News quiz Oct. 31 | The Halloween edition

Let’s find out if Halloween candy boosts our brain power with this week’s spooktacular news quiz!

1. Why was Diana Fox Carney, wife of Prime Minister Mark Carney, in Iqaluit this week?

A. To check out how the city is coming along with its federally funded water and sewer upgrades.
B. She met with Qikiqtani Inuit Association officials to talk about ocean protection.
C. She is planning to hike the Akshayuk Pass.

2. Something strange and red might be seen in the sky starting next spring. What is it?

A. A state-of-the-art Environment Canada weather balloon aimed at giving hunters better real-time weather conditions.
B. An Air Greenland plane, which services an expanded route from Nuuk to Rankin Inlet and Cambridge Bay.
C. The Hermes 900 Starliner, a massive drone that the Canadian Coast Guard plans to cold-weather test.

3. A character named Alaasua must resist temptation from mythical creatures in what video game that’s scheduled to roll out to mobile devices next year?

A. Virtual Qaggiq, a video game that aims to promote Inuit-centred health and wellness strategies.
B. A new, Inuit-themed version of the classic video game Myst.
C. Imagine Super Mario, but in Nunavut. That’s the idea behind Super Alaasua, a game an Iqaluit-based design team is hoping will take over the video game world next year.

4. Writer James Fournier recently trotted out this animal character for a Halloween-themed children’s book.

A. Caribou
B. Narwhal
C. Lemming

5. The City of Iqaluit hosted this contest, with prizes for funniest, scariest and cutest what?

A. Costume
B. Halloween-themed playlist
C. Pumpkins

What is this video game called? (File image)

Answers:

1. B — Diana Fox Carney is Canada’s oceans envoy. In the role, she is meeting with Indigenous groups to discuss their priorities ahead of the 12th Our Ocean Conference in Halifax in May 2027.

2. C — The Canadian Coast Guard plans to test a drone next spring. The hope is that it’s operational at 72 degrees north, which is about where Pond Inlet is.

3. A — Virtual Qaggiq, created by York University researchers, Inuit youth and cultural advisers, aims to help improve mental wellness through gaming. Users play a character named Alaasua, who must use healthy ways to resist temptation.

4. Fournier’s latest spooky book is a children’s story called Lemming’s First Halloween. It follows Lemming’s First Christmas, which was published in 2024.

5. The City of Iqaluit hosted a pumpkin-carving contest earlier this month at the curling rink, with winners taking home prizes for cutest, funniest and scariest pumpkin.