John Cabot
Italian immigrant to England, first to map Canada's Atlantic shore (1497)
Set foot on Newfoundland, claimed New Founde Land for England
Jacques Cartier
French explorer who made three voyages (1534-1542)
First European to explore St. Lawrence River, heard word 'kanata'
Samuel de Champlain
French explorer and founder of Quebec City (1608)
Built fortress at Quebec City, allied with Algonquin and Huron
Count Frontenac
Governor of New France, defender of Quebec
Refused to surrender Quebec to English in 1690
Sir Isaac Brock
Major-General who captured Detroit in War of 1812
Killed defending Queenston Heights, Canadian war hero
Chief Tecumseh
Shawnee leader who supported British in War of 1812
Led First Nations in Canada's defence against American invasion
Laura Secord
Pioneer wife and mother who warned of American attack (1813)
Made dangerous 19-mile journey to warn Lieutenant FitzGibbon
Louis Riel
Métis leader who led armed uprisings (1869, 1885)
Defender of Métis rights, father of Manitoba, executed for treason
Sir John A. Macdonald
Canada's first Prime Minister (1867-1873, 1878-1891)
Father of Confederation, portrait on $10 bill, January 11 is his day
Sir George-Étienne Cartier
Key architect of Confederation from Quebec
Led Quebec into Confederation, helped negotiate western expansion
Sir Louis-Hippolyte La Fontaine
Champion of French language rights and democracy
First head of responsible government in Canada (1849)
Robert Baldwin
Reformer who worked toward responsible government
Worked with La Fontaine to establish responsible government
Joseph Howe
Nova Scotia reformer and journalist
Worked toward responsible government in Nova Scotia
Sir Wilfrid Laurier
7th Prime Minister (1896-1911), first French-Canadian PM
Encouraged western immigration, portrait on $5 bill
John Diefenbaker
13th Prime Minister (1957-1963)
Famous quote about Canadian freedom and heritage
Sir Robert Borden
Prime Minister during WWI
Gave women the right to vote in federal elections (1917)
Sir Arthur Currie
Canada's greatest soldier, led Canadian Corps in WWI
Commanded in last hundred days, Battle of Amiens
Sir Sam Steele
Great frontier hero, Mounted Policeman
Colourful hero from ranks of the Mounties
Lieutenant Colonel John Graves Simcoe
Upper Canada's first Lieutenant Governor
Founded Toronto, first to move toward abolishing slavery
Alexander Roberts Dunn
Born in Toronto, served in British Army
First Canadian awarded Victoria Cross (Crimean War, 1854)
William Hall
Able Seaman from Nova Scotia
First black man awarded Victoria Cross (1857)
Billy Bishop
Flying ace from Owen Sound, Ontario
Earned Victoria Cross in WWI, later Air Marshal
Paul Triquet
Captain from Quebec
Earned Victoria Cross at Casa Berardi, Italy (1943)
Alexander Graham Bell
Inventor of the telephone
Hit on idea of telephone at his summer house in Canada
Sir Frederick Banting & Charles Best
Medical researchers from Toronto
Discovered insulin, saved 16 million lives worldwide
Joseph-Armand Bombardier
Quebec inventor
Invented the snowmobile, light-weight winter vehicle
Sir Sandford Fleming
Engineer and inventor
Invented worldwide system of standard time zones
Matthew Evans & Henry Woodward
Canadian inventors
Invented first electric light bulb, sold patent to Edison
Reginald Fessenden
Radio pioneer
Sent first wireless voice message in the world
Dr. Wilder Penfield
Brain surgeon at McGill University
Known as 'the greatest living Canadian'
Dr. John A. Hopps
Medical inventor
Invented first cardiac pacemaker
Mike Lazaridis & Jim Balsillie
Co-founders of Research in Motion (RIM)
Invented the BlackBerry wireless device
Group of Seven
Founded 1920, developed Canadian painting style
Captured rugged wilderness landscapes
Emily Carr
West Coast painter
Painted forests and Aboriginal artifacts
Jean-Paul Riopelle
Quebec abstract artist
Pioneer of modern abstract art in 1950s
Tom Thomson
Painter, precursor to Group of Seven
Famous for 'The Jack Pine' painting
Kenojuak Ashevak
Inuit artist
Pioneered modern Inuit art with etchings and sculptures
Louis-Philippe Hébert
Quebec sculptor
Celebrated sculptor of historical figures
Stephen Leacock
Humorist and writer
Significant contribution to Canadian literature
Robertson Davies
Novelist and playwright
Major figure in Canadian literature
Margaret Laurence
Novelist
Important Canadian writer
Mordecai Richler
Novelist
Significant Canadian literary figure
Terry Fox
British Columbian who lost leg to cancer at 18
Marathon of Hope cross-country run for cancer research
Rick Hansen
British Columbian wheelchair athlete
Circled globe in wheelchair (1985) for spinal cord research
Wayne Gretzky
Hockey player, Edmonton Oilers (1979-1988)
One of greatest hockey players of all time
Donovan Bailey
Sprinter
World record sprinter, double Olympic gold medallist (1996)
Chantal Petitclerc
Wheelchair racer
World champion wheelchair racer, Paralympic gold medallist
Mark Tewksbury
Swimmer
Olympic gold medallist, prominent LGBTQ+ activist
Paul Henderson
Hockey player
Scored winning goal in 1972 Canada-Soviet Summit Series
Catriona Le May Doan
Speed skater
Gold medallist at 2002 Olympic Winter Games
Phil Edwards
Track and field champion
Won bronze medals in 1928, 1932, 1936 Olympics
James Naismith
Canadian physical educator
Invented basketball in 1891
John Buchan (1st Baron Tweedsmuir)
Governor General (1935-1940)
Promoted unity in diversity, popular Governor General
Vincent Massey
18th Governor General
First Canadian-born Governor General
Roland Michener
20th Governor General
Presented Order of Canada to Oscar Peterson
Adrienne Clarkson
26th Governor General
First of Asian origin, established Clarkson Cup
David Johnston
28th Governor General
Governor General since Confederation
- • Know why each person is significant
- • Remember key dates and events
- • Understand their contribution to Canada
- • Connect names to specific achievements
- • Study both English and French-Canadian figures
- • Remember military heroes and their battles