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A Canadian-American actress of Asian descent, Sandra Oh became the first Asian actress to win two Golden Globe awards and the first Asian woman to host the award ceremony. She is also the third actress of Asian origin to host the TV show, Saturday Night Live. In 2019, she was named in Time magazine's 100 most influential people in the world list.
Dan Aykroyd is a Canadian comedian, actor, musician, and filmmaker. He is credited with co-founding the popular blues and soul revivalist band The Blues Brothers along with legendary comedian John Belushi. The Blues Brothers was conceived as a musical sketch for Saturday Night Live; its popularity turned it into an actual band and was later made into a film.
Actress and model, Pamela Anderson, is known as a sex symbol. She featured regularly in the Playboy magazine and acted in television series Home Improvement, Baywatch and VIP. Baywatch was hugely popular and gave her international recognition. Pamela Anderson has also acted in several films. She is an active member of People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA), the animal rights organisation.
Winnie Harlow is a Canadian model and spokeswoman on vitiligo. After gaining prominence as one of the contestants of America's Next Top Model in 2014, Harlow went on to model for clothing brands. An inspiration to people living with vitiligo, Winnie Harlow was honored with the Role Model award at the Portuguese GQ Men of The Year event in 2015.
Donald Sutherland is arguably the greatest Canadian actor of all time. In an illustrious career, that spans over more than five decades, Sutherland has played an influential role in both Canadian and American entertainment industries. He won an Academy Honorary Award in 2017 for his immense contribution to cinema. He is the father of actors Kiefer, Rossif, and Angus Sutherland.
Terry Fox was a popular cancer research activist and humanitarian. Despite suffering from cancer and having lost one of his legs to cancer, he embarked on a cross-country run to raise money for cancer research. Although he died at the age of 22, his efforts resulted in a worldwide legacy and gave rise to the annual Terry Fox Run.
Rapper, singer and songwriter, Tory Lanez’s debut studio album I Told You topped the charts in 2016. His subsequent albums, Memories Don't Die, Love Me Now, Chixtape 5 and Daystar were successful too. He was arrested once for violence and possessing a weapon. He has also been accused of shooting and wounding another rap artist, a charge Tory has denied.
Tate McRae became a budding pop star even before she graduated. She started her musical journey at the age of thirteen and since then there has been no stopping. She hogged the limelight for her song One Day. She topped TikTok and Billboard with her single, You Broke Me First. She has also choreographed rseveral music videos and television shows.
A.J. Cook is a Canadian actress best known for playing Jennifer Jareau in the popular crime drama TV series, Criminal Minds. A multi-talented personality, Cook is also a tap dancer. Also known for her good looks, Cook became a spokeswoman for the popular skin-care brand, Proactiv, in 2013 and was named in the Maxim Hot 100 list in 2014.
Rick Fox is a Canadian-Bahamian actor, businessman, former basketball player, and e-sports franchise owner. He is best known for representing the Los Angeles Lakers and Boston Celtics in the National Basketball Association (NBA). After retiring from the sport, Rick Fox went on to establish himself as a media personality, appearing in TV shows like Dancing with the Stars.
Canadian musician, songwriter, and film composer Robbie Robertson became popular following his association as lead guitarist and songwriter with the rock group, The Band. He is credited for playing a key role in popularizing the Americana music genre. He also had a successful career as a solo artist. As a film composer, he has often collaborated with director Martin Scorsese.
PartyNextDoor is a Canadian rapper, singer, and record producer. He grew up listening to rappers, such as Jodeci, Boyz II Men, Blackstreet, and 112 and was inspired to pursue a career in music. His first mixtape was a moderate hit. Since then, he has released a few albums and several singles. He has been nominated for the Grammy Awards twice.
Though born bi-racial, Viola Desmond became a Black icon for her business acumen. After not being allowed to train as a beautician in Halifax, she moved to Montreal. Her beauty products, salon, and training institute, all catering specifically to Black women, filled a major void in the beauty industry.
Canadian actress, Taylor Russell, is best known for starring in the TV show Lost in Space. She began acting when she was in her late teens. At the beginning of her career, she appeared in small roles in TV shows. With time, she started getting more substantial roles and gradually ventured into films as well.
South African filmmaker, Tosca Musk, has produced and directed several TV programs, films, and web series. Beginning her career in the early 2000s, she teamed up with Jeff Macpherson to produce the web series, Tiki Bar TV. Her movie, Simple Things, received the California Independent Film Festival Slate Award. She is also the founder of the streaming service Passionflix.
Born to a politician father and a brewery heiress mother, actor Hume Cronyn, initially showed promise as a boxer. He teamed up with Alfred Hitchcock for films such as Shadow of a Doubt. The film The Seventh Cross, set in Nazi Germany, earned him an Academy Award nomination.
Tablo is a Korean-Canadian composer, record producer, lyricist, and hip hop recording artist. He is best known for being the producer and leader of the popular alternative hip hop group, Epik High. He is also credited with founding High Ground, an independent music label, which housed bands like The Black Skirts and Hyukoh.
Nardwuar the Human Serviette is a Canadian musician and interviewer. He was a founding member of the popular garage rock band The Evaporators where he currently serves as the keyboardist and lead singer. As an interviewer Nardwuar is renowned for his unorthodox approach and bizarre questions. In 2019, he was inducted into the BC Entertainment Hall of Fame.
Canadian child actor Riele Downs soared to fame as Charlotte from the Nickelodeon series Henry Danger. She is the older sister of Reiya Downs of Degrassi: Next Class fame. While she began acting at the tender age of 3, Riele has also been interested in dance.
Lolita Davidovich is a Canadian actress renowned for her portrayal of Blaze Starr in the American comedy-drama film Blaze, for which she earned a nomination for the prestigious Chicago Film Critics Association Award. Lolita Davidovich has also played notable roles in popular TV films, such as Prison Stories: Women on the Inside, Indictment: The McMartin Trial, and Harvest of Fire.
Saul Rubinek is a German-born Canadian actor, director, and playwright. Encouraged to pursue acting by his parents, he enrolled at the Ottawa Little Theatre. After a successful Broadway career, he branched out to TV shows and films as well. He made his directorial debut with the black comedy film Jerry and Tom, earning a Sundance Film Festival award nomination.
In an expected move, ice-hockey center Patrice Bergeron was named the captain of the Boston Bruins in early 2021. While the star player won hearts with his winning goal in the 2011 Stanley Cup final, he has two Olympic gold medals and a World Cup gold medal in his kitty.
Canadian-American frontiersman, hardware store owner, sheriff, U.S. Marshal, horse breeder and hotel owner Seth Bullock is best known for building the Bullock Hotel, the oldest hotel in Deadwood. Bullock was appointed the first sheriff of the then lawless Dakota where he eventually emerged as a prominent figure civilizing the rowdy camp without killing anyone.
Her mother’s struggle with Parkinson's disease pushed Alice Munro into reading as an escape route. Munro later became a housewife, but soon soared to fame for her short story collections such as Too Much Happiness. The Canadian author later won the Nobel Prize and the Man Booker Prize, too.
Jessica Amlee is a Canadian actress best known for her portrayal of Mallory Wells in the family drama TV series, Heartland. Although she is yet to establish herself as a prominent feature film actress, Jessica Amlee has proved her mettle by delivering praiseworthy performance in TV films like Absolute Zero and Kidnapped: The Hannah Anderson Story.
Born to an American father and a Canadian mother, Maury Chaykin grew up to be a popular character actor, who gained accolades with films such as Dances with Wolves and Whale Music. He also breathed life into the roles of driving-school owner Sam Blecher and detective Nero Wolfe.
Tantoo Cardinal is a Canadian actress known for playing important roles in popular films like Dances with Wolves, Legends of the Fall, and Black Robe. One of the most popular aboriginal Canadian actresses, Cardinal was appointed a Member of the Order of Canada in 2009 for her contributions to the development of Aboriginal performing arts in the country.
As part of the FDA, Frances Oldham Kelsey prevented thalidomide from being allowed in the US drug market as a painkiller, as she was unsure of its impact. Her concerns were proved right when the drug caused birth defects in European children. She was subsequently awarded by the US president.
Johns Hopkins Hospital co-founder William Osler was also an avid historian. He redefined medical education with his emphasis on clinical experience and his book The Principles and Practice of Medicine. Born to a missionary father in Canada, he was to follow in his father’s footsteps but decided to study medicine instead.
