It has come to celebrate 150 years of Canada, 150 years of peace, order and good government. And to 150 years of Canadian history, it is always important to reflect upon the great Canadian humans from coast to coast to coast, who have contributed their lives to make a better country for generations to come. We celebrate 150 years to thank them, to honor the work they have done to put us where we are today and to appraise those who contributed blood, sweat and tears into making such a unified nation.
Among the Canadian Hall of Fame, with the likeness of Chris Hadfield, Wayne Gretzky, Terry Fox, Alexander Graham Bell and any Canadian Prime Minister, there are other names that become muddled in the Canadian Greats, people who, in one way or another, have been forgotten for their great achievements and services to our nation, and our world. This is a tribute to just a few of them (in no particular order) …
- James Naismith
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James Naismith, formally known as Dr. James Naismith, was a Canadian physical education instructor born near Almonte, Ontario. While his legacy is forever remembered as one of the great inventors of Canada, his personal life was truly one of loss, as he became an orphan at the age of 10, with both of his parents’ dead from typhoid fever. Studying at McGill for Philosophy, James Naismith spent most of his time as an excelling athlete, competing in rugby, football, lacrosse and gymnastics. This further pushed his career toward becoming a gym teacher in Massachusetts, where he invented the now international sport of basketball. Played with peach baskets nailed to two balconies, the first ever game was played on December 1891, and the rest is history.
Currently residing in Toronto and holding a Canadian citizenship, Galen Weston was handed his father’s struggling supermarket chain, Loblaws, in 1972. The entire family was originally Irish before Galen Weston and his father moved to Toronto at a young age. Over his lifetime, Galen Weston turned the company around to become one of the greatest supermarket chains in all of Canada, becoming the Executive CEO of Shoppers Drug Mart, Real Canadian Superstore and JOE Fresh, Galen Weston has now become the 2nd richest billionaire in Canada with his success in business.
Born in Alliston, Ontario, at November 1891, Sir Fredrick Grant Banting was one of the most prestigious and decorated Canadians in history. But while his co-discovery of insulin and corresponding Nobel Prize were widely known, there was another set of hobbies and professions which Sir Fredrick Banting had. While being Canada’s first medical researcher, Sir Fredrick Banting was also a successful amateur painter, with links to the well-known Aboriginal Group of Seven and A.J. Jackson, whom both had great influences on his work. His career as an amateur painter was so successful that he could have lived off his paintings alone, with each one selling for 5 digit values at the very least. Today, Sir Fredrick Banting’s name is across the world, in research awards, high schools, and even a crater on the moon. One of the greatest Canadian’s to ever live, and one to be remembered.
Mo
st people may have heard of the name Tommy Douglas, but very few may remember what monumental achievement he had for Canada. The premier of Saskatchewan for 17 years, as well as a member of the House of Commons, NDP leader Tommy Douglas was mostly known for being the founder of the Medicare act and the father of socialized medicine. To put it simply: HE WAS THE PERSON WHO CREATED FREE HEALTH CARE. Enough said. I do not even care if he was born in Scotland, he not only died in Newfoundland, but made such an impact to our country that he deserves to be considered Canadian more than anyone.
While you may have known or at least heard of the previous three Canadian heroes, this one may be a bit obscure. Unlike what you may assume, George Stanley, born in Calgary, was not the creator of the Stanley Cup, but was actually the original designer of the now famous Canadian Flag in 1964. George Stanley himself said that the design of the flag would represent Canada, but more importantly, be easy for the children to draw. The sketch was unanimously approved by the committee, and now carries 150 years of history on it’s shoulders. Beyond that, George Stanley was also an author of numerous Canadian novels, many of which told different stories to what was conventional in their time.
Born in Montreal, Quebec, Oscar Peterson is regarded as one of the greatest jazz pianists in history. It is difficult to have never heard of him before, with appearances in over 200 albums, one Juno, eight Grammy’s, the first ever winner of the Government General Performing Arts Award for Lifetime Achievement, a place in the Canadian Hall of Fame, and a place in the International Jazz Hall of Fame. His biography is so extravagant that it is nearly impossible for me to summarize it in less than 100 words, but the best I can do is mention that he was the first Canadian Jazz Star at the age of around 20, conquering all of Canada with his music at around the age of 24, and then taking the world by storm from there.
A member of the Onondaga nation, Tom Longboat was most well known for being one of the best marathoners of his time. Previously winning the Boston Marathon a whole 4 minutes and 59 seconds faster than anyone else in the race, Tom Longboat won the Professional Champion of the World in long distance running. Ironically enough, Tom Longboat’s coaches said he was too lazy, and would never win anything. Inspiration off of Tom Longboat’s achievements led to the creation of the “strategic break,” for athletes to have relaxation days in order to perform better in training.
Born in Deschambault, Quebec, Denys Arcand is one of Canada’s most decorated filmmakers in both French and English. Denys Arcand started his directing career with hour long French documentaries, many of which were notorious for being scurrilous and controversial, often being banned for years in Canada. Regardless, no ban could take away Denys Arcand’s talent for filmmaking, as he won the Quebec Critics Prize for his provocative piece on the cynicism of the political process, Confort et l’difference. From there, Arcand went on to make French films, winning a myriad of awards like Best Picture, Best Director, and Best Original Screenplay and Best Foreign Film for The Decline of the American Empire in 1986 and Jesus of Montreal in 1989. He then went on to create films in English such as Stardom and Love and Human Remains. In 2005, Denys Arcand was named Companion of the Order of Canada, recognizing individuals for their exceptional achievements of national or international significance.
A figure of older Canadian history, Laura Secord is historically acclaimed as a heroine of Canada in the War of 1812. As history tells it, Laura Secord accidentally caught information about an American surprise assault on the British forces by a general named James (no last name provided). Unfortunately, due to injury, James was unable to deliver the message to the British forces located 12 miles away. Laura, in an act of courage, decided to run over 20 miles (to avoid American troops) to inform the British forces, but was soon caught by Aboriginal allies in the forest. After explaining her predicament, the American invaders were ambushed by the Aboriginals on June 1813, and surrendered their entire force to Canada. In the triumphant victory, no mention was made of the heroic efforts of Laura Secord until she was 85 years of age.
Sir William Stephenson, nicknamed “Intrepid,” was born in Winnipeg, Manitoba in 1897. To many, he is an unknown figure of society, but many would be interested to know that Sir William Stephenson was the most accurate reincarnation of movie star James Bond. In fact, the character of James Bond, in both movies and books, was actually based on his stories. For those who are now interested (which is basically everyone), Sir William Stephenson worked as a spy for prominent figures like Franklin Roosevelt and Winston Churchill. In his lifetime, Sir William Stephenson worked to build the Office of Strategic Services, the U.S. intelligence wing in the second World War, and stole Nazi war production secrets and Axis operatives in South America. If that is not James Bond enough, it has also been said that Sir William Stephenson also had a love for martinis. Hilarious.
And there you have it, 10 of many Canadian greats who have shaped our country to the greatness that it is today. So throughout this year, and throughout life, take a moment to appreciate how you have come to this world shaped by your hard-working predecessors, and realize that within your life you have a role to fill: to make this world a slightly brighter place than before.
