Lightfoot made #33 of the Top 50 Greatest Canadians.
tomorrow should show the whole list of 50 and the Top 10 who will each have
a one hour show about them over the next 6 weeks. voting is after each
show - for any of the Top 10...Number 1 will be revealed on November 28.

> http://www.cbc.ca/greatest/

Lightfoot made #33 of the Top 50 Greatest Canadians.
tomorrow should show the whole list of 50 and the Top 10 who will each have
a one hour show about them over the next 6 weeks. voting is after each
show - for any of the Top 10...Number 1 will be revealed on November 28.

> http://www.cbc.ca/greatest/

quote:Originally posted by charlene:
Lightfoot made #33 of the Top 50 Greatest Canadians.
tomorrow should show the whole list of 50 and the Top 10 who will each have
a one hour show about them over the next 6 weeks. voting is after each
show - for any of the Top 10...Number 1 will be revealed on November 28.

> http://www.cbc.ca/greatest/

No 33? Not that high up the list, was he?
IMO, he should have made the top 10 at least. Shame on you, Canucks!

the CBC doesn't have their list up - they apparently will post the top 100...
So many of the top 50 should not be on this list. avril lavigne? hockey
players? ridiculous...jim carrey? what makes him a great canadian? just
because he was born here? then i should be on the list too! LOL!!! celine
dion - omigod! they are "famous" than "great"....

quite shameful that those sorts made it but it is really more of a
popularity contest and the top 10 really reflect for the most part what a
true great person, regardless of being canadian is all about. kicking out
about 6 or 7 in the top 40 would have moved gord up to about 26-27. Gord's
tree hugging friend Dr. David Suzuki made the top 10.
Char
the list of top 50 is here: http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servl...Entertainment/
Greatest Canadian list pared down

By STEPHEN STRAUSS
From Monday's Globe and Mail

Popular culture roared ahead, women lagged behind, but in the end Canadians decided the top 10 greatest Canadians included exemplars in science, technology, sport, politics, and most notably the Nobel Prize competition.

Last night the CBC unveiled The Top Ten Greatest Canadians as part of a series to anoint the greatest Canadian on November 28.

In the opening episode, host Wendy Mesley announced the top 10 contenders for the title, after whittling down the list from 50, those figures who got the most votes of the 140,000 submitted by the public last spring.

The top ten are: Medicare's father T.C. Douglas, hockey superstar Wayne Gretzky, the ever popular cranky TV personality hockey commentator Don Cherry, Canada's first prime minister Sir John A. Macdonald, one-legged runner Terry Fox, Nobelist and insulin co-discoverer Dr. Frederick Banting, prime minister and Nobel peace prize winner Lester Pearson, telephone inventor Alexander Graham Bell, TV science host and environmentalist Dr. David Suzuki and former PM Pierre Trudeau. If the top ten look like a group that most Canadians would nod their head in agreement, the 40 runners-up represented an eclectic and sometimes curious list whose appearance sometimes seemed to reflect the power of a motivated group vote. May Maxwell, the wife of the founder of the Ba'hai religion was number 44.

Beginning Monday night and continuing twice weekly until Nov. 28, CBC will telecast hour-long specials in which current celebrities have been tapped to advocate their assigned contender. Up first Monday night, for example, MuchMusic personality George Stroumboulopoulos will make the case for Tommy Douglas, the prairie politician and his championing of a national health system. On Monday, Nov. 29, the winner will be announced in a final special.

The list from the bottom:

50: TV comedian Rick Mercer

49: Prime Minister William Lyon McKenzie

48: First World War ace Billy Bishop

47: Prime Minister John Diefenbaker

46: Singer, poet Leonard Cohen

45: Prime Minister Jean Chrétien

44: May Maxwell

43 Prime Minister Sir Wilfred Laurier

42: Time zone inventor Sir Sanford Fleming

41: Actor Comedian John Candy

40: Singer Avril Lavigne

39: Wrestler Brett Hart

38: Hockey player Mario Lemieux

37: Native warrior Tecumseh

36: Ernie Coombs and his TV character Mr. Dressup.

35: War of 1812 heroine and candy box face Laura Secord

34: Winnipeg radio host Hal Anderson

33: Singer Gordon Lightfoot

32: Actor and Parkinson's disease activist Michael J. Fox

31: Writer, broadcaster Pierre Berton

30: Wheelchair athlete and fundraiser Rick Hansen

29: Actor and comedian Jim Carrey

28: 1812 war hero Sir Isaac Brock

27: Singer Celine Dion

26: Doctor and revolutionary Norman Bethune

25: Suffragette Nellie McClung

24: First World War General Arthur Curry

23: Hockey player Maurice "The Rocket" Richard

22: Kinsmen founder Hal Rogers

21: The Unknown Soldier

20: Comedian and actor Mike Myers

19: Hockey player Bobby Orr

18: Singer Shania Twain

17: Former NDP leader and Africa AIDS advocate Stephen Lewis

16: Rwanda massacre chronicler General Romeo Dallaire

15: CBC radio host and writer Peter Gzowski

14: Singer Neil Young

13: Singer Stomping Tom Connors

12: Humanitarian Jean Vanier, founder of the L'Arche movement

11: Métis leader and martyr Louis RielWith a report from Canadian Press

the CBC doesn't have their list up - they apparently will post the top 100...
So many of the top 50 should not be on this list. avril lavigne? hockey
players? ridiculous...jim carrey? what makes him a great canadian? just
because he was born here? then i should be on the list too! LOL!!! celine
dion - omigod! they are "famous" than "great"....

quite shameful that those sorts made it but it is really more of a
popularity contest and the top 10 really reflect for the most part what a
true great person, regardless of being canadian is all about. kicking out
about 6 or 7 in the top 40 would have moved gord up to about 26-27. Gord's
tree hugging friend Dr. David Suzuki made the top 10.
Char
the list of top 50 is here: http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servl...Entertainment/
Greatest Canadian list pared down

By STEPHEN STRAUSS
From Monday's Globe and Mail

Popular culture roared ahead, women lagged behind, but in the end Canadians decided the top 10 greatest Canadians included exemplars in science, technology, sport, politics, and most notably the Nobel Prize competition.

Last night the CBC unveiled The Top Ten Greatest Canadians as part of a series to anoint the greatest Canadian on November 28.

In the opening episode, host Wendy Mesley announced the top 10 contenders for the title, after whittling down the list from 50, those figures who got the most votes of the 140,000 submitted by the public last spring.

The top ten are: Medicare's father T.C. Douglas, hockey superstar Wayne Gretzky, the ever popular cranky TV personality hockey commentator Don Cherry, Canada's first prime minister Sir John A. Macdonald, one-legged runner Terry Fox, Nobelist and insulin co-discoverer Dr. Frederick Banting, prime minister and Nobel peace prize winner Lester Pearson, telephone inventor Alexander Graham Bell, TV science host and environmentalist Dr. David Suzuki and former PM Pierre Trudeau. If the top ten look like a group that most Canadians would nod their head in agreement, the 40 runners-up represented an eclectic and sometimes curious list whose appearance sometimes seemed to reflect the power of a motivated group vote. May Maxwell, the wife of the founder of the Ba'hai religion was number 44.

Beginning Monday night and continuing twice weekly until Nov. 28, CBC will telecast hour-long specials in which current celebrities have been tapped to advocate their assigned contender. Up first Monday night, for example, MuchMusic personality George Stroumboulopoulos will make the case for Tommy Douglas, the prairie politician and his championing of a national health system. On Monday, Nov. 29, the winner will be announced in a final special.

The list from the bottom:

50: TV comedian Rick Mercer

49: Prime Minister William Lyon McKenzie

48: First World War ace Billy Bishop

47: Prime Minister John Diefenbaker

46: Singer, poet Leonard Cohen

45: Prime Minister Jean Chrétien

44: May Maxwell

43 Prime Minister Sir Wilfred Laurier

42: Time zone inventor Sir Sanford Fleming

41: Actor Comedian John Candy

40: Singer Avril Lavigne

39: Wrestler Brett Hart

38: Hockey player Mario Lemieux

37: Native warrior Tecumseh

36: Ernie Coombs and his TV character Mr. Dressup.

35: War of 1812 heroine and candy box face Laura Secord

34: Winnipeg radio host Hal Anderson

33: Singer Gordon Lightfoot

32: Actor and Parkinson's disease activist Michael J. Fox

31: Writer, broadcaster Pierre Berton

30: Wheelchair athlete and fundraiser Rick Hansen

29: Actor and comedian Jim Carrey

28: 1812 war hero Sir Isaac Brock

27: Singer Celine Dion

26: Doctor and revolutionary Norman Bethune

25: Suffragette Nellie McClung

24: First World War General Arthur Curry

23: Hockey player Maurice "The Rocket" Richard

22: Kinsmen founder Hal Rogers

21: The Unknown Soldier

20: Comedian and actor Mike Myers

19: Hockey player Bobby Orr

18: Singer Shania Twain

17: Former NDP leader and Africa AIDS advocate Stephen Lewis

16: Rwanda massacre chronicler General Romeo Dallaire

15: CBC radio host and writer Peter Gzowski

14: Singer Neil Young

13: Singer Stomping Tom Connors

12: Humanitarian Jean Vanier, founder of the L'Arche movement

11: Métis leader and martyr Louis RielWith a report from Canadian Press

still, 33 out of 140,000 names submitted -- way to go! He's in some good company too...Neil Young, Terry Fox, Pierre Trudeau...


[This message has been edited by bjb (edited October 18, 2004).]

Shania Twain? At 18?? As for Jim Carrey he just became an American citizen. Sheesh!

Shania Twain? At 18?? As for Jim Carrey he just became an American citizen. Sheesh!

quote:Originally posted by Auburn Annie:
Shania Twain? At 18?? As for Jim Carrey he just became an American citizen. Sheesh!

Shania Twain! OMG - No. 18? For what?????
I had gone into a trauma over Celine Dion then I saw Twain's name. Geeeeeeez, it's a farce! How can I depict 'disgust' in emoticon style?

Jim Carrey and Michael Fox are dual citizens...
being famous doesn't make a person a great citizen...I think that Avril Lavigne anywhere on the list shows the insanity of it!
lol

Jim Carrey and Michael Fox are dual citizens...
being famous doesn't make a person a great citizen...I think that Avril Lavigne anywhere on the list shows the insanity of it!
lol

Please you guys. Not everyone is a lightfoot fan. Remember a lot of young folks are voting. I for one love Gordon lightfoot and yes he may deserve to be higher up than he is,but hey he is where he is. It is not fair to put down anyone on the list. I am 52 and have been a lightfoot fan since 1969, but i like a lot of music across the range. Infact Avril Lavigne deserves to be in list. she a great little singer and a credit to Canada. So come no sour grapes. Anyone on the list desrves to be there. this is great site..credit to you all.

Please you guys. Not everyone is a lightfoot fan. Remember a lot of young folks are voting. I for one love Gordon lightfoot and yes he may deserve to be higher up than he is,but hey he is where he is. It is not fair to put down anyone on the list. I am 52 and have been a lightfoot fan since 1969, but i like a lot of music across the range. Infact Avril Lavigne deserves to be in list. she a great little singer and a credit to Canada. So come no sour grapes. Anyone on the list desrves to be there. this is great site..credit to you all.

just my opinion of course, but the only reason i would put ANY celebrity musician or entertainer on this 'list' is because of their time or funds commitment to greater causes than entertaining us...as an example (there are many) people who i've worked with appreciate Twain's providing of funds to asisist in the feeding of hungry kids across North America, some celebs seem to do nothing at all

this CBC thing is just fun and it's 'who we like and appreciate' i suppose, kind alike that crazy CTV Idol thing...my one vote is a landslide winner, imo, is #21

but congrats GL http://www.corfid.com/ubb/smile.gif wish there was another hour show on him!

just my opinion of course, but the only reason i would put ANY celebrity musician or entertainer on this 'list' is because of their time or funds commitment to greater causes than entertaining us...as an example (there are many) people who i've worked with appreciate Twain's providing of funds to asisist in the feeding of hungry kids across North America, some celebs seem to do nothing at all

this CBC thing is just fun and it's 'who we like and appreciate' i suppose, kind alike that crazy CTV Idol thing...my one vote is a landslide winner, imo, is #21

but congrats GL http://www.corfid.com/ubb/smile.gif wish there was another hour show on him!

heh heh, yeah there is some crazy stuff and positioning on this chart isn't there...maybe if Cohen could write some deeper lyrics (like ones about skateboarding) he'd be up 7 more notches, lol

heh heh, yeah there is some crazy stuff and positioning on this chart isn't there...maybe if Cohen could write some deeper lyrics (like ones about skateboarding) he'd be up 7 more notches, lol

PS I read that Lightfoot thinks Avril is a "brilliant little songwriter" (Globe and Mail) -- maybe Meredith is a fan?

the GREATEST CANADIAN - not the MOST FAMOUS CANADIAN or who the kids like the most. Avril mentioned int he same breath as Dr. Banting? laffable...she's from canada as are many of the other "famous" on the list....that doesn't make them great in the sense that this contest was meant...surely to god it can't...i enjoy avril, carrey, myers, gretzky etc. but their contribution to canada as a country, it's people etc. is miniscule compared to some of the names and in my opinion demeans them by being on the same list. some celebs are philanthropists for their fave causes etc. Celine had a niece die from CF and she is a huge supporter....that's nice but doesn't make her any greater than any other canadian who gives to charitable causes in time and money in the same way she does. hers is just more "newsworthy" because she's famous -not because she's "great". I dont' see my name on the list and I donate time and money to several causes....saying they don't deserve to be on this particular list does not demean their individual talents that made them famous in any way.

JJ - you are right - The Unknown Soldier is the greatest. To sacrifice your life for your country for a just cause -nothing is greater and more noble than that. And he/she doesn't even have a "name" to make famous. bless every one of them.


[This message has been edited by charlene (edited October 18, 2004).]

the GREATEST CANADIAN - not the MOST FAMOUS CANADIAN or who the kids like the most. Avril mentioned int he same breath as Dr. Banting? laffable...she's from canada as are many of the other "famous" on the list....that doesn't make them great in the sense that this contest was meant...surely to god it can't...i enjoy avril, carrey, myers, gretzky etc. but their contribution to canada as a country, it's people etc. is miniscule compared to some of the names and in my opinion demeans them by being on the same list. some celebs are philanthropists for their fave causes etc. Celine had a niece die from CF and she is a huge supporter....that's nice but doesn't make her any greater than any other canadian who gives to charitable causes in time and money in the same way she does. hers is just more "newsworthy" because she's famous -not because she's "great". I dont' see my name on the list and I donate time and money to several causes....saying they don't deserve to be on this particular list does not demean their individual talents that made them famous in any way.

JJ - you are right - The Unknown Soldier is the greatest. To sacrifice your life for your country for a just cause -nothing is greater and more noble than that. And he/she doesn't even have a "name" to make famous. bless every one of them.


[This message has been edited by charlene (edited October 18, 2004).]

I have to agree with you on a lot of those people. I also have a hard time with the fact that they are choosing ONE person to be the greatest. Conceivably we could have 100 great people in Canada!!!

PS Don Cherry doesn't cut it for me, either!!!

oh well, it got us thinking http://www.corfid.com/ubb/wink.gif

I stand by what I said before and I agree the Unknown Soldier should be the greatest, whoever, he is.

i'll bet there are over a million GREAT volunteers (time and/or money) like our wonderful Char across the country (can't imagine how many, many MORE are in the USA and worldwide!) who could knock off many on this list if we all knew a bit about them...if this CBC special is helping to educate youth (and us old folks, lol) about some 'key' people in Canadian culture and history then hats off, i like the mini website anyhow http://www.corfid.com/ubb/smile.gif

someone who worked on the show said it wouldn't have hurt to have made perhaps 5 or 6 categories so the concept wouldn't be perceived as quite so rediculous

i think he's American but as far as celebs go, i think CFL great and huge supporter, Michael Pinball Clemens has gotta be the GREATEST (ie. most impressive to me) one I've met...i literally ran into him while we were both shopping in a Walmart in the suburbs last year... he was just like he was on tv, humble pie, polite, family first, charities second, sports third, just full of joy and the biggest whitest teeth i ever saw, lol http://www.corfid.com/ubb/biggrin.gif

i don't think i saw an old CFLer on the list...i loved the CFL in the 70's, thank gosh the Argos are going to finally get to play in a small less-cold stadium one day soon, just like the Al's...ok, way sidetracked again, lol

ok, i'll pull for Sir John A...what a lonely modest gravesite in Cataraqui (say, compared to the Washington Monument) cute really http://www.corfid.com/ubb/smile.gif i always have a hard time finding it, lol

http://www.corrosion-doctors.org/Art...s/cemetery.jpg

ps) this $benefit you're doing is really GREAT, Gord, ya could actually be 'saving' MANY lives down the road http://www.corfid.com/ubb/smile.gif

[This message has been edited by jj (edited October 18, 2004).]

i'll bet there are over a million GREAT volunteers (time and/or money) like our wonderful Char across the country (can't imagine how many, many MORE are in the USA and worldwide!) who could knock off many on this list if we all knew a bit about them...if this CBC special is helping to educate youth (and us old folks, lol) about some 'key' people in Canadian culture and history then hats off, i like the mini website anyhow http://www.corfid.com/ubb/smile.gif

someone who worked on the show said it wouldn't have hurt to have made perhaps 5 or 6 categories so the concept wouldn't be perceived as quite so rediculous

i think he's American but as far as celebs go, i think CFL great and huge supporter, Michael Pinball Clemens has gotta be the GREATEST (ie. most impressive to me) one I've met...i literally ran into him while we were both shopping in a Walmart in the suburbs last year... he was just like he was on tv, humble pie, polite, family first, charities second, sports third, just full of joy and the biggest whitest teeth i ever saw, lol http://www.corfid.com/ubb/biggrin.gif

i don't think i saw an old CFLer on the list...i loved the CFL in the 70's, thank gosh the Argos are going to finally get to play in a small less-cold stadium one day soon, just like the Al's...ok, way sidetracked again, lol

ok, i'll pull for Sir John A...what a lonely modest gravesite in Cataraqui (say, compared to the Washington Monument) cute really http://www.corfid.com/ubb/smile.gif i always have a hard time finding it, lol

http://www.corrosion-doctors.org/Art...s/cemetery.jpg

ps) this $benefit you're doing is really GREAT, Gord, ya could actually be 'saving' MANY lives down the road http://www.corfid.com/ubb/smile.gif

[This message has been edited by jj (edited October 18, 2004).]

Don Cherry? I just saw him on a PBS 1950's Pop Memories Special singing "Band Of Gold" (his own song,not the Freda Payne one.) The song's not all that but he must've impressed someone in Canada.

As for Shania and the other more "recent" celebs. ahead of Gordon; I've noticed that in popularity lists of the time,the people who put them together seem to knock the more "today" names to the higher portion of the list and put other notables much lower.
In this list and on most of VH1's top 100 shows!

I can't believe it just lists him strictly as "singer". He's certainly done a heck of a lot more than that for Pete's sake! http://www.corfid.com/ubb/rolleyes.gif

Thankfully,this listing doesn't speak for everyone. If they compiled it online,then GL being lower doen't surprise me since young people use PC's more than anybody and would vote for names they're familiar with. GL's #1 in my view so,"The List" doesn't mean a thing to me! http://www.corfid.com/ubb/wink.gif

------------------
"A knight of the road,going back to a place where he might get warm." http://www.corfid.com/ubb/wink.gif - Borderstone

[This message has been edited by Borderstone (edited October 18, 2004).]