Your most iconic Canadian?

[JackBurton]

Terry Fox should have more than a statue in the winners parking lot in Thunder Bay. Kid was a hero, agreed.

I love history and I'm going to throw in Punch Dickinson. Canadas first real bush pilot. Dude flew 1,000,000 miles across uncharted territory across the arctic. All while figuring out how to navigate while his compass would go screwy being that close to the pole. Oh and he did it himself, alone in planes that wouldn't pass any safety regulations today. I've no idea how his balls fit in that cockpit. Helped open up the north for industry and bringing modern medicine to the out posts and settlements.

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Punch_Dickins

 

[RandyAndy2]

Somewhere around 10 years ago the CBC had their series, "The Greatest Canadian", with various celebrities being proponents for a list of nominees, and the audience could vote for their favourite. If I remember correctly the nominee list included:
- Sir John A. MacDonald
- Wayne Gretzky
- Terry Fox
- Tommy Douglas
- Don Cherry
- Lester Pearson
- ************ Trudeau
- Banting & Best
The winner was Tommy Douglas, father of our medicare system.

Yes, I know that several Terbites will use this post as an excuse to dump on the CBC, medicare, the list, etc. I think that the selection was fair, given the impact of the person on Canadian society.

 

[fuji]

I wasn't suggesting those people you mentioned weren't more recognizable, all I was saying is that Fuji was being an ignorant moron by suggesting that outside Canada, nobody knows who Terry Fox is. Even in communist Cuba, the Terry Fox run is huge.

It's a fact. Few people outside Canada know who he is. Some people know, particularly in the disabled community and those who fundraise for cancer, but relatively few Americans would name him if you asked them to make a list of well known Canadians.

I don't dispute his great achievement and status as an iconic Canadian within the country

 

[kherg007]

Yep ole Red was the iconic Canadian....in Australia back 25 years ago lol...he was on the ethnic broadcasting (SBS) lol...I loved the show...but I think average Aussies would have Celine Dion on their list too...we used to call her pre-titanic offerings as 'music for doormats' lol...but your politics were fascinating back then too...

 

[IM469]

I've narrowed it down to two iconic Canadians ...

 

[Timbit]

How about Alan Thicke - good Canadian boy, became a star here, went to the US to make more money, married a hot blonde and died on the hockey rink, playing shinny with his kid. How much more "iconic Canadian" can you get?

And yes, this was slightly tongue-in-cheek.

Timbit

 

[Indiana]

Mike Myers.

And he's proud to be Canadian.

 

[Insidious Von]

Since we are speaking tongue in cheek, how about Emilio Maschia.

A case can be made that Toronto FC, Montreal Impact and Vancouver Whitecaps owe their existence to his efforts. I still remember his CHCH TV Italianissimo program from the 70's which feature the second half of Serie A matches. Then he successfully lobbied the CBC to broadcast the 1982 World Cup, which became a major windfall for the national broadcaster.

Labatts used to sponsor the 45 minutes soccer feed, I still remember the slogan: "Una presentazione Labatts, Labatts orgolioso a offrire sempre e meglio".

 

[onthebottom]

Any that actually live in Canada ;-)

 

[MissCroft]

No mention of Leonard Cohen?

 

[Bopper2]

Tim Horton. He's everywhere, and millions of Canadians can't start their day without him.

 

[Mr Bret]

Tim Horton. He's everywhere, and millions of Canadians can't start their day without him.

Brilliant observation.

 

[oil&gas]

These are the iconic creatures of Canada.
They produce something everywhere near an
out-of-town location I visit every summer which
I have to avoid stepping on.

 

[mmouse]

Tim Horton. He's everywhere, and millions of Canadians can't start their day without him.

But he's not Canadian.

 

[kstanb]

This man... and he is not even Canadian

 

[desert monk]

I can't believe how many of you are saying Trudeau. I didn't realize there were that many stupid people here.

 

[oil&gas]

If a Canadian icon is one whose image people associate
with our country then the old Trudeau is easily more iconic
than nearly everyone one else on the list of great
Canadians at least to those who know our history.

With or without Terry Fox the world will still be running
marathon and a cure for cancer still remain elusive. Without
Trudeau Canada would be much different from what it is today.

 

[desert monk]

Without
Trudeau Canada would be much different from what it is today.

Similar to how China would be different if they didn't have chairman Mao, or Russia without Stalin.

 

[Mr Bret]

But he's not Canadian.

How do you figure that?
He was born in Ontario.

 

[|2 /-\ | /|/]

Alanis Morissette ....j/k obviously or I am :/

It's actually Chris Austin Hadfield and Jim Carrey.