"What is a hero?" Is heroism defined by courage? Accomplishments and purpose? Character? Celebrity? There are a host of answers and Canada's heroes reflect this broad and somewhat undefined spectrum. But Canada's heroes have one thing in common -- they have all made substantial contributions to shaping our country, our politics and our culture. Below are a few thoughts on heroes and heroism.

Commentary: A Nation That Doesn't Know Vimy From Vichy
"Last week John McCallum, Canada’s Minister of National Defence, stood on the beaches of Dieppe, France, to mark the 60th anniversary of one of the most disastrous battles in our military history. In doing so, he made modern political history by admitting that he had no idea what he was doing. He frankly conceded, that until the previous week, he had never heard of the battle of Dieppe..."
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DOCUMENT / September 5, 2002 / PDF / 58 KB

Canadians Choose Their Heroes
"Terry Fox, whose courageous Marathon of Hope raised millions for cancer research and brought a nation together, is Canada's "greatest hero," according to a national survey conducted by The Dominion Institute and The Council for Canadian Unity..."
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DOCUMENT / June 30, 1999 / PDF / 91 KB

Who Are Canada's Heroes?
"Terry Fox galvanized the nation with the sheer will and boundless determination he showed during his cross-country Marathon of Hope in 1980..."
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DOCUMENT / June 30, 1999 / PDF / 99 KB