One of the 2 Canadian provincial capitals that share their names with a nation’s capital city
On the January 23, 2026 episode of Jeopardy, the Final Jeopardy category was Capital Cities, a classic topic that often tests both world geography knowledge and attention to linguistic detail. The clue presented to contestants was: “One of the 2 Canadian provincial capitals that share their names with a nation’s capital city.” This kind of clue demands familiarity with both Canadian provincial capitals and the names of world capital cities.
What Are Victoria and St. John’s?
This response identifies two of Canada’s provincial capitals that also match the names of national capitals elsewhere in the world. Victoria is the capital of British Columbia, located on Vancouver Island, while St. John’s is the capital of Newfoundland and Labrador, on the eastern edge of Canada. Both cities are significant not only for their provincial roles but also for their historical and cultural relevance within the country.
Victoria and Its Global Twin
Victoria, British Columbia, shares its name with Victoria, the capital of the Seychelles, an island nation in the Indian Ocean. The Canadian city was named after Queen Victoria, under whose reign Canada became a self-governing dominion. Likewise, the Seychellois capital was also named in honor of Queen Victoria, a legacy of British colonial influence. This shared colonial history explains the name overlap, though the two Victorias are thousands of kilometers apart and vastly different in geography and population.
The Canadian Victoria is known for its picturesque harbor, temperate climate, and historical architecture, while Victoria, Seychelles, is much smaller and serves as the economic and political center of its country. Despite their differences, the two cities are linked by a common name and colonial past.
St. John’s and the Caribbean Connection
St. John’s, Newfoundland and Labrador, is the other Canadian provincial capital that shares its name with a nation’s capital. Its international counterpart is St. John’s, the capital of Antigua and Barbuda in the Caribbean. Like Victoria, this name overlap stems from the era of British exploration and colonial naming conventions.
Canada’s St. John’s is one of the oldest English-founded cities in North America, with roots dating back to the early 16th century. It played a strategic role in the transatlantic fish trade and has since grown into a vibrant coastal city with a strong maritime identity. On the other hand, St. John’s in Antigua and Barbuda functions as the island nation’s political and economic hub and is known for its tourism and cultural attractions.
Not to Be Confused
It’s important to distinguish these cities from similarly named locations. For example, there are several cities named Victoria and St. John’s or St. John throughout the world, but not all are capitals. The clue specifically asked for Canadian provincial capitals that share names with national capitals, which rules out cities like Regina or Halifax that don’t have international capital name twins.
The phrasing of the clue also avoids confusion with cities like Ottawa or Toronto, which are often mistakenly believed to be world capital name-sharers but are not. The specificity of the match—provincial capital to national capital—helped narrow down the field of possibilities for contestants who could quickly make the geographical connections.
A Classic Geography Challenge
This Final Jeopardy clue served as a clever test of both Canadian geography and world knowledge. Contestants needed to recall all Canadian provincial capitals and then mentally scan the globe for matching national capital names. It’s the kind of layered trivia that rewards players who think globally while staying grounded in Canadian civic structure.
Victoria and St. John’s may be better known for their beauty and history within Canada, but for this clue, their significance came from their shared names with distant national capitals. It’s a reminder of how interconnected the world’s place names can be—often shaped by shared histories, colonial legacies, and linguistic heritage.