Canada

Famous Canadian People: Canadian Artists, Scientists, Leaders, Musicians, Politicians and Athletes

There is a category of people who shaped in a significant way the Canadian society, as well as the world in which we live. There are many Canadian leaders, thinkers and scientists, heroes and pioneers, artists and entertainers, who have one thing in common: are not easy to stereotype.

The following people made their mark on both the local and international scenes. They are just some of many famous Canadians who have lifted Canada’s name worldwide and made a difference in our world. Their purpose and stories inspired awe if not greatness.

:: List of Famous People from Canada ::

Gretzky Wayne

Gretzky Wayne, a retired Canadian professional ice hockey player, is the highest scorer in history. Often called “The Great One”, Gretzky is considered the greatest player of all time of the NHL. Among his accomplishments: he held forty regular-season records, fifteen playoff records, and six All-Star records. He is the only NHL player to total over 200 points in one season — a feat he accomplished four times. In addition, he tallied over 100 points in 14 NHL seasons, 13 of them consecutively.

Celine Dion

Celine Dion is a worldwide famous Canadian pop singer, songwriter and actress. She is renowned for her technically skilled and powerful vocals. In 2004, after selling over 175 million albums worldwide, she was presented with the Chopard Diamond Award at the World Music Awards for becoming the best selling female artist of all time and one of the most widely respected and successful performers in pop music history.

Banting Frederick

Was a Canadian medical scientist, doctor and Nobel laureate noted as one of the co-discoverers of insulin. This medical discovery has and continues to save millions of lives world-wide. The discovery of insulin was one of the most revolutionary moments in medicine.

Jim Carrey

Jim Carrey, the Canadian comedic genius, is a brilliant actor of both comedy and drama. He is noted for his performances in famous films such as Ace Ventura: Pet Detective; Ace Ventura: When Nature Calls; The Mask; Dumb and Dumber; Me, Myself & Irene; Fun with Dick and Jane; The Cable Guy; Liar Liar; Bruce Almighty etc. Jim Carrey has made memorable contributions to the film industry and was awarded with several Golden Globes, MTV Movie Awards etc.

Gosling James

Gosling James, of the world’s most famous computer programmers, is a famous software developer best known as the father of the Java programming language. He is considered one of the most important technologists of our age.

Abraham Gesner

Gesner, was a notable Canadian physician and geologist who invented kerosene and became the primary founder of the modern petroleum industry. He is known as the “Father of the Petroleum Industry.” His love for geology led him to revolutionize the energy industry.

Leonard Cohen

Leonard Cohen, one of the most charismatic voices of our age, is a Canadian singer-songwriter, musician, poet and novelist. Leonard Cohen is one of the most revered and influential artists of our time who has sold over 20 million records worldwide. Songs From a Room (1969), and Songs of Love and Hate (1971) are only some of his extraordinary albums with songs that never lose their overwhelming emotional force.

Cohen was an accomplished literary figure before he ever began to record. Let Us Compare Mythologies (1956), Flowers for Hitler (1964), and his novels Beautiful Losers (1966), brought him considerable recognition in Canada.

Dr. James Naismith

Was a notable sports coach and innovator, a Canadian physical education instructor who invented basketball in 1891 and is often credited with introducing the first football helmet. A pioneer of basketball, he also wrote the original rulebook of this sport, was founder of the University of Kansas basketball program and lived to see the introduction of his sport as an Olympic demonstration sport in 1904. His gift of basketball is played in over 200 countries around the world.

James Edward Hervey MacDonald

“It is the work of the Canadian artist to paint or play or write in such a way that life will be enlarged for himself and his fellow man. The painter will look around him . . . and finding everything good, will strive to communicate that feeling through a portrayal of the essentials of sunlight, or snow, or tree or tragic cloud, or human face, according to his power and individuality.” (J.E.H. MacDonald, 1917)

J.E.H. MacDonald was a member of the famous Group of Seven Canadian artists. He is considered one of Canada’s most important landscape painters. MacDonald was also a teacher, muralist, and poet. Some of his famous paintings are: June Clouds (1914), Atlantic Beach and Fog Bank Near Petite Riviere, Nova Scotia (1922), Harbour Entrance, Petite Riviere (1922), Rain in the Mountains (1924).