Showing posts with label canada trivia. Show all posts
Showing posts with label canada trivia. Show all posts

10 Interesting Trivia Facts About Winnipeg in Manitoba, Canada

* Monty Hall, the television celebrity, who began and hosted the well known game show "Let's Make a Deal" from 1963 to 1977, came from chilly Winnipeg.

* The 2005 Academy Award winning film "Capote", starring Philip Seymore Hoffman was filmed on location in Winnipeg. Winnipeg is a seemingly unlikely center for movies, but many have been, and are in the process of filming in the Northern city in the center of Canada.

* The Manitoba Legislative Building, seat to the Manitoba government, is topped by a 17 foot golden statue known as "The Golden Boy". He has been standing suspended on top of the legislative dome since 1920. The choice of a fully nude statue in a city known for its long cold winters, seems a somewhat humorous choice to crown the governmental seat.

* Neil Young of Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young rock group fame, reportedly lived in Winnipeg, although he was born in Toronto, in Ontario. The story goes that Neil Young was thrown out of Kelvin High School on Kingsway Ave, in the south school district of Winnipeg, for playing his guitar in the school halls.

* Winnie the Pooh was named after the city of Winnipeg, by a Canadian Lieutenant in the Fort Garry Horse Militia who purchased Winnipeg Bear, shortened to Winnie the Pooh, from a hunter in 1914.

* Winnipeg is the Slurpee capital of the world. The citizens of the city frozen 6 months of the year, consume an estimated 400,000 Slurpees per month in Winnipeg. This includes the frigid winter months. The author and family have contributed to this statistic many times, even in the winter.

* Crash Test Dummies, the band that came into the public eye in the late 1980's originated in, you guessed it, Winnipeg.

* Canada is supposedly the car theft capital of North America. Winnipeg is known as the car theft capital of Canada. When the authors car was stolen in Winnipeg, she and hubby were told by the police in Winnipeg, that they have to chase down approximately 1,000 cars per month in Winnipeg from car thieves. Many are stolen for joy rides. Luckily the recovery rate is over 90% for stolen cars. $2,000 dollars worth of damage, tow, storage, repair fees and a couple weeks of anxiety later, she found out they do indeed get cars back.

* Terry Fox the runner and national hero, a true symbol of courage and dignity in the face of adversity, was born in Winnipeg. Terry Fox began a log run across part of Canada after losing part of a leg to cancer. He ran with a prosthetic limb. He was featured on a special edition of the Canadian dollar coin, which is know as the Loonie.

* The city of Winnipeg, located in the province of Manitoba has close to 700,000 residents. Their drinking water supply comes primarily from Ontario, their provincial neighbour to the east. The lake is mostlyin Ontario, with a small part in Manitoba. The water has to be sent from Shoal Lake, via pipes across 155 kilometres, about 96 miles, to get to the city of Winnipeg.

There is more to Winnipeg than you know, and many people have never even heard of the main city of the province of Manitoba, in Canada.
read more...

10 Interesting Trivia Facts About Winnipeg in Manitoba, Canada

* Monty Hall, the television celebrity, who began and hosted the well known game show "Let's Make a Deal" from 1963 to 1977, came from chilly Winnipeg.

* The 2005 Academy Award winning film "Capote", starring Philip Seymore Hoffman was filmed on location in Winnipeg. Winnipeg is a seemingly unlikely center for movies, but many have been, and are in the process of filming in the Northern city in the center of Canada.

* The Manitoba Legislative Building, seat to the Manitoba government, is topped by a 17 foot golden statue known as "The Golden Boy". He has been standing suspended on top of the legislative dome since 1920. The choice of a fully nude statue in a city known for its long cold winters, seems a somewhat humorous choice to crown the governmental seat.

* Neil Young of Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young rock group fame, reportedly lived in Winnipeg, although he was born in Toronto, in Ontario. The story goes that Neil Young was thrown out of Kelvin High School on Kingsway Ave, in the south school district of Winnipeg, for playing his guitar in the school halls.

* Winnie the Pooh was named after the city of Winnipeg, by a Canadian Lieutenant in the Fort Garry Horse Militia who purchased Winnipeg Bear, shortened to Winnie the Pooh, from a hunter in 1914.

* Winnipeg is the Slurpee capital of the world. The citizens of the city frozen 6 months of the year, consume an estimated 400,000 Slurpees per month in Winnipeg. This includes the frigid winter months. The author and family have contributed to this statistic many times, even in the winter.

* Crash Test Dummies, the band that came into the public eye in the late 1980's originated in, you guessed it, Winnipeg.

* Canada is supposedly the car theft capital of North America. Winnipeg is known as the car theft capital of Canada. When the authors car was stolen in Winnipeg, she and hubby were told by the police in Winnipeg, that they have to chase down approximately 1,000 cars per month in Winnipeg from car thieves. Many are stolen for joy rides. Luckily the recovery rate is over 90% for stolen cars. $2,000 dollars worth of damage, tow, storage, repair fees and a couple weeks of anxiety later, she found out they do indeed get cars back.

* Terry Fox the runner and national hero, a true symbol of courage and dignity in the face of adversity, was born in Winnipeg. Terry Fox began a log run across part of Canada after losing part of a leg to cancer. He ran with a prosthetic limb. He was featured on a special edition of the Canadian dollar coin, which is know as the Loonie.

* The city of Winnipeg, located in the province of Manitoba has close to 700,000 residents. Their drinking water supply comes primarily from Ontario, their provincial neighbour to the east. The lake is mostlyin Ontario, with a small part in Manitoba. The water has to be sent from Shoal Lake, via pipes across 155 kilometres, about 96 miles, to get to the city of Winnipeg.

There is more to Winnipeg than you know, and many people have never even heard of the main city of the province of Manitoba, in Canada.
read more...

Interesting Facts & Trivia about Thousand Islands

If you are planning a tour to Canada this summer, it's important to know that there is much more to experience in Canada besides the stunning Niagara Falls. There are several beautiful sites that add to the charm of Ontario, Canada in addition to the famous Niagara Falls. One such breathtaking site is Thousand Islands, a cluster of over 1000 breathtaking islands that straddle across the US and Canada border along the St. Lawrence River. Wouldn't it be a dream to cruise through these spectacular islands and wonder in amazement about the history of their formation? Your dream can come true if you take The Thousand Islands cruise during your Niagara Falls Tour that takes you on a journey amidst this amazing archipelago. Here are some interesting facts about these islands that will increase your excitement about discovering them when you tour Niagara Falls!

* Thousand Islands were formed during the retreat of the last ice age, which exposed the hard granite and gneiss characteristic of the Canadian Shield. Covered with vegetation, the islands often appear to pop out of the water, resembling mushroom caps.
* Although the region is called Thousand Islands, in reality they are 1,864 islands.

* Boldt Castle located on one of the islands called Heart Island in the Thousand Islands region, was built in the 1890's by millionaire George Boldt for his beloved wife Louise. It is a popular landmark and a tourist attraction. George Boldt altered the shape of the island into a 'heart-shape', and changed its name from 'Hart Island' to 'Heart Island'.

* Louise passed away at a young age. Boldt was heartbroken and stopped the construction of the partly erected castle. It stands to this day unfinished, although in recent years some of its rooms have been improved.

* Heart Island has been host to some spectacular fireworks displays over the years. In August of 1938, almost 20,000 people gathered to witness the $2,500 display of fireworks celebrating the dedication of the Thousand Island Bridge. Almost a year later, on August 6, 1939 another fireworks display.

* The male deer, or stags, which can be seen throughout the Heart Island known as 'harts'.

* The Thousand Islands Bridge is an international bridge over the Saint Lawrence River connecting northern New York in the United States with southeastern Ontario in Canada.

* The famous "Shortest International Bridge" that joins two equally tiny islands lies is in reality entirely within Canada, contrary to the popular belief that one of the islands is situated in Canada and the other in United States. However, local tour guides for decades touted the bridge as the shortest span between Canada and United States and that's why it got its name as "Shortest International Bridge".

* The popular Thousand Island dressing originated in the Thousand Island Region. It's made from ketchup, mayonnaise and pickle relish.
read more...

Interesting Facts & Trivia About Thousand Islands

If you are planning a tour to Canada this summer, it's important to know that there is much more to experience in Canada besides the stunning Niagara Falls. There are several beautiful sites that add to the charm of Ontario, Canada in addition to the famous Niagara Falls. One such breathtaking site is Thousand Islands, a cluster of over 1000 breathtaking islands that straddle across the US and Canada border along the St. Lawrence River. Wouldn't it be a dream to cruise through these spectacular islands and wonder in amazement about the history of their formation? Your dream can come true if you take The Thousand Islands cruise during your Niagara Falls Tour that takes you on a journey amidst this amazing archipelago. Here are some interesting facts about these islands that will increase your excitement about discovering them when you tour Niagara Falls!

* Thousand Islands were formed during the retreat of the last ice age, which exposed the hard granite and gneiss characteristic of the Canadian Shield. Covered with vegetation, the islands often appear to pop out of the water, resembling mushroom caps. * Although the region is called Thousand Islands, in reality they are 1,864 islands.
* Boldt Castle located on one of the islands called Heart Island in the Thousand Islands region, was built in the 1890's by millionaire George Boldt for his beloved wife Louise. It is a popular landmark and a tourist attraction. George Boldt altered the shape of the island into a 'heart-shape', and changed its name from 'Hart Island' to 'Heart Island'.
* Louise passed away at a young age. Boldt was heartbroken and stopped the construction of the partly erected castle. It stands to this day unfinished, although in recent years some of its rooms have been improved.
* Heart Island has been host to some spectacular fireworks displays over the years. In August of 1938, almost 20,000 people gathered to witness the $2,500 display of fireworks celebrating the dedication of the Thousand Island Bridge. Almost a year later, on August 6, 1939 another fireworks display.
* The male deer, or stags, which can be seen throughout the Heart Island known as 'harts'.
* The Thousand Islands Bridge is an international bridge over the Saint Lawrence River connecting northern New York in the United States with southeastern Ontario in Canada.
* The famous "Shortest International Bridge" that joins two equally tiny islands lies is in reality entirely within Canada, contrary to the popular belief that one of the islands is situated in Canada and the other in United States. However, local tour guides for decades touted the bridge as the shortest span between Canada and United States and that's why it got its name as "Shortest International Bridge".
* The popular Thousand Island dressing originated in the Thousand Island Region. It's made from ketchup, mayonnaise and pickle relish.
read more...