3. "Five years ago, with the help of some of Canada’s most talented communications and
media industry experts, I began my journey – to photograph and interview Canada’s most
accomplished living icons, in celebration of Canada's Sesquicentennial. While I was engaging
these leaders, dreamers and visionaries, I quickly realized how important it was to share
their unique stories, passions and appetite for change with the rest of Canada. This gave birth
to the idea of an inclusive, nationwide conversation to not only reflect on and celebrate our
achievements, but also engage Canadians about the goals we strive for as a nation. I cannot
think of a better time to launch such a positive and energizing dialogue, or a better way to
honour the contributions of iconic Canadians from coast to coast to coast."
Creator, Director &
Photographer of the
Canadian Icons Project
3
Don Dixon
4. 4
Sponsorship Opportunity
The Canadian Icons Project /Canadian Change Conversations is a unique
opportunity to participate with other Canadians who are helping shape our communities
and improve our nation.
Set to launch during Canada’s 150th anniversary, this nonprofit initiative celebrates our
identity and citizenship. It creates a place and space, physical and virtual, for conversations
about issues that are shaping our society today and tomorrow. It reflects on our
achievements, deepens engagement, and inspires positive action. It promotes the kind
of change and innovation that make our communities and nation even stronger and
more sustainable.
Please join us for this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to invest in our future together,
2017 and beyond.
5. The Canadian Icons Project is a photographic and multimedia showcase of 150 iconic
Canadians whose contributions have been felt across Canada and around the world, and
who chronicle our nation’s diversity, creativity and achievements.
The Canadian Change Conversations creates a platform to engage the Icons and
Canadians at large in a series of narratives and demonstration projects designed to inform,
challenge and change how we see our communities, our nation, our world and ourselves.
Harnessing the power of Canadian Icons who serve to inspire, motivate and lead social
change; exploring voices of citizens who help shape and move our communities;
and supporting experimental ‘makerspaces’ to demonstrate responses and potential,
the Canadian Icons Project /Canadian Change Conversations together encourage
critical conversations designed to activate citizenship aimed at positive social change
and innovation.
Identity & Citizenship
5
6. Table of Contents
6
Table of Contents
Advisors and Partners 7
Project Elements 10
Photographed to Date 16
Achievements to Date 20
Project Team 22
Contact Information 24
8. Friends & Advisors:
• George Anthony, Creative Consultant, CBC
• Margaret Atwood, Poet, Novelist, Literary Critic, Essayist & Environmental Activist
• The Right Honourable Adrienne Clarkson, 26th Governor General of Canada, Journalist,
Stateswoman, & Co-founder, Institute for Canadian Citizenship
• Don Lewtas, Managing Director, ONEX Corporation
• Darrell MacMullin, CEO, BitGold, former managing director of PayPal Canada
• The Right Honourable Paul Martin, 21st Prime Minister of Canada, Global Diplomat
• Art Miki, Canadian Race Relations Founding Director
• Ross Porter, President and CEO, Jazz FM91
• J. Robert S. Prichard, OC, O.Ont, Lawyer, Economist, Academic
• Dr. Stephen Scherer, Director, Centre for Applied Genomics, Hospital for Sick Children
• Veronica Tennant, Producer, Director, Filmmaker, former Principal Dancer,
National Ballet of Canada
Friends and Advisors
8
9. Supporters & Partners:
• Mi5 Print & Digital
• Air Canada
• Cineplex Entertainment
• Jazz FM
• Sony Centre
• Global Affairs Canada, Canadian Counsels General – Los Angeles, San Francisco
• Tim Hortons
• Purolator
• Chapters/Indigo
• Applied Arts
Supporters and Partners
9
11. Canadian Icons Project
Celebrating Canada's diversity,
creativity and achievements
through a photographic and
multimedia showcase of our
country's icons.
Project Elements
11
Photography & Videos
• 150 Studio portraits of Icons
• Intimate video interviews
Photography Exhibition
• National tour ‘physical & virtual’
including national and international
airports/lounges, Canadian
Embassies
• Permanent gallery collection
Hardcover Portrait Book
• Release July 1, 2017
• Official Icon portraits with
personal messages
12. Project Elements
12
Canadian Change
Conversations
Platform to engage Icons
and Canadians in dialogue
and demonstration to
inform, challenge and
promote positive change.
Icons for Change
• National Challenges launched
by select Icons
• Summer 2017 Change
Conversation events
MapleShot
• Virtual crowdsourcing
campaign to invite public
input on citizenship
- what makes you proud?
- what would make you prouder?
- what will you invest to
achieve this?
Change-Makerspaces
• Virtual and physical experimental
makerspaces for July 2017 launch
• Content from Icons,
National Challenges, MapleShot,
interactive on-site spaces,
professional contributors
13. Online Engagement
Social Media
• Social media campaign to engage a wider audience
• Icons for Change National Challenges to engage public leading up to 2017
• Regular updates to all social media/crowdfunding platforms
Website
• Portraits with biographies
• Video interviews
• Event calendar, e-commerce, links to social media
• Channel for National Challenges responses and curation
• Permanent, interactive (and evolving) educational, open-source platform dedicated
to broadcasting our Canadian story
Project Elements
13
14. Initial Project Development
• Phase 1.a.: An interactive social media program designed to build and regularly
engage our audience with current Canadian Icons Project content.
• Phase 1.b.: Completion of photography and interviews, including photo shoots in
Los Angeles, Montreal and possibly Vancouver.
• Phase 2.a.: Icons for Change - Work with select number of Icons to help initiate 'real world'
National Challenges to stimulate input for the summer 2017 change conversations.
• Phase 2.b.: MapleShot Challenge - Develop and launch the online challenge (MapleShot.ca),
designed to reach out directly to Canadians to share their perspectives on citizenship,
current and future.
• Phase 2.c.: Change-Makerspaces - Work with interested parties to create both physical and
virtual spaces designed to support interactive conversations through creative and meaningful
content (e.g., multimedia displays, exhibitions, pop-ups).
14
Project Elements
15. Culminating Project Development
• Phase 3: Official launch of the Canadian Icons Project /Canadian Change Conversations
website: Icons Project elements include still, motion, and content, along with layout and
design of hardcover portrait book; Change Conversations elements include information
about the launch (physical and virtual) planned for the summer of 2017, as well as launch
of the Icons for Change National Challenges.
• Phase 4: Formal launch– Summer/July 2017
Canadian Icons Project specific elements include full photograph and video traveling
exhibition, along with launch of hardcover portrait book in conjunction with online
accessibility to all elements. Air Canada/Cineplex to debut video interview and Icons
for Change National Challenges.
Canadian Change Conversations elements include: over several weeks (July to September
2017) a series of physical and virtual events (e.g., interviews, exhibitions, and interactive
multimedia displays and pop-ups) to showcase change conversations and demonstration
content received to animate dialogue.
Project Elements
15
17. Activism
David Berkal Social Activist, Entrepreneur
Cindy Blackstock Child Welfare Activist, Executive Director of the First Nations Child and
Family Caring Society of Canada
Stephen Lewis Activist, Former Politician, Former Representative to the United Nations
Samantha Nutt Founder of War Child Canada, Humanitarian, Author
Margaret Trudeau First Lady of Canada’s 15th Prime Minister, Mental Health Activist
Arts Management
Andrew Alexander Executive Producer, Second City
Mark Breslin Executive Producer, Yuk Yuks
Bernie Fiedler Agent, Promoter
David Mirvish Entrepreneur, Impresario
Broadcasting
George Anthony Canadian Broadcasting Corporation, Journalist, Executive
Jeanne Beker Television Personality, Fashion Designer, Author
Denise Donlon Television Producer, Broadcast Executive
Ivan Fecan Media Executive, Philanthropist
Peter Mansbridge Canadian Broadcasting Corporation Chief Correspondent
Ron MacLean Canadian Broadcasting Corporation, Sportscaster
Ross Porter President of Jazz FM
Lloyd Robertson CTV National News Anchor
Moses Znaimer Radio & Television Broadcaster, Entrepreneur
Business
Salah Bachir Philanthropist, Entrepreneur
George Cohon Founder, Senior Chairman of McDonalds Canada and McDonalds Russia,
Founder of the Ronald McDonald House
Elizabeth Grant Entrepreneur, Elizabeth Grant Cosmetics
Ellis Jacob President, CEO of Cineplex Entertainment
Kevin O’Leary Entrepreneur, Investor, Financial Commentator
Jack Rabinovitch Property Developer, Giller Prize Founder
Harry and Larry Rosen Father and Son Retailers
Environment
Wade Davis Anthropologist, Ethnobotanist, Author and National Geographic Photographer
Michael Mesure Environmental Activist, Founder of FLAP
Film and Theatre Arts
Antoni Cimolino Artistic Director of the Stratford Festival
Diane Dupuy Famous People Players, Blacklight Puppetry Theatre
Atom Egoyan Film Director, Writer, Producer
Rex Harrington Dancer, National Ballet
Norman Jewison Film Director, Producer, Actor and founder of the Canadian Film Centre
Andrea Martin Actress, Comedian17
Photographed to Date
Participants
to Date
18. Rick Mercer Actor, Comedian, Writer
Komal Minhas Film Producer, Writer, Entrepreneur
Alanis Obomsawin First Nations Filmmaker
Gordon Pinsent Film Director, Actor, Poet, Playwright
Christopher Plummer Screen and Stage Actor
Albert Schultz Actor and Founding Director of Soulpepper Theatre
William Shatner Actor, Television and Stage
Gordon Smith Special Effects Artist
Veronica Tennant Producer, Director, Filmmaker, Performer, Writer,
former Principal Dancer, National Ballet of Canada
Literary
Margaret Atwood Author
Douglas Coupland Author, Painter
Scott Griffin Writer, Philanthropist
Lawrence Hill Writer, Memoirist
Thomas King Author, Activist, Politician
Michele Landsberg Author, Journalist
Music
Archie Alleyne Jazz Drummer
Peter Appleyard Composer, Vibraphonist
Jann Arden Singer, Songwriter
Liona Boyd Classical Guitarist, Singer, Songwriter
Measha Brueggergosman Opera Singer, Concert Artist, Soprano Singer
Marc Jordon Singer, Songwriter, Record Producer, Actor
David Clayton Thomas Singer, Songwriter
Don Francks Actor, Poet, Jazz Singer
Tommy Hunter Country Music Legend
Jeanne Lamon Violinist, Music Director
Murry McLaughlin Singer, Songwriter, Musician
Anne Murray Singer
Fred Penner Children’s Entertainer, Singer, Songwriter
Jackie Richardson Jazz Singer, Actress
Nikki Yanofsky Jazz-Pop Singer, Songwriter
Military
Lieutenant-General Roméo Dallaire Retired General and Senator, Humanitarian, Author
Master Cpl. Paul Franklin Advocate for Disabled Veterans
Performance Art
Karen Kain Artistic Director of the National Ballet of Canada,
former Principal Dancer, National Ballet of Canada
D'bi Young Anitafrika Dub poet, Dramatist, Educator
18
Photographed to Date
Participants
to Date
19. Politics / Law
Perry Bellegarde Assembly of First Nations National Chief
The Right Honourable Kim Campbell Canada’s 19th Prime Minister
The Right Honourable Adrienne Clarkson Canada’s 26th Governor General
The Right Honourable Paul Martin Canada’s 21st Prime Minister
Phil Fontaine Former National Chief of the Assembly of First Nations
Chief Justice Beverly McLachlin 17th Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Canada
Hazel (Hurricane) McCallion 5th Mayor of Mississauga
Art Miki Politician, Activist
Science / Medicine
Dr. Roberta Bondar Astronaut, Neurologist
Dr. Krysztof Conrad Plastic Surgeon
Dr. Tirone David Cardiac Surgeon
Colonel Chris Hadfield Astronaut, Engineer, Pilot
Dr. Joseph MacInnis Physician, Scientist, Author
Dr. Tak Wah Mak Geneticist, Oncologist, Biochemist
Jaymie Matthews Astrophysicist
Dr. Robert Nam Head of Genitourinary Oncology, Sunnybrook Hospital
Dr. Stephen Scherer Geneticist, Nobel Class Citation Laureate
Dr. James Till Biophysicist
Dr. Lap-Chee Tsui Geneticist
Sports
George Chuvalo Canadian Heavy Weight Champion
Michael (Pinball) Clemons CFL All-Star Player/Coach, Philanthropist
Donovan Bailey Gold Medal Olympic Sprinter, World Record holder for the 100 meters race
Rick Hansen Paralympian, Philanthropist
Curt Harnett Olympic Racing Cyclist
Paul Henderson Hockey Legend, ’72 Summit Series Winning Goal
Sandy Hawley Jockey
Benoît Huot Paralympic Swimmer
Rosie MacLennan Gold Medal Olympic Trampoline Gymnast
Fran Rider Hockey Legend
Visual Arts
Anita Kunz Artist, Illustrator
Robert Bateman Wildlife Painter
David Blackwood Artist, Printmaker
John Massey Fine Art Photographer
George McLean Landscape and Wildlife Artist
William Lishman Artist, Sculptor, Inventor, Ultra-light Aviation Pioneer, Wildlife Hero
Glen Loates Wildlife Painter
19
Photographed to Date
Participants
to Date
21. Completed and /or underway
• Over half of the Icons photographed and interviewed
• Mi5 will print and publish hardcover book
• Global Affairs Canada Consulates in Los Angeles and San Francisco
will house the CIP exhibition and hold the Canadian Icons Project / Canadian Change
Conversations events
• Discussion underway to feature content in all Canadian Embassies
• Discussion with Cineplex and Air Canada to feature the Canadian Icons Project /
Canadian Change Conversations content (on screen pre feature films, and on
airplane infotainment screens, En Route magazine, in Maple Leaf Lounges, at hosted
events respectively)
Achievements to Date
21
23. Project Team
23
Don Dixon
CIP Creator, Director & Photographer
Don is a professional award-winning photographer and filmmaker.
He has been working in the commercial industry for the past three decades
representing some of the biggest brands in the country. Don runs a full
production studio including video editing, sound design, post-production and
special effects.
Chris O‘Shaughnessy
Creative Director
Chris is an internationally recognized designer who's primary focus is delivering
simple, strategic, concept driven communications that allows universal accessibility
regardless of the medium. Former Design Director at J. Walter Thompson, Chris has
collaborated with some of the world’s top brands and businesses from worldwide
icons such as Bayer Inc., Johnson & Johnson, Cadbury Adams, Walmart, Shell, Canon,
Mazda, AT&T, and Philips; to proud local Canadian brands such as Tim Hortons and
the Canadian Cancer Society.
Meliase Paterson
Project Coordinator
Meliase has over thirty years experience as a multi-disciplined Canadian film
and media professional. She is both an expert key make-up artist, with famed
clients such as Rick Mercer, and an effective project coordinator with a focus
on talent acquisition and management.
Jenny Wells
Senior Producer
Jenny is a seasoned radio and television producer with decades of investigative
national news and current affairs programming experience. She has been the
go-to communications professional for clients such as the Hospital for Sick
Children and the CBC.
Ana Dixon
Chief Financial Officer
Ana has spent twenty-five years managing the financial side of creative
agencies. She is a startup expert with a reputation for guiding many new
businesses to financial success.
Mary Herbert-Copley
Executive Producer, CCC Co-Creator
Mary is passionate about engaging people in sustainable community building
and has pursued this throughout her career as a senior executive in the
federal government, and in the non-profit and academic sectors. She is highly
committed to deliberative problem solving, applying user-centric co-creation
processes to address challenges in public and social spaces.
Andy Foster
Community Engagement Coordinator, CCC Co-Creator
Andy is a results-driven professional with 20+ years of experience in creative
digital marketing and project management at the Stratford Festival. He
brings an enthusiastic team-oriented approach to this project, with a focus on
collaborative community outreach and engagement.
Mary Assenza
Social Media Director
Mary believes that great content, beautiful design and effective marketing,
need to all work together to make a great campaign that really speaks to
people and produces results – whether it’s social shares, wider brand reach
or revenue. She has created campaigns for both freelance clients and large
companies, such as TVO Kids.
Hunter Dixon
Video Editor
Hunter is a graduate of the Ryerson University film program, where he
contributed to several award-winning short films. He is a skilled, industry-
seasoned editor, who can create content for everything from social media
campaigns, corporate commercials and promotions, and feature films.
24. The Right Honourable
Adrienne Clarkson
Canada’s 26th Governor General, Journalist,
Politician, Stateswoman
Contact Information
24
25. Thank you.
The team at Canadian Icons Project / Canadian Change Conversations
is available to answer any questions you may have and welcomes your participation
in any aspects of this unique and celebratory project.
Contact: 416. 465. 3634
Email: info@canadianiconsproject.com
Online: canadianiconsproject.com
25
26. Samantha Nutt
Founder of War Child Canada, Humanitarian, Author
Paul Franklin
Master Cpl. Paul Franklin
Archie Alleyne
Jazz Drummer
Dr. Roberta Bondar
Astronaut, Neurologist
William Shatner
Actor, Television and Stage
Atom Egoyan
Film Maker
Paul Henderson
Hockey Legend, ’72 Summit Series Winning Goal
The Rt. Hon. Paul Martin
Canada’s 21st Prime Minister
Christopher Plummer
Screen and Stage Actor
Perry Bellegarde
AFN National Chief, First Nations and Métis Activist
Rick Mercer
Actor, Comedian, Writer
Anne Murray
Singer
