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The Canadians: Biographies of a Nation
Based on the award winning television series The Canadians: Biographies of a Nation, these mini biographies are written by the series host, Patrick Watson. The true stories depict the courage and fortitude of Canadians throughout the country's history.
336 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2000
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Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
August 4, 2026
The Canadians: Biographies Of A Nation
Patrick Watson
I’ve reviewed John Fraser’s rather personal and biased Eminent Canadians.
This book is the first in a trio of Canadian Biographies now 26 years old.
Given that the first profile begins with a suicide a rather mournful tone is set. Canadians may be unassuming, modest, humble unlike their brash, entitled, condescending cousins to the south but they are no less loyal, quietly proud, or confident.
Patrick Watson’s Biographies began on a mordant tone with a suicide. Despite his great talent the runner in question was denied the support of his coach because the man was a janitor, not a professional trainer. Number two concerns a 13-yr-old dancer who headlined speakeasies. Watson repeats the contention that Prohibition was the making of organized crime and further asserts that Drug Laws today are having a similar consequence.
I will say that the bios are eminently readable. Many concerning people most will have never been aware.
Fraser writes of Aberhart that an informed public and modern media make another such fascistic leader unlikely; I’d introduce him to Donald Trump were he still alive. Funny Money and Tariffs anyone?
Pauline Johnson writes, you have given us Bibles and stolen our land. Mohawk father and English mother. In performance she appeared in a white woman’s gown and after the intermission in Buckskin.
CBC French Service, Radio Canada is a unique experience. Judith Jassmin was a trail-blazer. The first French Canadian Female Reporter at a time when women weren’t allowed in the press club. An advocate for Quebec independence and freedom from the Constraints of the Catholic Church. A reporter who brought the world into provincial livingrooms through TV reports. She knew René Lévesque.
The woman who would become Elizabeth Arden grew up poor tending horses on a farm in Woodbridge, Ontario.
And Northrop Frye cites the Old Testament as one of the most violent documents you could find. That this author seems obsessed with the fact that one of the great thinkers of our age had a love life is a needless form of voyeurism.
Tom Thomson and Algonquin Park are synonymous. Though I would quibble about it being wilderness. Trees planted in symmetrical straight lines give a lie to anything wild and there has been hunting in the southern sections of the park. One must canoe for days to reach pristine wilderness and even there some over-muscled yahoo is likely to blast you with his boombox. Finding a wolf during a wolf howl in a stream of one hundred cars is a farce. Alas, we love our parks to death and Fat Ford is removing wild life protections and favours exploiting green space.
Patrick Watson
I’ve reviewed John Fraser’s rather personal and biased Eminent Canadians.
This book is the first in a trio of Canadian Biographies now 26 years old.
Given that the first profile begins with a suicide a rather mournful tone is set. Canadians may be unassuming, modest, humble unlike their brash, entitled, condescending cousins to the south but they are no less loyal, quietly proud, or confident.
Patrick Watson’s Biographies began on a mordant tone with a suicide. Despite his great talent the runner in question was denied the support of his coach because the man was a janitor, not a professional trainer. Number two concerns a 13-yr-old dancer who headlined speakeasies. Watson repeats the contention that Prohibition was the making of organized crime and further asserts that Drug Laws today are having a similar consequence.
I will say that the bios are eminently readable. Many concerning people most will have never been aware.
Fraser writes of Aberhart that an informed public and modern media make another such fascistic leader unlikely; I’d introduce him to Donald Trump were he still alive. Funny Money and Tariffs anyone?
Pauline Johnson writes, you have given us Bibles and stolen our land. Mohawk father and English mother. In performance she appeared in a white woman’s gown and after the intermission in Buckskin.
CBC French Service, Radio Canada is a unique experience. Judith Jassmin was a trail-blazer. The first French Canadian Female Reporter at a time when women weren’t allowed in the press club. An advocate for Quebec independence and freedom from the Constraints of the Catholic Church. A reporter who brought the world into provincial livingrooms through TV reports. She knew René Lévesque.
The woman who would become Elizabeth Arden grew up poor tending horses on a farm in Woodbridge, Ontario.
And Northrop Frye cites the Old Testament as one of the most violent documents you could find. That this author seems obsessed with the fact that one of the great thinkers of our age had a love life is a needless form of voyeurism.
Tom Thomson and Algonquin Park are synonymous. Though I would quibble about it being wilderness. Trees planted in symmetrical straight lines give a lie to anything wild and there has been hunting in the southern sections of the park. One must canoe for days to reach pristine wilderness and even there some over-muscled yahoo is likely to blast you with his boombox. Finding a wolf during a wolf howl in a stream of one hundred cars is a farce. Alas, we love our parks to death and Fat Ford is removing wild life protections and favours exploiting green space.
November 26, 2020
At the turn of the 21 century, the History Channel in Canada produced a number of one hour documentaries about interesting Canadians, some well-known, some well-known in their time but forgotten today. This book by the series narrator, Patrick Watson, is a compilation of a dozen short biographies derived from the TV episodes. The bios cover people from all walks of life in Canada including an artist (Tom Thomson), a provincial premier (Bill Aberhart), athletes (Percy Williams), and an environmental activist with a dubious family history (Grey Owl). Though it has weaknesses, the book is interesting overall and gives the reader suggestions for more indepth reading on each of the people studied. Watson did have the annoying habit of interjecting himself into the narrative from time to time, and from some of his comments it is clear that he doesn't have much use for Christianity. But those minor points aside, this is a good introduction to the lives of some interesting Canadians whose stories are becoming quickly lost to history.
February 6, 2026
Percy Williams (runner), Northrop Frye (scholar), Ruth Keeler (dancer), Bobbie Rosenfeld (athlete), Angus Walters (Bluenose), Dai Vernon (magician), Judith Jasmin (journalist), Elizabeth Arden (cosmetics), Wop May (pilot), Alexander Mackenzie (mapmaker, traveller), Sam Hughes (war history)
Grey Owl (fraud), Tom Thomson (artist)
Informative, well written
Grey Owl (fraud), Tom Thomson (artist)
Informative, well written
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews