Famous Canadian icons that you should know | Audible.ca
Famous Canadian icons that you should know
Gretzky, Shatner, Rogen, Cohen, Twain—the list of famous Canadian icons is as long as it is varied. The audiobook world is lucky to have such tremendous subject matter.
We might have a reputation for downplaying ourselves, but say it out loud and say it proud: Canada is a remarkable country, and Canadians are even more awesome. Canadian history is filled to the bursting point with incredible athletes (not just hockey players, although we do that better than anyone), inspiring artists, influential politicians and all the rest. From Nova Scotia and Saskatchewan to Vancouver and Victoria, from Ottawa and Halifax to Calgary, Edmonton, Montreal and all the rest, this great land has produced some seriously great individuals. The most famous Canadian icons are celebrated in invigorating audiobooks, making every day Canada Day. Dive into your next great listen with this collection of iconic canadian people.
What a career! It only feels like yesterday that Sidney Crosby was being drafted by the Pittsburgh Penguins and taking the NHL by storm, essentially saving the Penguins franchise from oblivion and creating a legacy all the while. One of the greatest hockey players in the history of the sport, Sidney Crosby is a true Canadian icon, arguably one of the greatest Canadians of the 21st century.
Crosby was a sensation in his rookie year, and this Audible Original tells the nostalgic tale of a young man making waves in Canada's favourite sport. Sure, the Penguins struggled, but Crosby's performance made him one of the most sought-after Canadian celebrities practically overnight, a superstar in waiting who took the pressure of being called the 'next Wayne Gretzky' in his stride. Sidney Crosby will go down in history as one of the greatest hockey players in NHL history, and it all began with that incredible rookie year. Sidney Crosby: The Rookie Year is an absolute must-listen for sports fans nationwide.
For 14 years, Rick Mercer Report was one of the most-watched TV shows in Canada, an absolute must-watch for anyone with even the vaguest interest in goings-on from Vancouver to Toronto. The man at the heart of it was a firebrand comic from Newfoundland who came from humble beginnings to blossom into one of the most respected voices in Canadian comedy and satire. The Mercer Report's final episode aired in 2018, but this thrill-a-minute audiobook compiles some of the greatest rants from the show's history along with never before heard pieces from the St John's native.
Narrated by Mercer himself, Rick Mercer Final Report compiles the best of the best from a show that defined Canadian satire for well over a decade. Mercer travelled the length and breadth of Canada in search of stories and adventures, taking part in everything from bungee jumping to whale watching while delivering biting takes on Canadian history and where the country is going. This audiobook celebration of a Canadian icon is a great place for newbies to start and longtime fans to get nostalgic.
Few names resonate around Canadian culture quite like Sudbury's own Alex Trebek. For 37 seasons, Trebek was the voice and face of Jeopardy!, the American hit game show that redefined the genre. The heart and soul of the show? A TV personality from Greater Sudbury, Ontario. Trebek passed away in 2020, but his legacy and voice will resonate long in the heads and hearts of TV lovers nationwide.
The Answer Is... is an audiobook that many believed would never come. For three decades, Trebek resisted all calls to pen a memoir of his life, eventually giving in to demand and penning a charming collection of reflections on an incredible life. Narrated by Jeopardy! legend Ken Jennings and Trebek himself, The Answer Is... is a candid listen that pulls back the curtain on one of Canada's most recognisable voices. In true Trebek form, each chapter is titled as a question. What else would you expect?
If it demands to be done in comedy, Hamilton's own Martin Short has done it. The Saturday Night Live star has been a fixture in comedy films and sitcoms since the 1980s, while his voice-over work has brought him countless awards and other forms of recognition. It stands to reason that having Short narrate his own memoir would lead to one of the most enjoyable audiobooks going, and that is exactly what I Must Say: My Life as a Humble Comedy Legend is. Equal parts laugh-out-loud and heartfelt, I Must Say is a delightful insight into one of Ontario's favourite sons.
Make no mistake about it: Martin Short is a famous Canadian icon, and then some. I Must Say is a candid listen that details the ups and downs of a figure in Canadian pop culture, from the tragic death of his brother in a Montreal car crash to his experiences in Hollywood and beyond. Short's story always comes back to Hamilton, the city that raised him and consistently inspires him. A humble comedy legend? Of course. A true Canadian icon? You better believe it.
What a superstar! The career of Canadian icon Clara Hughes defies logic, whether it is her cycling exploits at the Summer Olympics or her speed-skating success at the Winter Games. The only Canadian to win medals at both Olympics, the Winnipeg wonder is a picture of dedication, discipline and excellence. What does it take to be this awesome? This eponymous audiobook is the best place to start in answering that question.
From her early years as an athlete in Manitoba to her stunning successes in Atlanta, Turin, Salt Lake City and Vancouver, Hughes is a picture of sporting determination. It takes a whole lot of commitment to excel at one thing, let alone multiple disciplines, and this short but splendid audiobook, narrated by Dr. Michelle Carabache, gives a fascinating insight into the daily life of a veritable wonder woman. The perfect listen for kids, Clara Hughes opens the door to one of the most famous Canadians on the planet, a sporting superstar and humanitarian who finds herself on both the Order of Manitoba and Order of Canada lists. Very much deserved, to say the least.
Canadian celebrities don't come much more popular in the modern age than Seth Rogen. The Vancouver-born comedian is one of the superstars of modern Hollywood who seemingly pumps out genre-defining comedy at will. Narrated by Seth Rogen himself, Yearbook shares a collection of true stories that the comedian lived through, from doing standup comedy as a teenager to his adventures in Los Angeles.
From a childhood in British Columbia to superstardom in Hollywood, Seth Rogen has lived one incredible life, developing from a quirky comedic voice to a true Canadian celebrity, arguably the greatest Canadian comedian of his time and a hugely sought-after mind for major motion picture, television series and all the rest. Few play the charismatic buffoon quite as magnificently as Seth Rogen, and this audiobook gives a charming look into the life of one of Canada's most beloved stars.
Edmonton-born Michael J. Fox has lived an incredible life, one filled with incredible highs and desperate lows. The Back to the Future star is a true Canadian icon, and this charming audiobook is a fascinating insight into (as the subtitle suggests) an optimistic approach to mortality. Fox himself sparkles as a narrator, imbuing his own story with heart wrenching honesty and the inimitable Alberta charm.
The world knows two versions of Michael J. Fox. On the one side of the coin is the youthful superstar of Back to the Future, Family Ties, and Spin City, while the other focuses on a man who was diagnosed with Parkinson's at just 29 and has become arguably the most visible advocate for the condition ever since. No Time Like the Future is a truly vital audiobook that touches on both sides—the Canadian celebrity and the brain disorder champion. Expect laughter and tears in equal measure.
Howie Mandel is one of Canada's most beloved comedians and entertainment personalities but behind the big smiles and bigger laughs is a long struggle with OCD and ADHD, a struggle that never truly ends. Here's the Deal sees Mandel confront these battles in typically assured style, letting honesty take precedence over hilarity without forgetting the importance of the latter. It is simply a tremendous listen.
Luckily for listeners, Howie Mandel himself takes charge of the narration, filling the audiobook with his inimitable swagger and undeniable sense of pizzazz. Sure, those terms seem out of line with an audiobook focused on struggle, but Mandel has made his name finding light and laughter in his darkest places. Here's the Deal is the latest in a long line of excellence from Willowville's favourite son.
Is there a better voice on the planet than the one bestowed upon Montreal's favourite son, William Shatner? As far as Canadian icons go, the Star Trek star is right at the top of the mountain, but his famous exploits on television and film may just be eclipsed by his incredible talents as a narrator. With that in mind, who better to narrate the life and times of William Shatner than the Quebec icon himself?
In Live Long and..., Shatner focuses his tight wit and boyish charms on the meaning of life, or more accurately, the importance of not being dead. That is the aim, after all, and Shatner takes a sledgehammer to the concept of mortality as only he can, providing laughs and inspiration along the way. The famous Captain James T. Kirk has a unique approach to life, that's for sure, and it is one that has helped him become a true Canadian celebrity and a monolith of 20th- (and 21st-) century pop culture. Long live Bill Shatner.
NHL fans know all about the incredible career of Wayne Gretzky, but the statistics only tell one part of the story. The Great One stands tall over hockey in a way that no other sportsman can replicate, both in terms of achievements and influence, so it stands to reason that an audiobook about his life should be one of the most engaging listens in sports. As expected, 99: Stories of the Game does justice to Gretzky's career, and then some.
Narrated by Mike Chamberlain, 99: Stories of the Game is an absolute must-listen for fans of Wayne Gretzky, the NHL, the Edmonton Oilers, Los Angeles Kings, New York Rangers, and just about every other franchise in hockey. Objectively speaking, Gretzky is the greatest hockey player of all time, so it is no great shock that a book on his life should be one of the greatest hockey books of all time too. The greatest Canadian athlete of all time? Wayne Gretzky is the beginning of that conversation.
Shania Twain is more than a 20th-century popstar and the Queen of Country Pop. The Windsor, Ontario, native is a Canadian icon, one of the nation's greatest songwriters, and a multi-award winning megastar—Grammy Awards, Junos, MTV Videos, you name it. No karaoke night is complete without at least one rendition of "Man, I Feel Like a Woman" or "That Don't Impress Me Much", and those two hits are just the tip of this particularly tuneful iceberg. Canadian celebrities don't come much bigger than Shania Twain.
Narrated by Twain herself and Sherie Rene Scott, From This Moment On starts at the very beginning with Eilleen Regina Edwards, an awkward kid who grew up in Canada. From there it follows Eilleen’s transformation into Shania Twain and blossoms into the story of one of the greatest Canadian gifts to pop culture that the world has ever seen. There is only one Shania Twain, and From This Moment On is an unpausable listen that celebrates the country pop star in every possible way.
Written by Harry Freedman and gorgeously narrated by Ben Onwukwe, this touching take on the life and times of Leonard Cohen pulls back the curtain on one of the greatest Canadians in history. Born in Westmount, Quebec, Cohen is one of the most iconic names in pop culture history, a titan of the 20th century who continues to inspire artists to this very day, be it in music, literature, cinema and the rest. If you want to explore the depths of Leonard Cohen's genius, this is the place to start.
Leonard Cohen quickly established himself as an all-time great lyricist, and this celebratory take on his imagination and creativity lifts the lid on one of Canada's most beloved superstars. Everything from his childhood in Montreal to his commitment to Zen Buddhism is covered, with a reverent tone that is befitting the monolithic influence of the subject matter. Leonard Cohen will forever be one of the greatest Canadian songwriters, but there is so much more to him than melodies and words.
From one genius songwriter to another, Waging Heavy Peace is an absolute must for Neil Young fans and lovers of music in general. Born in Toronto, the singer-songwriter has come a long way from those early days on the Winnipeg scene, becoming one of the most influential musicians in history and a bonafide Canadian icon to boot. Throw in countless awards, Oscar nominations, the Order of Manitoba and Order of Canada and you've got yourself one of the greatest Canadians to ever walk the planet.
Waging Heavy Peace is an apt title for this audiobook, written by Neil Young and stunningly narrated by Keith Carradine. Young has an approach to storytelling that can be a little jarring at first but sparkles nonetheless, ensuring that Waging Heavy Peace is every bit as unique as the man's songwriting. Neil Young was born to be listened to, and Waging Heavy Peace is an audiobook experience befitting of him.
Mike Myers has been a major international name in comedic circles for, oh, just about forever, and this not-so-subtly titled audiobook sees the Austin Powers star take a microscope and dive deep into the love/hate relationship he has with his homeland. Canada is a difficult audiobook to pin down, with its focus moving from memoir to history to culture and all the way back again, but the iconic style of Mike Myers is everywhere here.
Myers is a tremendous narrator, and his comedic timing is at its very best from beginning to end. A Canadian patriot through and through, Myers has put all of that love into an audiobook that appeals to the wider world as much as it does to people from Vancouver to Toronto—although it can't be denied that native Canadian listeners might get a little bit more of a kick out of this than others. Excellent stuff.
Fewer than a thousand people live in the Newfoundland town of Petty Harbour-Maddox Cove, but that doesn't mean that there isn't plenty of wisdom flowing out of the place. Most of that wisdom comes from the heart and soul of Alan Doyle, the musician and actor famous for fronting Canadian folk rock band Great Big Sea, and All Together Now is one great big gathering of positivity and optimism in these dark times. Want proof that Newfoundland might be the friendliest part of Canada? All Together Now delivers that in spades.
Narrated by Doyle himself, All Together Now is a war cry for the good in people at a time when such statements are very much required. Doyle has perfected the art of telling stories like an old friend, making this audiobook a virtual trip to a charming pub in a cosy little village. That village is Petty Harbour-Maddox Cove, and the old friend is a wise troubadour with stories by the bucketload, encapsulating everything that makes Canada and Canadians truly magnificent.
