-
Pierre Elliot Trudeau (1919 - 2000)
Prime Minister of Canada
- brought us the Charter of Rights and Freedoms
- implemented 'official bilingualism'
- "The state has no business in the bedrooms of the nation"
(http://www.mentors.ca/pierretrudeau.gif)
-
Tommy Douglas (1909 - 1986)
Father of medicare in Canada
Greatest Canadian (#1)
(http://theordinarypolitical.files.wordpress.com/2011/01/tommy-douglas-greatest.jpg)
-
Hery Burr (1885 - 1941)
singer / prolific recording artist during the first decades of the 1900's
- I Wonder Who's Kisser Her Now (1909)
- Beautiful Ohio (1919) - became official state song
- My Buddy (1922)
- Are You Lonesome Tonight (1927)
(http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/8/89/Henry_Burr_1918.jpg/423px-Henry_Burr_1918.jpg)
-
Wayne Gretsky (1961 - )
Athlete - Hockey player (the Great One)
(https://www.gocharity.com/samsung/i/gretzky_lg.jpg)
-
Anne Murray (1945 - )
recording artist (singer)
- You Needed Me
- Snowbird
(http://www.the9513.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/02/anney-murray_giveaway.jpg)
-
Steve Nash (1974 - )
Athlete - Basketball -
- NBA Most Valuable Player: 2005, 2006
- Canadian athlete of the year 2005
- Canadian male athlete of the year 2002, 2005, 2006
- NBA award for outstanding citizenship and community service 2007
(http://www.celebritiesheight.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/Steve-Nash.jpg)
-
David Suzuki (1936 - )
Enviromental activist
(http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_vMQfeVSYbqk/SyKeuZNxXPI/AAAAAAAAAoA/8AEpezLt5Lo/s1600/David%2BSuzuki%2B-%2Bnaked.jpg)
-
I am Canadian!
Hey,
I am not a lumber jack or a fur trader,
and I don't live in an igloo or eat blubber or own a dog sled,
and I don't know Jimmy, Sally or Suzie from Canada although I am certain they're really really nice, uh.
I have a Prime Minister not a president.
I speak English and French, not American,
and I pronounce it about, not a boot.
I can proudly sew my country's flag on my back pack,
I believe in peace keeping not policing, diversity not assimilation,
and that the beaver is a truly proud and noble animal.
A toque is a hat, a chesterfield is a couch.
And it is pronounced zed, not zee, zed.
Canada is the second largest landmass,
the first nation of hockey,
and the best part of North America,
my name is Roland,
and I AM CANADIAN.
Thank You.
-
(http://www.sydlexia.com/blogstuff/peter_jennings.jpg)
Peter Jennings
My favorite news anchor
I still miss him being on the news, I really felt I could trust him.
-
Mary Pickford (1892 - 1979)
Actress (America's sweetheart)
- co-founder of United Artists
(http://gracemagazine.files.wordpress.com/2007/03/marypickford430.jpg)
-
Lorne Greene (1915 - 1987)
Entertainer
- Broadcaster (CBC news - "the Voice of Doom" during WWII)
- Actor (Bonanza 1959 - 1973)
- Recording artist ('Ringo' 1964)
(http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/c/c7/Lorne_Greene_1942.jpg)
-
Paul Anka (1941 - )
Recording artist/songwriter
- Diana
- Put your Head on my Shoulder
- Lonely Boy
- Puppy Love
- It Doesn't Matter Anymore
- She's a Lady
- Having My Baby
- My Way (lyrics only)
(http://www.puremusic.com/assets23/54paulanka.jpg)
-
Céline Dion (1968 - )
recording artist
- Best selling female artist of all times
- Beauty & the Beast
- My Heart Will Go On
(http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/en/doc/2003-12/05/xin_9c196cf90df24d849469a89e753085f3_celine_dion_picture.jpg)
-
Hery Burr (1885 - 1941)
singer / prolific recording artist during the first decades of the 1900's
- I Wonder Who's Kisser Her Now (1909)
- Beautiful Ohio (1919) - became official state song
- My Buddy (1922)
- Are You Lonesome Tonight (1927)
(http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/8/89/Henry_Burr_1918.jpg/423px-Henry_Burr_1918.jpg)
Is that the same one Elvis sang?
-
Geddy Lee
(http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/f/fd/GeddyLee.JPG)
Guitarist and singer for Rush, born 1953, Willowdale, Ontario
-
Is that the same one Elvis sang?
Yes, but with a dif'rent intro and without the spoken words (those were added to the "Blue Barron" recording in 1950)
-
James Nesmith
inventor of basketball
(http://www.kshs.org/people/graphics/naismith_james.jpg)
-
Lucy Maud Montgomery (1874 - 1942)
Author
- Anne of Green Gables (1908)
(http://extraordinarycanadians.files.wordpress.com/2011/09/lucy-maud-montgomery-11.jpg)
-
Craig Kielburger (1984 - )
Founder of the worldwide organisation Free the Children when he was 12 years old
(http://myhero.com/ReadingRoom/books/kielburger.jpg)
http://myhero.com/myhero/hero.asp?hero=c_Kielburger
-
Shania Twain (1965 - )
recording artist
- second best selling female recoding artist of all times
- 'You're Still the One'
- 'From This Moment On'
(http://images.askmen.com/galleries/singer/shania-twain/pictures/shania-twain-picture-2.jpg)
and she's from Timmins ;D
-
Leonard Cohen (1934 - )
philosopher, songwriter, recording artist
- Hallelujah
- Bird on the Wire
- Suzanne
(http://theupsidelowdown.files.wordpress.com/2010/09/600px-leonard_cohen_2181.jpg)
-
Terry Fox (1958 - 1981)
Hero
- 2nd Greatest Canadian
- Marathon of Hope (tried to run across Canada, 26 miles {a marathon} each day - on one leg --- his other leg had been lost to cancer.)
(http://www.athenryac.com/files/imagecache/mainImage/files/cckImages/terry_fox.jpg)
http://www.terryfoxrun.org/english/about%20terry%20fox/default.asp?s=1
(http://i52.photobucket.com/albums/g14/roboy-0/Home%20Pics/VoyageManitoba/08-04-22-02.jpg)
His hope was to raise 1$ from each Canadian to help find a cure for cancer.
Instead, in the past 28 years, more than 400 million $ have been raised in his name
-
Leonard Cohen (1934 - )
philosopher, songwriter, recording artist
- Hallelujah
- Bird on the Wire
- Suzanne
(http://theupsidelowdown.files.wordpress.com/2010/09/600px-leonard_cohen_2181.jpg)
And Famous Blue Raincoat!
[youtube=425,350]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=etljYFnuPGQ[/youtube]
-
And for Americans of a certain age, there is no forgetting the the Canadian Embassy in Tehran who smuggled out a number of Americans who were away from their Embassy when it was over run on 4 November 1979.
Cheers to Kenneth Taylor, Canadian Ambassador to Iran, and his staff.
(http://www.cbc.ca/gfx/images/arts/photos/2012/09/19/ken-taylor-300-7500917.jpg)
-
And for Americans of a certain age, there is no forgetting the the Canadian Embassy in Tehran who smuggled out a number of Americans who were away from their Embassy when it was over run on 4 November 1979.
Cheers to Kenneth Taylor, Canadian Ambassador to Iran, and his staff.
(http://www.congressionalgoldmedal.com/images/KennethTaylor.jpg)
I remember that! In my small town, the local bank ran a Canadian flag up one of the three flag poles in front of the bank in honor of the support from Canada. So there along with the US flag and the Texas flag flew the Canadian flag for quite some time. The flying of those 3 flags in front of our bank made the front page news in a nearby metropolitan daily and drew attention from people who had never seen a Canadian flag before.
-
Louis Riel (1844 - 1885)
Métis leader, led the Northwestern Rebellion. Cultural hero was hung for treason - in those bad old days where the only good indian was a dead indian. An important cult figure even today.
(http://www.atwaterlibrary.ca/~canhist/pix/LouisRiel1870UMan.jpg)
"Riel was viewed sympathetically in francophone regions of Canada, and his execution had a lasting influence on relations between the province of Quebec and English-speaking Canada. Whether seen as a Father of Confederation or a traitor, he remains one of the most complex, controversial, and ultimately tragic figures in the history of Canada" -- Wikipedia
-
Lester B. Pearson (1897 - 1972)
statesman, diplomat & polititian
- winner nobel peace prize
- father of the concept of peacekeeping
- as Prime Minister
- introduced health care
- introduced students loans
- introduced the Canada Pension Plan
- introduced the (current) Canadian Flag
(http://www.mentors.ca/lesterpearson.gif)
-
Neil Young (1945 - )
recording artist / songwriter
- Heart of Gold
- Ohio
- Philadelphia
- Needle & the Damage Done
(http://bp3.blogger.com/_LnLtk3_0E1Q/Rn8nhl1kxgI/AAAAAAAAChY/gkdFZwkU4vY/s1600/nullNEIL_YOUNG.tif.big.jpg)
-
Tom Thompson (1877 - 1917)
Artist (painting)
- 3 of his paintings were recently sold (within two weeks) for more than 1 million $ each
(http://www.westga.edu/~history/images/TomThompson.jpg)
(http://www.lencopub.com/images/gc_canoe.JPG)
-
very cool, Roland thank you!
-
Gordon Lightfoot (1938 - )
recording artist / songwriter
- If You Could Read my Mind
- Beautiful
- Sundown
- The Canadian Trilogy
(http://citizenbrand.typepad.com/swenson/images/2007/06/30/lightfoot2_2.jpg)
-
James "Jimmy" Whalen
(http://www.rcaf.com/whalen/spitfire.gif)
World War 2 Flying Ace
From what I have read he may have been gay (he had a friend that he was so close to they cosigned his personal letters to family)
Awarded Distinquished Flying Cross
served in Europe, Africa and the Pacific.
-
Superman was created by Canadian Joe Shuster
http://www.histori.ca/minutes/minute.do?id=10206 (check out this 'history by the minute')
(http://www.dialbforblog.com/archives/372/joe_shuster.jpg)
(http://www.greatkrypton.com/superman/creators.gif)
-
John McCrae (1872 – 1918)
- poet, physician and soldier
- 'In Flander's Fields'
(http://www.awm.gov.au/blog/wp-content/uploads/2007/04/johnmccrae.jpg)
-
Gordon Lightfoot (1938 - )
recording artist / songwriter
- If You Could Read my Mind
- Beautiful
- Sundown
- The Canadian Trilogy
(http://citizenbrand.typepad.com/swenson/images/2007/06/30/lightfoot2_2.jpg)
-The Wreck of the "Edmund Fitzgerald"
--I love his voice. :)
-
Aimee Semple McPherson (1890--1944)
-Evangelist
-Founder, International Church of the Foursquare Gospel
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aimee_Semple_McPherson (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aimee_Semple_McPherson)
-
Valdy (1945 - )
Celebrity, folk singer, environmentalist
- Rock & Roll Song, Rainmaker, Good Song, Simple Life, Yes I Can, Peter & Lou, Hot Rocks
(http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_U1menI3veIs/Sf1p1keu4GI/AAAAAAAABXE/DoV5ZtxEKks/s400/valdy+-+country+man+1972.jpg)
-
Paul Henderson (1943 - )
Celebrity, Hockey Legend
- scored the goal of the (20th) century against the Soviet Union in the 1972 Summit Series.
(http://www.thesweeneyagency.com/photos/paul-henderson-sports-speaker.jpg)
The jersey he wore during that singularly career defining moment is now for sale.
http://www.thestar.com/sports/hockey/article/815008--iconic-paul-henderson-sweater-for-sale
“We think it’s probably the most important and most significant piece of hockey memorabilia ever sold,” said Juteau. “We’re already getting a lot of action on it.”
Juteau hopes the heavy-knit jersey will fetch more than a Bobby Orr rookie sweater auctioned off for $191,200 last month. That was thought to be the highest price ever paid for a hockey item via auction. Wayne Gretzky jerseys have sold privately for around $250,000 a pop, Juteau added.
After the first two days of bidding on the Henderson sweater, there had been 12 offers with a high of $67,000. The auction ends June 22.
June 23 edit: The Jersey sold for 1,3 million $
I wasn't kidding about the 'hockey legend' monicker.
-
John McDermott (1955- )
vocalist, founding member of the 'Irish Tenors'
- Danny Boy, Dance with Me Daughter of Mine, Song for the Mira, Bringing Buddy Home
(http://adf.ly/go/1d67e4a88c8b60c909d59d8f68d34e32/aHR0cDovL3d3dy5vdHRhd2Fwb2xpY2UuY2EvTGlicmFyaWVzL0NvbW1fQ2VudHJlX0Fkcy9Kb2huX01jRGVybW90dF8xLnNmbGIuYXNoeA)
Song for the Mira:
[youtube=425,350]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IczlYe8OvQU[/youtube]
-
Stephen Leacock (1869-1944)
Humourist
from Wikipedia:
... between the years 1915 and 1925, Leacock was the most popular humourist in the English-speaking world.
(Jack) Benny acknowledged Leacock's influence and, fifty years after first reading him, still considered Leacock one of his favorite comic writers.
(http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/5/57/Stephen_Leacock.jpg)
(http://www.nicolasmorin.ca/mcgill/pictures/stm_04.jpg)
-
Rick Mercer (1969 - )
Celebrity, Comedian, political satirist
- This Hour has 22 Minutes
- The Rick Mercer Report
- Talking to Americans
He's received more than 20 Gemini Awards (= Emmys)
And he's gay
(http://beta.images.theglobeandmail.com/archive/00332/Rick_Mercer_port_332321artw.jpg)
from Wikipedia
Mercer made international headlines in 2000 when he pulled a Talking to Americans stunt on then-presidential candidate George W. Bush. He successfully got Bush to answer questions about non-existent Canadian Prime Minister "Jean Poutine". Bush was not amused at the time, and has since then refused to accept any interviews from the CBC.
-
John McDermott (1955 -) revisited ...
Famed tenor John McDermott sings at devoted fan’s funeral
http://www.thestar.com/news/article/1203917--famed-tenor-john-mcdermott-sings-at-devoted-fan-s-funeral?bn=1
It was Glen Wideman’s last concert.
With candles lit at the front of the silent chapel on Thursday afternoon, the famed Scottish-Canadian tenor John McDermott filled the room with the quiet, gentle lull of “Amazing Grace.”
It’s the hymn Wideman asked to be played at his funeral, in a letter his daughters found folded in a drawer after he died of cancer on Sunday. He was 74.
But Wideman would have never dreamed the man he adored, whose haunting, simple melodies he raised his family on, would be the one to sing it.
A devoted fan of McDermott’s, Wideman had been attending his concerts for two decades.
“My dad just loved him. He found solace in his music over the last 20 years,” said daughter Kim Severin. “I can’t think of a time when he wasn’t part of our lives.”
At Christmas and for birthdays, there were always tickets to concerts. Listening to McDermott’s music became a family affair, and in the end one of the last joys they shared together.
After Wideman had a “catastrophic” stroke in 1993, leaving him paralyzed on his left side, his family knew they were living on borrowed time.
At an Oakville concert in 2008, Wideman was unable to get to the meet-and-greet with McDermott. But when the singer met Severin and heard what a huge fan her father was, he asked where Wideman was sitting.
“He followed me into the audience and walked through all these people and just embraced my dad,” Severin said. It was one of the highlights of his life.
When their father was diagnosed with cancer and given six weeks to live, Severin emailed the singer on behalf of herself and her sister, Julie Navarro, desperate to make their father’s face light up one last time.
They offered McDermott $1,000 and then some if he would visit Wideman in the hospice where he would live out his final days.
“Within six hours of sending that email he called me on my cell,” Severin said. McDermott didn’t want the money, but he would come. She was floored.
Arrangements were made for Tuesday, but as his health rapidly declined Wideman’s family told the singer it might be better to call it off.
But McDermott insisted, saying he’d rearrange his schedule to come on Monday, as the daughters struggled to keep the surprise a secret from their father, hoping it would lift his spirits.
But on Sunday morning, Wideman slipped away. When they told McDermott, he asked if they would allow him to sing at the funeral.
McDermott wanted to honour a family man who enjoyed old songs and the simple things. “It’s people like Glen who really gave me my career,” he said.
Wideman grew up in Toronto, where he worked as a proofreader for a printing company.
With his wife, Carol, who he loved for more than 50 years, they raised their two girls in Mississauga.
They lived around the record player, memorizing words to all the classics — Neil Diamond and Johnny Cash.
“When we were growing up, music was a huge part of my dad’s life,” Severin said.
And Wideman was always singing. After the stroke, he was relentless. He would wake up singing, much to the annoyance of his sweetheart, his daughters said.
In the letter he wrote to his girls — addressed to “my darling daughters” — he said he wanted them to celebrate, not grieve, his life in the end, surrounded by music.
“Dad, if you only knew how we’ve topped this for you,” Severin said of McDermott’s appearance. “It’s helping us get through all this, because what better way to show our love for him.”
There’s a song McDermott wrote, “The Old Man,” that could have been penned for Wideman — the “perfect man who led an ordinary life” — and for his family, now in need of comforting.
McDermott sang the tune on Thursday, the Wideman girls wrapping their arms around each other for the final notes.
The tears have all been shed now / We’ve said our last goodbye / His soul’s been blessed / And he’s laid to rest / And it’s now I feel alone / He was more than just a father / A teacher, my best friend / He can still be heard / In the tunes we shared / When we play them on our own
[youtube=425,350]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NNL_wGZgV5Q[/youtube]
-
Corey Hart (1962 - )
- teen idol (music) - Sunglasses at Night, Never Surrender, Can't Help Falling in Love
- first Canadian 'artist' to sell 1 milion copies of a single album (Boy in a Box) in Canada.
(http://images.toronto.com/images/75/1a/9aac46a849d6afd748f335ddbdec.jpg)
He'll be performing at Toronto's Pride this summer (free concert) - his first Canadian appearance in a decade. He's rereleasing a (more obviously) gay positive version of Truth Will Set U Free
He's just reached the big 5-0 this pass weekend and, at least in THIS picture, he's aged badly (as most of us have, I guess) - appearance wise.
http://www.toronto.com/article/730726--corey-hart-to-play-first-canadian-show-in-a-decade
-
"Never Surrender" was a favorite of mine. I think he looks good! 8)
-
Off topic, I was talking to a Canadian today and he said, "I love your accent!!" :laugh: