By Susan Kelly
More than 2,000 people are expected to pack the Metro Toronto Convention Centre on December 2 for Canada’s Walk of Fame’s 25th Anniversary Celebration. It is scheduled to begin with a star-studded red carpet, presented by Cadillac, featuring Inductees and Honourees past and present as 10 of the country’s leading lights join the prestigious ranks. On stage, memorable performances and tributes are planned from today’s brightest stars and stellar alumni from the past quarter-century. If your invitation was lost in cyberspace, no worries; the event airs on CTV in mid-December. Just don’t expect to see a typical awards show, say its organizers.
“We’ve shifted the emphasis dramatically over the years,” says Jeffrey Latimer, CEO of Canada’s Walk of Fame. “You could say it’s less about the ‘Fame’ and more about the ‘Walk,’ and making it more than a one-night celebration.” There is so much to celebrate in this landmark year that two major ceremonies were planned. On September 28, the Rock of Fame event welcomed 13 of the country’s most influential rock music legends from the 1970s and 1980s to its ranks. Inductees included April Wine, Chilliwack, Glass Tiger, Lee Aaron, Lighthouse, Loverboy, Max Webster, Michel Pagliaro, Platinum Blonde, PRISM, Rough Trade, The Parachute Club, and Trooper.
The 2023 Celebration continues a tradition of giving Inductees a chance to tell more of their stories. To acknowledge that behind every applause-worthy achievement there is a unique journey, full of aspiration and drive but also a great deal of struggle. “So, it’s also a walk of resilience, leadership, innovation, activism, creativity, equity and so much more,” Latimer says. Such as at the 2017 posthumous induction of Viola Desmond, who in 1946 stood up to racial segregation. Martin Luther King III spoke to the crowd about how her story inspired his father and also famous civil rights activist Rosa Parks—just one example of the impact such stories can have, according to Latimer.
In the early days, the focus was on achievers in music, fashion, arts and sports. Today, Canada’s Walk of Fame recognizes five pillars of achievement. A new pillar called Entrepreneurship and Philanthropy was created in 2017, with Ted Rogers as the first Inductee. This year, it goes to the co-founders of iconic Roots Canada, Michael Budman and Don Green. Also added are voices in Science, Technology and Innovation in partnership with Sanofi Canada. The 2023 Inductee in this pillar is pioneering neuroscientist Dr. Brenda Milner of Montreal, the oldest living Inductee at 105 years old. Coincidentally, the youngest Inductee, hockey superstar Connor McDavid for Sports and Athletics, also is being inducted this year. Additional extraordinary Canadian achievers who join Canada’s Walk of Fame’s prestigious ranks in 2023 are the Honourable Rosalie Silberman Abella under the Humanitarianism pillar, and Tantoo Cardinal, Avril Lavigne, Gary Slaight, Degrassi and Rick Mercer in Arts & Entertainment.
“IT’S ALSO A WALK OF RESILIENCE, LEADERSHIP, INNOVATION, ACTIVISM, CREATIVITY, EQUITY AND SO MUCH MORE.”
The 2023 Canada’s Walk of Fame Honourees also include this year’s Allan Slaight Music Impact Honour recipient, Kardinal Offishall, as well as the 2023 National Hero Honour recipient, Catherine Abrew. Now in its fifth instalment, the Community Hero Program, presented by Maple Leaf Sports & Entertainment, recognizes a young Canadian under 30 who is positively influencing the lives of others and making an impact in their communities and beyond. This year’s recipient is also to be recognized during the ceremony. After the event, Inductees outside of the GTA will get a second chance to celebrate their induction where their journey began during the Hometown Stars Celebration, presented by Scotiabank in partnership with Cineplex. This free public event features a commemorative plaque unveiling, special guests, and musical performances. It was introduced by Canada’s Walk of Fame in 2017 to deepen its commitment, broaden its impact and build a more meaningful national platform.
And then there is the concrete Walk of Fame, an exhibit of maple leaf inspired stars embossed on Toronto theatre-district sidewalks. Latimer says that some have seen better days, which is why he announced a new project at the Celebration: the Garden of Achievement. It will rejuvenate the tangible mementos and add some high-tech ways to transmit each luminary’s story, such as narrations accessible via smartphone app. All to say that the reach of Canada’s Walk of Fame extends beyond one night of glory. “ ‘Mean more to more people more often’ has been our mantra,” Latimer says. “So we’ll keep finding ways to keep more of our country’s greats in the spotlight.”
The Canada’s Walk of Fame 25th Anniversary Celebration airs on CTV in mid-December; check local listings for date and times. A full list of this year’s Inductees and Honourees can be found at canadaswalkoffame.com.
