have no faith in any of our Presidential candidates, and that Justin Trudeau is dreamy.
No! To quote F. Scott Fitzgerald: "We beat on, boats against the current, borne back ceaselessly into the past."
Buck up! The U.S. is still the world's largest economy. We will make it through this Presidency as we have all the others. Besides, Mr. Trudeau won't be dreamy forever.
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