Canadians are people who are identified with Canada through residential, legal, historical, or cultural means. This list groups people by their area of notability.
Architects Hans Blumenfeld OC (1892–1988) – architect and city planner Joan Burt (1930–2021) – architect Douglas Cardinal OC RAIC (born 1934) – architect of Canadian Museum of Civilization Mary Clark (born 1936) – architect and transportation planner Ernest Cormier OC RAIC (1885–1980) – architect of Supreme Court of Canada building A. J. Diamond OC RAIC (1934–2022) – architect of Four Seasons Centre for the Performing Arts Margaret Synge Dryer (1921–1963) – architect Arthur Erickson CC RAIC (1924–2008) – architect of Simon Fraser University, Robson Square, and the Embassy of Canada in Washington David Ewart ISO (1841–1921) – Chief Dominion Architect (1896 to 1914), architect of Dominion Archives Building, Royal Canadian Mint, Victoria Memorial Museum, Connaught Building in Ottawa Étienne Gaboury RAIC OAA (1930–2022) – architect of the Embassy of Canada in Mexico and the Royal Canadian Mint building in Winnipeg Frank Gehry CC LLD (hc) PhD (hc) DEng (hc) DArch (hc) DA (hc) AIA (1929–2025) – architect of Guggenheim Museum Bilbao, Experience Music Project, Walt Disney Concert Hall, and the Art Gallery of Ontario Dan Hanganu OQ DArch (hc) RAIC OAQ (1939–2017) – architect of Pointe-à-Callière Museum and Montreal Archival Centre Gregory Henriquez FRAIC OAA AIA (born 1963) RAIC – architect of the Woodward's Building, TELUS Garden, and redevelopment of Honest Ed's location Stephen Irwin RAIC RIBA OAA (1939–2019) – architect of Purdy's Wharf Bruce Kuwabara FRAIC OAA AIA (born 1949) RAIC – architect of the Gardiner Museum, and Kitchener City Hall E. J. Lennox RAIC OAA (1854–1933) – architect of Old City Hall in Toronto, and Casa Loma John M. Lyle FRIBA OAA (1872–1945) RAIC – architect of the New York Public Library, the Royal Alexandra Theatre, and Toronto's Union Station Raymond Moriyama CC OOnt (1929–2023) – architect of the Ontario Science Centre, Ottawa City Hall, and Canadian War Museum Samuel Oghale Oboh FAIA, FRAIC, Architect, AAA (born 1971) – 2015 president of the RAIC – architect of the International Law Enforcement Academy Botswana and the Botswana Police College; Lead Architect of the Alberta Legislature Centre Redevelopment Master Plan John Ostell (1813–1892) – architect of the McGill University Arts Building, and the Montreal Custom House Joseph Perrault (1866–1923) – architect of Centre d'histoire de Montréal Francis Rattenbury RAIC AIBC (1867–1935) – architect of the British Columbia Parliament Buildings, and the Empress Hotel Moshe Safdie CC LLD (hc) FRAIC FAIA (born 1938) – architect of Habitat 67, the National Gallery of Canada, and Vancouver Library Square Fariborz Sahba (born 1948) – master's degree from Faculty of Fine Arts at the University of Tehran, architect of Lotus Temple, and Terraces (Baháʼí) Henry Sears (1929–2003) – Massey medal-winning architect, urban and gallery planner Brigitte Shim (born 1958) – Order of Canada for architecture, and Integral House Bing Thom CM FRAIC AIBC (1940–2016) – architect of Central City Centre Ronald Thom FRAIC AIBC (1923–1986) – architect of Massey College, the Shaw Theatre, and Trent University Douglas A. Webber (1901–1971) – architect of several buildings in Nova Scotia
Artists
Actors
Animators Ryan Larkin (1943–2007) – nominated for an Academy Award for Best Short Film, Walking, 1969
Broadcasters
Comedians
Musicians
Photographers Ivaan Kotulsky (1944–2008) Yousuf Karsh Fred Herzog
Visual arts
Cartoonists Michael de Adder (born 1967) – editorial cartoonist and caricaturist Danny Antonucci (born 1957) – creator of Ed Edd n Eddy Kate Beaton (born 1983) – creator of Hark! A Vagrant Chester Brown (born 1960) – creator of Yummy Fur, Underwater and Louis Riel John Byrne (born 1950) – influenced superhero characters like The Fantastic Four and Superman Andy Donato (born 1937) – editorial cartoonist for the Toronto Sun Hal Foster (1892–1982) – artist for Tarzan comic strip, creator of Prince Valiant J.D. Frazer (born 1965) (moniker: Illiad) – creator of the webcomic User Friendly Gregory Gallant (born 1962) (moniker: Seth) – creator of Palookaville Lynn Johnston CM OM (born 1947) – creator of For Better or For Worse John Kricfalusi (born 1955) (moniker: John K.) – creator of Ren and Stimpy Graeme MacKay (born 1968) – editorial cartoonist Sean Martin (1950–2020) – creator of the print and webcomic "Doc and Raider" Todd McFarlane (born 1961) – creator of Spawn Win Mortimer (1919–1998) – illustrator for DC Comics' Superman and Batman Terry Mosher OC DLitt (hc) (born 1942) (moniker: Aislin) – Montreal Gazette newspaper Len Norris (1919–1997) – long-time editorial columnist for the Vancouver Sun Ryan North (born 1980) – creator of the webcomic Dinosaur Comics Joe Shuster (1914–1992) – co-creator of Superman Dave Sim (born 1956) – creator of Cerebus the Aardvark Fiona Staples (born 1984) – co-creator of Saga Paul Szep (born 1941) – editorial cartoonist for the Boston Globe 1967–2001 Ben Wicks CM (1926–2000) – illustrator, comic strip cartoonist, and humanitarian
Astronauts
Roberta Bondar OC OOnt ScD (hc) FRCP(C) FRSC (born 1945) – first Canadian woman in space Marc Garneau CC CD ScD (hc) (1949–2025) – first Canadian man in space Chris Hadfield OOnt MSC LLD (hc) DEng (hc) (born 1959) – first Canadian to walk in space, first Canadian to command the International Space Station Jeremy Hansen (born 1976), flew around the Moon on the 2026 Artemis II mission, first non-American to fly above low Earth orbit and to the Moon's vicinity Steven MacLean ScD (hc) (born 1954) Julie Payette CQ FMC (born 1963) David Saint-Jacques (born 1970), B.Eng., Ph.D., M.D. Robert Thirsk (born 1953) – holds Canadian record for longest time spent in space (204 days) Bjarni Tryggvason ScD (hc) (1945–2022)
Athletes
Businesspeople and entrepreneurs Max Aitken, 1st Baron Beaverbrook, Baron Beaverbrook PC (1879–1964) – publishing baron, entrepreneur Francesco Aquilini (born 1969) – chairman of the Aquilini Investment Group and owner of the Vancouver Canucks David Asper (born 1958) – chairman, Canwest Global Communications Izzy Asper OC QC OM (1932–2003) – chairman, Canwest Global Communications Meghan Athavale – entrepreneur and visual artist Jeannine Bailliu – economist, policy advisor at the Bank of Canada Keenan Beavis (born 1995) – entrepreneur and investor, founder of Longhouse Conrad Black (born 1944) – Lord Black of Crossharbour KCSG LLD (hc) (born 1944) – entrepreneur, publisher Willard Boyle (1924–2011) – invented charge-coupled device Sophie Brochu (born 1963) – economist and businesswoman, president and CEO of Gaz Métro/Énergir and Hydro-Québec Edgar Bronfman, Sr. (1929–2013) – head of Seagram's and long-time president of the World Jewish Congress Samuel Bronfman CC (1889–1971) – founder of Seagram's Robert Campeau (1923–2017) – real-estate mogul Jack Kent Cooke (1912–1997) – owner of the Los Angeles Lakers, Los Angeles Kings, Washington Redskins and the Chrysler Building James Alexander Cowan (1901–1978) – public relations consultant and founder of Stratford Shakespeare Festival Samuel Cunard Bt (1787–1865) – founder of Cunard Line William Davidson (1740–1790) – lumberman, shipbuilder, merchant Christine M. Day (born 1962) – former CEO of the Canadian clothing company Lululemon Athletica Michael DeGroote OC (1932–2022) – businessman and philanthropist Paul Desmarais PC CC (1927–2013) – chairman, Power Corporation of Canada
Craig Dobbin OC (1935–2006) – founder, chairman and CEO of CHC Helicopter Corporation Denzil Doyle (born 1932/1933) – founding president of Digital Equipment Corporation's Canadian subsidiary James Hamet Dunn Bt (1874–1956) – financier, steel magnate Timothy Eaton (1834–1907) – founder of Eaton's department stores Bernie Ebbers (1941–2020) – former CEO of WorldCom Sam Feldman (born 1949) – music executive Alfred Fuller (1885–1973) – Fuller Brush Company Arcadi Gaydamak (born 1952) – owner of Beitar Jerusalem Percy Girouard KSMG (1867–1932) – railway builder, governor Angèle Grenier – maple syrup producer known for her legal battles with the Federation of Quebec Maple Syrup Producers Elliot Grove, founder of Raindance Film Festival, British Independent Film Awards and the Independent Film Trust Charles Guillimin (1676–1739) – shipbuilder, merchant and moneylender Zabeen Hirji (born 1960) – speaker, writer, former Chief Human Resources Officer, Royal Bank of Canada Janet Holder – business executive, head of Enbridge Northern Gateway Pipelines K. C. Irving OC ONB (1899–1992) – industrialist Suresh Joachim (born 1968) – co-founder of WBBAS, No Poverty No Disease No War, World Peace Marathon, and Suresh Joachim International Group of Companies F. Ross Johnson (1931–2016) – former CEO of RJR Nabisco Ron Joyce CM (1930–2019) – original partner with Horton in Tim Hortons, primary builder of the chain Moez Kassam (born 1980) – hedge fund manager, founder of Anson Group Izaak Walton Killam (1885–1955) – major financier James L. Kraft (1874–1953) – entrepreneur and inventor, founder of L. Kraft & Bros. Company, which later became Kraft Foods Inc Richard L'Abbé OC (born 1956 or 1957) – co-founder and former CEO of Med-Eng Systems Inc, a company specializing in bomb disposal suits and helmets Guy Laliberté OC CQ (born 1959) – founder and owner of the Cirque du Soleil Bernard Lamarre (1931–2016) – chairman & C.E.O., Lavalin Group, 1972–1991; senior advisor, SNC-Lavalin Inc., 1991–2016 Cindy Lee – founder of T & T Supermarket Michael Lee-Chin LLD (hc) (born 1951) – CEO of AIC Diversified Canada Split Corp. and the National Commercial Bank of Jamaica Li Ka-shing (born 1928) – chairman of the board of Cheung Kong Holdings and Hutchison Whampoa Victor Li (born 1964) – deputy chairman of Cheung Kong (Holdings) Limited William Secondo Lombardo (1930–2009) – owner of Lombardo Construction and CEO of Peerless-Cascade Plastics Pete Luckett (born 1953) – owner of Pete's Frootique and host of The Food Hunter William Christopher Macdonald (1831–1917) – tobacco manufacturer, education philanthropist Terry Matthews OC FREng (born 1943) – entrepreneur, chairman of Mitel and Wesley Clover Louis B. Mayer (1885–1957) – co-founder of Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM) Studios Harrison McCain CC ONB (1927–2004) – New Brunswick potato magnate Colonel Samuel McLaughlin CC CD ED (1871–1972) – Buick automobile manufacturer Simon McTavish (1750–1804) – fur trader Hartland Molson OC GOQ OBE (1907–2002) – senator, president of Molson Breweries John Molson (1763–1836) – founder of Molson Breweries Peter Munk OC (1927–2018) – founder of Barrick Gold Saadia Muzaffar – entrepreneur, author and founder of TechGirls Canada Stephan Ouaknine – businessman in telecommunications and renewable energy Jim Pattison CM OBC (born 1928) – chairman, president, CEO, and owner of the Jim Pattison Group Pierre Péladeau CM OQ (1925–1997) – founder of Quebecor Inc. Pierre Karl Péladeau (born 1961) – president, CEO of Quebecor Inc., Québecor Média Inc. and Sun Media Corporation Marie Penny (died 1970) – owner and operator of one of the largest 20th-century frozen fish companies in Newfoundland John Draper Perrin (1890–1967) – entrepreneur, financier, mining executive Richard Porritt OC (1901–1985) – mining industry executive Jean Pouliot (1923–2004) – founder of CFCF et Télévision Quatre Saisons John Redpath (1796–1869) – canal builder, sugar refinery founder Paul Reichmann (1930–2013) – developer of Canary Wharf Edward Samuel Rogers OC (1933–2008) – president and CEO of Rogers Communications John Roth (born 1942) – former CEO of Nortel Networks Lino Saputo (born 1937) – founder of Saputo Isadore Sharp OC (born 1931) – founder of the Four Seasons Hotel chain