Portal:Canada/DYK

Thursday, June 19, 2025

Did you know? consists of a series of "hooks", which are interesting facts taken from Wikipedia's newest or recently expanded Canadian related articles. The choice of articles is subject to a series of criteria, see DYK rules for more information.

Did you know...

... that Nathan Frink fled the United States with enslaved children to settle in Canada, where he was elected as a Member of the Legislative Assembly and caught in a smuggling conspiracy?
... that an Antiguan man who escaped from custody in Canada is suspected of stealing a yacht and sailing it directly into Hurricane Larry?
... that Eleanor Island was first designated as a Migratory Bird Sanctuary and later as a National Wildlife Area to give it a stronger protection status?
... that the Manhattan Project feed materials program used uranium ore from a mine in Canada near the Arctic Circle?
... that Princess Margriet of the Netherlands was born in Canada's capital, but outside the country's legal jurisdiction?
... that Jennifer Reid at first could not find a Canadian publisher for her book on Canadian identity?
... that a Sunday afternoon phone call to Ken Battle laid the foundations for the Canadian Child Benefit program?
... that Pituamkek National Park Reserve, Canada's newest national park, protects a chain of barrier islands that have been used for fishing and hunting by the Mi'kmaq for 4,000 years?
... that Joe Wirkkunen coached the Finland men's national ice hockey team after receiving a recommendation from Canada?
... that Ron Tiavaasue was born in Samoa, grew up in New Zealand, played college football in the United States, and now plays professional football in Canada?
... that the first Miss Indigenous Canada contestants were judged on ambassadorship, character, community service, and cultural involvement?
... that as of 2019, inclusion in the International Register of Electors no longer requires residency in Canada in the preceding five years?
... that there's a Little Canada on Minnesota State Highway 36?
... that journalist Jacques Poitras spent a month repeatedly crossing the "Imaginary Line" separating New Brunswick and Maine in order to publish a book about it?
... that there is an East Quoddy Head Lighthouse and a West Quoddy Head Lighthouse on opposite sides of a bay, but one is in Canada and the other is in the United States?
... that after years of development, the British thin-wing Javelin interceptor aircraft was cancelled in favour of purchasing the Canadian Avro Arrow?
... that Premier Maurice Duplessis, angry at the fact that the federal government of Canada was taking taxes at the expense of the provinces, once demanded that Ottawa "return our loot"?
... that the anniversary of the Singh v Canada decision is observed as Refugee Rights Day?
... that in one year, a team of Canadian All-Stars twice played against the U.S. college football national champion and came within one point of winning each game?
... that Edwin Atwater and his brother were the first people to import glass into Canada?
... that jazz singer Judi Singh's mother and father were, respectively, among the earliest Black and Sikh settlers of Alberta, Canada?
... that the Canada Centre Building has one of the first aquifer thermal energy storage systems?
... that Mount Churchill, a volcano in Alaska, distributed ash as far as Europe and may have driven migration from Canada to southwestern North America?
... that the entire inventory of historic string instruments in Canada's Musical Instrument Bank are loaned to musicians in a competition held every three years?
... that Eagle-Dogtooth Provincial Park in Ontario, Canada, contains part of the Experimental Lakes Area, a controlled area for conducting scientific experiments in lakes?
... that the only populated place on Kaipokok Bay in Labrador, Canada, is Postville?
... that John Neilson, a Scottish immigrant to Lower Canada, became a major publisher and bookseller, and was reportedly "the largest consumer of paper" in the country?
... that before the House of Commons of Canada considers a taxation or spending bill, a royal recommendation has to be given by the governor general?
... that the Aubinadong River in Ontario, Canada, was an indigenous canoe route and is still used for canoe camping as its main recreational activity?
... that George Thomas Taylor was one of Canada's earliest nature photographers?
... that the United States won the 2023 CONCACAF Nations League final and extended a home unbeaten streak against Canada that dates back to 1957?
... that research conducted in 2020 found that squirrels are "nearly ubiquitous" on college campuses in the United States and Canada?
... that up to 129,000 Canadian federal workers went on strike?
... that as a teenager in a B'nai B'rith camp in Canada, Holocaust survivor and future Canadian ambassador Fred Bild learned English from his camp counselor, future actor William Shatner?
... that the Otoskwin–Attawapiskat River Provincial Park, protecting the Otoskwin and Attawapiskat Rivers in Ontario, Canada, has archaeological and historical sites dating from 3000 BC to the 1800s?
... that the shores of Kesagami Lake in Kesagami Provincial Park (northern Ontario, Canada) are surrounded by "exceptional" peat cliffs reaching 4 metres (13 ft) in height?
... that the mainland portion of Lake of the Woods Provincial Park in northwestern Ontario, Canada, was deregulated as part of a First Nations land claim settlement?
... that Saulteaux linguist Margaret Cote was the first person in Saskatchewan to teach a First Nations language in a public school?
... that the St. Raphael Provincial Park in Northern Ontario, Canada, is part of the 1,530 km² (590 sq mi) St. Raphael Signature Site, which is recognized for its natural and recreational values?
... that in 1819 Michael O'Sullivan, a member of the Legislative Assembly of Lower Canada, fought a duel in Montreal with William Caldwell over a proposal to create the Montreal General Hospital?
... that Bethune: The Making of a Hero, once Canada's most expensive film, had a documentary about its troubled production shown at the 1988 Toronto International Film Festival instead of itself?
... that the Canadian Coalition for Firearm Rights has been described as "Canada's most prominent pro-gun group"?
... that Robert Home was sent by the British Army to Canada in 1864 to report on the defence of the frontier against the eventuality of an American invasion?
... that Ausma Malik is the first hijab-wearing Muslim woman to be elected to public office in Canada?
... that the roadless Solace Provincial Park in the Temagami area of Ontario, Canada, is considered as one of the most isolated, wild places in the province?
... that Gil Kim played professional baseball in the Netherlands, China, Australia, Spain, and Venezuela, scouted in Mexico and the Dominican Republic, and coaches in Canada?
... that because of the increasing prevalence of sesame allergy, the U.S. will join the EU and Canada in 2023 in instituting mandatory food labeling?
... that Moses Judah Hays leased a block of buildings to the Canadian Parliament after its seat was burned down in 1849?
... that Sheila Egoff, Canada's first professor of children's literature, returned to her library work immediately after retirement?
... that Michelle O'Bonsawin is the first Indigenous person appointed to the Supreme Court of Canada?
... that Irene Parlby was one of The Famous Five, a group of women in Canada who fought for the right of women to be considered "persons"?
... that journalist Bob Moir posed as medical staff on the Canadian Olympic team to report on the Munich massacre?
... that Canadian cricketer Divya Saxena was accused of obstructing the field in an international match but was ruled "not out"?
... that John Hutchison, in his role as Mayor of Toronto, signed the city's bid to become the capital of the Province of Canada?
... that journalist W. A. Hewitt refereed the first game played in the history of ice hockey at the Olympic Games?
... that Brian Fawcett, who would have turned 78 today, taught English to inmates before becoming a full-time writer?
... that the now-destroyed statue of Alexander Wood was the first LGBT monument in Canada?
... that Inuvialuk actress Marika Sila views her acting career as a platform for outreach and education on the culture and rights of Indigenous peoples in Canada?
... that journalist Maurice Smith helped establish a national curling championship for high school students in Canada?
... that the 2012 Olympic women's soccer semifinal between the Canadian and the American national teams was called "the greatest knockout match in major-tournament football" since 1982?
... that the Canadian House of Commons held a take-note debate on the discovery of the graves of more than 200 Indigenous children near Kamloops Indian Residential School in 2021?
... that La Poutine Week is the world's largest poutine festival, with 700 restaurants serving 350,000 people?
... that Amanda Asay was the longest-serving member of the Canadian women's baseball team when she died at 33, having played on the team for sixteen years?
... that after it bombed in Canada, John Richardson removed anti-American passages from The Canadian Brothers to publish it in New York?
... that the Bancroft region is the only place in Canada and one of very few places in the world where uranium has been mined from pegmatite rock?
... that Dan Finnerty was cast in Single All the Way so that he could cross the Canada–U.S. border and join his wife, Kathy Najimy, on the set of the film?
... that Damon Severson scored a goal with 0.4 seconds left in regulation time to help lead Canada men's national ice hockey team to a silver medal?
... that the Ukrainian Holodomor Memorial Day, commemorating the victims of the 1932–33 famine, is also observed in Canada?
... that the Falcon Lake Incident is considered "Canada's best-documented UFO case"?
... that the tourist attraction Little Canada has a "Littlization Station" used to create scale 3D replicas of visitors to be placed in the exhibit?
... that White Lake Provincial Park is the only provincial park in Ontario, Canada, with an exceptional provision allowing hydroelectric activity as a non-conforming use?
... that there are three hydroelectric generating stations on the White River in Northern Ontario, Canada, all part-owned by First Nations?
... that the Temagami River in Ontario, Canada, is an outstanding water route with twenty sets of whitewater rapids rated CI to CIII?
... that the Steel River, in Northern Ontario, Canada, is one of the few rivers along Lake Superior's north shore never used for log drives?
... that after Norman Dawe died, he was described as "a victim of [ice] hockey because he worked too hard for it"?
... that archaeologists found evidence at Michipicoten Provincial Park on the north shore of Canada's Lake Superior that indigenous people used the site since at least 1100 AD?
... that Jean-Paul Jeannotte, founder and first artistic director of the Opéra de Montréal, performed the role of Bobino more than 100 times, in the premiere on CBC TV and on stages on a Canada tour?
... that John Henry Dunn resigned from the Executive Council of Upper Canada only three weeks after his appointment, throwing away a post he had sought for 16 years, on a matter of political principle?
... that when it was sold in 2002, a painting of the Ojibwe performer Maungwudaus was the second-most expensive artwork ever sold in Canada?
... that American Ken Whitlock played football in Canada because of segregation in the United States?
... that Tory MP John Solomon Cartwright refused a request by the governor-general of the Province of Canada to join the government, because he would not sit in Cabinet with radical Francis Hincks?
... that Quinn became the first out, transgender, non-binary athlete to medal at the Summer Olympic Games when they won gold with the Canada national soccer team?
... that John Matthews's pension was suspended because he was accused of leading a call for a theatre performance to play "Yankee Doodle" and "Hail, Columbia"?
... that Robert Randal delivered a petition to British officials that requested civil rights for aliens living in Upper Canada?
... that Siphesihle November was brought to Canada from South Africa for ballet training at age 11, and became a principal dancer with the National Ballet of Canada at 22?
... that the Trans-Canada Skyway made Hockey Night in Canada possible?
... that Hope Muir was hired as the artistic director of the National Ballet of Canada without any in-person interviews?
... that Mahmud Jamal is the first person from a visible minority group to be nominated to the Supreme Court of Canada?
... that three generations of a Muslim family were killed in London, Canada, last month?
... that the many refugees who have entered Canada via Roxham Road at the border between New York and Quebec since 2017 may not have been breaking any laws?

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