All
Awards
Medical
Militants
Noble prize
Novelists
Pioneer
Politicians
Scientists
Sir
Sports
Women
1928, 32,36 – Phil Edwards
Phil Edwards wins bronze medals for Canada in the Olympics.
Adolf Hitler
Dictator of Nazi Germany, who started the second world war when he invaded Poland in 1939.
Adrienne Clarkson
The 26th Governor General. Donated the Clarkson Cup for women’s hockey.
Agnes MacPhail MP
In 1921 this woman became Canada’s first female member of parliament.
Alexander Graham Bell
Invented the telephone at his summer house in Canada.
Brigadier James Wolfe & Marquis de Montcalm
In the 1700’s France and Great Britain battled for control of North America. In 1759 the British defeated the French at Quebec City (Plains of Abraham).These two commanders of both armies were killed in battle.
Catriona Le May Doan
Gold medal winner in speed skating at the 2002 winter Olympics.
Chantal Petitclerc
Paralympic Gold medalist in wheelchair racing.
Cpl. Filip Konowal
Awarded Canada’s highest honour
Cpt. Billy Bishop
Awarded Canada’s highest honour
Cpt. Paul Triquet of Cabano
Awarded Canada’s highest honour
David Johnston
28th Governor General since confederation. The sovereigns representative in Canada.
Donald Smith
Also known as Lord Strathcona. Director of the Canadian Pacific Railway who drove in the last spike of the railway to the west coast.
Donovan Bailey
Olympic gold medalist in sprinting.
Dr. Emily Stowe
Founder of the women’s suffrage movement. First Canadian woman to practice medicine.
Dr. John A. Hopps
Invented the cardiac pacemaker.
Dr. Wilder Penfield
Pioneering brain surgeon. Known as “the greatest living Canadian”.
Duke of Wellington
Chose Bytown (Ottawa) as the endpoint of the Rideau Canal. Thereby playing a huge role in deciding the national Capital.
Emile Nelligan
Novelists, poets, historians, educators & musicians who had a significant cultural impact.
General Sir Arthur Currie
Canada’s greatest soldier.
Gerhard Herzberg
Noble prize-winning scientists.
Jacques Cartier
Made 3 voyages to Canada between 1534-1542 to claim the land in the name of the King of France. Cartier heard locals speak the Iroquoian word kanata – meaning “village”. Where the name Canada comes from.
James Naismith
Invented basketball in 1891.
Jean Talon, Bishop Laval & Count Frontenac
Leaders who built a French Empire in North America that reached from Hudson Bay to the Gulf of Mexico.
John Buchan (1st Baron Tweedsmuir)
Popular Governor General of Canada. Said immigrant groups should retain their individuality.
John Cabot
Italian immigrant to England who was the first to map Canada’s Atlantic shore in 1497.
John Polanyi
Noble prize-winning scientists.
Jospeh-Armand Bombardier
Invented the snow mobile.
Kenojuak Ashevak
Pioneered modern inuit art.
King Charles II of England
In 1670 this King granted the Hudson Bay Co. exclusive trading rights over the watershed draining into Hudson Bay.
King George III of England
Territorial rights were guaranteed through the royal proclamation of 1763. Established the basis for negotiating treaties with the newcomers.
King George V
King of Britain who in 1921 assigned Canada’s national colours – Red and White.
Laura Secord
Pioneer wife & mother who made a dangerous 19 mile journey on foot to warn Lt. James Fitzgibbon of a planned American attack.
Lord Durham
An English reformer sent to report on the rebellions. Recommended that Upper & Lower Canada be merged and given Responsible Government. Also stated that French speakers should assimilate into English speaking culture.
Lord Elgin
The Governor of United Canada. Introduced Responsible Government – the system we have today.
Lord Grey
Governor General in 1909. Donated the famous Grey Cup to the Canadian Football League.
Lord Stanley
Governor General in 1892, and donated the famous Stanley cup for the National Hockey League
Louis Hemon
Novelists, poets, historians, educators & musicians who had a significant cultural impact.
Louis Riel
Led an uprising when Canada took over the Northwest region from the Hudson’s Bay Co. 12,000 Metis were not consulted about this. Seen by many as a hero, a defender of Metis’ rights and the Father of Manitoba.
Lt. Alexander Roberts Dunn
Awarded Canada’s highest honour, the Victoria cross. The VC has been awarded to 96 Canadians since 1854.
Lt. Col. John McCrae
Composed the poem In Flanders Fields. Often recited on Remembrance Day.
Lt. Colonel Charles de Salaberry
In 1813 along with 460 soldiers, turned back 4,000 American invaders at Chateauguay.
Lt. Colonel John Graves Simcoe
Was Upper Canada’s first Lt.Governor and founder of the City of York – now Toronto.
Lt. Robert Hampton Gray
Awarded Canada’s highest honour
Major Gen. Robert Ross
In 1814 led an expedition from Nova Scotia that burned down the White House.
Major Gen. Sir Isaac Brock & Chief Tecumseh
Together fought against the American’s attempt to conquer Canada in 1812.
Margaret Laurence & Mordecai Richler
Novelists, poets, historians, educators & musicians who had a significant cultural impact.
Marjorie Turner-Bailey
Olympian and descendant of black loyalists.
Marshall McLuhan & Harold Innis
Pioneer thinkers in the fields of science and technology.
Martin Frobisher
An English explorer who explored the Arctic for Queen Elizabeth I. Iqaluit, the capital of Nunavut was formerly known as Frobisher Bay.
Mary Ann (Shadd) Carey
An outspoken activist in the abolition of slavery in the USA. In 1853 became the first woman publisher in Canada.
Matthew Evans & Henry Woodward
Invented the first electric light bulb and sold their invention patent to Thomas Edison.
Michael Smith & Bertram Brockhouse
Noble prize-winning scientists.
Mike Lazaridis & Jim Balsillie
CEO’s of RIM (Research in motion)
Paul Henderson
In 1972 he scored the winning goal for Canada in the Canada-Soviet Summit series.
Pauline Johnson
Novelists, poets, historians, educators & musicians who had a significant cultural impact.
Phil Edwards
A Canadian track and field champion from British Guiana. Won bronze medals in the ’28, ’32 and 1936 Olympics.
Pierre de Monts & Samuel de Champlain
In 1604 established the first European settlements north of Florida.
Pierre Le Moyne, Sieur d’lberville
A hero of New France. Won many victories over the British in the later 17th and early 18th centuries.
Princess Louis Caroline Alberta
4th Daughter of Queen Victoria. Both Lake Louise and the province of Alberta are named after her.
Queen Elizabeth II
Canada’s head of state and Queen of Canada since 1952.
Reginald Fassenden
Contributed to the invention of the radio.
Richard E. Taylor
Noble prize-winning scientists.
Rick Hansen
Circled the globe in a wheelchair to raise funds for spinal research.
Robertson Davies
Novelists, poets, historians, educators & musicians who had a significant cultural impact.
Seaman William Hall
Awarded Canada’s highest honour
Sidney Altman
Noble prize-winning scientists.
Sir Charles G.D. Roberts
Novelists, poets, historians, educators & musicians who had a significant cultural impact.
Sir Ernest MacMillan & Healey Willan
Musicians.
Sir Etienne-Paschal Tache
Reformers who later became Father’s of Confederation
Sir Frederick Banting & Charles Best
Discovered insulin to treat diabetes.
Sir George-Etienne Cartier
Reformers who later became Father’s of Confederation, He was the key architect of Confederation from Quebec and helped negotiate the entrance of Northwest Territories, Manitoba and B.C. Into Canada.
Sir Guy Carleton
Governor of Quebec who defended the rights of the Canadiens. Defeated an American led invasion of Quebec. Supervised the loyalistmigration to Nova Scotia and Quebec in 1782.
Sir John Alexander Macdonald
Canada’s first Prime Minister. Father of Confederation. Born in Scotland 11 Jan. 1815. His portrait is on the $10 bill. January 11th is Sir John A. Macdonald day. He was a lawyer from Kingston, Ontario.
Sir Leonard Tilley
A father of Confederation from New Brunswick who suggested the term Dominion of Canada in 1864. He also inspired the phrase From Sea to Sea.
Sir Louis-Hippolyte La Fontaine
A champion of French language rights. Became the first head of Responsible Government in Canada in 1849. Worked with Robert Baldwin & Jospeh Howe and British Governors toward Responsible Government.
Sir Robert Borden
Gave women the right to vote in federal elections. First to nurses, then to women related to men in active wartime service.
Sir Sam Steele
A great frontier hero, Mounted Policeman and soldier of the Queen.
Sir Sandford Fleming
Invented the worldwide system of time zones.
Sir Wilfred Laurier
The first French Canadian Prime Minister of Canada since confederation. His portrait is on the $5 bill. 20th November is Sir Wilfred Laurier day.