Kickass Canadians
Top-Notch Canucks
Michael McGowan, filmmaker-writer-runner-jack of all trades
“If the work reaches an audience and is successful, there’s a ton of people who have played a part in that… I think it’s delusional to think that your success is solely a result of yourself.”
Learn to kick ass likeMichael McGowan
Dr. David Suzuki, environmentalist-scientist-educator-grandfather
“I don’t think you can talk about environmental issues without talking about issues of how we treat each other.”
Get inspired byDr. David Suzuki
Matthew Edison, actor-writer
“I got a lot of deeply moving, personal stories from people… It was amazing the ripple effect that I realized you could have by making a piece of art.”
Gain insight fromMatthew Edison Listen
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