20 Celebrities You Didn’t Know Are Canadian

Check out the list of these 20 celebrities who are from Canada. Whose Canadian identity surprises you the most?

1. Ryan Gosling

Who doesn’t have a crush on this guy from London, Ontario? At the age of 12 Gosling started was a “child star” on the Disney Channel’s Mickey Mouse Club. At the age of 17, he moved to Los Angeles to continue pursuing his acting career.

2. Ryan Reynolds

Ryan was born in 1976, in Vancouver, British Columbia and started his acting career in kids shows. Since moving to Hollywood, he has established his career steadily, starring in various genres from comedies to horror movies.

3. Seth Rogen

Seth always carries multiple titles – actor, filmmaker, and comedian, but he has another, lesser-known title: Canadian!  Comedy was such a passion for Seth that, by age 16, he had won the Vancouver Amateur Comedy Contest.

4. Rachel McAdams

This brilliant actress has a lot in common with Ryan Gosling – a romantic relationship they shared for a while, collaborative acting work in the movie The Notebook, as well as their place of birth. Both were born in London, Ontario. In 2002, she made her Hollywood cinematic debut in the comedy The Hot Chick.

5. Jim Carrey

Jim Carrey, probably one of the most popular comedians in America, was born in Newmarket, Ontario. Trying to provide for his family, he dropped out of high school and started to work full-time. He also performed stand-up comedy onstage at Yuk Yuk’s, a comedy club, until he was noticed by comedian Rodney Dangerfield.

6. James Cameron

Born in the small town of Kapuskasing, Ontario, Cameron moved to California when he was 17. Working as a truck driver for a bit, Cameron decided to quit that job to get into the film industry. His first film was Xenogenesis, which he scripted and shot with his friends.

7. Drake

Now popular all over the world, Aubrey Drake Graham, known as Drake, was born in Toronto. Here in Canada he got his first Canadian TV gig on Degrassi: The Next Generation. The only income he and his family had was from his Canadian television earnings.

8. Cobie Smulders

This lady is probably best known as Robin Scherbatsky inHow I Met Your Mother. It was very natural for her to play a Canadian, as she grown up in Vancouver. 

9. Michael Cera

The Brampton-born young star of Superbad and Arrested Development started his acting career with a small role on a Tim Horton’s TV commercial. He also took the main role in the movie Scott Pilgrim vs. The World, which was shot in Toronto.

10. Jay Baruchel

Baruchel is truly a homeboy still residing in Montreal. He is also known for having a red maple leaf tattoo on his chest. There’s no doubt about how Canadian he is!

11. Donald Sutherland

This legendary veteran actor, also known as the father of Kiefer Sutherland, has a deep connection with Toronto. Donald graduated from University of Toronto with a double major in Engineering and Drama. When the iconic theatre Hart House was at risk of being shut down in 2001, he took a co-chair role and succeeded in saving it.

12. Keanu Reeves

Born in Lebanon, his ancestry is a unique blend of English, native Hawaiian, Portuguese, Scottish and Chinese. At the age of 5, Reeves moved to Toronto with his family, where he attended high school. He has since recalled that, before becoming an actor, he dreamt of being a hockey player.

13. Avril Lavigne

The punk rock princess is also from Canada. She is from a small town called Napanee, Ontario and spent most of her childhood there. Since her sensational debut in 2002, she has remained one of the world’s top pop icons. Her husband, Chad Kroeger, lead vocalist and guitarist for the band Nickelback, is also from Canada!

14. Matthew Perry

Although the super popular and long-running sitcom Friends was based in New York, Perry, who played the role of Chandler Bing, was raised in Ottawa. He holds dual citizenship in Canada and the USA, and he is widely known to be huge hockey fan.

15. Justin Bieber

Bieber was born in London, Ontario. At the age of 13 he got noticed by the R&B singer Usher and his business partner, Scott Braun, who discovered his video on YouTube. Now he is one of the hottest and youngest stars in the United States.

16. Celine Dion

Dion was born in Charlemagne, Québec and started her career as a French singer. In 2013, Dion was bestowed the Order of Canada, which is a Canadian national order and the second highest honour, for her long time accomplishment.

17. Mike Myers

Did you know this comedy genius is actually from Toronto? Michael John Myers was born in 1963 in Scarborough, Ontario, where they have named a street named after him. He is known globally for his outstanding performances in such as Saturday Night Live or The Austin Powers series. Last year Myers appeared in Sears Canada’s campaign video since his brother has worked there for a long time.

18. Dwayne Johnson

Some of you are more familiar with his other name, The Rock. Johnson was not born in Canada, but was received his Canadian citizenship in 2009, since his father is from Nova Scotia.

19. Nathan Fillion

Though well-established in his career, Nathan never forgets his Canadian roots. On Halloween day in 2012, he posted a photo of himself wearing an army costume featuring a Canadian maple leaf. The photo received lots of comments on the internet, where people labelled him Captain Canada.

20. Kim Cattrall

An independent woman and a Canadian and British citizen who lives in New York City, Kim is best known as Samantha from Sex And The City.

Alena Khabibullina

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3 days ago

It’s party season at ILAC!Join us in Toronto and Vancouver for food, music, prizes, and the best holiday vibes. Ugly sweaters welcome! 😄🎅🎉 TORONTO EVENTSYoung Adults & High School Holiday Party📍 Firkin On Bay (1075 Bay St.)📅 December 10, 6–9 PM🎁 Prize: 2 Marlies Game tickets (ugliest sweater)💸 Free — registration required🔗 www.eventbrite.ca/e/yas-ho-ho-holiday-ilac-party-tickets-1975586542530?aff=oddtdtcreator19+ Holiday Party📍 Momentos (180 Pearl St.)📅 December 11, 9 PM–2 AM🎁 Prize: $250 (ugliest sweater)💸 $15 — includes 1 drink + 1 pizza🔗 www.linktr.ee/momentos.ca🎉 VANCOUVER EVENTSYoung Adults & High School Holiday Party📍 WHB Campus (808 W Hastings St.)📅 December 10, 5–7:30 PM💸 Free🎁 Prize: 1 Whistler trip🔗 www.eventbrite.ca/e/ilac-ya-holiday-party-tickets-1974936237450?aff=oddtdtcreator19+ Holiday Party📍 Library Square (300 W Georgia St.)📅 December 11, 9 PM–2 AM💸 $15 — includes 1 drink🎁 Prize: 1 Whistler trip🔗 www.eventbrite.com/e/hohoho-holiday-party-tickets-1970799774177Don't miss them! ... See MoreSee Less
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Last days of ILAC BLACK FRIDAY! 🚨This is your final chance to register and save on 2025 and early 2026 programs, including Night School, English courses, and our Winter Teens Parent Promo for families.⏳ Offers end November 30 and won’t be back until next year!Make your dream of studying English in Canada a reality, register today!Click here: ilac.com/black-friday-2025#ILAC #BlackFriday #StudyInCanada #EnglishSchool #Toronto #Vancouver #ILACExperience ... See MoreSee Less
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Your days are full: work, responsibilities, life.But your evenings? Those are yours. ✨ILAC Night School is designed for people who want to grow their English skills without stopping their daily routine. Whether your goal is to feel more confident at work, communicate better in Canada, or prepare for tests like IELTS or CELPIP, our evening classes give you the tools to move forward, step by step, at your pace.Study in Toronto or Vancouver!Learn with teachers who support your progress and a schedule that actually fits your life.Your time. Your choice. Your future.Link in bio to learn more or email [email protected] ... See MoreSee Less
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Our students had an amazing time at the Basketball Clinic on November 21, learning new techniques, playing together, and experiencing the spirit of Canadian basketball through our partnership with the Toronto @raptors.We love seeing how sports help students connect, build confidence, and immerse themselves in Canadian culture. Moments like these make the ILAC experience unforgettable.Stay tuned for the next clinic on December 16! 🏀✨ ... See MoreSee Less
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