From world-changing entrepreneurs to brands that stealthily dominated the global market, Canada has quietly birthed some incredible success stories.
Terry Fox
At age 21, Terry Fox became a hero across Canada. Cut down by bone cancer and with his right leg amputated, Fox decided to raise money by running across Canada. He set out from Newfoundland in 1980, determined to run a marathon every day on his artificial leg.
Cancer stopped him after more than 5,000 kilometers, but by that time, he had won the heart of a nation and still continues to inspire. Today, the annual Terry Fox Run is held in dozens of countries and has raised hundreds of millions of dollars for cancer research.
Cirque du Soleil
What started as a ragtag group of street performers in Quebec in the early 1980s turned into Cirque du Soleil. Rather than replicate what everyone else was doing with animals and stunt attractions, Cirque invested in story, music, costumes and jaw-dropping acrobatics.
Millions of fans from six continents have experienced their productions. From only a few street performing entertainers to becoming one of the most lucrative live entertainment businesses of all time, its growth is one of Canada’s greatest success stories.
Wayne Gretzky
Wayne Gretzky is one of the best athletes to ever dominate his sport. Gretzky has scored more goals than any NHL player and has tallied more points than any other player through a combination of goals and assists.
Gretzky would still own the NHL all-time points record through assists alone if you took away every goal he ever scored. He is considered by many hockey fans simply as “The Great One”.
Lululemon
Lululemon started out of a tiny storefront in Vancouver in 1998. The company pioneered yoga wear as a global fashion statement. When activewear was designed for athletes and competitions, Lululemon made clothes comfortable enough to wear all day long.
Now you can find Lulu stores across the globe. What began as a small Canadian brand has become a billion-dollar lifestyle changer for millions.
IMAX
IMAX was invented by Graeme Ferguson, Roman Kroitor, and Robert Kerr in Ontario. They revolutionized the movie-going experience worldwide by developing a dedicated high-resolution film camera and projector.
American directors like Christopher Nolan consider it the holy grail of filmmaking. It produces a one-of-a-kind immersive theater experience that no tech company out of Hollywood has ever surpassed.
Shopify
Shopify was founded by a group of people who wanted to sell snowboards online but couldn’t find software to help them do that.
Rather than abandon their dreams, they built their own e-commerce platform. That platform eventually became Shopify, which supports millions of online stores around the world. These stores range from small businesses and entrepreneurs to large global brands.
The Weeknd
Abel Tesfaye was born in Toronto and rose to prominence as The Weeknd by circumventing the typical system used to create American pop stars.
The Weeknd revolutionized today’s R&B/pop sound after creeping up on the industry tree with unknown, grimy indie mixtapes. He transitioned into a commercially successful global phenomenon, launching chart-topping hits like “Blinding Lights,” the most-streamed song on Spotify.
Tim Hortons
Tim Hortons was named after hockey player Tim Horton. It opened its doors in 1964 as a coffee-and-doughnut shop. Since then, it has become Canada’s largest restaurant chain.
Canadians often incorporate a stop at Tim Hortons into their daily routine. Millions of patrons visit Tim Hortons each year. In fact, it is considered a Canadian icon.
The Ordinary
The Ordinary was started by Brandon Truaxe in Toronto in 2016. At the time, most beauty brands used marketing speak and sold products at high price points. The Ordinary used simple formulas that highlighted all of their ingredients and low price points.
Ingredients such as retinol, niacinamide, and hyaluronic acid were now accessible at a small fraction of the price. The brand became an overnight online sensation with one of the largest cult followings in skincare.
Canada Goose
Canada Goose began in Toronto as a small company selling jackets to Canadians who needed warm outerwear for outdoor jobs. The jackets became known for their durability and ability to keep the wearer warm in extreme temperatures.
Celebrities, explorers, and travellers have helped grow the brand worldwide. Canada Goose is now sold in countless stores around the globe and can be used as a synonym for high-end winter jackets.
Sources: Please see here for a complete listing of all sources that were consulted in the preparation of this article.