Fast Facts Betcha Didn’t Know You think that you know everything there is to know about Canada…but do you really? ▶ With 50% of the population having a post-secondary education, Canada is ranked as the most educated country in the world. ▶ The oldest rocks on earth are found in the Canadian Shield. ▶ Georgian Bay’s Manitoulin Island is the largest freshwater island in the world. ▶ IMAX was invented in 1967 by three Canadian filmmakers, Graeme Ferguson, Roman Kroitor and Robert Kerr. ▶ Canada has the fourth-lowest population density, with 3.7 people per square kilometre. ▶ After Russia, Canada is the second-largest country in the world. ▶ The word Canada comes from the indigenous word Kanata. ▶ Canada produces 80% of the world’s supply of maple syrup. ▶ Canada is the number-one doughnut consumer in the world. ▶ The snow blower was invented by Canadian Arthur Sicard in 1927. ▶ Canadian Joe Shuster was the co-creator of Superman. ▶ Canada has 48 national parks and 30 of them are larger than many countries. ▶ Quebec City and Lunenburg, N.S. are the only urban centres in North America with UNESCO World Heritage Site designations. Shake a Paw!! Get to know some data about dogs. ▶ A dog’s nose print is unique, much like a human’s fingerprint. ▶ The Labrador retriever has been on the top 10 list of popular dogs for longer than any other breed. ▶ A dog’s nose has as many as 300 million smell receptors, compared to a human’s five million. ▶ The Australian Shepherd is an American breed, not Australian. ▶ The Labrador retriever is originally from Newfoundland. ▶ Human blood pressure goes down when petting a dog. ▶ All puppies are born deaf. ▶ Dalmatians are born completely white. ▶ Greyhounds can beat cheetahs in a race. ▶ Dogs evolved from a now-extinct species of wolf. ▶ There are approximately 600 million canines in the world. ▶ Originating in ancient Egypt, the Saluki is the oldest among dog breeds. Answers to Outside the Box puzzles from page 48 1. Three squares a day 2. Punch drunk 3. Ozone layer 4. Black and blue 5. Take five 6. Tea totaller Love Birds The World Wildlife Foundation states that about five per cent of animal species and 90 per cent of birds mate for life with the same partner. Meet a few of them. ▶ Atlantic puffins ▶ Coyotes ▶ Seahorses ▶ Bald eagles ▶ Albatrosses ▶ Beavers ▶ Gibbons ▶ Sandhill cranes ▶ Canada geese ▶ Marmosets ▶ Prairie voles ▶ Gray wolves ▶ Swans ▶ Vultures ▶ Red foxes ▶ Barn owls ▶ Turtledoves A Century Ago Check out a few of the things that occurred in the world between January and December, 1924. ▶ Canada recognizes the USSR. ▶ Rand McNally publishes its first road atlas. ▶ J. Edgar Hoover appointed head of the FBI. ▶ Ford Motor Company manufactures its 10 millionth automobile. ▶ Mars makes its closest approach to Earth since the 10th century. ▶ Toastmasters International is founded. ▶ First Winter Olympic Games opens in Chamonix, France. ▶ Walt Disney creates his first cartoon, “Alice’s Wonderland.” ▶ The Royal Canadian Air Force is formed. ▶ Prince Edward Island changes from driving on the left to the right. ▶ The Montreal Canadiens hockey team wins their second Stanley Cup. ▶ Wheaties cereal and Milky Way candy bar are introduced. ▶ IBM is founded. ▶ Four planes leave Seattle on the first successful around-the-world flight. ▶ The first crossword puzzle is published by Simon & Schuster. ▶ Denmark claims Greenland. 54 | www.snowbirds.org
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