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Important People From Canadian History. In addition to the prime ministers of Canada, Canadian history has been shaped by a diverse array of important people. Here are 30 of the most notable. See also the chapter on famous Canadians. Early History. John Cabot (c. 1449-c. 1499)
Jun 14, 2017 · Artists like Susan Point, Daphne Odjig, Bill Reid, Norval Morriseau and many, many others make up the backbone of Canada’s culture. As part of Canada’s 150th birthday, the...
- Terry Fox (1958-1981) Easily the most beloved Canadian of the last 100 years, Terry Fox is something of a secular saint in modern Canada. As a young student, Terry contracted bone cancer, forcing the amputation of his right leg.
- Dr. David Suzuki (b. 1936) A scientist, activist, and media star, David Suzuki has spent years in the public spotlight raising awareness of environmental issues.
- Don Cherry (b. 1934) Loud, brash, and politically-incorrect, Don Cherry has been the leading voice of hockey commentary on Canadian television for almost three decades.
- Wayne Gretzky (b. 1961) Indisputably one of the greatest hockey players of all time, Wayne “The Great One” Gretzky broke countless goal-scoring records during his time playing centre for the Edmonton Oilers (1978-1988) and later several American teams as well.
- Charles “Checker” Marvin Tomkins
- Portia White
- Maayan Ziv
- John Brackett
- Albertine Lapensée
- Hide Hyodo Shimizu
- Dr. Frances McGill
- Kew Dock Yip
- Gwen Barlee
- Nellie Cournoyea
The Cree speaker who helped win WWII As a member of a classified project that involved encrypting sensitive information during the Second World War, Tomkins was accustomed to keeping secrets. He was so good at it, in fact, that it wasn’t until documentary filmmakers came calling shortly before his death in 2003 that Tomkins’s family learned that he...
The singer who broke barriers As a Black artist, White was one of the first to shatter colour barriers in Canada. Born in Truro, Nova Scotia, she trained as a contralto at the Halifax Conservatory of Music. In the 1940s, she entranced audiences worldwide with her powerful renditions of “Think on Me” and “He’s Got the Whole World in His Hands.” Desp...
The entrepreneur making our cities more accessible Born with muscular dystrophy, Torontonian Ziv often faced uncertainty whenever she left her home. “I use a wheelchair and I’d go to locations that were inaccessible without knowing I’d encounter that problem,” she says. “I decided to build a tech company to help people like me navigate an inaccessi...
The mariner who saved Halifax Harbour On November 3, 1943, Brackett witnessed a crew desperately trying to put out a fast-spreading fire on the U.S. freighter Volunteer. As a civilian harbour pilot, the 53-year-old ran a team of tugboats that navigated ships in and out of Halifax Harbour. He immediately recognized the looming danger: the freighter ...
The star who changed hockey Born in 1898, Lapensée learned to skate on iced-over creeks. When the First World War sent men to the Western Front, a Québécois arena owner dreamed up the Eastern Ladies’ Hockey League—and Lapensée seized her opportunity. Between 1916 and 1917, she demonstrated astonishing skill, leading the Cornwall Victorias to glory ...
The teacher who campaigned for reparations In 1942, the Canadian government expelled elementary school teacher Shimizu and her family from their Vancouver home and forced them, along with an estimated 22,000 Japanese Canadians, to live in an internment camp through the Second World War. Shimizu, who was born in Vancouver, spent three years in the c...
The doctor who solved murder mysteries McGill graduated at the top of her med school class at the University of Manitoba in 1915 and promptly put her credentials to good use. As the Spanish flu pandemic raged in 1918, McGill, then Saskatchewan’s head bacteriologist, led a campaign to provide tens of thousands of vaccinations. Later, her interest in...
The lawyer who challenged the Chinese Immigration Act In the early 1940s, when Vancouver-born Yip enrolled in law school, individuals of Asian descent were forbidden to practise law in British Columbia. In fact, Asian people were also denied the right to vote in Canada. Neither fazed the Chinese-Canadian polymath, who graduated from Toronto’s Osgoo...
The environmentalist who protected endangered species The daughter of a B.C. MLA, Barlee’s childhood was spent debating politics and learning about the majesty of nature. Devoting her life to the public good, she joined the Wilderness Committee, where she became a ferocious advocate for the protection of endangered species, such as the northern spo...
The politician who changed the North Lauded for her “tough, pragmatic approach, and her relentless work ethic,” in the words of a former colleague, Cournoyea is also a force to be reckoned with. The first Indigenous woman to lead a province or territory, she became a member of the legislative assembly in 1979 and served as premier of the Northwest ...
To celebrate its 30th anniversary, The Canadian Encyclopedia created 30 lists of 30 things that have helped define our identity, from famous people and historic events, to iconic foods and influential artists.
List of the most famous Canadians in history, with famous, important and notable Canadians hand-picked by our team of editors and ranked by popularity.
Jun 24, 2018 · 10 Great Canadians Reveal the People Who Inspired Them. Behind every great Canadian is a mentor or role model who sparked that greatness. Here, 10 public figures reveal the impressive individuals who’ve influenced them.
