Lesson 4 of 4 · 6 min read
The Crown, the Parliament Buildings, the beaver, hockey and lacrosse, the official languages, the Order of Canada and the Victoria Cross are all symbols that say something about who Canadians are.
Each of these symbols carries a fact worth remembering for the test.
The Crown has been a symbol of the state in Canada for 400 years. Canada has been a constitutional monarchy in its own right since Confederation in 1867, during Queen Victoria's reign. The Crown is a symbol of government, including Parliament, the legislatures, the courts, police services and the Canadian Forces.
The towers, arches, sculptures and stained glass of the Parliament Buildings reflect French, English and Aboriginal traditions and the Gothic Revival style popular in Queen Victoria's time. They were completed in the 1860s. The Centre Block was destroyed by an accidental fire in 1916 and rebuilt in 1922; the Library is the only part of the original building left.
The Peace Tower, completed in 1927, honours the First World War. Its Memorial Chamber holds the Books of Remembrance, listing the soldiers, sailors and airmen who died serving Canada in wars or on duty.
The provincial legislatures are architectural treasures too. The Quebec National Assembly is in the French Second Empire style; the others are Baroque, Romanesque or neoclassical.
The beaver was adopted centuries ago as a symbol of the Hudson's Bay Company, then by the St. Jean Baptiste Society in 1834 and others. You'll find it on the five-cent coin and the coats of arms of Saskatchewan, Alberta, Montreal and Toronto.
The fleur-de-lys was the symbol of French royalty for more than 1,000 years, including in New France. It was part of the Canadian Red Ensign, and Quebec's flag, adopted in 1948, is based on it.
English and French are the official languages and important symbols of identity; Anglophones and Francophones have lived together in partnership and creative tension for more than 300 years. The Official Languages Act of 1969 aims to make French and English equal in Parliament and the federal government, support official-language minority communities, and promote equality of the two languages in society.
Official awards are called honours: orders, decorations and medals. After many years of using British honours, Canada created the Order of Canada in 1967, the centennial of Confederation.
The Victoria Cross (V.C.) is the highest honour available to Canadians, awarded for the most conspicuous bravery in the presence of the enemy. It has gone to 96 Canadians since 1854, including:
| Date | Holiday |
|---|---|
| January 1 | New Year's Day |
| January 11 | Sir John A. Macdonald Day |
| Friday before Easter | Good Friday |
| Monday after Easter | Easter Monday |
| April 9 | Vimy Day |
| Monday before May 25 | Victoria Day (Sovereign's birthday) |
| June 24 | Fête nationale (Quebec) |
| July 1 | Canada Day |
| First Monday of September | Labour Day |
| Second Monday of October | Thanksgiving |
| November 11 | Remembrance Day |
| November 20 | Sir Wilfrid Laurier Day |
| December 25 | Christmas Day |
| December 26 | Boxing Day |
Key facts
The Crown has been a symbol of the state in Canada for 400 years. It symbolizes government, including Parliament, the legislatures, the courts, police services and the Canadian Forces.
The Parliament Buildings were completed in the 1860s. The Centre Block burned in 1916 and was rebuilt in 1922; the Library is the only original part left. The Peace Tower (1927) honours the First World War.
The beaver was adopted centuries ago by the Hudson's Bay Company and is on the five-cent coin.
Hockey is the most popular spectator sport and the national winter sport. Lacrosse, first played by Aboriginal peoples, is the official summer sport. Soccer has the most registered players.
The Official Languages Act of 1969 aims to make English and French equal in Parliament and the federal government.
Canada started its own honours system with the Order of Canada in 1967. The Victoria Cross is the highest honour available to Canadians and has been awarded to 96 Canadians since 1854.
Answer all 3 to mark this lesson done.
1. What is Canada's official summer sport?
2. What does the Crown symbolize in Canada?
3. What is the highest honour available to Canadians?
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