Exploration & Nation Building

· Samuel de Champlain (c. 1574–1635) — French explorer and founder of Québec City who played a central role in establishing New France.

· Alexander Mackenzie (1764–1820) — Explorer who completed the first recorded crossing of North America north of Mexico to the Pacific by a European.

· David Thompson (1770–1857) — Explorer, surveyor, and cartographer who mapped enormous areas of North America with remarkable accuracy.

Literature & Culture

· Margaret Atwood (born 1939) — Internationally celebrated novelist, poet, and author of The Handmaid’s Tale.

· Alice Munro (1931–2024) — Nobel Prize-winning writer regarded as one of the modern masters of the short story.

· Leonard Cohen (1934–2016) — Influential poet, novelist, songwriter, and musician whose work achieved global recognition.

Science & Innovation

· Sir Frederick Banting (1891–1941) — Co-discoverer of insulin, one of the most important medical breakthroughs of the 20th century.

· Charles Best (1899–1978) — Medical scientist who worked with Banting in the discovery and development of insulin.

· Donna Strickland (born 1959) — Nobel Prize-winning physicist whose research transformed high-intensity laser technology.

· James Naismith (1861–1939) — Canadian educator and inventor of basketball.

Arts & Creativity

· Emily Carr (1871–1945) — Influential painter and writer inspired by the landscapes and Indigenous cultures of the Pacific Northwest.

· Norval Morrisseau (1932–2007) — Groundbreaking Anishinaabe artist who established the distinctive Woodland School of art.

· Denis Villeneuve (born 1967) — Internationally acclaimed filmmaker known for works including Arrival, Blade Runner 2049, and Dune.

Music & Entertainment

· Céline Dion (born 1968) — Quebec-born singer and one of the most internationally successful recording artists in history.

· Joni Mitchell (born 1943) — Influential singer-songwriter whose music transformed modern folk, rock, and jazz.

· James Cameron (born 1954) — Filmmaker and explorer known for directing Titanic and Avatar and advancing cinematic technology.

Politics, Rights & Public Leadership

· Lester B. Pearson (1897–1972) — Prime minister, diplomat, and Nobel Peace Prize recipient associated with the development of modern peacekeeping.

· Viola Desmond (1914–1965) — Civil-rights pioneer who challenged racial segregation in Nova Scotia.

· Murray Sinclair (1951–2024) — First Nations judge and senator who chaired the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada.

· Terry Fox (1958–1981) — Athlete and humanitarian whose Marathon of Hope inspired cancer research campaigns around the world.