Who is your favorite Canadian? For me, it’s always been Terry Fox. Most of us would take a whole year to plan a marathon run, training every day for it. Well, Terry ran a marathon every day for the cure of cancer. This alone would be extraordinary, but Terry had another hurdle: he had only one leg due to cancer. He faced adversity every day and battled the elements. In my opinion, he embodies what Canada strives to be: a heroic and noble nation.
The Greatest Canadian
Back in the winter of 2004, the CBC brought us the series “The Greatest Canadian.” It was basically like “American Idol” but instead of wannabe singers, it was Canada’s greats. Each week, the CBC aired an episode dedicated to one of the top ten candidates, with an advocate defending why we should choose their candidate as the greatest Canadian.
Here’s the top ten list, with a little about each:
- Pierre Trudeau – The charismatic Trudeau, armed with great intelligence, remained in power for nearly 16 years. He promoted bilingualism, fought separatism, and created the Canadian Constitution and Charter of Rights.
- David Suzuki – Known as the host of CBC’s “The Nature of Things,” he’s an author of over 20 books and a passionate environmental guru for two generations.
- Lester B. Pearson – As prime minister, he oversaw the Canadian Pension Plan, national medicare, the maple leaf flag, and won a Nobel Peace Prize in 1956.
- Sir John A. Macdonald – Our first prime minister and founding father, who united French and English to build the Canadian Pacific Railway.
- Wayne Gretzky – The greatest scorer in NHL history, with over 4 dozen records and nearly 3000 points. He’s a role model for his charity work.
- Terry Fox – On April 12, 1980, he began the Marathon of Hope. He ran 5,376 km and raised $24.7 million for cancer research before stopping due to chest pain. He passed away on June 28, 1981, but his legacy lives on.
- Tommy Douglas – In 40 years of politics, he devoted himself to social causes. He’s known as the father of Medicare.
- Don Cherry – Starting as a hockey player, then a successful NHL coach, he became a beloved (and controversial) commentator on “Hockey Night in Canada.”
- Alexander Graham Bell – On March 10, 1876, he transmitted the first words via telegraph: “Mr. Watson, come here, I need you.” He went on to form the Bell Telephone Company.
- Frederick Banting – Discovered insulin, bringing hope to diabetics worldwide. He earned a knighthood and Canada’s first Nobel Prize in medicine.
The winner? After much anticipation, Tommy Douglas took the crown as the Greatest Canadian.
Even today, these figures continue to shape our national identity. Who stands out to you?
Topic Summary: Who is your favorite Canadian? For me, it’s always been Terry Fox. Most of us would take a whole year to plan a marathon run, training every day for it.
Topic Overview (Wikipedia):
The Greatest Canadian is a 2004 television series consisting of 13 episodes produced by the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (CBC) to identify one greatest Canadian of all time, according to those who watched and participated in the program.
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Great list! I remember watching that series when it aired. It really sparked some heated debates at my dinner table. My vote went to Terry Fox too – his determination is unmatched. But I’ve always been fascinated by Tommy Douglas’s win. Medicare is such a cornerstone of Canadian identity, and it’s amazing to think how a politician from Saskatchewan shaped the entire country’s healthcare system.
Looking back from 2026, I think the series did a fantastic job of highlighting figures who might otherwise be overlooked. For instance, Frederick Banting’s discovery of insulin has saved millions of lives, and yet he’s not a household name like Gretzky or Trudeau. It’s interesting how Don Cherry made the list – he’s undeniably a character, but his inclusion felt like a nod to hockey culture rather than lasting impact.
Do you think the list would change if they did it today? Maybe someone like Roberta Bondar or Chris Hadfield would make the cut. Or perhaps the conversation around Indigenous leaders like Elijah Harper would push them in. The criteria for “greatness” is so subjective, but that’s what makes these discussions valuable.
Terry Fox’s Marathon of Hope is still a huge event in schools every year – I participated in Terry Fox Runs all through elementary. His legacy is more alive than ever, with over $800 million raised globally. So my vote remains with him.
I appreciate the thoughtful back-and-forth here. MapleLeafFan, you make an excellent point about how criteria for “greatest” shift over time. The original CBC series was very much a product of 2004 – it leaned heavily on nation-building figures and pop culture icons. Tommy Douglas winning made perfect sense given that medicare is arguably the single most defining public policy we have, but Terry Fox’s enduring resonance shows that greatness isn’t always about legislation.
What’s interesting is how the mindmap of the top ten, if you look at the structure, groups Douglas and Fox as the top two, with Gretzky, Macdonald, Pearson, and Trudeau forming a second tier of political/sports legends, then Suzuki, Cherry, Bell, and Banting rounding it out. That hierarchy feels intuitive – the fathers of healthcare and the symbol of selfless perseverance outrank the inventors and entertainers when “greatness” is measured by impact on everyday Canadian lives.
I’ve watched the Terry Fox Story documentary, and what strikes me is how his run was never about being a celebrity. He was shy, stubborn, and driven by a single goal. The Marathon of Hope raised $24.7 million during his lifetime, but the foundation he inspired has now surpassed $900 million globally. That’s a legacy that keeps compounding, unlike a political career that ends when you leave office. Douglas gave us medicare, but Fox gave us an ongoing movement.
The Wikipedia article on The Greatest Canadian points out the controversy around Don Cherry’s inclusion – a nod to hockey’s cultural weight, sure, but it also reveals how the series balanced substantive contributions with pop appeal. If they redid the list today, I’d bet we’d see more diversity: Indigenous leaders like Elijah Harper or Murray Sinclair, scientists like Donna Strickland, or astronauts like Chris Hadfield. But I think Terry Fox and Tommy Douglas would still duke it out for top spot. They represent two sides of the same coin – institutional change through politics versus grassroots inspiration through personal sacrifice. Both are essential to understanding who we are.
Topic Overview (Wikipedia):
YouTube Video:
Official Documentation & Reference Links: