One of the most successful Canadian recording artists, singer-songwriter, the Weeknd, holds several chart records and has won numerous awards, including three Grammy Awards. Despite a difficult childhood marred by drug abuse and violence, he persevered and worked hard to emerge as a beloved music star. He is actively involved in philanthropy.
Leslie Nielsen was a Canadian actor who played more than 220 characters, appearing in over 150 television programs and 100 films in a career that spanned 60 years. In the latter part of his career, he gained recognition as a comedian and went on to become one of the most popular Canadian comedians of his generation.
Canadian national Steve Nash is a basketball coach and a former player. Known for his playmaking skills, he played for Dallas Mavericks, Phoenix Suns and Los Angeles Lakers in America’s coveted National Basketball Association. He also played for the Canadian national men’s team from 1991 to 2003. He became the head coach of Brooklyn Nets of NBA in September 2020.
Avan Jogia is a Canadian actor and singer. He gained recognition with his performance in the American biographical TV film A Girl Like Me. Also an activist, Jogia co-founded Straight But Not Narrow, a non-profit organization which aims at changing the viewpoints of straight people about the LGBTQ community. Not surprisingly, he is loved and respected within the LGBT community.
Canadian actor, radio personality, and singer, Lorne Greene, is remembered for his appearance in the original science-fiction TV series, Battlestar Galactica. As a young man, he studied to become a chemical engineer. However, he quit engineering for a career in entertainment. He was successful both as a radio personality and an actor in a career spanning almost five decades.
Nora Fatehi is a popular figure in the Indian film industry. Although born and raised in Canada. Nora has worked in Malayalam, Telugu, and Hindi language films. She was part of one of the highest-grossing Indian films ever - Baahubali: The Beginning. Apart from appearing in films, she has also made a mark in the TV industry.
Dorothy Stratten was a Canadian model, actress, and Playboy Playmate. Renowned for her beauty, Stratten was adjudged the Playboy Playmate of the Year in 1980 before she was killed by her estranged husband Paul Snider at the age of 20. Her relationship with Snider and her death inspired films, such as Death of a Centerfold and Star 80.
Legendary horror filmmaker George A. Romero is best known for his Night of the Living Dead series and for popularizing the zombie film genre. He also gained fame for his collaborations with horror novelist Stephen King, the most notable of them being the film version of King’s novel The Dark Half.
Victor Webster is a Canadian actor known for playing important roles in TV series like Days of Our Lives. A trained kickboxer, who studied martial arts during his teenage years, Webster portrays characters that require him to perform stunts with ease. Also known for his good looks, Webster was named in People magazine's 50 Most Eligible Bachelors list in 2002.
Michael Ironside is a Canadian film director, producer, actor, and screenwriter. He achieved popularity in 1984, when he played a cynical anti-hero named Ham Tyler in the popular TV series, V: The Final Battle. Michael Ironside has also played important roles in popular films like Top Gun, Total Recall, and The Machinist.
Born to Polish immigrants, Canadian actor John Vernon made waves in Hollywood with his roles of figures of authority, such as doctors and academics, in films. Known for films such as Animal House and Dirty Harry, he had also lent his voice to many series and video games.
Enrico Colantoni is a Canadian actor and director best known for his role in the sitcom Just Shoot Me! He received his training at the American Academy of Dramatic Arts and the Yale School of Drama. He began his career as an actor in the 1980s and appeared in a string of successful TV series. He is also a director.
Known for her music that showcases the issues of Native Americans, Canadian-American singer Buffy Sainte-Marie became the first person from any indigenous community to win an Oscar, with the song Up Where We Belong. She had also been blacklisted by many radio stations earlier due to her activism.
Lochlyn Munro is a Canadian actor known for playing important roles in films like A Night at the Roxbury, Freddy vs. Jason, Scary Movie, and White Chicks. Munro is also known for his work on TV, appearing in series, such as Northwood, Charmed, and Riverdale.
Tanaya Beatty is a Canadian actress known for playing important roles in TV series like True Justice, Arctic Air, and The Night Shift. Apart from being an actress, Beatty has also exhibited an interest in social work; she has received a certificate from a program concerning social work.
John Saunders was a sports journalist who worked for the popular cable sports channel ESPN from 1986 to 2016. During his career, Saunders anchored important events, such as the 1995 World Series of Major League Baseball (MLB). His book Playing Hurt: My Journey from Despair to Hope was published posthumously.
Meg Tilly is an actress best known for her role in the drama mystery film Agnes of God, for which she was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress. She began her career as a dancer and eventually took up acting roles. She loves to write as a hobby and is the author of many novels.
Henry Czerny is a Canadian actor best known for playing Conrad Grayson in the American drama television series, Revenge. Considered a character actor, Czerny often plays bureaucratic, authoritative, or villainous characters. A multi-talented personality, Henry Czerny also has several other interests, such as carpentry, crafting, photography, and travel.
Distinguished Canadian politician, Marc Garneau, began his career as a naval officer and while in service became the first Canadian to travel to the outer space, eventually becoming the President of Canadian Space Agency. Elected to the Parliament as a member of the Liberal Party, he was named Minister of Transport in 2015 and Minister of Foreign Affairs in 2021.
Diagnosed with retinitis pigmentosa, as retinal disability that causes loss of vision, at age 4, Molly Burke went almost blind at age 14. Now a popular motivational speaker, she has a huge fan base on YouTube, has represented The Foundation Fighting Blindness Canada, and has also launched an audiobook.
Canadian ice-hockey defenseman Aaron Ekblad has been an alternate captain for the NHL team Florida Panthers. He has previously had a successful stint with the Ontario Hockey League. He won the 2015 World Championship and the 2013 Ivan Hlinka Memorial Tournament with the Canadian squad.