History Idols

According to humorist Will Ferguson Agnes Macphail was funny, took no guff from men, but most importantly, she had an immense impact on Canadian politics.

George Brown's contributions to Canada can't be denied. And his fiery way with words is still making an impression.  

John Rae is not as well known as some of the other famous names of northern exploration — people like Sir John Franklin, for instance. But Ken McGoogan argues that Rae deserves greater recognition than he has received to date because of what he accomplished.

Lord Durham is a name that few Canadians recognize. Richard Pound thinks that is a travesty.

The Americans have their MacArthur and Patton, the British, their “Monty.” Canadians, whether they know it or not, have Sir Arthur Currie.

TSN reporter John Lu was only a teenager when Terry Fox began his marathon of hope in 1980. Like many Canadians, Lu was moved by Fox’s courage and the tenacity he put towards ending cancer.

Canada's History web editor Tanja Hütter thinks Thanadelthur is a positive example of 1700s-era girl power.

“The Father of Medicare” turned a Tory on her head.

He’s been called boring, a waffler, and a kook. But William Lyon Mackenzie King is still a History Idol for Jack Granatstein.