Famous Canadians

People Worth Celebrating and Studying

We are pleased to introduce our Famous Canadians: Michaëlle Jean, Donovan Bailey, John McCrae, Terry Fox, Chris Hadfield, David Suzuki and Viola Desmond.

Donovan Bailey and Michaëlle Jean are the most recent additions, and they join us featured Caribbean Canadians, part of a larger study unit on culture, history, ethnicity and geography. John McCrae is the soldier poet who penned one of the most iconic poem of all time, the WWI poem, “In Flander’s Fields.” Terry Fox, like Donovan Bailey is a heroic athlete who needs no introduction. He’s a Canadian icon. Chris Hadfield almost needs no introduction – he’s one of our most popular Canadian exports and cultural icons. Suzuki and Desmond represent a wide spectrum of Canadianness. Born in 1914 in Halifax, Nova Scotia Ms. Desmond was an activist and civil rights pioneer. Dr. Suzuki, born 1936 in Vancouver, British Columbia, is an academic and broadcaster who took up the mantle of environmental activist.

Michaëlle Jean

Governor general, journalist

Like Viola Desmond, Michaelle-Jean is a Canadian woman who is accomplished and respected all across the country..Jean has championed the rights of women, minorities, youth, and people all around the world. Best-known for her tenure as Canada’s governor general, she is current Secretary-General of the Organisation internationale de la Francophonie.

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Donovan Bailey

Athlete, broadcaster

Like Terry Fox, Donovan Bailey is a Canadian sports hero. Through hard work on and off the track, Donovan has touched and reached many Canadians. Known as the fastest man in the world for his record at the Atlanta Olympics in 1996, he has also worked to empower amateur athletes, and he operates a sports rehabilitation clinic. Donovan is still a champ – and one of our featured Caribbean Canadians.

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John McCrae

Soldier, doctor, poet

John McCrae was a hero, plain and simple. He was a devoted and loyal soldier and doctor who served his country and fellow soldiers during WWI. He wrote “In Flander’s Fields,” one of the most beautiful and enduring poems of all time. John’s profile for Famous Canadians is part of a special unit on Remembrance Day.