Kickass Canadians
Top-Notch Canucks
Yiorgos Boudouris, community leader-communicator-Acts of Greatness founder
“Sometimes leadership is just showing up and being yourself; if you’re being yourself in an environment that doesn’t support who you are, that’s an act of greatness.”
Learn to kick ass likeYiorgos Boudouris
Kathleen Edwards, singer-songwriter-businesswoman-badass coffee slinger
“I have to listen to myself more than to what’s happening around me. That’s the most important thing.”
Gain insight fromKathleen Edwards
Jillian Keiley, Artistic Fraud of Newfoundland founder-National Arts Centre English Theatre artistic director (2012–2022)
“If I could make Canadians understand how important and how good their culture is, I could die happy.”
Get inspired byJillian Keiley
A–I
- Baker, Rob · musician-songwriter
- Bartlett, Jon · music lover-community builder-Kelp Records founder
- Batty, Gordon “Red” · Green Bay Packers equipment manager
- Beckta, Stephen · leader-sommelier-curator of fine dining
- Benson, Susan · designer-painter
- Bernardin, Richard · photographer-storyteller
- Bland, Cynthia · survivor-steward of children-founder of Voice Found
- Bonsu, Amma · catalyst-storyteller-powerhouse
- Boudouris, Yiorgos · community leader-communicator-Acts of Greatness founder
- Bryson, Jim · folk singer-songwriter-Kelp Records mainstay
- Campbell, Don R. · real estate advisor-investor-author
- Campbell, Lorraine Elizabeth · mother-early childhood educator-community leader
- Case, Stephanie · humanitarian-lawyer-runner-conqueror
- Charron, Al · Canadian rugby icon
- Chen, Emily · designer
- Chisholm, Scott · first responder-changemaker-Collateral Damage founder
- Cohen, Rob · filmmaker-comedy writer-nerd
- Collishaw, Neil · driving force-Research Director at Physicians for a Smoke-Free Canada
- Coulter, Lindsay · David Suzuki's Queen of Green (2008–2020)
- D’Arcy, Dr. Ryan · neuroscientist-inventor-healer
- Demarbre, Lee · movie aficionado
- Donaldson, Christopher · film & television editor
- Doyle, Alan · singer-actor-writer-volunteer-icon-risk taker-boy on bridge
- Drury, Julie · mother-medical advocate-superhero
- Edison, Matthew · actor-writer
- Edwards, Kathleen · singer-songwriter-businesswoman-badass coffee slinger
- Esther the Wonder Pig · animal rights activist-ambassador for change
- Fedeski, Tina · musician-teacher-philanthropist-virtuoso human being
- Finlayson, Miles · filmmaker
- Furey, Dr. Andrew · surgeon-educator-leader-healer
- Gilbert, Glenroy · coach-athlete-champion-team player
- Goheen, John · principal-Pilgrimage of Remembrance guide
- Grant, Jen · comedian
- Gray, Colin Keith · filmmaker
- Groves, Kristina · athlete-dreamer-workhorse
- Hadfield, Col. Chris · astronaut-educator-explorer-musician-engineer-reality star
- Hann, Norm · teacher-adventurer-activist
- Harris, Colin · outdoor educator-motivator-Take Me Outside founder
- Harrison, Teva · artist-writer-cartoonist-student of nature-beam of light
- Hawco, Allan · actor-writer-producer-creative force
- Hein, David · writer-performer-musician-storyteller
- Hodkinson, Ian & Jill · artists
- Hreljac, Ryan · founder of Ryan's Well Foundation
- Hudecki, Sam · storyboard artist-concept designer-dream illustrator
- Hughes, Clara · humanitarian-adventurer-athlete-nature lover
- Ishikawa, Kinya · potter-1001 Pots founder
J–R
- Jansen, Alex · producer-publisher
- Jenkins, Steve · animal rights activist-ambassador for change-real estate agent
- Jones, Perianne · cross-country skier-outdoor champion-community builder
- Jordan, Steve · music lover-Polaris Music Prize founder
- Keiley, Jillian · Artistic Fraud of Newfoundland founder-National Arts Centre English Theatre artistic director (2012–2022)
- Khan, Attiya · survivor-filmmaker-counsellor-healer
- King, Andrew · painter-cartoonist
- Klausener, Rolf · ARBORETUM founder-The Acorn frontman-Kelp Records mainstay
- Leclerc, Trevor John · teacher-spokesman-politician-survivor
- Lewis, Dr. Daurene · nurse-educator-politician-catalyst
- Lewis, Richard J. · filmmaker-househusband
- Lewis-Crudgington, Elizabeth · Quest Food Exchange executive director
- Loutitt, Shannon · honour runner
- MacDonald, Ann-Marie · writer-actor-creator-feminist
- MacLennan, Rosannagh · trampolinist-champion
- Mackey, Clarke · filmmaker-teacher-mentor-provocateur
- Mader, Marianne · geologist-planetary scientist-tinkerer
- May, Elizabeth · activist-lawyer-pillar of strength-Green Party of Canada leader
- McAllister, Ian · conservationist-nature photographer-trailblazer-Pacific Wild founder
- McConvey, Joel · filmmaker-visionary
- McGowan, Michael · filmmaker-writer-runner-jack of all trades
- Michaels, Sean · writer-inventor-music lover
- Moccio, Stephan · composer-songwriter-producer-musician
- Moir, Scott · figure skater-champion-icon-great person
- Mok, Liz · Moo Shu Ice Cream & Kitchen owner-ideator
- Morrison, Geoff · filmmaker-visionary
- Morton, Alexandra · biologist-wild salmon activist
- Moscovitch, Hannah · playwright-sensation
- Naked, Bif · spokeswoman-survivor-writer-performer-rockstar human being
- Newman, Kevin · journalist-storyteller-digital media advisor
- Nicklen, Paul · wildlife photographer-protector-preserver
- Nolan, Carrie · educator-canoeist-dream realizer
- Noth, Ryan J. · filmmaker-visionary
- Nutt, Dr. Samantha · humanitarian-author-mother-medical doctor-War Child Canada founder
- Parnell, Martin · quest seeker-sport lover-motivational speaker-Right To Play advocate
- Peachy, Jay · artist-activist-mental health advocate
- Penny, Blaine · athlete-advocate-engineer-father-guardian angel
- Power, Jonathon · squash legend-coach-humanitarian-game changer
- Puddester, Dr. Derek · psychiatrist-author-health ambassador-conduit of joy
- Putz, Amanda · CBC Radio host
- Raffan, James · canoeist-adventurer-geographer-storyteller-rambler
- Ramchandani, Dr. Rohit · public health thought leader-instigator of global change
- Raney Aarons, Megan · filmmaker
- Rogers, Shelagh · CBC Radio host-storyteller-healer
S–Z
- Sankoff, Irene · writer-performer-musician-storyteller
- Saucier, Dr. Deborah · neuroscientist
- Simon, Savannah · motivational speaker-entrepreneur
- Smith, Doug · author-motivational speaker
- Smith, Henry · video game developer-wizard
- Steeves, Ryan · lawyer-mentor
- Stewart, Anita · culinary adventurer
- Stochansky, Andy · singer-songwriter
- Suzuki, Dr. David · environmentalist-scientist-educator-grandfather
- Teevens, Cindy · author-speaker-teacher-facilitator
- Thompson, Dr. Niobe · documentary filmmaker-anthropologist-environmentalist
- Thompson, Gavin · Boom! Savings! charity shopper-statistician-Canadian ultimate mainstay
- Tobolowska, Margaret · musician-teacher-philanthropist-virtuoso human being
- Valberg, Michelle · photographer-philanthropist-visionary
- Van Horn, Tim · Canadian Mosaic founder
- Van Oldenbarneveld, Lucy · host-journalist-storyteller-force of nature
- Vandenberg, Saidat · children’s entertainer-youth mental health advocate
- Vasil, Adria · ecoholic-environmentalist-human rights advocate-game changer
- Vermette, Patrice · production designer
- Vickers, Roy Henry · artist-teacher-healer-visionary-leader
- Villeneuve, Denis · filmmaker-artist
- Vincent, Andrew · writer-indie music darling-Kelp Records mainstay
- Virtue, Tessa · figure skater-champion-icon-great person
- Walker, Alyson · businesswoman-marketing machine-digital guru-sports advocate
- Walter, Derek · animal rights activist-ambassador for change-magician
- Weber, Richard · Arctic and polar explorer
- West, Matt · director-editor-creative powerhouse
- Wilson, Ben · musician-creative powerhouse
- Wilson, Emily · philanthropist
- Woodbridge, Rob · mobile business advisor
- Zahab, John & Ray · fitness trainer and impossible2Possible founder, ultrarunners