The Greatest Canadian Guide, Meaning , Facts, Information and Description
Officially launched on April 5, 2004, The Greatest Canadian is a project by the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation, to find who is the greatest ever Canadian. The project was inspired by the BBC series 100 Greatest Britons.
Unlike other "Greatest" projects in other countries however, the "Greatest Canadian" will not be decided by a simple popular poll, and will instead be chosen through a two-step voting process.
On October 17, 2004 the CBC aired "part one" of the Greatest Canadian television series. In it, the top 40 "greatest" choices as determined by an email, website, telephone, and letter poll were revealed, in order of popularity. The top 10 were presented deliberately out of vote numerical order for the purposes of the series. After the 50 were revealed, 10 Canadian celebrities revealed their individual choices for which member of the top ten they believe to be the greatest Canadian. In coming weeks each celebrity will have his own episode of The Greatest Canadian in which to "lobby" for his or her choice. Canadians will once again be able to vote, and on November 29 the "Greatest Canadian" will be revealed.
This format has been criticized by some as as being less honest than the formats used in other nations' "Greatest" projects. Although CBC already knows the ranking order of the "top 10" Canadians as determined by popular vote, this information will not be revealed. The second top 10 vote will thus distort the original views of the Canadian public, through preferential voting.
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2 Advocates 3 Top 50 4 The Next 50 5 External links 6 Other Great People |
On October 17, the top 10 were revealed (alphabetical order):
In broadcast order:
11. Louis Riel (politician, metis leader)
21. Unknown Soldier (soldiers)
29. Jim Carrey (film actor, comedian, writer, producer)
38. Mario Lemieux (professional ice hockey player)
49. William Lyon Mackenzie King (prime minister)
At least three members of the top 50 got into the list as the direct result of an active mass-mailing campaign among that individual's loyal, well-oragnized followers. Kin founder Harold A. Rogers, DJ Hal Anderson, and Baha'i activist Mary Maxwell all benefitted from an active grassroots campaign to get their names included in the list. CBC openly admitted this, and recognized that these three esoteric individuals are probably quite unknown to the general public.
Some critics have complained that large number of entertainers on the list like Jim Carrey and Avril Lavigne reflects the problem of Canadians confusing popularity with greatness. In particular, Don Cherry's inclusion in the top 10 upset many Canadians, especially considering it forced out figures they believe are more worthy like Louis Riel and Jean Vanier.
A few members of the list were not "Canadians" in the sense we think of the term today, but rather figures who were associated some period of early Canadian history, before Canada was a nation. These include the American Indian leader Tecumseh, who never resided in Canada, and Laura Secord and Sir Isaac Brock, who were both British figures associated with the 1812 War.
Eight of the top 50 could be considered French Canadians, ignoring the percentage of Francophones included as the Unknown Soldier. Tecumseh, Suzuki, and Louis Riel were the only non-Caucasians on the list.
Many of the top 50 Greatest Canadians' careers have actually been spent with the CBC. David Suzuki and Don Cherry are current on-air personalities, Rick Mercer currently hosts a comedy series, Ernie Coombs was Mr. Dressup for decades on the network, while comedians like John Candy (guest on King of Kensington, lead on Dr. Zonk and the Zunkins and a regular on SCTV) Michael J. Fox (guest on The Magic Lie, star of Leo and Me), and Mike Myers (guest on King of Kensington) all made their first credited TV appearances on the CBC.
While technically not true, the Unknown Soldier is the only one of two persons, to make more than one Greatest shortlist. The Unknown Solider was one of the top 100 Great Britons. Alexander Graham Bell was also on the 100 Great Britons list.
55. Glenn Gould (pianist)
67. Patrick Roy (ice hockey goaltender)
78. Robert Munsch (children’s author)
90. Bryan Adams (singer, songwriter)
This is an Article on The Greatest Canadian. Page Contains Information, Facts Details or Explanation Guide About The Greatest Canadian Top 10
Advocates
Top 50
12. Jean Vanier (humanitarian, founder of L'Arche, author)
13. Stompin' Tom Connors (singer, songwriter)
14. Neil Young (singer, guitarist, organist)
15. Peter Gzowski (broadcaster, writer, reporter)
16. Roméo Dallaire (general, humanitarian, author)
17. Stephen Lewis (politician, broadcaster, diplomat)
18. Shania Twain (singer, songwriter)
19. Bobby Orr (ice hockey player)
20. Mike Myers (actor, comedian, writer, producer)
22. Harold A. Rogers (founder of Kin Canada)
23. Maurice Richard (professional ice hockey player)
24. Sir Arthur Currie (commander, general)
25. Nellie McClung (feminist, social activist)
26. Dr. Norman Bethune (physician, medical innovator, humanitarian)
27. Céline Dion (vocalist)
28. Sir Isaac Brock (major-general)
30. Rick Hansen (parapalegic athlete, humanitarian)
31. Pierre Berton (author, television personality)
32. Michael J. Fox (actor)
33. Gordon Lightfoot (folk singer, composer, lyricist)
34. Hal Anderson (broadcaster)
35. Laura Secord (heroine)
36. Ernie Coombs (children's entertainer)
37. Tecumseh (native american leader)
39. Bret Hart (professional wrestler)
40. Avril Lavigne (singer, songwriter)
41. John Candy (comedian, actor)
42. Sir Sandford Fleming (engineer, inventor)
43. Sir Wilfrid Laurier (prime minister)
44. Mary Maxwell (Baha'i follower)
45. Jean Chrétien (prime minister)
46. Leonard Cohen (poet, novelist, folk singer/songwriter)
47. John George Diefenbaker (prime minister)
48. Billy Bishop (flying ace)
50. Rick Mercer (comedian)The Next 50
cbc.ca also published the next 50, although they did not appear on the show.
51. Pamela Anderson (television actress, model, producer)
52. Craig Kielburger (children’s rights activist)
53. Gordie Howe (hockey player)
54. William Stephenson (soldier, airman, businessman, inventor, spymaster, intelligence representative)
56. William Shatner (actor, writer)
57. Lucy Maud Montgomery (author)
58. Paul Henderson (ice hockey player)
59. Tim Horton (hockey player, founder of the Tim Hortons donut chain)
60. Stan Rogers (folk musician, composer)
61. Sir William Edmond Logan (geologist)
62. Marshall McLuhan (educator, academic, philosopher)
63. Roberta Bondar (astronaut)
64. Brian Mulroney (prime minister)
65. Burton Cummings (musician)
66. Sheila Fraser (auditor general)
68. Jean Béliveau (professional ice hockey player)
69. René Lévesque (reporter, founder of the Parti Quebecois, prime minister of Quebec)
70. James Naismith (inventor of basketball)
71. Margaret Atwood (novelist, poet, literary critic, author)
72. Senator Anne C. Cools (senator)
73. David Thompson (surveyor, explorer)
74. Emily Murphy (women’s rights activist)
75. Sarah McLachlan (musician, singer)
76. John McCrae (poet, doctor)
77. Dr. Charles Best (medical scientist)
79. Ed Belfour (NHL goalie)
80. Chief Dan George (actor)
81. Sandra Schmirler (curler)
82. Dan Aykroyd (comedian, actor, screenwriter)
83. Elijah Harper (politician, band chief)
84. Kurt Browning (figure skater)
85. Emily Carr (artist, writer)
86. Mike Weir (professional golfer)
87. Dr. Henry Morgentaler (abortionist)
88. Farley Mowat (novelist, non-fiction author)
89. Donovan Bailey (athlete)
91. Preston Manning (politician, first leader of the Reform Party)
92. John Molson (brewer, entrepreneur)
93. Joni Mitchell (musician, painter)
94. Anne Murray (singer)
95. Lord Stanley (governor general)
96. Geddy Lee (musician, vocalist, bassist, keyboardist)
97. Louise Arbour (jurist)
98. Mordecai Richler (author, scriptwriter, essayist)
99. Sam Steele (member of the northwest mounted police)
100. J. S. Woodsworth (pioneer of the social democratic movement)External links
Other Great People
100 Greatest Britons, Unsere Besten, De Grootste Nederlander, Great South Africans, and Suuret Suomalaiset.