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Edited: Apr 1, 2012

Famous Canadian Entertainers

These are some of the many famous Canadians, who either were born in Canada or became Canadian citizens, and who have made their mark on the world as athletes,dancers, journalists, musicians, singers & songwriters. The links here are to their biographies.

“So it is a general rule that actors and film-makers arriving in Hollywood keep their nationality - unless, that is, they are Canadian. Thus Mary Pickford, Walter Huston, Donald Sutherland, Michael J Fox, William Shatner, Norman Jewison, David Cronenberg and Dan Aykroyd have in the popular perception become American, and Christopher Plummer British. It is as if in the very act of becoming famous, a Canadian ceases to be Canadian, unless she is Margaret Atwood, who is as unshakeably Canadian as a moose, or Celine Dion, for whom Canada has proved quite unable to find any takers.” - The Telegraph, Tuesday 20 November 2012

Famous Canadian Athletes

• Donovan Bailey (Track and Field)
  Born December 16, 1967 in Manchester, Jamaica. Came to Canada when he was 13.
• Myriam Bedard (Biathlon)
  Born December 22, 1969 in Ancienne-Lorette, Quebec. Won two gold medals at the 1994 Winter Olympics held in Lillehammer, Norway.
• Debbie Brill (Track and Field)
  She was the first North American woman to jump 6’0" (1970). Born in Mission, British Columbia.
• Patrick Lewis Wai-Kuan Chan
  Born December 31, 1990 in Ottawa, Ontario. He is the 2011 & 2012 World champion figure skater,
• Sidney Patrick Crosby (Hockey Player)
  Born August 7, 1987 in Cole Harbour, Nova Scotia.
• Catriona LeMay Doan (Speed Skater)
  Born December 23, 1970 in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan.
• Sharon Donnelly (Triathelete)
  Born July 29, 1967 in Toronto, Ontario.
• Terry Fox (Runner)
  Born July 28, 1958 in Winnipeg, Manitoba. Died June 28, 1981.
• Nancy Greene (Skier)
  Born May 11, 1943 in Ottawa, Canada.
• Wayne Gretzky (Hockey)
  Born January 26, 1961 in Brantford, Ontario.
• Edward "Ned" Hanlan (Rower)
  1855 - 1908. Canada’s first international sports hero.
• Lorie Kane (Golfer)
  Born December 19, 1964 in Charlettown, Prince Edward Island.
• Silken Laumann (Rower)
  Born November 14, 1964 in Mississauga, Ontario.
• Steve Nash
  Career accolades include: NBA MVP Award (2005-06, 2004-05), 3-time NBA All-Star (2001-02, 2002-03, 2004-05),All-NBA First Team (2004-05, 2005-06), * All-NBA Third Team (2001-02, 2002-03)and Canadian Olympic Team (2000.)
• Jacques Plante (Hockey Goaltender)
  Born January 17, 1929 in Mount Carmel, Québec. Died February 27, 1986.
• Maurice "Rocket" Richard (Hockey)
  Born August 4, 1921. Died May 27, 2000.
• Elvis Stojko (Skater)
  Born March 22, 1972 in Newmarket, Ontario.
• Jacques Villeneuve (Racecar Driver)
  Born April 9, 1971 in St. Jean-Sur-Richelieu, Québec.
• Mike Weir (Golfer)
  Born May 12, 1970 in Sarnia, Ontario.

Famous Canadian Dancers

• Celia Franca
  Founding Artistic Director of the National Ballet of Canada.
• Margie Gillis (Choreographer/Dancer)
  Internationally acclaimed modern dance artist was born in Montreal, Quebec.
• Karen Alexandria Kain (Ballerina)
  Born in Hamilton, Ontario.
• Lynn Seymour
  Born March 8, 1939 in Wainwright, Alberta. Her original name was Lynn Springbett. In 1954 Seymour went to England and joined the Royal Ballet. She maintains her Canadian citizenship.
• Veronica Tennant (Ballerina)
  Came to Canada from London, England in 1955.

Famous Canadian Journalists, Radio & TV Personalities

• Steven "Cojo" Cojocaru
  Born January 5, 1965 in Montreal, Quebec.
• Peter Gzowski
  Born July 13, 1934. Died January 24, 2002. Canada’s voice.
• Peter Jennings
  Born July 29, 1938 in Toronto. Died August 7, 2005. Former anchor of ABC World News Tonight
• Arthur Kent
  Born in Alberta. "SCUD stud" of the Gulf War.
• Robert MacNeil
  The MacNeil/Lehrer Newshour, The Story of English, Wordstruck
• Peter Mansbridge
  Born July 6, 1948 in London, England. Raised in Ottawa, Ontario.
• Keith Morrison
  Born in Lloydmister, Saskatchewan. NBC "Dateline"
• Kevin Newman
  Born 1959 in Toronto, Ontario. Canadian journalist/news anchor.
• John Roberts
  Born November 15, 1956 in Toronto, Ontario. He has served as Chief White House Correspondent since 1999.
• Lloyd Robertson
  Born January 19, 1934 in Stratford, Ontario.
• Morley Safer
  Born November 8, 1931 in Toronto. 60 Minutes
• Alex Trebek
  Born on July 22, 1940 in Sudbury, Ontario. Host of the long running game show Jeopardy.

Famous Canadian Musicians / Bands

• Liona Boyd (Classical Guitar)
  Born in London, England. Came to Canada when she was eight. Known as "The First Lady of the Guitar"
• James Ehnes (Violinist)
  Born 1976 in Brandon, Manitoba.
• Andre Gagnon
  Born August 1, 1942 in St. Pacome-de-Kamouraska, Québec.
• Ofra Harnoy (Celloist)
  
• Christos Hatzis (Composer)
  
• Angela Hewitt (Pianist)
  Born July 26, 1958 in Ottawa, Ontario.
• Tommy Hunter
  ´Canada´s Country Gentlemen´ hometown is London, Ontario. "The Tommy Hunter Show" was the longest-running variety show in North America.
• Moe Koffman
  Flutist, saxophonist, clarinetist, composer, arranger, booking agent, b Toronto 28 Dec 1928, d Orangeville, Ont, 28 Mar 2001.
• André Laplante (Pianist)
  
• Guy Lombardo
  Born London, Ont, 19 Jun 1902, naturalized US 1938, and died in Houston 5 Nov 1977. - "Guy Lombardo and His Royal Canadians".
• Natalie MacMaster
  Exquisite fiddle playing, performed with attitude and combined with dazzling step-dancing.
• Sarah McLachlan
  Born 1968 in Halifax, Nova Scotia.
• Alanis Morissette
  Born June 1, 1974 in Ottawa, Ontario.
• Oscar Peterson
  Jazz artist, pianist. Born August 15, 1925 in Montréal, Québec.
• Paul Shaffer
  Born November 28, 1949 and raised in Thunder Bay, Ontario.
• Stoppin´ Tom Conners
  Born in St. John, New Brunswick.
• April Wine
  Started in Halifax, Nova Scotia.
• Barenaked Ladies
  Started 1988 in Scarborough, Ontario.
• Blue Rodeo (Band)
  
• Canadian Brass
  The Canadian Brass sprang from modest and highly experimental roots in Toronto, Ontario, in 1970.
• Crash Test Dummies (Band)
  Originally from Winnipeg, Manitoba. Appeared on music scene in the late 1980's.
• Great Big Sea
  Out of St. John's, Newfoundland.
• Nickelback (Band)
  Out of Vancouver, British Columbia.
• Rush (Band)
  Started 1969 in Sarnia, Ontario.
  YouTube: Fly By Night
• Simple Plan (Band)
  Out of Montreal, Quebec.
• Spirit of the West
  
• Sum 41
  
• The Band
  
• The Guess Who
  Canada´s most popular rock band of the ´60s and early ´70s.
• The Sam Roberts Band
  
• Tragically Hip (Band)
  Started 1983 in Kingston, Ontario.

Famous Canadian Singers / Songwriters

• Bryan Adams
  Born ´Bryan Guy Adams´ November 5, 1959 in Kingston, Ontario. YouTube: (Everything I Do) I Do It For You
• Paul Anka
  Born July 31, 1941 in Ottawa, Ontario.
• Justin Drew Bieber
  Born March 1, 1994 in Stratford, Ontario.
  YouTube: One Time
• Michael Bublé
  Born September 9, 1975 in Burnaby, British Columbia.
• Measha Brueggergosman
  Born June 28, 1977 in Fredericton, New Brunswick. She has performed internationally and won numerous awards. Her recordings of both classical and popular music have also received awards.
• Raffi Cavoukian
  Born July 8, 1948 in Cairo, Egypt. His family immigrated to Canada in 1958.
• David Clayton-Thomas
  Born September 13, 1941. Grew up in Toronto. Ontario.
• Leonard Cohen
  Born in Montreal, Québec in 1934. Poet, novelist, songwriter he was one of the most influential and popular 1960s Canadian writers and his songs gained him an international reputation.
• Tom Cochrane
  Born May 13, 1953 in Lynn Lake, Manitoba. Singer.
• Bruck Cockburn
  Born 1945 in Ottawa, Ontario.
• Patricia Conroy
  Born in Montreal, Québec. Country Music Singer.
• Robert Allen Curtola
  Born in Port Arthur, Ontario. Known for his innovation, wealth of talent and his immense humanitarianism, he is truly “Canada’s Greatest Rock ‘n’ Roll Legend.”. Had 25 gold hits.
• Celine Dion
  Born March 30, 1968 in Ville de Charlemagne, Québec.
• Maureen Forrester
  Born in Montréal’s East End, in 1930.
• David Foster
  Born on November 1, 1949 in Victoria, British Columbia. Music composer.
• Nelly Furtado
  Born and raised in Victoria, British Columbia. YouTube: All Good Things (Come To An End)
• Robert Goulet
  Born in Lawrence, Massachusetts of French Canadian parents. His first professional appearance was at age 16 with the Edmonton Symphony.
• Ben Heppner (Opera)
  Born in Murrayville, British Columbia.
• Carolyn Dawn Johnson
  Born April 30, 1971 in Grande Prairie, Alberta. Singer-songwriter.
• Diana Krall
  Born in Nanaimo, British Columbia. Pianist and vocalist.
• Chantal Kreviazuk
  Born in 1973 in Winnipeg, Manitoba. Singer.
• Carmen Lombardo
  Born 1903, London, Canada, and died 1971, Miami, Florida.
• K.D. Lang (Kathryn Dawn)
  Born 1962 in Consort, Alberta. Singer.
  k.d. lang's cover of Leonard Cohen's Hallelujah moved the world at the Vancouver Olympics' Opening Ceremonies.
• Avril Lavigne
  Born September 27, 1984 in Napanee, Ontario. Singer-Songwriter.
  
• Gordon Lightfoot
  Born November 17, 1938 in Orillia, Ontario. Singer-Songwriter.
• Ruth Lowe
  Born 1915, Toronto and died 1981, Montreal. Her best known songs were I'll Never Smile Again and Put Your Dreams Away, the latter being a Sinatra favourite.
• Ryan Malcolm
  Born on October 13, 1979 in Kingston, Ontario. First Canadian Idol winner 2003. Singer.
• Richard Margison
  Born 1954 in Victoria, British Columbia. Tenor.
• Amanda Marshall
  Born 1974 in Toronto, Ontario.
• Joni Mitchell
  Born November 7, 1943 in Fort Macleod, Alberta.
• Kim Mitchell
  Born July 10, 1952 in Sarnia, Ontario. Singer, songwriter, lyricist, guitarist and entertainer.
• Anne Murray
  Born June 20, 1945 in Springhill, Nova Scotia. Singer.
• Melissa O'Neil
  Born in Calgary, Alberta. Canadian Idol winner 2005.
• Kalan Porter
  Born in Medicine Hat, Alberta. Canadian Idol winner 2004.
• Robbie Robertson
  Born July 5, 1943 in Toronto, Ontario. Raised on the Six Nations Indian Reserve. Singer.
• Buffy Sainte-Marie
  Born February 20, 1941 on the Piapot Reserve, Saskatchewan.
• Lucille Starr
  Born 1938 Lucille Marie Raymonde Savoie in St. Boniface, Manitoba, Canada. Singer, songwriter, and yodeler. Raised in Maillardville, B.C. Best known for her bilingual 1964 hit single, “Quand Le Soleil Dit Bonjour Aux Montagnes”.
• Teresa Stratas
  Born May 26, 1938 in Toronto, Ontario. Lyric soprano.
• Shania Twain
  Born August 28, 1965 in Timmins, Ontario. Singer-Songwriter.
• Neil Young
  Born November 12, 1945 in Toronto, Ontario.