Jeopardy! contestants were once again quizzed about Victoria, only this time, the question mentioned a local hotel that’s been around for more than a century.
During an early June episode of the American trivia TV show, host Ken Jennings asked: “Opened in 1908 A.D., the Empress Hotel is a landmark in this B.C. capital.”
Contestant Amar Kakirde was quick to answer in the Canadian cities category, saying, “What is Victoria?”
He was correct, so he added $1,200 to his winnings.
Kakirde, a graduate student from Lake Hiawatha, New Jersey, competed in several episodes of the Emmy-winning show known for its question-and-answer format.
The Fairmont Empress posted the clip on Facebook.
“Fairmont Empress and the City of Victoria had a moment in the spotlight on the trivia show last week. Contestants were asked to name the Canadian city that has the historic Empress Hotel, which opened in 1908,” reads the post.
The historic building on Government Street was designated a National Historic Site of Canada in 1981, reads a history page. It later became a Fairmont hotel in 1999.
Located next to the Inner Harbour, it’s “famed as Canada’s Castle on the Coast.”
Back on TV screens
This isn’t the first time Victoria has been mentioned on Jeopardy!.
In January, contestants were asked about the carvings at Douglas Streets’ Thunderbird Park, and in June 2021 homelessness in B.C.’s capital was the topic of one question.
People from Vancouver Island have also competed on the show, including in June 2022 when a university professor in Nanaimo made her Jeopardy! debut.
Now in its 40th season, the show was formerly hosted by Alex Trebek, who passed away in 2020. Jennings, who’s a former contestant himself, then took over the role.
Jeopardy! airs weeknights at 7:30 p.m. on CHEK.
Watch the clip below:
Ethan Morneau
