Lithium Magazine

Review and Photos by Lisa McDonald (Live Music Head)

Canada's Walk of Fame is a non-profit, volunteer driven organization.
We have chosen as our mission to engage Canadians in celebrating those who
have excelled in music, sport, film, television, as well as literary, visual, performing arts, science and innovation. ~ mission statement, Canada’s Walk of Fame

Established in 1998, the criteria for entry into Canada’s Walk of Fame is such that nominees must be born in Canada or have spent their formative or creative years in the country; a minimum of 10 years experience in their field, and a body of work with national or international impact on Canada's heritage. With 131 accomplished Canadians already inducted to date, we’re about to hear of seven more.

On the morning of June 28, 2011, a brunch was hosted by ET Canada’s Cheryl Hickey at the Windsor Arms Hotel in downtown Toronto. Prior to learning who the 2011 inductees would include, guests and media were assembled in the Courtyard Cafe, where Ms. Hickey introduced six speakers, one being the Honourable James Flaherty (Federal Minister of Finance and Minister Responsible for the GTA). The Honourable’s speech was particularly noteworthy for announcing the Government of Canada’s decision to invest $500,000 in the Canada Walk of Fame Festival. The funding falls under the Canada Arts Presentation Fund administered by Canada Heritage. The funds will support events showcasing Canada’s culture and stimulate Toronto’s local economy. Following the speech, Peter Soumalias (Founding Director & CEO, Canada’s Walk of Fame) humorously presented Flaherty with a pair of men’s shoes designed by D-Square, as a memento. Rumour has it the shoes were once worn by actor-comedian and 1998 Canada Walk of Fame inductee, Jim Carey.

Peter Soumalias, also a speaker at the event, spoke highly of successful Canadian film maker James Cameron, and says he owes it to the movie director... for suggesting accomplished and established artists be joined together with up-and-coming and emerging artists, through Canada’s Walk of Fame, to mentor and share their experience and expertise. In 2008, James Cameron was inducted to Canada’s Walk of Fame and had this to say: “I think it’s balanced in the Canadian spirit, by this sense of quiet confidence, even a fearlessness, to go out there on the world stage and achieve great things.” That being said, ladies and gentlemen, it was also Mr. Soumalias who finally and formally announced the 2011 Canada Walk of Fame inductees. And the winners are...

Dr. Roberta Bondar
Hailing from Sault Ste Marie, Ontario, Dr. Roberta Bondar is inducted to Canada’s Walk of Fame for recognition as the world’s first neurologist in space, and for her contribution to space medicine research. Dr. Bondar has earned a reputation as a leading speaker and consultant within the medical and scientific community, and in the field of corporate responsibility. She’s also an author, educator, and celebrated landscape photographer. Congratulations Dr. Bondar!

Burton Cummings
Canadian Music Hall of Famer and 6-time Juno Award winner, Burton Cummings is well known as the singer-songwriter and front man of rock group, The Guess Who. He’s been awarded for one-million-plus airplays of his songs, and the many hit records released in his 40-year career. Most recently, the best-selling book “100 Top Canadian Singles” ranked the Guess Who song “American Woman”, the greatest Canadian single of all time. Congratulations Mr. Cummings!

Daniel Nestor
Serbia-born, Toronto resident Daniel Nestor is a tennis player recognized as the third most decorated doubles champion in tennis history. Appointed the Order of Canada in 2010, he has won multiple titles over the span of his career, and represented Canada at the 1996, 2000, and 2004 Olympics, bringing home Gold from the Sydney Games. Congratulations Mr. Nestor!

Sandra Oh
Gemini-nominated actress Sandra Oh is an Ottawa-native and the recipient of Genie, Golden Globe and Screen Actors Guild awards, not to mention five Emmy nominations for her role as Dr. Christina Yang on the hit television series Grey’s Anatomy. Congratulations Ms. Oh!

Russell Peters
An internet sensation with over 60 million Youtube hits, Russell Peters is a comedian having graced many a stage worldwide. Listed on Forbes as a top earning performer in the United States, he’s also released a bestselling book and a DVD called The Green Card Tour (Live from the 02 Arena). Congratulations Mr. Peters!

Ryan Reynolds
An actor known for his work in 2008’s “Definitely, Maybe” and 09’s “X-Men Origins: Wolverine”, Ryan Reynolds also earned two MTV Movie Award nominations for his role in “The Proposal”. Additionally, he’s a People’s Choice Award winner and People Magazine voted him “2010 Sexiest Man Alive”. Congratulations Mr. Reynolds!

And last, but certainly not least...

Mordecai Richler
The “controversial writer who wrote the truth as he saw it”, has works too numerous to mention. His most successful novels include “The Apprenticeship of Duddy Kravitz” (1959), for which he also wrote the screenplay, resulting in an Academy Award nomination (1974). And he was made Companion of the Order of Canada shortly before his death in 2001. Posthumous congratulations to Mr Richler!

Other speakers at the event included Bruce Rothney (Chair, Canada’s Walk of Fame Board of Directors), Barbara Williams (Senior Vice-President- Content, Shaw Media), Prashant Sharma (Vice President, Retail Credit Cards RBC), and Mary Pompili (Chief Operating Officer, Canada’s Walk of Fame).

As a prelude to the announcement of this year’s inductees, those in attendance were treated to a performance by Alysha Brillinger, fronting a 4-piece blues reggae band. Born to a father from Tanzania and a mother from Orangeville, Ontario, Brillinger got a boost to her career when an artistic manager took notice of her musical presence on the www, and shortly thereafter saw Alysha flying to New York City and signing a contract with Lava/Universal Republic. John Legend, in town for a show at the Air Canada Centre with Sade, and staying at the Windsor Arms, dropped by the Courtyard with his manager during Brillinger’s soundcheck. Perhaps she’s due for another boost, as apparently Legend quite liked what he heard.

Guests of the announcement brunch were also treated to an intimate performance by composer-songwriter-producer, Stephan Moccio. Moccio has written songs for Sarah Brightman, Josh Groban, and Olivia Newton-John. He also teamed up with Alan Frew to create the platinum-selling “I Believe”, a song many will remember performed by jazz-pop singer Nikki Yanofsky at the 2010 Olympics. But Moccio, a newborn father, also proved a witty fellow as he reminisced with stories from his ten-year association with Canadian songstress Celine Dion. His new baby, we’re told, helped inspire “A New Day’s Come”, a song Moccio wrote, and Ms Dion recorded. Both songs were performed at the brunch.

In addition to the announcement of the seven new inductees, Canada’s Walk of Fame also announced that 2-time Juno award winner Chantal Kreviazuk and acclaimed singer-songwriter Raine Maida (front man, Our Lady Peace) will join Stephan Moccio in a new competition. Since June 1, Canadians have been submitting their words, as well as vocal and musical interpretations to describe what they believe is the true essence of the Canadian identity. A panel will review all submissions and select the top ten which will then be judged by Nikki Yanofsky, Entertainment Tonight Canada’s Rick Campanelli, and Peter Soumalias at the debut performance of “A Song for Canada” on the Canada Walk of Fame’s Televised Awards come October 2011 (Global and Slice). The grand prize winner will receive the opportunity to work with Moccio, Maida, and Kreviazuk, as well as recording time at Metalworks Studios (valued at $10,000). In addition, the winner will also receive $25,000 cash and an invitation to attend the Televised Awards and Inductee’s Ball. The competition closes on July 15 and the winner will be announced in August 2011.

Top-notch talent has also been rounded up for the second annual Canada Walk of Fame Festival which will happen Sept 29 to Oct 2, 2011. Covering four days of music, comedy and film, the festival will kick off when Burton Cummings takes the stage at Massey Hall on Sept 29. The class of 2011 will also receive further tributes at Toronto’s Elgin Theatre on October 1st, where the Cineplex Entertainment-sponsored Canadian Legends award will be presented to the late Mordecai Richler. For further information on all of the Canada Walk of Fame events, please visit the website.

Congratulations once again to the 2011 Canada Walk of Fame inductees!

Canada’s Walk of Fame website...
http://www.canadaswalkoffame.com/