The top ten Greatest Canadians in alphabetical order, Nominated in spring 2004.

Frederick Banting

He’s known as the man who discovered insulin, bringing new hope to diabetics the world over. Frederick Banting’s groundbreaking research in the early 1920s brought him worldwide acclaim and earned him a lifetime annuity from the federal government, a knighthood in the British crown and Canada’s first ever Nobel Prize in Medicine.
Alexander Graham Bell

History was made when the first words were transmitted via telegraph on March 10, 1876, “Mr. Watson, come here, I need you.” After patenting the invention and staging a demonstration of the telephone at the Centennial Exhibition in Philadelphia in 1876, Bell went on to form the Bell Telephone Company in 1877.

Don Cherry

Starting out as a hockey player, then a successful NHL coach, Don Cherry soon found his niche on the television screen. Outspoken, outrageous and at times outlandish – Cherry has been called many things during his 24 years with CBC’s Hockey Night in Canada, but he’s never been accused of being at a loss for words.

Tommy Douglas

For more than 50 years, his staunch devotion to social causes, rousing powers of speech and pugnacious charm made Tommy C. Douglas a popular political force. From his first foray into public politics in 1934 to his post-retirement years in the 1970s, Canada’s ‘father of Medicare’ stayed true to his socialist beliefs.

Terry Fox

On the morning of April 12, 1980, Terry Fox began his Marathon of Hope. Fox’s journey took him through the Atlantic provinces, Quebec and Ontario, until he stopped just outside of Thunder Bay. He had run 5,376 kms, and by February 1981, raised $24.17 million. Fox died, with his family beside him, on June 28, 1981. That September, the first Terry Fox Run was held.

Wayne Gretzky

He is the greatest scorer in NHL history, breaking over five-dozen records and racking up nearly 3,000 points. He’s won four Stanley Cups and has held or shared 61 NHL records. He serves on countless charities and his foundation helps disadvantaged children from North America participate in hockey.

Sir John A. Macdonald

Macdonald is best known as the founding father of Canada, who united the French and the English and who facilitated the construction of Canadian Pacific Railway. The characteristics that made him such an effective leader are the same ones that define Canada as a nation.

Lester B. Pearson

During his five years in office Pearson oversaw the introduction of the Canada Pension Plan, national Medicare, the Bilingualism and Biculturalism Commission, a national labour code, and the Maple Leaf flag. The crowning achievement was his acceptance of the Nobel Peace Prize in 1956.

David Suzuki

As the host of CBC’s The Nature of Things and the author of more than 30 books, David Suzuki has been called a ‘gladiatorial geneticist’ who mixes education with entertainment. The passionate Suzuki has earned a well-deserved reputation as an environmental guru for two generations of Canadians.

Pierre Trudeau

Trudeau’s unique blend of charisma and fierce intelligence managed to keep him in power for nearly 16 years. During that time, he never wavered from his goal to create a unified and “just” Canada. He worked to promote bilingualism, stamp out separatism and create a Canadian Constitution and Charter of Rights.


I wonder if it would be the same top ten if we nominated today?