Video: Commissioner of Official Languages of Canada’s day quiz

Start of video

[Kelly Burke, Commissioner of Official Languages of Canada, sits on a light‑coloured sofa in a bright office. A large window behind her shows a city skyline. She wears a light blue blazer with a microphone on her lapel.]

(Text on screen: Kelly Burke, Commissioner of Official Languages of Canada)

Kelly Burke:

Hello, bonjour and happy Official Languages Day!

Two voices in harmony… This year, the theme of Official Languages Day celebrates the perfect duo, and today official languages and Canadian music are starring together in our quiz. Are you ready to hit all the right notes with me?

I'm going to ask you a series of questions.

[As the Commissioner speaks, the video fades to a full-screen quiz image with the heading "Question 1." Three answer choices labeled A, B, and C slide onto the screen one after another. Colourful illustrations of musical instruments line the bottom of the screen.]

(Text on screen: Question 1. A. B. C.)

Each time, you will have a choice of three answers: A, B or C. I will give you a few moments to think before I reveal the correct answer,

[As she speaks, the image fades back to the Commissioner.]

Kelly Burke:

so go ahead and discuss the options with your colleagues, your friends and your team and compare your ideas! So, tune your instruments, warm up your vocal cords and grab your pencils!

Starting with question 1:

[As the Commissioner reads the quiz question, the video fades to a full-screen quiz image with colourful illustrations of musical instruments showing Question 1 with its three answer choices.]

(Text on screen: Question 1: Which iconic Canadian artist has had a remarkable international career by recording multiple albums in English and in French?)

Which iconic Canadian artist has had a remarkable international career by recording multiple albums in English and in French?

Is it A. Céline Dion, B. Joni Mitchell or C. Sarah McLachlan?

(Text on screen: A. Céline Dion)

(Text on screen: B. Joni Mitchell)

(Text on screen: C. Sarah McLachlan)

[The three answer choices stay visible on the screen. A ten‑second countdown timer appears and ticks down. When the timer ends, only the correct answer remains as the Commissioner confirms it.]

Kelly Burke:

The right answer is A. Céline Dion.

(Text on screen: A. Céline Dion.)

[The image fades back to Kelly Burke as she explains the answer.]

I started with an easy question! Like Céline, other Canadian musical artists use both official languages in their repertoire: for example Cœur de pirate, Leonard Cohen, Elisapie…

This practice helps bring language communities together and make Canada's linguistic duality visible on the international stage.

[As the Commissioner reads the quiz question, the video fades to a full-screen quiz image with colourful illustrations of musical instruments showing Question 2 with its three answer choices.]

(Text on screen: Question 2: Which artist born in Montréal, who sings in English and in French, is the creator of the songs Feel Good and Confetti?)

Question 2: Which artist born in Montréal, who sings in English and in French, is the creator of the songs Feel Good and Confetti?

Is it A. Charlotte Cardin, B. Lou-Adriane Cassidy or C. Camille Poliquin?

(Text on screen: A. Charlotte Cardin)

(Text on screen: B. Lou-Adriane Cassidy)

(Text on screen: C. Camille Poliquin)

[The three answer choices stay visible on the screen. A ten‑second countdown timer appears and ticks down. When the timer ends, only the correct answer remains as the Commissioner confirms it.]

The right answer is A. Charlotte Cardin.

(Text on screen: A. Charlotte Cardin)

[The image fades back to Kelly Burke as she explains the answer.]

Having grown up in a bilingual environment in Montréal, Charlotte Cardin draws inspiration naturally from both official languages in her music. English and French both hold an important place in her career and her identity.

[As the Commissioner reads the quiz question, the video fades to a full-screen quiz image with colourful illustrations of musical instruments showing Question 3 with its three answer choices.]

(Text on screen: Question 3: In what official bilingual Canadian province do a number of artists perform in English and in French?)

Question 3: In what official bilingual Canadian province do a number of artists perform in English and in French?

Is it A. In Manitoba, B. In New Brunswick or or C. In Saskatchewan?

(Text on screen: A. In Manitoba)

(Text on screen: B. In New Brunswick)

(Text on screen: C. In Saskatchewan)

[The three answer choices stay visible on the screen. A ten‑second countdown timer appears and ticks down. When the timer ends, only the correct answer remains as the Commissioner confirms it.]

The right answer is B. In New Brunswick.

(Text on screen: A. In New Brunswick)

[The image fades back to Kelly Burke as she explains the answer. She now stands on an outdoor terrace with a city skyline behind her. Two Canadian flags are visible in the background.]

Of course, bilingual artists come from many regions in Canada. However, the hint was in the first part of the question: New Brunswick is the only officially bilingual province in Canada! This province has produced artists such as Édith Butler, Roch Voisine and Lisa LeBlanc.

[As the Commissioner reads the quiz question, the video fades to a full-screen quiz image with colourful illustrations of musical instruments showing Question 4 with its three answer choices.]

(Text on screen: Question 4: Which artist chose their stage name by taking inspiration from the last name of their Acadian grandfather, a name that is very common and well known in Acadia?)

Question 4: Which artist chose their stage name by taking inspiration from the last name of their Acadian grandfather, a name that is very common and well known in Acadia?

Is it A. P'tit Belliveau, B. P'tit Robichaud or C. P'tit LeBlanc?

(Text on screen: A. P'tit Belliveau)

(Text on screen: B. P'tit Robichaud)

(Text on screen: C. P'tit LeBlanc)

[The three answer choices stay visible on the screen. A ten‑second countdown timer appears and ticks down. When the timer ends, only the correct answer remains as the Commissioner confirms it.]

The answer is A. P'tit Belliveau!

(Text on screen: A. P'tit Belliveau)

[The image fades back to Kelly Burke as she explains the answer.]

Jonah Richard Guimond, aka P'tit Belliveau, lives in Baie Sainte-Marie, the largest Acadian region in Nova Scotia.

[As the Commissioner reads the quiz question, the video fades to a full-screen quiz image with colourful illustrations of musical instruments showing Question 5 with its three answer choices.]

(Text on screen: Question 5: Which Franco-Ontarian artist, recognized for their eclectic style and humorous songs, gained sudden fame on social media during the lockdown in 2020?)

Question 5: Which Franco-Ontarian artist, recognized for their eclectic style and humorous songs, gained sudden fame on social media during the lockdown in 2020?

Is it A. Michel Bénac of the group LGS, B. Robert Paquette, or C. Damien Robitaille?

(Text on screen: A. Michel Bénac of the group LGS)

(Text on screen: B. Robert Paquette)

(Text on screen: C. Damien Robitaille)

[The three answer choices stay visible on the screen. A ten‑second countdown timer appears and ticks down. When the timer ends, only the correct answer remains as the Commissioner confirms it.]

The answer is C. Damien Robitaille.

(Text on screen: C. Damien Robitaille)

[The image fades back to Kelly Burke as she explains the answer.]

Damien Robitaille is from Lafontaine, Ontario. During the lockdown, his creative videos, in which he sings and plays multiple instruments at the same time, were wildly successful on social media. His cover of Pump Up the Jam, for example, was viewed tens of millions of times.

[As the Commissioner reads the quiz question, the video fades to a full-screen quiz image with colourful illustrations of musical instruments showing Question 6 with its three answer choices.]

(Text on screen: Question 6: What do the letters "F-L-O" stand for in the stage name of Franco-Ontarian hip-hop artist Le FLO FRANCO?)

Question 6: What do the letters "F-L-O" stand for in the stage name of Franco-Ontarian hip-hop artist Le FLO FRANCO?

Is it A. Force Légendaire Ottawa, B. Fierté Loyauté Originalité or C. Francophonie Liberté Ouverture?

(Text on screen: A. Force Légendaire Ottawa)

(Text on screen: B. Fierté Loyauté Originalité)

(Text on screen: C. Francophonie Liberté Ouverture)

[The three answer choices stay visible on the screen. A ten‑second countdown timer appears and ticks down. When the timer ends, only the correct answer remains as the Commissioner confirms it.]

The right answer is B. Fierté Loyauté Originalité.

(Text on screen: B. Fierté Loyauté Originalité)

[The image fades back to Kelly Burke as she explains the answer. She now stands indoors in front of a wooden wall with the Canada wordmark in large black letters.]

Born in France to Haitian parents, Le FLO FRANCO grew up in Ottawa in the Haitian and Francophone communities. He began rapping on the independent hip-hop scene of Canada's capital when he was 14, and went on to form the duo RenESSENCE with rapper Yao.

[As the Commissioner reads the quiz question, the video fades to a full-screen quiz image with colourful illustrations of musical instruments showing Question 7 with its three answer choices.]

(Text on screen: Question 7: Which Franco-Manitoban artist, who played a notable role in the musical Notre-Dame de Paris, is recognized as one of the most influential Francophone singer-songwriters in Canada?)

For question 7, let's travel further west.

Which Franco-Manitoban artist, who played a notable role in the musical Notre-Dame de Paris, is recognized as one of the most influential Francophone singer-songwriters in Canada?

Is it A. Paul Piché, B. Bruno Pelletier or C. Daniel Lavoie?

(Text on screen: A. Paul Piché)

(Text on screen: B. Bruno Pelletier)

(Text on screen: C. Daniel Lavoie)

[The three answer choices stay visible on the screen. A ten‑second countdown timer appears and ticks down. When the timer ends, only the correct answer remains as the Commissioner confirms it.]

The right answer is C. Daniel Lavoie.

(Text on screen: C. Daniel Lavoie)

[The image fades back to Kelly Burke as she explains the answer.]

Daniel Lavoie was born in Dunrea, Manitoba, in a Francophone community. He completed his education at Collège de Saint-Boniface. Did you know that the Saint-Boniface neighbourhood, where the Collège is located, is officially bilingual? The charter of the City of Winnipeg even states that when municipal signs and notices must be written, they must be in English and French there.

[As the Commissioner reads the quiz question, the video fades to a full-screen quiz image with colourful illustrations of musical instruments showing Question 8 with its three answer choices.]

(Text on screen: Question 8: Which Franco-Manitoban artist, who played a notable role in the musical Notre-Dame de Paris, is recognized as one of the most influential Francophone singer-songwriters in Canada?)

Next question: In Alberta, Canadian artist Cristian de la Luna is famous for his blend of Latin, folk and jazz influences. Although his music is primarily in Spanish, in which other language has he also released albums?

Is it A. In Portuguese, B. In French or C. In English?

(Text on screen: A. In Portuguese)

(Text on screen: B. In French)

(Text on screen: C. In English)

[The three answer choices stay visible on the screen. A ten‑second countdown timer appears and ticks down. When the timer ends, only the correct answer remains as the Commissioner confirms it.]

The right answer is B. In French!

(Text on screen: B. In French)

[The image fades back to Kelly Burke as she explains the answer.]

Originally from Colombia and now living in Edmonton, Cristian de la Luna identifies as Franco-Albertan. He has released albums in Spanish and in French, building bridges between cultures while contributing to the richness of Canada's Francophone music scene and Francophone minority communities.

[As the Commissioner reads the quiz question, the video fades to a full-screen quiz image with colourful illustrations of musical instruments showing Question 9 with its three answer choices.]

(Text on screen: Question 9: Blinding Lights, by The Weeknd, is the most-listened-to English-language song on streaming platforms in Canada. Which French song by a Canadian artist is at the top of the charts?)

Question 9: Blinding Lights, by The Weeknd, is the most-listened-to English-language song on streaming platforms in Canada. Which French song by a Canadian artist is at the top of the charts?

Is it A. Pour que tu m'aimes encore, by Céline Dion, B. Je te laisserai des mots, by Patrick Watson or C. L'Amérique pleure, by Cowboys Fringants?

(Text on screen: A. Pour que tu m'aimes encore, by Céline Dion)

(Text on screen: B. Je te laisserai des mots, by Patrick Watson)

(Text on screen: C. L'Amérique pleure, by Cowboys Fringants)

[The three answer choices stay visible on the screen. A ten‑second countdown timer appears and ticks down. When the timer ends, only the correct answer remains as the Commissioner confirms it.]

The right answer is B. Je te laisserai des mots, by Patrick Watson!

(Text on screen: B. Je te laisserai des mots, by Patrick Watson)

[The image fades back to Kelly Burke as she explains the answer. She now stands in an office in front of a dark wooden bookshelf filled with books, binders, and decorative items. A potted plant sits on a shelf to her right.]

Thanks to his popularity on social media, Patrick Watson's Je te laisserai des mots became the most-streamed French song on Spotify in Canada and around the world. This song is also the first French-language song to have surpassed one billion streams on the platform.

Although Patrick Watson is primarily English‑speaking and grew up in Hudson, Québec, he composes and performs music in both official languages. His success demonstrates that music can transcend language barriers and reach an audience all around the world.

[As the Commissioner reads the quiz question, the video fades to a full-screen quiz image with colourful illustrations of musical instruments showing Question 10 with its three answer choices.]

(Text on screen: Question 10: In which language were the original words of our national anthem, O Canada, written?)

And on to question 10: In which language were the original words of our national anthem, O Canada, written?

Is it A. In English, B. In French or C. In English and French simultaneously?

(Text on screen: A. In English)

(Text on screen: B. In French)

(Text on screen: C. In English and French simultaneously)

[The three answer choices stay visible on the screen. A ten‑second countdown timer appears and ticks down. When the timer ends, only the correct answer remains as the Commissioner confirms it.]

The right answer is B. In French!

(Text on screen: B. In French)

[The image fades back to Kelly Burke as she explains the answer. She now sits at her desk in a bright office with large windows behind her showing a city skyline.]

Originally, O Canada was a poem entitled Chant national, written in French by Adolphe­Basile Routhier and put to music by Calixa Lavallée. The English words that we know today are based on a version written several years later by Robert Stanley Weir.

Robert Stanley Weir wrote O Canada in 1908 on the occasion of the 300th anniversary of the founding of Québec City. He submitted his text as part of a competition. His version may not have won the competition, but it quickly became the most popular throughout the country!

[The video fades to a burgundy colour and then back to the Commissioner at her desk.]

That's all for the questions. Thank you for participating!

I hope this quiz has helped you learn more about the richness of our linguistic duality and our musical culture—and perhaps even got you thinking about some of these songs in a new way.

Like music, official languages are an integral part of our Canadian identity. They create relationships between people and communities from one end of the country to the other. They reflect our history, encourage mutual understanding and remind us that our diversity is one of our greatest assets.

[The video cuts to a closer shot of the Commissioner. As she speaks, she picks up a smartphone and a pair of white wired earbuds.]

And with that, I'm off to listen to my own playlist . . . because this quiz really got me in the mood for music! See you next time!

[The video fades to black. The Office of the Commissioner of Official Languages' coat of arms appears on screen against a black background.]

(Text on screen: Office of the Commissioner of Official Languages)

[The coat of arms fades out, leaving a black screen.]

End of video