Canada is home to many explorers, inventors, activists, artists, and leaders that influenced the world, but many of these Canadian icons go underrated on the world stage.
Laura Secord
Laura Secord is best known for her brave act during the War of 182. On hearing about an American troop movement strategy, she trekked approximately 32 kilometres to inform British troops and their First Nations allies of an impending attack. She is one of Canada’s most famous historical heroines.
Terry Fox
In 1980, Terry Fox began his Marathon of Hope across Canada after losing his right leg to osteosarcoma at the age of 18. He ran a full marathon (42 km) every day on a crude artificial leg, inspiring the nation with his determination before cancer recurred in his lungs and he had to stop after 143 days and 5,373 km (3,339 mi). The annual Terry Fox Runs worldwide have since raised over $850 million for cancer research.
Sir John A. Macdonald
Sir John A. Macdonald was Canada’s first prime minister. He was instrumental in founding the Canada we know today, uniting several British colonies into one country in 1867. He also oversaw the building of the Canadian Pacific Railway. Today, his legacy may be debated, but his impact on Canada is clear.
Tommy Douglas
Best known as the father of Canadian healthcare, Tommy implemented the building blocks of universal healthcare in Saskatchewan. His vision would spread nationwide, laying the groundwork for the publicly funded healthcare Canadians benefit from today. Millions of Canadians still feel his impact every day.
Emily Carr
Emily Carr was one of Canada’s finest artists. She painted scenes of British Columbia and the indigenous peoples of the Pacific Northwest. She created her own style of painting, which came to be seen as emblematic of Canadian art, earning recognition at home and abroad.
Louis Riel
Louis Riel was a fervent Métis activist-politician best known today as the founding father of Manitoba province. In the 1860s and 1880s, he spearheaded two Métis resistance movements to defend their lands, culture and minority language rights from Canadian expansion westward.
Though instrumental in founding Manitoba and bringing it into Confederation in 1870, his legacy as a leader was contentious and he was hanged for treason in 1885 after leading another armed resistance.
Nellie McClung
Nellie McClung was a renowned Canadian suffragette instrumental in gaining women the right to vote in Manitoba in 1916. She later spearheaded the historic 1929 “Persons Case”, which established women as legally “persons” who could hold title to Senate positions in Canada.
Viola Desmond
Decades before the Civil Rights Movement began in America, Viola Desmond stood up against racial segregation. In 1946, she refused to move to the back of a movie theatre in Nova Scotia and was arrested. She helped pave the way for future civil rights movements in Canada and is now depicted on the Canadian ten-dollar bill.
Samuel de Champlain
Samuel de Champlain founded Quebec City in 1608 and established New France. He explored much of North America and introduced Europeans to many regions. Due to his large impact on early French Canada, Champlain is known as the “Father of New France”.
Billy Bishop
Billy Bishop was one of the greatest fighter pilots during the First World War. Fighting for the British Empire, he was credited with many victories against enemy aircraft. Bishop became a hero back home in Canada. He gained worldwide recognition for his efforts during the war.
Lucy Maud Montgomery
The beloved novel Anne of Green Gables introduced millions of readers to Prince Edward Island. Lucy Maud Montgomery was the author of Anne, one of the best-known characters in literary history. Montgomery’s books have been published in dozens of languages and continue to sell worldwide.
Wayne Gretzky
Wayne Gretzky’s nickname is “The Great One”. Many people consider him to be the best hockey player of all time. He holds countless records, and his accomplishments still stand today. Even those with little interest in hockey know his name.
Tecumseh
Tecumseh was one of the greatest Indigenous leaders throughout North American history. Born a Shawnee chief and orator, he sought to form a confederacy of Indigenous nations to fight against the expansion of the United States into Indigenous lands.
Fighting alongside the British and Canadians during the War of 1812, Tecumseh saw cooperation with these groups as the only way to maintain Indigenous land and autonomy.
Sources: Please see here for a complete listing of all sources that were consulted in the preparation of this article.