How to Memorize the Canadian Provinces and Territories

Download Article

Never forget their names with helpful, humorous mnemonic phrases

Author Info

Last Updated: June 4, 2025 Fact Checked

Download Article

Memorizing the Canadian Territories and Provinces

|

Sample Mnemonics

|

Q&A

|

Tips

|

Warnings

Studying for a test about Canadian territories and provinces? (Geography) There are ten Provinces and three territories. Provinces have more autonomy than territories. This article will help you remember their names and locations.

How to Remember the Canadian Provinces & Territories

Remember British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, Ontario, Quebec, and Newfoundland with "Bill and Sally Made One Quart of Nothing." Use "Why an N?" for Yukon Territory, Northwest Territory, and Nunavut. Use "Please Excuse It, Nobody Brought NeverSoft" for Prince Edward Island, Nova Scotia, and New Brunswick.

Sample Mnemonics

Canadian Provinces and Territories Cheat Sheet

Method 1

Method 1 of 1:

Memorizing the Canadian Territories and Provinces

Download Article

You can do this with most variations of a Canadian map. Make sure you can spell their names correctly.^{[1]
X
Research source}
Memorize the 'bottom row' of provinces. Their names are British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, Ontario, Quebec, and Newfoundland. You may find the acronym BASMOQN ('bas-mok-win') useful. Try creating a mnemonic such as 'Bill and Sally Made One Quart of Nothing', 'Bart A. Simpson Marred Our Quiet Night', or 'Buy Albert's Scary Men on Quilts Now.' Be as creative as you can!^{[2]
X
Expert Source

Nathan Taylor
Mixologist

Expert Interview}^{[3]
X
Research source}

Advertisement
Memorize the 'top three' territories. They are Yukon Territory, Northwest Territory, and Nunavut. The acronyms are YNN ("yin"), "Why an N?" (sounds like "Y-N-N"), and You're Not Naked.^{[4]
X
Research source}
They are Prince Edward Island, Nova Scotia and New Brunswick. Just visualize them as a triangle; Prince Edward Island on top, Nova Scotia in the right corner and New Brunswick in the left corner. Some acronyms are PEI-NB-NS ("pay-noo-bens") and Please Excuse It, Nobody Brought NeverSoft. (PEI,NBNS).^{[5]
X
Research source}
Use online resources to test and reinforce your knowledge such as the geography quizzes at https://lizardpoint.com/

Community Q&A

Search

Add New Question

Question

How do I memorize the spelling?

Community Answer

Write the names of each territory and province as many times as you can. This will help to cement the spelling of each one in your brain.

Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
Thank you for your feedback.
If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow
Yes No

Not Helpful 21 Helpful 42
Question

Is there a trick to memorizing the spelling of Saskatchewan?

Community Answer

You can remember "sassy cat chewed an" which will help you remember SAS (sassy) KAT (cat) CHEW (chewed) AN (an).

Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
Thank you for your feedback.
If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow
Yes No

Not Helpful 44 Helpful 65
Question

Is there a trick to remember all the provinces and their capitals in the south eastern corner?

Community Answer

Use the mnemonic device to help you: Prince Edward lived in an Island and married Charlotte from the town. He bought a New Broomstick from Frederic (cost a ton!). His sister Halley faxed him congrats from Nova of Scotland. (PEI, Charlottetown; New Brunswick Fredericton; Nova Scotia, Halifax).

Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
Thank you for your feedback.
If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow
Yes No

Not Helpful 29 Helpful 23

See more answers

Ask a Question

200 characters left

Include your email address to get a message when this question is answered.

Submit

Tips

Do some research on each province and territory or even travel to it if you can. You will find the provinces and territories easier to remember if you know a little about each one or have experienced its unique culture.

Thanks
Helpful 0 Not Helpful 0
Try looking at a map, then looking away and saying the provinces and territories

Thanks
Helpful 0 Not Helpful 0
Try printing out a couple blank maps of Canada with only the borders. Then test yourself and attempt to label the map.

Thanks
Helpful 0 Not Helpful 0

Show More Tips

Submit a Tip

All tip submissions are carefully reviewed before being published

Name

Please provide your name and last initial

Submit

Thanks for submitting a tip for review!

Warnings

Make sure you also know how to spell the territories and provinces, as some teachers may dislike misspellings.

Thanks
Helpful 0 Not Helpful 0
Don't cheat or procrastinate. You will be better off if you prepare gradually over a length of time.

Thanks
Helpful 0 Not Helpful 0