Top 10 Iconic Canadians

Script written by Matt Wende

Top 10 Canadian Citizens

These are some of the most influential Canucks to come out of the great white north. Welcome to WatchMojo.com, and today we’re counting down our picks for the top 10 iconic Canadians.

For this list, we’re looking at the most iconic Canadians in history – in terms of their influence and notoriety at home and abroad. The entries are ranked based on their overall accomplishments, as well as contributions to the country, and their embodiment of Canadian values. However, we’re excluding people like Alexander Graham Bell only lived in Canada for a short time and was technically a British Commonwealth citizen. Now let’s get started, eh?

#10: David Suzuki
1936 -

One of Canada’s most beautiful qualities is its vast natural landscape, and Canada is proud of the fact that one of the biggest names in the world to be associated with the fight for environmental conservation is that of a Canadian. Suzuki has worked tirelessly as an educator to fight for this cause, and has even brought his work to a wider audience thanks to the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation and PBS. More recently, he has become a fierce supporter of the fight against Climate Change, and strives towards making the world a more sustainable place.

#9: Tommy Douglas
1904 - 1986

What’s this? A politician that actually accomplished something?! As premier of the province of Saskatchewan, Tommy Douglas strived to give Canada one of its greatest gifts: Universal Health Care. He’s widely credited as being the father of Medicare in Canada. His work and vision would later be continued by fellow Canadians to become federal law, making healthcare a right for all Canadians. For his impact, in 1981, Douglas received the Order of Canada. Even decades after Douglas’ death, countless lives are still being improved thanks to a little fellow with an idea, and to thank him, in 2004, citizens of the country voted him “The Greatest Canadian.”

#8: Neil Young
1945 -

Young rose to international fame throughout the ‘60s and ‘70s with his crisp folk-rock sound and poetic, singer-songwriter lyrics. He first appeared as a founding member of the band Buffalo Springfield, and alter with the famed Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young. His music was reflective of the times of political turmoil, with tracks like “Ohio,” written in response to the National Guard’s shooting at Kent State University, but also indicative of more Canadian feelings and ideals, as head in “Helpless.” Today, Young is still performing, retaining his Canadian citizenship, and sticking to his political guns with his critique of Canadian politics, reminding us all to keep on rockin’ in the free world.

#7: Sir John A. Macdonald
1815 - 1891

Although Scottish born, John A. Macdonald was the first Canadian Prime Minister, and a driving force behind the foundation of the country. Serving as Prime Minister for 19 years, his political maneuvering and rousing sense of nationalism allowed him to bring together French and English speaking colonies to form a unified nation. He further helped to keep the country connected by getting the Canadian Pacific Railway underway. While criticized at the time for being an alcoholic womanizer, he is well remembered today for being one of the principle fathers of Canada.

#6: Céline Dion
1968 -

Canada has so many great singers for such a small population, from Bryan Adams to Shania Twain; but one voice undeniably stands out from the rest. By the age of 22, Dion was already a star in her home province of Quebec, having built an impressive francophone body of work. But that’s when she released her first Anglophone album, opening herself up to international audiences. In addition to her many accomplishments, Dion has won 5 Grammys, and is recognized around the world as one of the greatest singing talents ever. The heart of her music will indeed go on.

#5: Lester B. Pearson
1897 - 1972

A politician who did many valuable things during his career, Pearson achieved one of his greatest accomplishments in 1956, when as the Secretary of State for External Affairs, he successfully helped resolve the Suez Crisis, for which he received the Nobel Peace Prize. Later becoming Prime Minister, his minority Liberal government introduced student loans, kept Canada from entering the Vietnam War, abolished the death penalty, and federalized Tommy Douglas’ work by introducing Universal Health Care. As if that wasn’t enough, next time you think about how awesome Canada’s flag is, you can thank him for that too.

#4: Jim Carrey
1962 -

Sure, when it comes to Canadian comedians, Mike Myers is an obvious contender, but not many can compete with rubber-face himself. Carrey worked in stand-up and appeared on television before rising to stardom through classic roles like Ace Ventura, and Stanley Ipkiss in “The Mask.” Leaving his mark not only on Canada but also on the American film industry, he then showed us he could pull off a serious side of acting with “The Truman Show.” Not bad for a guy who grew up in poverty in Ontario.

#3: Terry Fox
1958 - 1981

A teen athlete who was diagnosed with cancer and ultimately had a leg amputated, Terry Fox is representative of the indomitable spirit of the Canadian people. With a positive outlook and impressed by the importance of medical research, Fox made the decision not to sulk but to raise money for cancer study by running across Canada on his prosthetic leg. When cancer struck again, he was forced to end the Marathon of Hope early, and he passed away a few months later. His memory lives on today, though, as every year the Terry Fox Run fundraises for cancer research. His courage and strength continues to inspire thousands afflicted by this disease all over the world.

#2: Pierre Elliott Trudeau
1919 - 2000

Hailed by many as one of the greatest Canadian Prime Ministers of all time, Trudeau is well recognized for his accomplishments, which include his response to the October Crisis of 1970 as well as his role in uniting Canada’s Two Solitudes. Successful at increasing Canada’s stance on the world stage as well thanks to his colorful persona, at home Trudeau succeeded in making Canada a legally bilingual country, saw to the patriation of the Canadian Constitution and established the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms. His status as a Canadian icon is firmly held due to his passion, his international diplomacy and quest for peace, as well as his no-B.S. attitude. Meanwhile, his son Justin continued the Trudeau political legacy after he became the country's 23rd Prime Minister in 2015.

Before we name our number one Canadian of all time, here are a few honorable mentions:
- Michael J. Fox
1961 -

- Leonard Cohen
1934 -

- Margaret Atwood
1939 -

- Lorne Michaels
1944 -

- James Cameron
1954 -

- Roméo Dallaire
1946 -

#1: Wayne Gretzky
1961 -

As hockey is Canada’s unofficial national pastime, the country’s spawned some phenomenal players, including Maurice Richard, aka “The Rocket.” However, only one ever earned the nickname The Great One. The man who wore number ninety-nine on the ice is hailed as the greatest hockey player of all time, and rightfully so. Still holding sixty NHL records even this long after his retirement in 1999, Gretzky is such an icon he was one of four Canadian athletes tasked with lighting the Olympic Cauldron at the 2010 Vancouver Winter Olympics. In fact, Gretzky has surpassed the status of icon, and is regarded as a living legend among Canadians today.

Do you agree with our list? Who do you think is Canada’s most influential icon? For more Top 10s about great citizens published everyday, subscribe to WatchMojo.com.