Log inSign up free
Langula for iPhone and iPad ★ 4.5Get it free
Canadian Citizenship Test · study notes · November 2026

Canadian Citizenship Test: Canadian symbols

Canada’s symbols are the objects, places, events and people that Canadians connect with their country. On the citizenship test you can expect questions about the flag, the maple leaf, the national motto, Parliament, national sports, the anthems, honours like the Victoria Cross and the dates Canadians celebrate. These notes give you the key facts in plain language.

Practise 35 questionsRead the notes

Practise this topic

Practise this topic with instant feedback and a short explanation for every answer.

These are practice questions written by Langula, not official test questions. The real questions are not published; they are based on the study guide Discover Canada.

Study notes

1

The Crown

Canada is a constitutional monarchy, and the Crown has been a symbol of the state in Canada for about 400 years. Canada became a constitutional monarchy in its own right at Confederation in 1867, when Queen Victoria was on the throne.

The Crown is more than a person. It stands for the whole system of government: Parliament, the provincial legislatures, the courts, police services and the armed forces. The King (the Sovereign) is Canada’s head of state, and many public institutions act in the name of the Crown.

2

The flag and the national colours

Canada’s red and white flag with a single red maple leaf in the centre was raised for the first time in 1965. Its red-white-red design was inspired by the flag of the Royal Military College in Kingston, which was founded in 1876.

Red and white have been colours of France and England since the Middle Ages, and they became Canada’s official national colours in 1921. Before 1965, the Canadian Red Ensign served as the country’s flag for about a century. The Union Jack is still Canada’s official Royal Flag.

Every province and territory also has its own flag. These flags show the history and traditions of each part of the country.

3

Maple leaf, fleur-de-lys and coat of arms

The maple leaf is Canada’s best-known symbol. French Canadians began using it as an emblem in the 1700s, and it has appeared on Canadian military uniforms and badges since the 1850s. It is also carved on the headstones of Canadian soldiers who died in war, both in Canada and overseas.

The fleur-de-lys (a stylized lily) was a symbol of the French kings for more than a thousand years, including in New France. It came back into use at Confederation and appeared on the Red Ensign. In 1948, Quebec adopted its own flag, which is built around a white cross and four fleurs-de-lys.

After the First World War, Canada adopted an official coat of arms and a national motto, A mari usque ad mare. The Latin words mean ‘from sea to sea’. The arms combine symbols of England, France, Scotland and Ireland with red maple leaves, and you can see them on government documents, money and public buildings.

4

The Parliament buildings

The Parliament buildings in Ottawa were finished in the 1860s. Their towers, arches, carvings and stained glass reflect French, English and Indigenous traditions, built in the Gothic Revival style that was popular in Queen Victoria’s time.

In 1916 an accidental fire destroyed most of the Centre Block. It was rebuilt by 1922, and the Library is the only part of the original building that survived the fire. The Peace Tower was completed in 1927 to remember the First World War.

Inside the Peace Tower is the Memorial Chamber. It holds the Books of Remembrance, which list the names of Canadians in uniform who died serving their country in wars or while on duty. The provincial legislatures are also important historic buildings.

5

Sports and the beaver

Ice hockey was developed in Canada in the 1800s and is the national winter sport. It is the most popular sport to watch. National Hockey League teams play for the Stanley Cup, which Lord Stanley, a Governor General, donated in 1892. The Clarkson Cup is the top prize in women’s hockey.

Lacrosse, a very old game first played by Indigenous peoples, is Canada’s official summer sport. Canadian football is the second most popular sport, and curling, an ice game brought by Scottish settlers, is also widely played. Many children play soccer too.

The beaver is another well-known symbol. Centuries ago it became an emblem of the Hudson’s Bay Company, and in 1834 the Saint-Jean-Baptiste Society, a French-Canadian patriotic group, chose it as well. Today you can see the beaver on the five-cent coin and on the coats of arms of Saskatchewan and Alberta and of cities like Montreal and Toronto.

6

Official languages and the anthems

English and French are Canada’s two official languages and an important part of Canadian identity. English speakers (Anglophones) and French speakers (Francophones) have lived side by side for more than 300 years. The Official Languages Act, passed in 1969, aims to give English and French equal status in Parliament and the federal government, to support official-language minority communities, and to promote both languages in Canadian society.

O Canada was first sung in Quebec City in 1880 and became the official national anthem in 1980. English-speaking and French-speaking Canadians sing different words to the same music.

Canada also has a Royal Anthem, God Save the King. It can be played or sung when Canadians want to honour the Sovereign.

7

Honours: the Order of Canada and the Victoria Cross

Countries thank outstanding citizens through honours: orders, decorations and medals. For many years Canada used British honours. It created its own system with the Order of Canada in 1967, the 100th anniversary of Confederation. Any Canadian can nominate another person for an honour.

The Victoria Cross (V.C.) is the highest honour a Canadian can receive. It is given for outstanding bravery, a daring act of courage or self-sacrifice, or extreme devotion to duty when facing the enemy.

The first Canadian to receive it was Alexander Roberts Dunn, for his part in the Charge of the Light Brigade in the Crimean War in 1854. Other famous Canadian recipients include William Hall of Nova Scotia, the first Black person to receive the V.C., and the First World War pilot Billy Bishop.

8

National holidays and important dates

Canada Day on July 1 celebrates Confederation in 1867. Remembrance Day on November 11 honours the Canadians who served and died in wars; many people wear a red poppy in the days before it.

Victoria Day, on the Monday before May 25, marks the Sovereign’s birthday. In Quebec, June 24 is the Fête nationale, the feast of Saint John the Baptist. Other dates to know are Vimy Day (April 9), Labour Day (first Monday in September) and Thanksgiving (second Monday in October).

National holidays and important dates in Canada

DateHoliday or dayWhat it marks
January 1New Year’s DayThe start of the year
January 11Sir John A. Macdonald DayCanada’s first Prime Minister
Friday before Easter SundayGood FridayChristian holy day
Monday after Easter SundayEaster MondayChristian holiday
April 9Vimy DayThe Battle of Vimy Ridge, 1917
Monday before May 25Victoria DayThe Sovereign’s birthday
June 24Fête nationale (Quebec)Feast of Saint John the Baptist
July 1Canada DayConfederation in 1867
First Monday in SeptemberLabour DayWorkers
Second Monday in OctoberThanksgivingGiving thanks for the harvest
November 11Remembrance DayCanadians who served and died in war
November 20Sir Wilfrid Laurier DayCanada’s first French-Canadian Prime Minister since Confederation
December 25Christmas DayChristian holiday
December 26Boxing DayDay after Christmas
AdvertisementLearn without ads

35 practice questions with answers

Written by Langula in our own words to help you revise — not official test questions. The correct answer is marked.

1
What does the Crown symbolize in Canada?
  1. aOnly the courts
  2. bGovernment, including Parliament, the legislatures, the courts, police services and the armed forcesCorrect
  3. cThe ten provincial premiers
  4. dOnly the Prime Minister and the Cabinet

The Crown stands for the whole system of government. This includes Parliament, the provincial legislatures, the courts, police services and the armed forces.

2
True or false: the Crown has been a symbol of the state in Canada for about 400 years.
  1. aTrueCorrect
  2. bFalse

The Crown has represented the state in Canada for about four centuries, since the time of the early French and English colonies.

3
In what year was Canada’s maple leaf flag first raised?
  1. a1921
  2. b1965Correct
  3. c1982
  4. d1867

The red and white flag with the maple leaf was raised for the first time in 1965.

4
Where does the red-white-red pattern of the Canadian flag come from?
  1. aThe flag of the Hudson’s Bay Company
  2. bThe flag of New France
  3. cThe flag of the Royal Military College in KingstonCorrect
  4. dThe coat of arms of Ontario

The design was inspired by the flag of the Royal Military College in Kingston, founded in 1876.

5
Since what year have red and white been Canada’s official national colours?
  1. a1867
  2. b1980
  3. c1921Correct
  4. d1965

Red and white became Canada’s national colours in 1921. They had been colours of France and England since the Middle Ages.

6
Which flag served as Canada’s flag for about 100 years before the maple leaf flag?
  1. aThe Canadian Red EnsignCorrect
  2. bThe flag of the Royal Military College
  3. cThe flag of Quebec
  4. dThe flag of New France

Before 1965, the Canadian Red Ensign was used as the country’s flag for about a century.

7
True or false: each province and territory has its own flag.
  1. aTrueCorrect
  2. bFalse

All provinces and territories have their own flags, which reflect their own history and traditions.

8
Where is the maple leaf carved to honour Canadians who died in war?
  1. aOn the doors of every provincial legislature
  2. bOn the five-cent coin
  3. cOn the Stanley Cup
  4. dOn the headstones of fallen Canadian soldiersCorrect

The maple leaf is carved on the headstones of Canadian soldiers who died in war, both in Canada and overseas.

9
For more than a thousand years, the fleur-de-lys was a symbol of what?
  1. aThe British navy
  2. bThe Hudson’s Bay Company
  3. cThe French kings, including in New FranceCorrect
  4. dScottish clans

The fleur-de-lys was a symbol of French royalty for over a thousand years, also in the colony of New France.

10
In 1948, which province adopted its own flag based on a cross and the fleur-de-lys?
  1. aNew Brunswick
  2. bOntario
  3. cManitoba
  4. dQuebecCorrect

Quebec adopted its flag in 1948. It shows a white cross and four fleurs-de-lys.

11
What does Canada’s motto, A mari usque ad mare, mean?
  1. aStrong and free
  2. bI remember
  3. cFrom sea to seaCorrect
  4. dPeace, order and good government

The motto is Latin and means ‘from sea to sea’.

12
The coat of arms of Canada includes symbols of which countries, along with red maple leaves?
  1. aSpain, Portugal, Italy and Greece
  2. bEngland, France, Scotland and IrelandCorrect
  3. cGermany, the Netherlands, Belgium and Denmark
  4. dThe United States, Mexico, Cuba and Brazil

The arms combine symbols of England, France, Scotland and Ireland with red maple leaves. They appear on government documents and public buildings.

13
In what architectural style were the Parliament buildings in Ottawa built?
  1. aArt Deco
  2. bAncient Egyptian
  3. cGothic RevivalCorrect
  4. dModern glass and steel

The Parliament buildings were built in the Gothic Revival style, which was popular in Queen Victoria’s time.

14
What happened to the Centre Block of Parliament in 1916?
  1. aIt was damaged by an earthquake
  2. bIt was moved from Kingston to Ottawa
  3. cIt was opened for the first time
  4. dIt was destroyed by an accidental fireCorrect

An accidental fire destroyed the Centre Block in 1916. It was rebuilt by 1922, and only the Library survived from the original building.

15
The Peace Tower, completed in 1927, was built to remember which event?
  1. aConfederation
  2. bThe Second World War
  3. cThe First World WarCorrect
  4. dThe War of 1812

The Peace Tower was finished in 1927 in memory of the First World War.

16
What are the Books of Remembrance in the Peace Tower?
  1. aThe names of all members of the Order of Canada
  2. bBooks with the names of Canadians in uniform who died serving in wars or on dutyCorrect
  3. cThe original copies of the Constitution
  4. dA list of all Prime Ministers

The Books of Remembrance, kept in the Memorial Chamber, list Canadians who died serving their country in wars or while on duty.

17
What is Canada’s national winter sport?
  1. aSkiing
  2. bHockeyCorrect
  3. cCurling
  4. dFigure skating

Hockey is the national winter sport and the most popular sport to watch in Canada.

18
True or false: soccer is Canada’s official summer sport.
  1. aTrue
  2. bFalseCorrect

Lacrosse is Canada’s official summer sport. It is an ancient game first played by Indigenous peoples.

19
True or false: ice hockey was developed in Canada in the 1800s.
  1. aTrueCorrect
  2. bFalse

Ice hockey was developed in Canada in the 1800s and is now the national winter sport.

20
Who donated the Stanley Cup in 1892?
  1. aLord Stanley, a Governor GeneralCorrect
  2. bSir John A. Macdonald, the first Prime Minister
  3. cThe Hudson’s Bay Company
  4. dQueen Victoria

Lord Stanley, who was Governor General, donated the cup in 1892. National Hockey League teams compete for it today.

21
Centuries ago, the beaver was adopted as a symbol of which company?
  1. aThe Hudson’s Bay CompanyCorrect
  2. bAir Canada
  3. cThe Canadian Pacific Railway
  4. dThe Royal Canadian Mint

The beaver became a symbol of the Hudson’s Bay Company centuries ago, when the fur trade was central to the economy.

22
True or false: the beaver appears on Canada’s one-dollar coin.
  1. aTrue
  2. bFalseCorrect

The beaver appears on the five-cent coin, as well as on the coats of arms of Saskatchewan and Alberta.

23
What are Canada’s two official languages?
  1. aEnglish and FrenchCorrect
  2. bEnglish and Cree
  3. cFrench and Inuktitut
  4. dEnglish and Gaelic

English and French are Canada’s official languages and an important symbol of Canadian identity.

24
In what year did Parliament pass the Official Languages Act?
  1. a1995
  2. b1931
  3. c1969Correct
  4. d1867

Parliament passed the Official Languages Act in 1969.

25
Which of these is a goal of the Official Languages Act?
  1. aTo make every Canadian speak both English and French
  2. bTo make French the only language in Quebec schools
  3. cTo make English the only language of the courts
  4. dTo give English and French equal status in Parliament and the Government of CanadaCorrect

The Act aims for equality of English and French in Parliament and the federal government, supports official-language minority communities and promotes both languages in society.

26
In what year was O Canada proclaimed as the national anthem?
  1. a1980Correct
  2. b1965
  3. c1867
  4. d1880

O Canada became the official national anthem in 1980, a century after it was first sung.

27
True or false: O Canada was first sung in Quebec City in 1880.
  1. aTrueCorrect
  2. bFalse

O Canada was first sung in Quebec City in 1880. English and French Canadians sing different words to the same music.

28
What is the title of Canada’s Royal Anthem?
  1. aGod Save the KingCorrect
  2. bThe Maple Leaf Forever
  3. cRule, Britannia!
  4. dO Canada

The Royal Anthem is God Save the King. It can be played or sung to honour the Sovereign.

29
When was the Order of Canada created?
  1. aIn 1982, with the Charter
  2. bIn 1967, for the 100th anniversary of ConfederationCorrect
  3. cIn 1917, during the First World War
  4. dIn 1867, at Confederation

Canada used British honours for many years. It created the Order of Canada in 1967, the centennial of Confederation.

30
What is the Victoria Cross?
  1. aThe highest honour for Canadians, given for outstanding bravery in the presence of the enemyCorrect
  2. bA medal for success in business
  3. cA prize for the best athlete of the year
  4. dAn award for long service in the public service

The Victoria Cross is the highest honour available to Canadians. It recognizes exceptional courage, self-sacrifice or devotion to duty when facing the enemy.

31
On what date do Canadians celebrate Canada Day?
  1. aJune 24
  2. bNovember 11
  3. cJuly 1Correct
  4. dMay 24

Canada Day on July 1 marks Confederation, when Canada was founded as a country in 1867.

32
On what date is Remembrance Day?
  1. aSeptember 1
  2. bJuly 1
  3. cNovember 11Correct
  4. dApril 9

On Remembrance Day, November 11, Canadians honour those who served and died in wars.

33
What does Victoria Day, on the Monday before May 25, celebrate?
  1. aThe end of the First World War
  2. bThe adoption of the maple leaf flag
  3. cThe founding of Quebec City
  4. dThe Sovereign’s birthdayCorrect

Victoria Day falls on the Monday before May 25 and marks the Sovereign’s birthday.

34
Which day is celebrated in Quebec on June 24 as the Fête nationale?
  1. aThe feast of Saint Patrick
  2. bThe anniversary of Confederation
  3. cThe feast of Saint John the BaptistCorrect
  4. dLabour Day

In Quebec, June 24 is the Fête nationale, the feast of Saint John the Baptist (Saint-Jean-Baptiste).

35
When is Thanksgiving celebrated in Canada?
  1. aThe Monday before May 25
  2. bThe first Monday in September
  3. cThe second Monday in OctoberCorrect
  4. dThe fourth Thursday in November

Canadian Thanksgiving falls on the second Monday in October. Labour Day is the first Monday in September.

More Canadian citizenship test topics

Rights and responsibilities of citizenshipStudy notes and 44 practice questions with explanations.Who we are: Indigenous peoples, English and French, diversityStudy notes and 39 practice questions with explanations.Canada’s history and modern CanadaStudy notes and 56 practice questions with explanations.How Canadians govern themselves, elections and justiceStudy notes and 60 practice questions with explanations.Canada’s economy and regionsStudy notes and 48 practice questions with explanations.

Canadian citizenship test: format, pass mark and online test →

AdvertisementLearn without ads

Frequently asked questions

What is Canada’s national sport: hockey or lacrosse?
Both have an official role. Hockey is the national winter sport and lacrosse, first played by Indigenous peoples, is the official summer sport.
What does the motto A mari usque ad mare mean?
It is Latin for ‘from sea to sea’. Canada adopted the motto, together with its coat of arms, after the First World War.
When did Canada get its maple leaf flag?
The current flag was raised for the first time in 1965. Its red-white-red pattern comes from the flag of the Royal Military College in Kingston.
Do I need to know the words of O Canada for the test?
Test questions on the anthem are usually about facts, for example that O Canada was first sung in Quebec City in 1880 and became the national anthem in 1980. Learning to sing it is still a good idea, because it is often sung at citizenship ceremonies.

Sources and disclaimer

Last checked: November 2026. Official information:

Langula is not connected to Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC). This page is general information, not immigration or legal advice. Rules and fees can change — always check canada.ca. The practice questions and study notes on these pages are our own and are not the official test questions; study the official guide Discover Canada for the test.

Learn French or English for free while you prepare

Canada has two official languages. Langula’s free courses explain every word in your own language — with audio, flashcards and pronunciation practice, no account needed.

Learn French free