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Home , Bytown, Bytown Museum, Canada Day, Capitol Cinema (Ottawa), Centennial Flame, Charlotte Whitton

HAPPY DAY FROM THE !

There is never a wrong time to learn as much as possible about the history of the City of and the National Capital Region, even on the day Canada celebrates its 153rd birthday!

We’ve come up with 153 questions about our city from the 1820s to 2020, to celebrate 153 years of Canada and its .

Have a go at our GIANT Capital-of-Canada Quiz, and see just how much you know about our city!

1820s

1. Ottawa will be celebrating its 200th anniversary in 2026. How many years older is ?

A. 22 B 26 C. 25 D. 30

2. What conflict prompted the construction of the Rideau ?

A. B. C. American Civil War D. 1837-38 Upper/ Rebellions

3. Stonemason Thomas Mackay built the Commissariat, which houses the today, in 1827. What other famous Ottawa structure did he build?

A. National War Memorial B. Chateau Laurier C. D.

4. Before being flooded during construction of the , what Dow’s Lake formerly known as?

A. Dow’s Pond B. Dow’s Pasture C. Dow’s Swamp D. Dow’s Creek

5. What did used to be known as?

A. Barrack Hill B. By’s Hill C. Lebreton Point D. Wellington Lookout

6. True or False: The ’s name refers to County Cork in Ireland where many Irish Canal workers were from?

7. The first successful bridge across the Chaudiere Falls linking Bytown and Wrightsville was completed in what year?

A. 1826 B. 1827 C. 1828 D. 1829

8. What is the body of water at the beginning of the 8 Ottawa locks called? Canal construction

A. Sleigh B. Entrance Bay C. Rideau Opening D. Ottawa Bay

1830s

9. What year was the Rideau Canal completed?

A. 1838 B. 1830 C. 1835 D. 1832

10. What was the name of the mostly Irish gang that terrorized Bytown from 1835-1845?

A. The Shiners B. The Peacemakers C. The Renegades D. The Corkmen 11. What was the name of the founder of the town that would become present-day Gatineau, who passed away in 1839?

A. E.B. Eddy B. C. J.R. Booth D. Braddish Billings 12. In 1832, the first Roman was built in Bytown. Which present-day cathedral now occupies the same spot?

A. St. Patrick’s B. St. Andrew’s C. St. Mary’s D. Notre Dame 13. What was the name of the steamboat Colonel By travelled on, for his first full navigation of the Rideau Canal?

A. Union B. Rideau C. Victoria D. Ottawa

14. What industry came to define the economy of the in the 1830s?

A. Farming B. Fishing C. Lumber D. Mining

15. What was Bytown’s first newspaper?

A. Bytown Independent B. Bytown Gazette C. Bytown Citizen D. Bytown Herald

16. True or False: (also known as Big Joe Mufferaw) was born in Bytown?

1840s

17. What year did the Sisters of Charity (Grey Nuns) arrive in Bytown to establish social services?

A. 1845 B. 1849 C. 1846 D. 1847

18. What was the ’s original name?

A. The Reader B. The Sun C. The Gazette D. The Packet

19. What was the name of the riot that broke out in response to the invitation of Governor General Lord Elgin to Bytown in 1849?

A. Stony Monday Riot B. Rideau Riot C. Byward Riot Dd. York Street Riot

20. What year did John Scott become the first of Bytown?

A. 1840 B. 1848 C. 1847 D. 1844

21. What epidemic ravaged Bytown in 1847?

A. Cholera B. Typhus C. Diphtheria D. Malaria 22. During this epidemic, the Grey Nuns cared for the sick day and night with little to no help. How many sisters unfortunately lost their lives after themselves contracting typhus?

A. 3 B. 4 C. 5 D. none Elisabeth Bruyère 23. When was the school that would become Lisgar Collegiate Institute, founded?

A. 1843 B. 1840 C. 1849 D. 1846

24. In what year did Bytown first send a representative to the legislative assembly of the United ?

A. 1840 B. 1842 C. 1841 D. 1845

1850s

25. Bytown was officially renamed The in what year?

A. 1855 B. 1858 C. 1857 D. 1853

26. True or False: Parliament Hill was once used as an agricultural fairground?

27. Who chose Ottawa as the capital of in 1857?

A. Queen Mary B. King George VI C. D. Queen Anne

28. Which two other Canada West cities competed with Ottawa to be named capital?

A. & Windsor B. Kingston & Toronto C. Guelph & Niagara Falls D. Peterborough and Cornwall

29. Who was the first Mayor of the City of Ottawa?

A. Friel B. Dickinson C. Martineau D. Bower Lewis

30. The Bytown & ______Railway first connected Bytown the surrounding areas by rail in 1854.

A. Prescott B. Glengarry C. D. Renfrew

31. True or False: J.B. Turgeon was the first French-Canadian Mayor of Bytown?

J.B. Turgeon

32. True or False: Before being renamed as Ottawa, Bytown was known as the most violent town in all of British ?

33. Which member of the Billings family became the Geological Survey of Canada’s first paleontologist in 1856?

A. Braddish B. Elkanah C. Sabra D. Lamira

1860s

34. Built in 1862, the Ottawa Youth Hostel on Nicholas Street originally served what purpose?

A. Hopsital B. Gaol (Jail) C. Church D. Apartments

35. What political figure, and Father of Confederation, was assassinated on in 1868?

A. John A. Macdonald B. George Etienne Cartier C. Thomas D’Arcy McGee D. George Brown

36. In what year did the newly-renamed , formerly the College of Ottawa, receive its university status?

A. 1861 B. 1860 C. 1865 D. 1866 37. What Ottawa landmark, known popularly by its address, and of the , was originally built as a family home by lumberman Joseph Merrill Currier?

A. 67 Wellington B. 26 Rideau C. 50 Sparks D. 24 Sussex

38. In 1860, the Prince of Wales laid the cornerstone of the new of Parliament. What title would he go on to hold?

A. King Edward VII B. King C. Duke of Canada D. Prime Minister of Britain

39. How many Members of Parliament would form the first Canadian House of Commons after the election of 1867?

A. 200 B. 181 C. 197 D. 150

40. When did the Ottawa General Hospital first admit patients?

A. 1865 B. 1867 C. 1866 D. 1869

41. True or False: The last public execution in Ottawa’s history, viewed by 5000 spectators, was in 1869?

First Canadian Parliament 1870s

41. True or False: The last public execution in Ottawa’s history, viewed by 5000 spectators, was in 1869?

42. Now run by , , the former home of Prime Minister Sir , was built in what year?

A. 1877 B. 1878 C. 1872 D. 1871 43. The building that today houses the office of Ottawa’s Mayor was built in 1875 and originally housed which institution?

A. The Ottawa Hospital B. Ottawa Normal School C. A hotel D. Corporate Offices

45. What name was 44. What year was Ottawa’s eventually given to the first proper sewer system grounds that hosted the Great installed? Exhibition in 1879?

A. 1877 A. Lansdowne B. 1871 B. Grey C. 1876 C. Somerset D. 1879

D. Norfolk

Mayor’s Office 46. Major’s Hill Park was designated as the first city park in 1874. What was the original name of this land?

A. Sargeant’s Hill B. General’s Hill C. Captain’s Hill D. Colonel’s Hill

47. In what year was the established?

A. 1875 B. 1872 C. 1879 D. 1870

48. In 1877, a bell was installed in the tower on Parliament Hill. After which was the bell, and tower, named?

A. Queen Anne B. King George III C. King Edward VI D. Queen Victoria

1880s

49. In what year was the National Gallery of Canada established?

A. 1888 B. 1883 C. 1880 D. 1889

50. What population milestone did the City of Ottawa pass in 1881

A. 10,000 B. 15,000 C. 20,000 D. 25,000

51. A major modern technology made it to Ottawa in 1885. What was this new development?

A. Electricity arrived B. the first horseless buggy was driven

C. the telegraph is installed D. the first radio broadcast is made from Ottawa 52. After a small tornado stripped the ’s roof of its shingles, what material was used to better protect the building?

A. Bronze B. Iron C. Copper D. Marble

53. In what year was the Experimental Farm founded?

A. 1868 B. 1886 C. 1889 D. 1880

54. Which Mayor was one of only 3 francophone doctors in Ottawa in the 1880s, and remained a staff member at the Ottawa General Hospital after leaving office?

A. Turgeon B. Lewis C. Hervey D. St. Jean

55. What town did Ottawa annex in 1887?

A. B. C. Vanier D. Osgoode

56. Acquired by Paper products manufacturer Domtar in 1998, what year was the E.B. Eddy Manufacturing Company incorporated?

A. 1880 B. 1885 C. 1886 D. 1888

1890s Ottawa-Hull Fire

57. Founded in 1891, what did the Ottawa Car 58. In what year did Ottawa finally get paved streets? Company manufacture?

A. 1890 B. 1895 C. 1899 D. 1898 A. Automobiles B. carriages C. streetcars D. boats

59. What organization was the Ottawa Improvement Commission a predecessor to?

A. Ottawa B. Ottawa Public Health C. Canadian Heritage D. National Capital Commission

60. Which Prime Minister declared he would make Ottawa “the Washington of the North” in 1896?

A. Charles Tupper B. Sir John A Macdonald C. Alexander Mackenzie D. Sir Wilfrid Laurier

61. After he passed away at the age of 76, where was Sir John A Macdonald’s open casket placed to allow mourners to pay their respects?

A. Senate Chamber B. House of Commons C. Union Station D. Rideau Hall 62. In what year was the Women’s Canadian Historical Society of Ottawa (WCHSO) founded?

A. 1890 B. 1893 C. 1898 D. 1899

63. True or False: Men could join the WCHSO as full members the same year it was founded?

1900s

64. Where did the Great Fire of 1900 begin? 65. True or False: Around one fifth (20%) of the city of

Ottawa was levelled by the fire?

A. Hull B. Aylmer C. Nepean D. Orleans

66. How much of Hull’s population was left homeless 67. What Ottawa department store opened in 1909? following the fire?

A. The Bay B. Simons C. Sears D. Murphy-Gamble A. 30% B. 40% C. 50% D. 60%

68. What city service was opened in 1906?

A. Ottawa public parks B. Public swimming pools C. D. Public Washrooms

69. How many fire engines were lost in the fire of 1900?

A. 5 B. 3 C. 2 D. 1

70. Hundreds of thousands of dollars were raised for aid to help those affected by the fire, including a donation of $4.86 sent from what country?

A. Chile B. C. Japan D. Mexico

71. The first auto show to take place in Ottawa was held at in what year?

A. 1900 B. 1904 C. 1906 D. 1908

1910s

72. In 1911, which Governor General of Canada became the first member of the Royal Family to hold that title?

A. Lord Elgin B. Lord Kitchener C. Marquis of Salisbury D. Duke of Connaught 73. For which engagement did Ottawa’s own Cameron Highlanders receive their first battle of honour of World War One?

A. The Somme B. Vimy Ridge C. Mount Sorrel D. Ypres

Headline announcing the end of WW1 74. In what year did a massive fire gut the centre block of Parliament?

A. 1910 B. 1913 C. 1916 D. 1919

75. What is the only original portion of centre block still standing, after surviving the fire with minimal damage?

A. The Rotunda B. The House of Commons C. The Senate D. The Library of Parliament

76. True or False: Ottawa was the first Canadian city to receive official word of the armistice ending World War One?

77. What year was the Office, where 78. When was the Bytown Museum founded? Colonel By once worked, torn down?

A. 1918 B. 1914 C. 1915 D. 1917 A. 1911 B. 1912 C. 1913 D. 1914 79. What Booth Street church, built in 1913, which holds particular importance to Ottawa’s Italian community, was designed by designer Guido Nincheri?

A. Blessed Sacrament B. Saint Hyacinth C. Sacré Coeur D. St. Anthony’s

1920s

80. What iconic addition to Parliament was inaugurated in 1927?

A. B. C. Statue of Queen Victoria

D. Peace Tower

81. What series of explosions in 1929 caused extensive damage and one death? Winter Carnival

A. Sewer explosions B. Gas pipe explosions C. Power plant explosions D. Incorrectly stored munitions

82. In what year did Members of Parliament resume sittings on Parliament Hill, after the original House of Commons was destroyed in the fire of 1916?

A. 1922 B. 1920 C. 1927 D. 1929

83. What cinema was opened at the corner of Queen and Bank Streets in 1920?

A. Ottawa theatre B. Rideau cinema C. D. Bytown Cinema

84. The public “Champagne” and “Plant” baths, opened in 1924 for use by those people who did Not have baths in their own homes, were named after who?

A. The buildings’ architects B. Famous writers C. Doctors D. Former 85. In what year did an Ottawa Winter Carnival boast an ice , hockey matches between the Senators and Canadiens in the middle of downtown, and an ice slide stretching from the

Chateau Laurier down to the Ottawa ?

A. 1922 B. 1925 C. 1920 D. 1929

86. What anniversary did the Ottawa Flying Club celebrate in 2018?

th th th th A. 80 B. 90 C. 100 D. 85

1930s

87. In what year was the established?

A. 1932 B. 1933 C. 1934 D. 1935

88. While Prime Minister from 1930-1935, which politician lived in a 5000 square foot suite in the Chateau Laurier?

A. Mackenzie King B. Wilfrid Laurier C. R.B. Bennett D. Arthur Meighen Modernization Plan for Ottawa

89. What was the name of the city planner hired to modernize and reshape Ottawa’s landscape and infrastructure?

A. Haussman B. Greber C. King D. By 90. The government conference centre at Meech Lake is located in which park created in 1938?

A. Confederation B. Major’s Hill C. Algonquin D. Gatineau

91. True or False: The Economic Conference held in Ottawa in 1932 to discuss responses to the Depression, was the last time Newfoundland represented itself at an Imperial summit as an independent Dominion?

92. Queen Elizabeth, the Queen Mother, and what King, were the first reigning British Monarchs to set foot in Canada during their tour in 1939?

A. George VI B. George V C. George IV D. George III

93. What world event occurred the same year Canada’s National War Memorial was unveiled in 1939?

A. Korean War began B. The Depression C. World War Two began D. Battle of Britain

94. In what sport did “Canada’s Sweetheart”, , win the Olympic Gold in 1948? 1940s

A. Skiing B. Hockey C. Luge D. Figure Skating 95. A year before, in 1947, what gift did the Mayor of Ottawa, J.E. Stanley Lewis, present to Scott for winning the world championships?

A. Trophy B. necklace C. Car D. House 96. True or False: J.E. Stanley Lewis still holds the record as Ottawa’s longest serving Mayor?

97. What Ottawa-area seat did federal Leader of the Opposition, George Drew, represent from 1948-1957?

A. Ottawa East B. Carleton C. D. Gloucester

98. What world leader did Ottawa-based photographer Yousuf Karsh photograph in 1941?

A. Franklin Roosevelt B. Joseph Stalin C. Charles de Gaulle D.

99. Named after the 8th Earl of Elgin, the first Governor General of the United , the opened its to guests in what year?

A. 1941 B. 1940 C. 1949 D. 1943 100. In 1943, the witnessed the birth of the Princess Margriet, a member of which country’s Royal Family?

A. Sweden B. Britain C. Netherlands D. Belgium

1950s

101. After her election became the first female Mayor of a major Canadian city in what year?

A. 1950 B. 1954 C. 1957 D. 1959

102. How many years had an electric tram service operated on Ottawa’s streets before being shuttered in 1959?

A. 60 B. 55 C. 41 D. 68

103. What minor league baseball team made its debut in Ottawa in 1951?

A. Athletics B. Giants C. Roughriders D. Fatcats

104. Responsible for preserving and improving the National Capital Region for the benefit of all , in what year was the National Capital Commission founded?

A. 1950 B. 1954 C. 1957 D. 1959

105. The Mackenzie King Estate, now run by the NCC, belonged to Canada’s longest-serving Prime Minister, William Lyon Mackenzie King, who passed away in 1950. How many years did King serve as Prime Minister?

A. 20 B. 18 C. 22 D. 31 Charlotte Whitton (2nd from right)

106. In 1952 the Bytown Museum moved into which historical Ottawa building?

A. Royal Engineers Office B. Commissariat C. Old City Registry Office D. Old City Hall 107. In what year was Carleton College renamed ?

A. 1957 B. 1950 C. 1959 D. 1955

1960s

108. In what year was the nuclear fallout shelter, commonly known as the “Diefenbunker” after the former Prime Minister who commissioned it, completed?

A. 1960 B. 1967 C. 1963 D. 1965

109. What year did Union Station stop receiving trains?

A. 1966 B. 1967 C. 1960 D. 1965

110. What Ottawa bakery was commissioned to create a 30 foot tall birthday cake for Canada’s Centennial celebrations on Parliament Hill in 1967?

A. Rideau B. Morrison Lamothe C. Capital D. Trillium

111. In what year was the first phase of the Queensway (Highway 417) opened? Ottawa streetcars

A. 1960 B. 1967 C. 1965 D. 1969

112. What Ottawa College was established in 1967?

A. La Cité Collégiale B. Dominican University College C. Algonquin College D. Herzing College

113. True or False: The Centennial Flame on Parliament Hill was opened in 1966?

114. Which Prime Minister attended the official opening of the in 1969?

A. John Diefenbaker B. Pierre Trudeau C. D. Lester Pearson 1970s

115. What was the purpose of former Mayor ’s “Project 4000” in 1979?

A. Build 4000km of new roads B. Sponsor South Asian refugees C. Reduce the Mayor’s salary to $4000 D. Donate 4000 food parcels to charity

116. In what year was the Main branch of the Ottawa Public Library opened?

A. 1970 B. 1974 C. 1975 D. 1979 117. Michael Cowpland and founded which Ottawa-based telecommunications company in 1973?

A. Networks B. Nokia C. Rogers D. Mitel

118. What event in 1970 completely destroyed the Ottawa Little Theatre, the longest-running community theatre company in Canada?

A. Fire B. Explosion C. Tornado D. Earthquake

119. The federal government used the War Measures Act to have soldiers protect federal buildings and employees during which 1970 crisis?

A. December B. August C. October D. September

120. After taking office one day before his 40th birthday, which Canadian politician was the youngster person to ever become Prime Minister?

A. Joe Clark B. John Turner C. Brian Mulroney D. Paul Martin jr.

121. What year did Max Keeping begin anchoring the news on CJOH?

A. 1975 B. 1979 C. 1972 D. 1974

Former Mayor Marion Dewar 122. Which Grey Cups did the Ottawa Roughriders win in the 1970s?

st rd th th st th th th A. 61 & 63 B. 64 & 66 C. 61 & 64 D. 67 & 68

1980s

123. In addition to Prime Minister Pierre Trudeau, and Justice Minister Jean Chretien, who signed the proclamation bringing the Constitution Act of 1982 into effect in a ceremony on Parliament Hill?

A. John Turner B. Brian Mulroney C. Queen Elizabeth II D. Edward Schreyer

124. What year did the Ottawa Art Gallery open its doors?

A. 1980 B. 1988 C. 1984 D. 1985

125. What year did the Ottawa bus rapid transit network, known as the , begin operations?

A. 1980 B. 1989 C. 1982 D. 1983

126. What population milestone did the City of Ottawa pass in 1986?

A. 500,000 B. 400,000 C. 600,000 D. 800,000

Ottawa Senators logo 127. After a “Bring back the Senators” campaign began in order to convince the NHL that Ottawa could support a professional hockey team, how many season ticket pledges were made by members of the public?

A. 11,000 B. 10,000 C. 5,000 D. 20,000 128. In what year did militants of the Armenian Revolutionary Army attack and occupy the Turkish Embassy in Ottawa, taking 12 people hostage and killing one security officer?

A. 1980 B. 1985 C. 1987 D. 1988

129. Jacqueline Holzman would become the first Jewish woman elected Mayor of Ottawa in 1991, having first been elected to City Council in what year?

A. 1988 B. 1985 C. 1987 D. 1982

130. What former Ottawa Mayor served as President of the federal from 1985 to 1987?

A. Marion Dewar B. C. Jim Watson D. Jim Durell

1990s

131. What year was the “City of Ottawa Act” passed by the legislature?

A. 1998 B. 1999 C. 1994 D. 1992

132. Who last held the title of Mayor of Ottawa before Amalgamation?

A. Allan Higdon B. C. Claudette Cain D. Peter Hume

133. In what year did an ice storm cover Ottawa with almost 68mm of freezing rain, most of which fell within the first 24 hours of the storm?

A. 1998 B. 1999 C. 1997 D. 1996

134. The first took place in 1994 in which National Captial Region park?

A. Park B.

C. Park D. Major’s Hill Park

135. How many years did Ben Franklin serve as Mayor of Nepean, before retiring in 1997?

A. 10 B. 5 C. 19 D. 11

Ice Storm 136. True or False: , who became Prime Minister in 1993, was the first Prime Minister not to live at 24 Sussex since it became the official residence of the Prime Minister of Canada?

137. What was the first hockey season?

A. 92/93 B. 95/96 C. 89/90 C. 91/92 138. What year was the Ottawa-Carleton District School Board (OCDSB) created?

A. 1990 B. 1999 C. 1995 D. 1998

2000s

139. How many cities, townships and villages were amalgamated in 2001 to form the City of Ottawa?

A. 10 B. 9 C. 11 D. 7

140. In what year did the O-train light rail line open?

A. 2001 B. 2002 C. 2000 D. 2005

141. Which Prime Minister lay in state on Parliament Hill in the autumn of 2000 following his death at the age of 80?

A. John Diefenbaker B. Pierre Trudeau C. Jean Chretien D. Lester Pearson

142. True or False: In 2003, Dalton McGuinty became the second Premier of Ontario to represent an Ottawa- area seat in the legislature.

143. Who was the last person to serve as Mayor of Kanata?

A. Merle Nichols B. Marianne Wilkinson C. Des Adam D. Bob Chiarelli

144. In 2006 the home arena of the Ottawa Senators changed its name from the Corel Centre, to Scotiabank Place. What was the arena first called?

A. Ottawa Place B. Civic Centre C. Rideau Rink D. Palladium

145. Who was elected the first Mayor of the amalgamated City of Ottawa in 2001?

A. Jim Watson B. Bob Chiarelli C. D. Terry Kilrea

2010s

146. What population milestone did the City of Ottawa pass in 2019?

A. 1 million B. 1.5 million C. 500,000 D. 2 million

147. According to the Meteorological Service of Canada, how many tornadoes were recorded Touching down in the National Capital Region between September 21st and September 22nd, 2018?

A. 5 B. 8 C. 6 D. 3

Confederation Line Train

148. In what year did Parks Canada offer free lockage along the Rideau Canal?

A. 2012 B. 2015 C. 2017 D. 2019

149. What light rail station acts as an interchange between the Trillium and Confederation Lines?

A. Hurdman B. Carling C. Pimisi D. Bayview

150. What anniversary did the famed Chateau Laurier celebrate in 2012?

A. 50th B. 100th C. 150th D. 200th

151. What year was the Museum of Civilization’s name changed to the Museum of History?

A. 2010 B. 2015 C. 2018 D. 2013

152. What team did the defeat to win the 104th ?

A. Calgary Stampeders B. Toronto Argonauts C. Roughriders D. Hamilton Tiger-Cats

2020

153. What anniversary did the Rideau Canal Skateway celebrate during 2020?

A. 75th B. 60th C. 50th D. 100th

LET’S CHECK YOUR SCORE…

153/153 There is nothing you don’t know about this city!

119-152 To say your knowledge of this city is extensive is an understatement.

85-118 Seems like learning about the is more than just a hobby for you.

51-84 You know Ottawa pretty well, but there’s always more to learn.

50 or less Maybe it’s time to book a trip to the Bytown Museum sometimes in the near future.

You can check your answers on the next page…

C - 2020

D D, A, true, D, C, C, D, – 1910s A D, B, D, C, C, A, – 2010s

D A, C, C, D, B, true, A, – 1900s B D, A, false, B, A, C, – 2000s

false C, A, D, D, B, C, – 1890s D A, true, C, D, A, A, B, – 1990s

C A, D, B, C, A, D, C, – 1880s A D, B, A, C, D, B, C, – 1980s

D A, D, A, C, B, B, – 1870s C C, A, C, A, D, B, B, – 1970s

true C, B, A, D, D, C, B, – 1860s B false, C, A, B, A, C, – 1960s

B true, true, A, D, B, C, true, A, – 1850s A B, C, D, B, D, A, – 1950s

C A, D, B, C, A, D, A, – 1840s C A, D, B, true, C, D, – 1940s

false A, C, B, D, ,B, A D, – 1830s C A, true, D, B, C, D, – 1930s

B C, true, A, C, D, A, B, – 1820s B A, D, C, B, A, D, – 1920s