Canadian Heroes to inspire Learners
By MARISSA DESPINS Updated Sept 11, 2023
Teaching students about inspiring figures in Canadian history has many benefits, from promoting pride in one’s heritage to encouraging a sense of courage and ambition. There are countless Canadian heroes who have changed our nation with bold decisions and brave acts. Their stories are perfect for inspiring middle school learners!
Looking for some ready to teach resources all about Canada and Canadian heroes? Click on the link or button below to see all of the resources available in my TPT shop!
True Canadian Heroes
In this blog post, I have teamed up with a group of amazing teachers to share stories of Canadian heroes that will make excellent inspirational resources for middle school teachers looking to bring out the best in their students.
Terry Fox
Terry Fox was a young boy from Winnipeg, Manitoba who was diagnosed with Cancer. He dedicated his remaining days to running across Canada in the “Marathon of Hope”. His goal was to raise money for Cancer research. He began his run on April 12, 1980. Terry Fox ran 42 km (26 miles) a day for 143 days, but had to stop when he became too ill to continue.
Every September, people all over the world participate in the Terry Fox run to help raise funds for Cancer research. The Terry Fox run is the world’s largest one day fundraiser for Cancer research, and to date has raised over eight hundred million dollars. Because of his amazing contributions, Terry Fox is at the top of our list of true Canadian heroes.
Looking for a fun way to teach your students about this inspiring Canadian figure? Check out this Terry Fox Reading Comprehension Package – it comes with a detailed reading passage, comprehension questions, graphic organizers, and creative final project.
Colonel Chris Hadfield
Kristy from 2 Peas and a Dog loves to introduce her middle school students to important Canadians through biographies. One of these important Canadians is Colonel Chris Hadfield.
When Canadians think of outer space, Chris Hadfield must come to mind.
Astronaut, author, educator, and just a really interesting person, Hadfield went viral in 2013 with his version of David Bowie’s Space Oddity. He recorded this at the International Space Station (ISS). The video has been viewed more than 50 million times.
His accomplishments are too numerous to mention. He was a key figure in space exploration as part of the Canadian Space Agency for more than 20 years. He’s been on multiple space missions. He was the first Canadian to walk in space in 2001. Chris Hadfield was also the first Canadian to command the ISS in 2013 (bringing us that great video). When it comes to Canadian heroes, he is truly a fascinating person with an interesting life that provides lots of topics for study and inquiry.
A great way to get students to use their knowledge about important people is to have them complete a fun Biography Assignment where students create a life map outlining the important events in their important person’s life.
Wop May
Wilfrid Reid “Wop” May was a Canadian flying ace and veteran of World War I. He was chased by the Red Baron, one of Germany’s most prolific fighter pilots, who was later shot down. Born in Manitoba, he moved to Edmonton, Alberta after the war.
As a bush pilot, he was part of many manhunts with the RCMP. He is credited with finding the “Mad Trapper of Rat River”. He is also known for catching a bank robber that fled from Edmonton to Hinton on a train.
As a search and rescue pilot, he saved hundreds of lives. Wop May found the lost Arctic ship Karluk which was trapped in the ice. He is credited with saving the lives of the seven survivors. Three miners lost in vast wilderness of the Northwest Territories were found and taken to safety. Not only did he participate in search and rescue missions, he founded the Canadian Airways, one of Canada’s first air transportation companies.
During the Second World War, he trained fighter pilots. He became the Air Officer Commanding for the Royal Canadian Air Force’s best training centre. His expertise and experience were important to the war effort. To learn about other Canadian heroes that contributed to Canada’s war efforts, take a look at this post about indigenous Veterans.
Gordon Downie
Daina from Mondays Made Easy loves to inspire students with the life of Canadian musician Gordon Downie. Gordon Downie was born in Kingston, Ontario in 1964. He is best known as the lead singer of The Tragically Hip, the beloved Canadian rock band. His iconic career as a Canadian musician allowed him to share stories about the unique culture and history of Canada. These stories include the tale of missing hockey player Bill Barilko, the Christie Pitts riot of 1933, and of cottage culture in southern Ontario.
Downie’s career was about more than just music. His philanthropic work supported Indigenous rights, environmental conservation, and mental health awareness. In 2016, Downie was diagnosed with terminal brain cancer. This was a diagnosis he refused to let define him. He continued to use his platform to raise awareness for important causes. This included the Truth and Reconciliation Commission’s calls to action for reconciliation between Indigenous and non-Indigenous peoples.
This work was magnified in his final project, the album and graphic novel “Secret Path.” This project tells the story of Chanie Wenjack, a young Indigenous boy who died while trying to escape from a residential school in 1966. Through “Secret Path,” Downie shared Wenjack’s story to readers and listeners across the country. This helped to initiate important conversations about Canada’s history of residential schools and the ongoing legacy of colonialism.
Downie passed away in 2017, but continues to inspire a new generation of Canadian musicians, poets, writers, and activists. His legacy as one of the great Canadian heroes lives on in our hearts and around the world.
Autumn Peltier
Including more nonfiction that students can connect to is something Lesa from SmithTeaches9to12 tries to do often in her classroom. Plus, if there’s a chance to add some information about environmentalism or social justice issues then it’s a win-win!
Case in point, reading about Anishinaabe Indigenous rights advocate Autumn Peltier. Since the age of 13, Peltier, from the Wiikwemkoong First Nation on Manitoulin Island, has been an advocate for clean water and environmental protection.
Learning about her and her activism is inspirational for students! Seeing an example of a teenager who is making a significant difference in our world might encourage your students to take action and make a change in our world too. As Peltier has said, “Keep going, don’t look back, and if you have an idea, just do it; no one is going to wait for you or tell you what to do.”
Check out this FREE informational text with 5 close reading questions (and a teacher answer key) about Peltier. It’s a great addition leading up to Earth Day in April or at any point in the year you’d like students to practice close reading about an inspirational hero!
David Suzuki
Katie from Mochas and Markbooks feels the urgency of teaching our young people about the importance of protecting our planet for future generations to live comfortably and in harmony with nature. There are many inspiring environmentalists around the globe for students to look up to, and in Canada, we have been fortunate enough to learn from David Suzuki for the past four decades.
For the past 44 years, Suzuki has hosted the award-winning show, “The Nature of Things” which explored all things science, technology, wildlife and environmentalism, and now at the age of 86, he is transitioning into retirement from the screen, but will continue to focus on environmental activism, particularly fighting for governments to address climate change.
Before his television career, Suzuki worked as a professor and geneticist and has since written 40 books, received 24 honorary degrees, been recognized by the UN for his environmental leadership, been named a fellow of the Royal Society of Canada and a Companion of the Order of Canada.
Suzuki founded the non-profit organization, The David Suzuki Foundation in 1990, aimed at protecting nature’s diversity and the wellbeing of all life. The “Stories” tab on the foundation’s website contains articles on various environmental and scientific issues that students may find interesting and the links to environmental protection petitions could inspire a future activist in your classroom.
We hope we have helped you discover some new Canadian heroes to introduce to your learners. Their stories of perseverance, bravery, and optimism are sure to inspire the most reluctant middle school learner.
on the hunt for more information related to teaching Canadian History?
Check out my previous blog posts below!
Canadian Heroes to Inspire Your Learners
Favorite Indigenous Read Alouds
All About Orange Shirt Day 2023
Using Orange Shirt Day Quotes in the Classroom
Looking for meaningful resources for teaching about Canadian History?
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