Your city's greatest ambassadors

[esquire]

Originally Posted by rrskylar

Add David Steinberg and Peter Nygard to your list!

I don't know about Nygard... I think archiseek summed it up best when he described him as Winnipeg's very own Bond villain...

[kwoldtimer]

In K-W's case, I'd have to put Mike and Ophelia Lazaridis at the top of the list. Waterloo in particular has been a major beneficiary of his philanthropic generosity. The latest, just last week, was $20 million to Wilfrid Laurier University to create a management institute for business programs to support the local tech industry.

[Surrealplaces]

I can see this list turning into a 'who's a celebrity from your city' in which case we all go to Wikipedia and copy and paste the list for each city.

Some of those in the Edmonton list are people who have lived in other cities as well. For example from your list Leslie Nielson lived in Saskatoon, Tommy Chong was more a Calgarian. Also Nellie Mclung mostly a Calgarian

Originally Posted by BretttheRiderFan

Edmonton?

- Don Iveson
- Joey Moss
- Mark Carney(?)
- Nathan Filion
- Nellie McClung and Emily Murphy
- Wop May
- Barb Tarbox
- Tommy Chong
- Leslie Nielsen (went to high school here)
- Cadence Weapon
- Lots of hockey players


We have a serious deficit of good musicians that came out of this town compared to other large cities in the country.

[Surrealplaces]

So in response to the original post, is this for ambassadors still alive, or ones both past and present?

If we are talking present residents, who are active contributing citizens, and not just a list of celebrities born here, I can't think of too many in the present for Calgary.

Present ambassadors you could say...
-Brett Hart as he has done a fair bit of charity work.
-Tom Jackson (actor), he's active in the community
-Brett Wilson (Dragon's Den) He's from Sask originally, but has been living here a long time and does a lot of charity stuff.

Past ones, would be
-Nelly McLung
-Alice Jamieson

[Surrealplaces]

Originally Posted by Acajack

I agree that Ottawa seems a bit let down by its more famous offspring. They seem to forget about the place once they make it big elsewhere.

I won't even talk about Gatineau as the famous names are not generally known outside Quebec. But quite a few people from here in the Montreal-based Québécois showbiz industry do talk favourably about the Outaouais region and how nice it is and one of the province's best-kept-secrets.

As for Montreal well the ones who talk up the city most are probably Arcade Fire. It's probably because they're a totally anglo band from a francophone city and need to remind people of where they're from, lest they get mistaken for natives of Austin, Texas or something...

Francophone celebrities don't tend to play up Montreal or Quebec much unless they get specifically asked. Everyone knows where they're from right away so there's no need to...

The female singer is from Montreal, the rest of the band is from various locations. Two brothers from Houston, and one is from Victoria BC....the rest I can't remember where they're from.

[Acajack]

Originally Posted by Surrealplaces

The female singer is from Montreal, the rest of the band is from various locations. Two brothers from Houston, and one is from Victoria BC....the rest I can't remember where they're from.

Correct.

They just seem really keen on emphasizing that they're from Montreal. Perhaps for those reasons...

[Martin Mtl]

Originally Posted by Surrealplaces

The female singer is from Montreal, the rest of the band is from various locations. Two brothers from Houston, and one is from Victoria BC....the rest I can't remember where they're from.

And a francophone. Her parents are Haitian immigrants. She studied in french until university.

[SteelTown]

Originally Posted by Beedok

Martin Short and Eugene Levy maybe?

Martin Short for sure

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[Razor]

Ottawa - Lowell Greene

I kid, I kid.

[Architype]

For Vancouver, we have or have had; Bryan Adams, Michael Bublé, Tommy Chong, Michael J. Fox, Nancy Greene Raine, Joshua Jackson, Margot Kidder, Chad Kroeger, Colin Mochrie, Sandra Oh, Jason Priestley, Ryan Reynolds, Seth Rogen, John Turner & Kim Campbell, Former Canadian Prime Ministers. . . these are some of the names I recognized from the Wilipedia list, who have put in a good word for Vancouver during their careers. Then, there was Juliette in the 1960s, and of course, Terry Fox. I Probably should have included Jim Pattison, 3rd richest person in Canada.

[softee]

In the world of youtube, iiSuperwomanii (along with her friend Humble the Poet) is Toronto's biggest ambassador. With 5.5 million subscribers, she's repping Toronto to millions of young people all around the world.
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Jus Reign is another popular youtuber who is spreading the Toronto love around.

[Rico Rommheim]

Seems like this thread has turned into "which celebrity has set foot in my city". All there's missing is "omg omg" and Ben Mulroney.

[Architype]

Originally Posted by softee

...

Jus Reign is another popular youtuber who is spreading the Toronto love around.

No offense, but I've never heard of that person. In Vancouver we call that "spreading the love" composting.

[Architype]

Originally Posted by Rico Rommheim

Seems like this thread has turned into "which celebrity has set foot in my city". All there's missing is "omg omg" and Ben Mulroney.

Celebrities get lots of exposure, more than most politicians. And where is Ben Mulroney actually from btw? Somewhere where they make really good cheese no doubt.

[SignalHillHiker]

Rob Ford comes to mind for TO - in a positive sense. He was just so over the top, so ridiculous, that it made the city seem... approachable? Cool? Street cred?

I'd definitely include Gregor Robertson for Vancouver and Naheed Nenshi for Calgary. Both are widely known, both have been here for presentations. And Robertson is hot, so there's that.

Amy Pohler for Boston. She's great at promoting the city.

[softee]

Originally Posted by Architype

No offense, but I've never heard of that person. In Vancouver we call that "spreading the love" composting.

Here's a taste:
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[kwoldtimer]

Originally Posted by SignalHillHiker

Rob Ford comes to mind for TO - in a positive sense. He was just so over the top, so ridiculous, that it made the city seem... approachable? Cool? Street cred?

I'd definitely include Gregor Robertson for Vancouver and Naheed Nenshi for Calgary. Both are widely known, both have been here for presentations. And Robertson is hot, so there's that.

Amy Pohler for Boston. She's great at promoting the city.

He has a speech impediment that prevents him from referring to Toronto without saying "great" immediately before.

[Architype]

^ Rob Ford would put any place on the map, we all need a Rob Ford to represent us when things are going too well for our own good.

Gregor was too obvious a choice for Vancouver because he is the current mayor, but has only become ever so slightly scandal ridden. Maybe things will improve. I even buy his juice sometimes.

BTW Mike Myers is it for Toronto!

[Hali87]

The Trailer Park Boys

[TorontoDrew]

Originally Posted by Rico Rommheim

Seems like this thread has turned into "which celebrity has set foot in my city". All there's missing is "omg omg" and Ben Mulroney.

I stand my list. The celebs I chose often speak highly of Toronto and do what they can to promote the city to the world. You can't deny that celebs can be huge promoters for a cause and in some cases the place they got their start.