Roméo Antonius Dallaire born June 25, 1946 is a Canadian humanitarian, author, and retired senator and Land Force Command (Canadian Army) lieutenant-general. Dallaire served as force commander of UNAMIR, the ill-fated United Nations peacekeeping force for Rwanda between 1993 and 1994, and attempted to stop the genocide that was being waged by Hutu extremists against the Tutsi people and Hutu moderates. Dallaire founded The Roméo Dallaire Child Soldiers Initiative, to
Peter John Gzowski July 13, 1934 – January 24, 2002, known colloquially as “Mr. Canada”, or “Captain Canada”, was a Canadian broadcaster, writer and reporter, most famous for his work on the CBC radio shows This Country in the Morning and then Morningside. His first biographer argued that Gzowski’s contribution to Canadian media must be considered in the context of efforts by
Neil Percival Young born November 12, 1945 is a Canadian-American singer-songwriter, musician, and activist. After embarking on a music career in the 1960s, he moved to Los Angeles, joining Buffalo Springfield with Stephen Stills, Richie Furay and others. Since his early solo albums and those with his backing band Crazy Horse, Young has been prolific, recording a steady stream of studio and
Charles Thomas “Stompin’ Tom” Connors, February 9, 1936 – March 6, 2013 was a Canadian country and folk singer-songwriter. Focusing his career exclusively on his native Canada, he is credited with writing more than 300 songs and has released four dozen albums, with total sales of nearly four million copies. Connors’ songs have become part of the Canadian cultural landscape. Three
Jean Vanier September 10, 1928 – May 7, 2019 was a Canadian Catholic philosopher and theologian. In 1964, he founded L’Arche, an international federation of communities spread over 37 countries for people with developmental disabilities and those who assist them. In 1971, he co-founded Faith and Light with Marie-Hélène Mathieu, which also works for people with developmental disabilities, their families, and friends in over
Louis “David” Riel October 1844 – 16 November 1885 was a Canadian politician, a founder of the province of Manitoba, and a political leader of the Métis people in pre-Manitoba Northwest Territories. He led two resistance movements against the government of Canada led by its first post-Confederation prime minister, John A. Macdonald. Riel sought to defend Métis rights and identity as
Jian Ghomeshi is a Canadian musician, writer, and former CBC Radio broadcaster. From 1990 to 2000, he was a vocalist and drummer in the Thornhill-based folk-pop band Moxy Früvous. In the 2000s, he became a television and radio broadcaster. He has hosted, among others, the CBC Newsworld TV show >play (2002–2005), the CBC Radio One radio show The National Playlist (2005–2006), and the CBC Radio One show Q,
Pierre Marcel Poilievre born June 3, 1979 is a Canadian politician who served as Minister for Democratic Reform from 2013 to 2015 and Minister of Employment and Social Development in 2015. He is currently a member of Parliament (MP), representing the suburban Ottawa riding of Carleton and serves as the Opposition critic for jobs and industry, having served as the critic for finance and the
Sir James Paul McCartney born 18 June 1942 is an English singer, songwriter, musician, and record and film producer who gained worldwide fame as co-lead vocalist and bassist for the Beatles. His songwriting partnership with John Lennon remains the most successful in history. After the group disbanded in 1970, he pursued a solo career and formed the band Wings with his first wife, Linda, and Denny Laine.
Stephen Gregory Yzerman born May 9, 1965 is a Canadian professional ice hockey executive and former player who spent his entire National Hockey League (NHL) playing career with the Detroit Red Wings and is a member of the Hockey Hall of Fame. After his retirement as a player, he served in the front office of the Red Wings, and then as general