Best Canadian

Jeff Wall is a contemporary photographer who creates meticulously staged scenes presented as large format photographs. His work, often employing backlit transparencies, elevates conceptual photography to an artistic level. He’s recognized for his detailed narratives and cinematic approach, attractin...

J. Richard Bond is a Canadian theoretical cosmologist and professor at the University of Toronto. He has contributed to the understanding of the cosmic microwave background (CMB) radiation, structure formation in the universe, and theoretical cosmology more broadly. He served as director of the Cana...

The Oscar Peterson Trio was the principal small-group format used by Canadian jazz pianist Oscar Peterson during much of his career. A notable 1950s lineup paired Peterson with guitarist Herb Ellis and bassist Ray Brown; after Ellis left, drummer Ed Thigpen joined Peterson and Brown, creating a pian...

Alfred Aho is a Canadian computer scientist and professor at Columbia University, widely recognized for his foundational work in algorithms and programming languages. During his time at Bell Labs, he co-created the AWK text processing language and invented the Aho-Corasick algorithm for efficient mu...

Richard Sutton is an American-Canadian computer scientist and professor at the University of Alberta, recognized as a foundational figure in reinforcement learning. He co-authored the standard textbook on the subject with Andrew Barto, which has served as the primary educational resource for researc...

Norman L. Bowen (1887–1956) was a Canadian geologist whose experimental work established the foundational principles of igneous petrology. Conducting research at the Geophysical Laboratory in Washington, D.C., he developed Bowen's reaction series in the 1920s. This framework describes the specific s...

Released in 1981, 'Moving Pictures' is the eighth studio album by the Canadian rock band Rush. The record represents the band's commercial peak, successfully distilling their complex progressive rock style into more concise, radio-friendly hard rock compositions. It features some of their most recog...

Frederic Back’s 1987 animated short film, *The Man Who Planted Trees*, tells the story of a solitary figure dedicating his life to reforestation in the Italian Alps. Adapted from Jean Giono's fable, it is notable for its beautiful animation and impactful message about perseverance and environmental...

Gilles Villeneuve was a Canadian Formula One driver primarily associated with Ferrari during the 1970s and early 1980s. His dynamic driving style, characterized by speed and daring maneuvers, earned him considerable respect within the racing community. He achieved six race victories and consistently...

"Mon Oncle Antoine" is a 1971 French-Canadian drama film directed by Claude Jutra. Set in a rural Quebec asbestos mining town during the 1940s, the film follows a young boy coming of age while working at a general store. It is widely regarded by critics and filmmakers as one of the greatest Canadian...

Dai Vernon was a prominent Canadian magician renowned for his innovative card techniques and elegant close-up performances. His meticulous approach to sleight-of-hand significantly impacted the development of modern magic. He is particularly appreciated by magicians studying classic methods and thos...

Neil Young is a Canadian-American singer-songwriter born in Toronto in 1945, a prolific rock and folk artist often called the 'Godfather of Grunge' whose career spans over five decades and includes landmark albums Harvest (1972) and Rust Never Sleeps (1979).

"Autobiography of Red" is a verse novel by Canadian poet Anne Carson, published in 1998. The narrative reimagines the ancient Greek myth of Herakles and the monster Geryon, originally detailed in the fragmented poem "Geryoneis" by Stesichorus. Carson transposes the classical story into a modern, rea...

Girl Drink Drunk is a sketch from the Canadian comedy series The Kids in the Hall, featuring Dave Foley as a businessman named Hank who gradually descends into alcoholism. The sketch traces his progression from casually ordering sweet cocktails at business lunches to experiencing full withdrawal sym...

You Forgot It in People is the second studio album by Toronto collective Broken Social Scene, released in 2002. Built by a large group of musicians associated with the city's independent music community, it moves between layered guitar rock, electronic textures, orchestral arrangements, and quieter...

Lawrence Morley was a Canadian geophysicist whose 1963 work on marine magnetic anomalies provided crucial evidence for seafloor spreading and plate tectonics.

Leonard Cohen was a Canadian poet, novelist, and singer-songwriter born in Montreal in 1934, internationally acclaimed for his literary songwriting on albums including Songs of Leonard Cohen (1967) and the widely covered song 'Hallelujah' (1984).

James Peebles is a prominent physicist specializing in cosmology. His groundbreaking work focuses on interpreting observations of the cosmic microwave background radiation and developing theories about the early universe’s evolution. He has made significant contributions to understanding dark matter...

The Canadian National Vimy Memorial stands in France as a poignant tribute to Canadian soldiers who participated in the pivotal 1917 Battle of Vimy Ridge during World War I. Located on the battlefield itself, it commemorates their bravery and sacrifice. The memorial serves as a place for remembrance...

The Daves I Know is a Kids in the Hall musical sketch in which Bruce McCulloch sings about acquaintances named Dave in the Canadian series.

Frédéric Back was a French-born Canadian animator and illustrator who produced highly influential animated films while working at Radio-Canada. He won the Academy Award for Best Animated Short Film twice, first for "Crac!" in 1981 and again for "The Man Who Planted Trees" in 1987. His animation styl...

Hemispheres is the sixth studio album by the Canadian rock band Rush, released in 1978. The record opens with the 18-minute title track suite, which serves as the direct narrative conclusion to the 'Cygnus X-1' storyline established on their previous album. The second side of the original vinyl LP c...

Rob Pike is a Canadian computer scientist who has made major contributions to operating systems, software design, and programming languages. During his time at Bell Labs, he was a core contributor to the Unix operating system and co-created the Plan 9 and Inferno operating systems. He is also credit...

The Vimy Ridge Memorial stands in France as a permanent tribute to Canadian soldiers who fought during the Battle of Vimy Ridge in World War I. Constructed primarily from limestone by Walter Seymour Allward, it honors those killed or missing in action and serves as a focal point for remembrance. It...

These Are the Daves I Know is Bruce McCulloch's Kids in the Hall song cataloguing men named Dave, including one he admits he hardly knows.

Charles G. Drake (1920-1998) was a Canadian neurosurgeon associated with the University of Western Ontario in London, Ontario. He became known for developing operative approaches to aneurysms of the vertebrobasilar circulation, lesions located deep near the brainstem that had previously been conside...

Alice Munro is a celebrated contemporary Canadian novelist renowned for her exceptionally detailed short stories. Her work explores the complexities of human relationships and small-town lives with profound psychological insight. She garnered international acclaim and the Nobel Prize in Literature r...

Les Sept Doigts de la Main is a Canadian theatrical circus company originating from Montreal. Established in 2002 by ex-Cirque du Soleil performers, they create distinctive contemporary shows that blend acrobatics with storytelling. Their productions are noted for their intimate scale and narrative...

Schitt’s Creek is a television series centered on the dysfunctional Rose family following their financial ruin. The show gained recognition for its witty writing and character development exploring themes of family relationships and adapting to unexpected circumstances. It was created by a former ch...