Famous People Born or Who have Lived in Burlington

Burlington has its share of famous personalities that have helped shape our city. Assist us in keeping this information up-to-date and accurate by This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

Arts/Music

Chris Bacon - Artist

The avian paintings of Chris Bacon have won worldwide recognition and acclaim. Born in England, Chris grew up in the visually rich worlds of Fiji, Ascension Island and Bermuda and began drawing at a very early age. He and his family immigrated to Canada in 1974, settling in Burlington, Ontario. Bacon exhibits his work throughout North America, Europe and Japan. He has received six ‘Awards of Excellence’ from the Society of Animal Artists (1992-94; 1996-98) in addition to that organization’s ‘Elliot Liskin Memorial Award’ for painting in 1996.Chris was honored to receive the prestigious ‘Master Wildlife Artist Award’ from the Leigh Yawkey Woodson Art Museum in 2004 and in 2008, received the ‘Trustees Purchase Award’ from the National Museum of Wildlife Art in Jackson Hole, Wyoming.

Robert Bateman – Artist

Robert Bateman was born in Toronto, Canada in the year 1930. He was a Burlington resident and taught at Nelson and Lord Elgin High Schools in Burlington from 1958-1963, 1965-1969 and 1970-76. He is a celebrated artist and environmentalist, whose artistic technique encapsulates the natural world. Bateman’s work has generated sell-out exhibitions in Canada, the U.S. and Great Britain and has received numerous honours and awards including a succession of doctorates from Canadian universities. In addition, Bateman has recently authored two books on painting and conservation. In 2004 Lord Elgin High School was renamed Robert Bateman High School. Bateman has also received numerous awards including Officer of the Order of Canada, the Queen’s Jubilee Medal and Amnesty International’s Human Rights Defender Award.

Boys Night Out – Post-hardcore Band

Boys Night Out originated in Burlington, ON, in 2001 as a collaborative effort between vocalist Connor Lovat-Fraser and guitarist Jeff Davis. Two years later, the band was signed to New Jersey’s Ferret Records and published a full-length debut. The album, Make Yourself Sick, was promoted through extensive touring with such acts as Fallout Boy, My Chemical Romance and Motion City Soundtrack. They followed up their debut with two additional albums, 2005’s Trainwreck and 2007’s self-titled Boys Night Out. In 2009, Lovat-Fraser and Davis left the band to join producer Scott Komer in forming a new band called Hard Calibers.

Burlington Teen Tour Band – World Renowned Youth Marching Band

The Teen Tour Band first began on December 15, 1947 with 75 members of the Burlington & District Community Girls and Boys Band under the leadership of Elgin Corlett, the Band’s founder and first music director. Their first performance outside of Canada took place in the summer of 1949 when the band travelled to Warren, Ohio where they performed at a football game and played in a concert. In 1965 the band changed their name to the Burlington Teen Tour Band. It was then that the Management developed a philosophy that would produce a better band, keep the members active year round and organize annual tours. On Feb. 1, 1968 the City of Burlington, Parks and Recreation Department took over the operations of the band and Eric Ford was appointed the music director. Following Ford’s retirement in 1977, Assistant Director Don Allan took over the position until 1998. It was then that Rob Bennett took over the full time position of Manager of Music Programs for Burlington. With this restructure, Sir William Hughes became only the 4th Music Director in the band’s history. In 2007, the Burlington Teen Tour Band celebrated its 60^th anniversary.

Jim Carrey – Actor

James Eugene Carrey was born January 17, 1962 in Aurora, ON. He lived in Burlington, ON for eight years and attended Aldershot Secondary School. Carey would often perform comedy sketches for classmates in middle school which fortified his outrageous stage talent. He relocated to Scarborough, ON in his teens, where he later dropped out of high school to pursue a career in comedy. He received critical acclaim at Yuk Yuk’s and The Comedy Store where he was hired by comedian Rodney Dangerfield to headline his comedic tour. Carrey found television success in the 80’s on Saturday Night Live and In Living Color. He went on to star in over twenty-five films, receiving a total of two Golden Globe awards and six Golden Globe nominations for such films as the The Truman Show and Man on the Moon. He was nominated for a British Academy Film Award for Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role for Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind and also has a star on Canada’s Walk of Fame.

Jeff Danna – Musician/Composer

Jeff Danna is a Canadian film composer and guitarist.  He composed music for films such as Silent Hill, Ripley Under Ground, Tideland, Resident Evil:  Apocalypse and The Gospel of John.

Finger Eleven – Alternative Rock Band

The members of Finger 11 first came together at Lester B. Pearson High School where they originated as a funk band called the “Rainbow Butt Monkeys”. Original members Scott and Sean Andersen, Rob Gommerman, James Black and Rick Jackett won a contest on a local radio station and used the prize money to produce their first album Letters from Chutney (1995). When the original drummer left the band, the Rainbow Butt Monkeys became Finger 11 and hired current drummer Rich Beddoe. In 1998, Letters from Chutney was re-released under a New York label, which marked the beginning of Finger 11’s new, heavier sound. Since then, Finger 11 has produced three albums: The Greyest of Blue Skies (2000), a self-titled third album (2003) and Me Vs. You Vs. Me (2007). Me Vs. You Vs. Me won the 2008 Juno Award for Rock Album of the Year. Finger 11 continues to tour with internationally renowned artists such as Chevelle, Evanescence and Kid Rock.

Grade – Rock Band

Grade was a Canadian hard core group who released music from 1994 - 2001 including Grade/Believe, Separate the Magnets, Triumph and Tragedy, Under the Radar, Embarrassing Beginning and And Such is Progress. In 2001, they replaced their original guitarist Greg Taylor with Brad Casarin, and their original drummer Chris Danner with Charlie Moniz and released the album Headfirst Straight to Hell.  The band broke up in 2002.

Ryan Gosling – Actor

Ryan Gosling was born in London, ON, and lived in Cornwall before he moved to Burlington where he attended Lester B. Pearson High School. He starred in the hit T.V. show Breaker High and was ranked on People magazine’s list of “Fifty Hottest Bachelors”. He has since been nominated for an Academy Award and a Screen Actors Guild Award for his performance in the 2006 drama Half Nelson as well as a Golden Globe award and Screen Actors Guild Award for his role in 2008’s Lars and the Real Girl. In addition, he received the inaugural Independent Award at the Santa Barbara Film Festival. Gosling has also starred in numerous films including Remember the Titans, The Notebook, Fracture and Blue Valentine.  In 2008 Ryan has formed a band with his friend Zach Shields and released their first album in 2009.

Sarah Harmer – Musician

Sarah Harmer grew up on a small farm on the outskirts of Burlington. She has become an accomplished singer and activist, co-founding the organization PERL (Protecting Escarpment Rural Land). Harmer earned a degree in Philosophy and Women’s Studies from Queen’s University and has received three Juno award nominations, including Songwriter of the Year.

Jordan “Ratbeard” Hastings – Musician

Raised in Burlington Ontario, Jordan is the current drummer for the post-hardcore band Alexisonfire.  The band won the Juno Award for New Group of the Year in 2005 and was nominated for the Juno Award for Group of the Year in 2007. Hastings was previously the drummer for the band Jersey and The Black Lungs.

Torri Higginson – Actress

Born in Burlington, Torri is well-known for her roles in TekWar movies and series, The English Patient and Stargate Atlantis. She is also a theatre actress and has appeared in numerous plays including Three Tall Women and Picasso at the Lapin Agile. In 2000, Higginson won a Gemini Award for Best Performance by an Actress in a Continuing Leading Dramatic Role for her role in The City.

Idle Sons – Rock Band

Idle Sons was established by a group of childhood friends from Burlington, ON. Under the name Slurpymundae the band released a three-song demo with the help of local band Finger 11. They were soon signed to Atlantic Records, but dropped when the label merged with an internet company. The band recently signed a deal with EMI Canada, releasing the album “Sixteen Candles” which combined a number of songs and jam sessions over the span of four years. Although Idle Sons has since disbanded, they achieved strong success at a national scale, receiving Juno and Canadian Radio Music Award nominations.

Blair Lancaster – Miss Canada

Crowned Miss Canada in 1978, Blair Lancaster is now a successful businesswoman in Burlington. Lancaster runs the Blair Lancaster Spa and Modelling Agency, both of which have been running for 30+ years.

Gordon MacPherson – Heraldic Artist

Gordon Macpherson is Canada’s most well known and respected heraldic artist. He has designed and painted the coats of arms granted to many prominent Canadians. He was honoured by the Governor General with the title Niagara Herald Extraordinary in 1999 and was made an officer of the Order of Canada in 2008.

Melissa McClelland – Singer/Songwriter

McClelland spent her youth in Burlington, Ontario and has since performed as opening act for Matthew Good's solo acoustic tour and has been on tour with guitarist Jesse Cook.  She has also worked with Sarah McLachlan, providing backup vocals at her live shows. McClelland’s songs have been featured on the television series Degrassi:  The Next Generation.

Sylvia McNicoll – Author

Sylvia McNicoll was born in Ontario but grew up in Montreal, Quebec. Although McNicoll graduated from Concordia University with a Bachelor of English and Minor in Economics, she was always fascinated by storytelling. Years later, she took a “Writing for Children” course at Sheridan College, where she crafted her first novel Blueberries and Whipped Cream. McNicoll has received literary praise across the country, specifically the Silver Birch Children’s Choice Award in 1996 for her novel “Bringing up Beauty”. McNicoll now lives with her family in Burlington, Ontario and works as Features Editor for Today’s Parent Toronto.

Tebey – Singer/Songwriter

Born Tebey Solomon Ottoh, Tebey signed a deal in Nashville at 15 and his song We Shook Hands became a charted country hit. Nominated in 2004 for a Canadian Radio Music Award, Tebey now writes for singers such as Rex Goudie, Shawn Desman, Melissa O’Neil and Cory Lee.

Kelly Richardson – Artist

Born in Burlington, Ontario, Richardson studied at the Ontario College of Art and Design before earning her Masters of Fine Arts in Media Studies at the Nova Scotia College of Art and Design University. Her practice mainly focuses on video and photography and her works have been exhibited throughout the UK, Korea and the U.S. alongside artists such as Andy Warhol, Tony Oursler and Isaac Julien.

Silverstein – Rock Band

A five-piece post-hardcore band, Silverstein formed in Burlington in 2000. They have since released albums: When the Shadows Beam, When Broken is Easily Fixed, Arrivals and Departures, A Shipwreck in the Sand and a live album titled Decade.  They have toured extensively in Canada, the US, the UK and Europe.

Steve Smith – Actor/Comedian/Writer

Steve Smith is best known as the handyman Red Green on The Red Green Show. Prior to the Red Green Show Steve and his wife Morag formed the comedy duo Smith and Smith. They were quickly successful, opening for performers like Ricky Nelson and Roy Orbison. They starred in the show Smith and Smith in 1979 for CHCH in Hamilton and it was in this show where Steve first introduced the character of Red Green. Smith and Smith evolved into the ambitious sitcom of Me and Max, which Smith both wrote and produced. The Red Green Show aired from 1990 until 2006 when Smith retired. Throughout his career Smith won 2 Gemini awards and earned 27 Gemini nominations. In 2005 he received the Earle Grey Award from the Academy of Canadian Cinema and Television and was named an Officer of the Order of Canada.

Spoons – 1980s New Wave Band

The Spoons were formed in Burlington, ON in 1979. The band initially consisted of Gordon Deppe (lead vocals and guitar), Sandy Horne (vocals and bass), Brett Wickens (keyboards, synths) and Peter Shepherd (drums). All four attended the same Burlington high school, and Deppe and Horne (the only constant members of the band) were high-school sweethearts. After graduating from school in late 1979, Shepherd left the band and was replaced by Derrick Ross on drums. Spoons then released an independent single ("After The Institution") in 1980. Wickens left the band, eventually becoming a noted graphic artist. He was replaced by keyboardist Rob Preuss who was only 16 when he joined Spoons. They topped Canadian charts through the 80s with such singles as Nova Heart, Arias & Symphonies and Tell No Lies. The band opened for the Culture Club, Simple Minds and the Police. Spoons broke up at the end of the 1980s, but Deppe and Horne (along with various other players) got back together for several Spoons reunion gigs in the 1990s and into the next decade. In 2007, Spoons released Unexpected Guest At A Cancelled Party, a collection of previously unreleased material.

Gordie Tapp – Entertainer

Tapp was host of Main Street Jamboree during the 1950's in Hamilton and later hosted Country Hoedown on CBC.  He went on to perform and write for the CBS show Hee Haw.  Tapp was inducted into the Canadian Country Music Hall of Fame in 1990. He received the Order of Canada in 1998 and the Order of Ontario in 1999.

Sports

Ron Angus – Judoka/Author/Motivational Speaker

Ron Angus participated in 23 consecutive Senior National Judo Championships, is a 10 times World Masters Champion and was a member of the Canadian Judo Team. In addition, he represented Canada at the Commonwealth Games in 1986 and 1993, the Pan American Games in 1988 and the Francophone Games in 1988. He coached at the 1996 Olympic Games. Angus is also the creator of Judo Ontario’s Jiu-jitsu program, aimed at increasing judo’s popularity. He currently resides in Burlington, Ontario and works as a judo coach, author and motivational speaker. Angus was inducted into the Burlington Sports Hall of Fame in 2010.

Mark Appleyard – Skateboarder

Mark Appleyard began skateboarding at the age of 9 and grew up skating in the Hamilton/Toronto area. He attended Lord Elgin High school in Burlington. In 2007 he won the Transworld Skateboarding Skater of the Year. Appleyard now resides in Huntington Beach, California.

David Arnold -Gymnast/Coach

David Arnold competed as a member of the Canadian Gymnastics Team from 1977 to 1983 and coached the Canadian Men’s Gymnastics Team from 1984 to 2001.  During this time, he led the men’s national team in three Olympic games.  Arnold has received the Canadian Gymnastics Coach of the Year award four times and was inducted into the Burlington Sports Hall of Fame in 2010.

Paul Beraldo – Professional Hockey Player

Paul Beraldo is a retired Italian Canadian professional ice hockey centre. He was selected 139th overall in the 1986 NHL Entry Draft by the Boston Bruins. He played a total of ten games for the Bruins during the 1987–88 and 1988–89 seasons. Following his NHL career, he played in the Italian Serie A, the German First Division, Deutshe Eishockey-Liga and the Ice Hockey Superleague. Beraldo also played for both the Canadian and the Italian national ice hockey teams.

Melanie Booth – Soccer Player

Born in Burlington, Ontario, Melanie Booth is a defender for the Canadian women’s national soccer team. She represented Canada at the 2007 Pan Am Games and the 2007 FIFA Women’s World Cup.

Tim Bothwell – Professional Hockey Player/Coach

Tim Bothwell is a retired professional ice hockey defenceman who played 502 games in the National Hockey League for the New York Rangers, St. Louis Blues and Hartford Whalers. He also played several years in the AHL. Following his retirement in 1990, he became an assistant and coach in Women's Ice hockey. He was an assistant on the Canadian Women’s Olympic Team that won the gold medal at the 2006 Winter Olympics. He currently coaches the University of Vermont women's ice hockey team since 2006.

Janice Bremner – Olympian: Synchronized Swimming

Janice competed as part of the Canadian Synchronized Swimming Team who won a Silver Medal at the 1996 Summer Olympics in Atlanta, Georgia. She is now the Sports Director for Future Stars.

Barb Bunkowsky – Professional Golfer

Bunkowsky won the 1984 Chrysler-Plymouth Charity Classic LPGA Tour event,the Ontario Amateur Championship and the Ontario Match Play Championship. She played in 4 Canadian Amateur Championships, finishing 4th twice, 7th once and 10th once. Her family owns Burlington Springs Golf Course.

Eric Cairns – Professional Hockey Player

Cairns is a retired National Hockey League player who played 10 years as a defensemen. Cairns was first drafted into the league in 1992 by the New York Rangers. Following this, Eric played for the New York Islanders, Florida Panthers and the Pittsburgh Penguins. He currently works as a professional scout for the New York Islanders.

Tommy Joe Coffey – Professional Football Player

Tommy Joe Coffey was a CFL receiver who played for the Edmonton Eskimos, Hamilton Ti-Cats and Toronto Argos.  In his fourteen year career, he caught 650 receptions for a total of 10,320 yards and 63 touchdowns.  He received the Dave Dryburgh Memorial Trophy in 1962 and was inducted into the CFL Hall of Fame in 1977.  Coffey was voted one of the CFL's top 50 players by Canadian Sports Network.

Angela Coughlan – Olympian: Swimming

Angela Coughlan attended M. M. Robinson High School in Burlington and showed promise as a swimmer from a young age. She won a bronze medal as a member of the 4x100m freestyle team at the 1968 Olympic Games in Mexico City. Two years later, Coughlan went on to receive one gold, two silvers and one bronze at the British Commonwealth Games. For this effort, she was named the 1970 Canadian Female Athlete of the Year and the Canadian Female Swimmer of the Year. To this day Coughlan is a World Record Holder in the freestyle 1650 yard (mile) event.  Today, the swimming pool adjacent to M.M. Robinson Secondary School bears her name.  Coughlan was inducted into the Ontario Aquatic Hall of Fame in 1992, the Order of Ontario in 1995 and the Burlington Sports Hall of Fame in 2008. She passed away in 2009.

Adam Creighton – Professional Hockey Player

Adam Creighton is a retired professional ice hockey player who played 708 career National Hockey League games after winning the Memorial Cup in 1984 as a member of the Ottawa 67's. He played professionally for the Buffalo Sabres, Chicago Blackhawks, New York Islanders, Tampa Bay Lightning and St. Louis Blues. Creighton now serves as a scout for the Boston Bruins organization.

Bernie Custis – Professional Football Player/Coach

Bernie Custis joined the Hamilton Tiger-Cats in 1951 and became the first black quarterback in the history of the Canadian Football League. Custis played for the Ticats and Ottawa Rough Riders during his CFL career. He was an all-star quarterback in 1951 and all-star running back in 1954. When his playing days ended in 1959, Custis turned to coaching. He worked with aspiring football players for 31 years, first with the Oakville Black Knights, then with the East York Argonauts, Burlington Braves, Sheridan College Bruins and McMaster University from 1981-1988. During his time with the Marauders, Custis was named OUAA Coach of the Year in 1982 and 1984. He was also named CIAU Coach of the Year in 1982. Custis is a member of the McMaster Hall of Fame and was inducted into the Canadian Football Hall of Fame in 1998. In 2008, Custis was inducted into the Burlington Sports Hall of Fame.

Gord Dickson – Olympian: Marathon Runner/Coach

Dickson is a three-time winner of the Hamilton Around the Bay Race. He also finished in the top seven three times in the Boston Marathon. He was the Canadian marathon champion six times, setting a record in 1958 with a time of 2:21:50. In addition, Dickson represented Canada at the 1960 Olympics in Rome. He also ran twice in the Commonwealth/British Empire Games: 1958 in Cardiff, Wales, where he was fifth in the marathon and 1962 in Perth, Australia, where he was the flag-bearer for the Canadian team and came 12th in the same event. At the 1959 Pan Am Games in Chicago, Dickson won a bronze medal. He is also a four-time winner of the Canadian Cross Country Championships. He was named as an inaugural member of the Canadian Road Running Hall of Fame in 1991. Today, Dickson resides in Burlington and is also a coach and mentor of young runners. In 2008, he was inducted into the Burlington Sports Hall of Fame.

Kevin Dahl – Professional Hockey Player

Kevin Dahl is a retired professional ice hockey player who played in the NHL with the Calgary Flames, Phoenix Coyotes, Toronto Maple Leafs, and Columbus Blue Jackets. He played defense and shot right handed. While playing for Bowling Green State University, Dahl was drafted by the Montreal Canadiens in the 11th round, 230th overall in the 1988 NHL Entry Draft. He also played 3 years with the Nuernberg Ice Tigers of the DEL in Germany before retiring in 2004.

Darren Eliot – Professional Hockey Player/Sport Commentator

Darren Eliot is a former professional ice hockey goaltender. He was drafted in the sixth round, 115th overall, by the Los Angeles Kings in the 1980 NHL Entry Draft. Eliot graduated from Cornell University, having been elected to the Sphinx Head Society during his senior year. He played in the National Hockey League with the L.A. Kings, Detroit Red Wings, and Buffalo Sabres. In his NHL career, Eliot played in 89 games and accumulated a record of 25-41-12. He currently works as the game analyst for SportSouth telecasts of Atlanta Thrashers games, and has also become a popular commentator for The NHL on Versus. He also contributes as an online columnist for Sports Illustrated.

Marty Essig – Olympian: Sailing

Born in Burlington. Ontario, Marty Essig began sailing at the age of ten. He represented Canada at the 2000 Olympics in Sydney.

Ron Foxcroft – Professional Basketball Referee

Ron Foxcroft is best known for his work as a basketball referee and for his invention, the pea-less Fox 40 whistle. He was the first Canadian to serve as a referee in the NCAA in the United States. He also refereed at the national level in Canada and at the international level. Foxcroft is the owner of Fox 40 International which makes whistles used worldwide by search and rescue professionals and major league sports officials. He was inducted into the Canadian Basketball Hall of Fame in 1999 and the Burlington Sports Hall of Fame in 2009. He was awarded the Queen’s Jubilee Medal in 2003. Foxcroft currently resides in Burlington, Ontario.

Iain Fraser – Professional Soccer Player

Born in Scotland, Fraser grew up in Burlington, Ontario. He played for the Canadian National Soccer team in the 1990s as a defender. He was the fifth player selected overall in the inaugural Major League Soccer (MLS) draft and played for the New England Revolution in 1996, Fraser is now the President and the Technical Director for the California Rush Youth Soccer Club.

Tony Gabriel – Professional Football Player

Born in Burlington, Gabriel attended Central High School. He played in the CFL for 10 years with the TiCats and Roughriders, winning the Grey Cup in 1976. In 1978 Gabriel was awarded the Schenley Award for the Most Valuable Player in the CFL. The CFL inducted him into the Football Hall of Fame in 1984 and was voted one of the CFL’s Top 50 players by the Sports Network in 2006. Gabriel now resides in Oakville where he is an investment advisor.  In 2008, Tony was inducted into the Burlington Sports Hall of Fame.

Mary Anne Gage Ice Hockey Referee – Olympic Games

Mary Anne Gage is an ice hockey referee who was one of six referees for women’s ice hockey at the 2010 Winter Olympic Games.  She has also officiated at national championships, world championships and Olympic qualifiers.

Jake Gaudaur – Professional Football Player/Commissioner

Gaudar is best known for his time in the CFL, which spans more than 40 years. Through the years he spent time on the field as a player for the Toronto Argonauts and the Hamilton Ti-Cats, winning Grey Cups with Toronto as well as in his final season with the Ti-Cats in 1953. He also worked in the front office of the Hamilton Ti-Cats and eventually became the Commissioner for the Canadian Football League. Along with his other duties he sat on a number of Boards concerning the CFL. Gaudar was inducted into the Canadian Football Hall of Fame in 1984 and was named an Officer to the Order of Canada in 1985. He passed away in 2007 and was inducted into the Burlington Sports Hall of Fame in 2009.

Brian Goto - Handball Player

Brian Goto is a handball player who won the Canadian Masters Championships in different age categories between 1983 and 2009.  At the World Open Championships, he placed 3rd in 1986, 2nd in 1991 and 2nd again in 1997 in the Masters Division.  He has also been heavily involved in the developmental side of handball, receiving the Canadian Handball Association President’s Award of Merit in 1983.  He was inducted into the Burlington Sports Hall of Fame In 2010.

Donald Green – Yachtsman

Donald Green is an avid sailor who won the Canada’s Cup in 1978 with his racing yacht “Evergreen”. He is currently the President of Tridon Ltd. in Burlington, Ontario. Green was made an Officer of the Order of Canada in 1980.

Frank Hayden – Founder of the Special Olympics

Frank Hayden is a sports scientist best known for being the catalyst behind the development of the Special Olympics. As a result of his work to change public perception about the abilities of people with handicaps, Hayden was made an Officer of the Order of Canada in 2000.

Russ Jackson – Professional Football Player

Russ Jackson is a former CFL quarterback. He spent his entire 12-year career with the Ottawa Rough Riders. He is a member of the Order of Canada, the Canadian Football Hall of Fame and Canada’s Sports Hall of Fame. Jackson was voted one of the CFL’s top 50 players of the league’s modern era by TSN in 2006. He has also done sports commentary for the Hamilton Ti-Cats with radio station CHML-AM. Jackson was made an Officer of the Order of Canada in 1970. He currently resides in Burlington, Ontario.

Becky Kellar – Olympian: Ice Hockey

Becky Kellar is a women’s ice hockey player. She played defence for the Canadian women’s team at the 1998 Olympics in Nagano, the 2002 Olympics in Salt Lake City and the 2006 Olympics in Turin. Kellar won three Olympic medals, two golds and a silver, with Team Canada. She currently resides in Burlington, Ontario. She also won four gold medals and three silver medals at the World Championships.  Kellar currently resides in Burlington, Ontario, where she runs a hockey school for young girls.

Peter Kneulman – Sailing

Peter Kneulman was born in Oakville, Ontario and attended Burlington Central High School where he excelled in football and soccer, leading the school to both OFSAA and Halton Championships. Kneulman learned to sail a snipe and competed from 1997 - 2006 where he won several Canadian championships.  Retired from sailing, Peter was inducted in 2004 into Burlington Central High School’s Hall of Fame for Athletic Excellence.

Don Koharski – Professional Hockey Referee

Don is a retired professional ice hockey referee in the National Hockey League. Entering the 2005-06 season, he was the second most senior official in the NHL behind Kerry Fraser. He started his officiating career as a linesman in the World Hockey Association in 1975 at the age of nineteen. In 1976, he was signed by the American Hockey League. He moved to the National Hockey League in 1977 and received referee status in 1980. Koharski has officiated over 1500 games, including All-Star games, Stanley cup finals, Canada Cups and the 2004 World Cup.

Rick Lanz – Professional Hockey Player/Scout

Rick Lanz is a former professional ice hockey defenceman who spent 10 seasons in the National Hockey League and is best known for his time with the Vancouver Canucks. He was born in Czechoslovakia, but his family defected to Canada following the invasion by the Soviet Union in 1968. Lanz held many different coaching positions in the junior leagues up until 2007 when he was offered the head scouting job for western Canada and US for the Colorado Avalanche.

Mark Lawrence – Professional Hockey Player/Coach

Mark Lawrence was born in Burlington, Ontario is a former professional ice hockey winger. He was drafted in 1991 by the Minnesota North Stars in the 6^th round, 118^th overall. He moved to Dallas with the team when they relocated in 1993. Following this, he signed as a free agent with the NY Islanders on August 25, 1997. He held coaching jobs in the UHL as well as playing in the NHL.

Jesse Lumsden – Professional Football Player

Jesse Lumsden grew up in Burlington, ON and had a successful career at Nelson High School.  He was named both the Metro Bowl MVP and the Nelson Football MVP in 1999. After completing his studies as a geography major at McMaster University in 2005, he was signed with the Hamilton Ti-Cats where he was named Offensive and Canadian player of the week. He signed with the Edmonton Eskimos as a running back in 2009 and is currently a free agent.  Lumsden also participated in the 2010 Winter Olympics in the two-man and four-man bobsleigh events, placing fifth in both.

Neil Lumsden – Professional Football Player

Neil Lumsden played 10 seasons as a full back in the Canadian Football League (CFL) with Toronto, Hamilton and Edmonton and won three Grey Cup rings with the Eskimos. He was awarded the Dick Suderman Trophy for the Grey Cup’s Most Valuable Canadian in 1981 for his performance in the Grey Cup. Lumsden worked briefly in cycling when he was appointed COO of the Hamilton, Ontario UCI road world championships in 2003. This was only the fourth time the road cycling world championships had taken place outside Europe. Lumsden now heads Drive Marketing, a sports marketing firm and a division of OK&D Marketing Group of Burlington, Ontario. His son is Jesse Lumsden, is a CFL player and Olympian.

Carolyn MacCuish – Pairs Skater

Born in Burlington, Carolyn MacCuish is a Canadian figure skater who has competed as both an ice dancer and a pair skater. From 2006 to 2008, she competed with Andrew Evans in pair skating. The pair won the 2007 Canadian Junior National Championships. MacCuish now skates with Tyler Morris as an ice dancer. The pair won the 2009 Canadian Novice National Championships.

Melanie Mackay – Olympian: Swimming

Born in Burlington, Ontario, Melanie Mackay was an Olympian on Team Canada. She competed in the 1976 Olympics in Montreal, swimming the women’s 200 metre breaststroke.

Steve Mitruk - Olympian: Gymnastics

Steve Mitruk was introduced to gymnastics while in high school and quickly became a high school and university champion. A senior national team member from 1968-1976 he represented Canada at the 1968 Olympics in Mexico City, the 1971 Pan Am Games in Cali, Colombia and the 1972 Olympics in Munich. He also won six gold medals at the Canada Winter Games in 1967. After retiring as a competitor, he founded the Burlington Boys Gymnastics Club and for the last 30 years has been an artistic and trampoline coach and judge.

Wendy Morgan - Paralympics – Curling Coach

Wendy Morgan was the Team Leader/Assistant Coach of Canada’s Gold Medal-winning Wheelchair Curling Teams in both the 2006 and 2010 Winter Paralympic Games.  She currently resides in Burlington, Ontario.

Lance Nethery – Professional Hockey Player/Coach

Lance Nethery is a former professional ice hockey centre and coach and current executive. He attended Cornell University, playing for the Cornell Big Red. Midway through his college career he was selected by the New York Rangers, 131st overall in the eighth round of the 1977 NHL Amateur Draft. Nethery still holds the Cornell records for assists and points in a season, as well as career assists and points. His scoring touch stayed with him as a professional player and he averaged over a point per game in parts of three seasons with the New Haven Nighthawks and Springfield Indians of the AHL. He also played 41 NHL games in two seasons for the New York Rangers and Edmonton Oilers. He played in the minor leagues before signing a contract with HC Davos of the Swiss Elite League. Since retiring as a player, Nethery has held many different coaching positions. He joined the Frankfurt Lions as head coach on April 11, 2002 and was subsequently elevated to general manager on February 5, 2003, leading the team to its first championship. He was hired as the GM of the DEG Metro Stars prior to the 2005-06 season.

Helen Nichol – Olympian: Badminton

Born in Burlington, Ontario, Helen Nichol is a female badminton player. She won the gold medal in the women’s doubles competition at the 2003 Pan Am Games. Nichol also participated in the 2004 Olympics in Athens and won a gold medal at the 2006 Canadian Championships.

Alan Nolet – Olympian: Gymnastics

Alan Nolet represented Canada in gymnastics in the Olympics in 1988 (Seoul), 1992 (Barcelona) and 1996 (Atlanta). He also competed at seven World Championships and multiple Commonwealth and Pan Am games. He was inducted into the Burlington Sports Hall of Fame in 2009.

Bert Oldershaw – Olympian: Canoeing

Bert Oldershaw was an Olympic-level canoeist. He began his training at the Toronto Island Canoe Club in 1939 and founded the Mississauga Canoe Club in 1957. Oldershaw was a finalist in the 1948 Olympic s in London, the 1952 Olympics in Helsinki and the 1956 Olympics in Melbourne. His sons and grandson have also competed in the Olympics. After spending many years living in Burlington, Ontario, Oldershaw passed away in 2006.

Mark Oldershaw – Olympian: Canoeing

Mark Oldershaw is an international canoeist who learned to canoe at the Burloak Canoe Club. Oldershaw competes at the international level and has achieved many successes both at the Olympics and at the World Championships. After winning both the 500-metre and 1000-metre races at the 2001 World Junior Championships, he was named Canada’s Junior Male Athlete of the Year. Oldershaw participates in many different events, both individual and team, with varying distances. He also competed in the 2008 Olympics in Beijing.

Scott Oldershaw – Olympian: Canoeing/Coach

Scott Oldershaw was on the 1984 Olympic canoe team and competed at 12 world championships during his 16 years on the national team.  Since 1990, he has been head coach of the Burloak Canoe Club. In 2003, he received the Petro-Canada Coaching Excellence Award.  Oldershaw worked as Team Ontario's kayak-canoe coach and was Canada's 2004 Olympic team coach in canoe-kayak He works as the personal coach of Adam vanKoeverden who won gold and bronze medals at the Olympics.  In 2008, Oldershaw was appointed as National Coach for Canoe Kayak Canada.

Isabelle Rampling – Olympian: Synchronized Swimming

Isabelle Rampling is a Canadian synchronized swimmer from Burlington. Ontario. She won a gold medal at the 2006 Commonwealth Games and a silver medal at the 2007 Pan Am Games. In 2008, Rampling represented Canada at the Olympics in Beijing. She and her partner placed sixth with their synchronized swimming duet.

Brady Reardon – Olympian: Kayaking

Brady Reardon is a kayaker from Burlington, Ontario. He participated in the 2007 World Championships. He also represented Canada at the 2008 Olympics in Beijing, placing 9^th overall in the Men’s K4 1000 metre race.

Melville Marks Robinson – Founder of the Commonwealth Games

Melville Marks Robinson was born on April 8, 1888. He founded the Commonwealth Games and worked as a reporter for the Hamilton Spectator. He was later appointed to Burlington High School’s Board of Directors, serving actively until 1963. Upon his retirement, M.M. Robinson high school was named in his honour.  He passed away in 1974. In 2008, Robinson was inducted into the Burlington Sports Hall of Fame.

Ralph Sazio – Professional Football Player/Coach/Team President

Ralph Sazio has held a number of different positions in the CFL but is best known as the most successful coach for the Hamilton Tiger Cats. He was a player, assistant coach, head coach, general manager and team president with the Tiger Cats. During his time with the team as their head coach he won three championships and holds the highest winning percentage. Sazio also spent nine years as the team president for the Toronto Argonauts beginning in 1981. In 1998, Ralph was elected to the Canadian Football Hall of Fame in the builder category. He passed away in 2008.

Chris Schultz – Professional Football Player

Chris Schultz was born in Burlington, Ontario and attended Aldershot Secondary School. He began his career as a college football player at the University of Arizona. He spent five seasons with the Arizona Wildcats before transitioning to the NFL, where he played left tackle for the Dallas Cowboys. Schultz returned to Canada in 1986 to play for the Toronto Argonauts. He was named a CFL All-Star in 1987 and 1988 and was a member of the Argonauts’ Grey Cup winning team in 1991. Schultz is presently a sportscaster on TSN (The Sports Network) and also co-hosts a weekly show on the Fan 590 in Toronto. He spends his spare time coaching the Burlington Stampeders.

Paula Schnurr – Olympian:  Runner

Paula Schnurr won 28 Ontario Women’s Interuniversity Athletic Association (OWIAA) indoor/outdoor championship medals, 18 of them gold. In addition, she set 2 Canadian Interuniversity Athletics Union (CIAU) indoor records in 1988 and was that year's top athlete at the CIAU Track & Field championships. She holds 2 OWIAA records plus she won a 1987 OWIAA silver medal in cross country en route to being a CIAU All-Canadian. Schnurr was a CIAU All-Canadian 5 times and McMaster's Female Athlete of the Year 4 times. Her international career includes a 1994 Commonwealth Games silver medal and 2 performances at the Olympics (1992, 1996). She currently works as a teacher in Milton and also coaches track and field at McMaster University.  Schnurr was inducted into the Burlington Sports Hall of Fame in 2010.

Ron Sedlbauer – Professional Hockey Player

Ronald Andrew Sedlbauer is a former professional ice hockey left winger who played seven seasons in the National Hockey League. Sedlbauer was drafted 23rd overall by the Vancouver Canucks in the 1974 NHL Amateur Draft. He played 430 career NHL games, scoring 143 goals and 86 assists for 229 points. He also shares the modern-day record, along with Rick Nash, for least assists in a 40+ goal season. Sedlbauer scored 40 goals in the 1978-79 season, but only registered 16 assists. He held the record for 26 seasons until Nash tied it in the 2003-04 NHL season by scoring 41 goals and only 16 assists. Sedlbauer currently lives in Burlington, Ontario and is the vice-president of Cougar Shoes Inc. He was inducted into the Burlington Sports Hall of Fame in 2009.

Andy Sutton – Professional Hockey Player

Andy Sutton is a professional ice hockey player, currently playing for the New York Islanders of the National Hockey League. He has previously played with the San Jose Sharks, Minnesota Wild, and Atlanta Thrashers. He signed a three year deal with the Islanders in the summer of 2008.

Nick Weslock – Golfer

Nick Weslock was an amateur golfer from 1946-1969. Within this time he won the Ontario Open seven times, defeating fields comprised mostly of professionals. In 1947, Weslock placed third in the Canadian Open, one of a few amateurs to come close to winning. Weslock is also known for being the “low amateur” 16 times in his 25 Opens. He was inducted into the Canada’s Sports Hall of Fame in 1971 and into the Burlington Sports Hall of Fame in 2010 . Nick Weslock passed away in 2007.

Chad Wiseman – Professional Hockey Player

Chad Wiseman was born in Burlington, Ontario and is a Canadian left winger who currently plays in the American Hockey League. Wiseman was drafted 246th overall by the San Jose Sharks in the 2000 NHL Entry Draft and played several games. He played in the German Elite League in 2007, but returned to the United States after signing with the New Jersey Devils.

Radio/TV Personalities

Carlos Bustamante – TV Host/Dancer

Carlos Bustamante attended Notre Dame Catholic Secondary School in Burlington. He is best-known as the host of YTV’s “The Zone”. He is also a skilled dancer and has performed in Canada and the U.S. since the age of 8. Bustamante recently joined Funk Factory, a group of Canadian tap dance professionals who perform mainly in Toronto but have also done shows throughout Canada.

Colleen Jones – CBC Reporter

Colleen Jones is a Canadian curler and television personality. She is the most successful Canadian women’s skip in curling history and the youngest ever to win the Canadian women’s curling championship. In 1986, she joined CBC Television as a reporter and went on to cover numerous summer and winter Olympic games. Today, she works as the weather and sports reporter on CBC Newsworld’s CBC News: Morning. Jones resides in Burlington, Ontario.

Betty Kennedy – CFRB Broadcaster/Canadian Senator

Betty Kennedy is a Canadian broadcaster, journalist, author and retired Senator. She is best-known as a panelist on Front Page Challenge, Canada’s longest running television program. She joined the program in 1962 and stayed with the show until its final broadcast in 1995. Kennedy started her journalism career as a teenager working with the Ottawa Citizen. From there she moved to radio in the 1940s. In 1959 she was appointed Public Affairs Editor of CFRB. While there she was hostess of the Betty Kennedy Show which aired for one hour, five times a week. On June 20, 2000 Betty was appointed to the Canadian Senate where she served until 2001. She received numerous honours throughout her career including being made an Officer of the Order of Canada in 1982, being elected to the Canadian News Hall of Fame in 1983 and being elected to the Canadian Broadcasting Hall of Fame in 1992.

Norm Marshall – TV and Radio Host

Norm Marshall began his career in radio broadcasting, and spent many years by working at stations in the Hamilton, Montreal, Windsor/Detroit and Buffalo areas. Norm moved into television in 1952 becoming a celebrity in this ‘new’ medium. He joined CHCH TV 11 in 1950 working as a news and sports commentator until 1988. Throughout his career, Norm brought a large amount of innovation to the industry. This innovation includes being the first sportscaster to give a fully reconstructed dramatization of an NHL hockey game using teletyped reports. Norm worked as the President of Norm Marshall Associates, a Public Relations and Promotion organization which works in association with OK&D Advertising in Hamilton. Marshall passed away in 2008.

Steve Paikin – TV Host

Steve Paikin is a journalist, film producer and author. Paikin has hosted three different shows with TVOntario: Studio 2, Diplomatic Immunity and The Agenda with Steve Paikin. Prior to working for TVOntario, Paikin was an anchor and Queen’s Park correspondent for CBLT and a host of a daily news and current affairs program on CBC Newsworld. Along with his hosting jobs, Steve has produced a number of full-length documentaries and written three books about Canadian politics.

J. Lyman Potts – Broadcaster

J. Lyman Potts is a career broadcaster who worked for numerous radio stations throughout his lengthy career. Potts was responsible for the creation of the Canadian Talent Library, a non-profit trust that produced a major series of Canadian recordings by Canadian artists and Canadian compositions. For his work, Potts was inducted into the Canadian Music Hall of Fame and the CAB Broadcast Hall of Fame. He also received the Queen’s Golden Jubilee Medal and was made an Officer of the Order of Canada.

Jillian Reynolds – TV Host/Actress

Jillian Reynolds is a Canadian actress, television hostess and sportscaster. She was born in Burlington, Ontario and attended Assumption Catholic Secondary School. After completing her diploma at Mohawk College, Reynolds worked for a variety of television stations. This resulted in roles on T.V. dramas including Clueless, V.I.P. and Melrose Place as well as comedies including Yes, Dear and MADtv.  She hosted the TV show EX-treme Dating and Good Day L.A. and co-hosted That's So Hollywood.  She currently hosts American Idol Extra on Fox Reality Channel.

Connie Smith – TV Host

Connie Smith is best known for her work at CHCH News where she worked for thirty-two years from 1976 to 2008. A graduate of Mohawk College, Smith started out at CKOC Radio in Hamilton and from there she moved to Toronto to work as a good-news reporter for CFRB. In 1976, Smith moved to CHCH where she became the first female weather person and then the first female anchor for weekday news. In addition, Smith co-hosted a number of different programs as well as worked behind the scenes in many areas at CHCH. Throughout the years, Smith has received many awards for her work in the community and for different news pieces including a documentary on Elizabeth’s Hope. She received the Queen’s Jubilee Medal in 2002 when the Queen made a visit to Hamilton. Connie is now a the anchor of Always Good News on CTS located here in Burlington.

Patty Sullivan – TV Host

Patty Sullivan was born and raised in Burlington, Ontario where she attended Nelson and Assumption Secondary Schools. She co-founded the TVO Kids programming block and hosted the half-hour program Vox, which explored teen issues one-on-one. She is currently one of the hosts at Kids’ CBC.

Chuck Swirsky – Radio/TV Announcer

Chuck Swirsky is best known as the voice for the Toronto Raptors. He worked with the team from 1998 to 2008 as a radio, television and play-by-play announcer. Prior to this, Swirsky worked in Detroit anchoring the pre- and post-game shows for the Detroit Red Wings and the University of Michigan Wolverines football. He also spent time in Chicago covering the Bears, Cubs and Bulls as well as the DePaul University basketball games. Throughout his career, Swirsky has won numerous awards including the Best Play-By-Play and Sportscaster from the Associated Press of Michigan. He is currently the radio play-by-play voice of the Chicago Bulls.

Paula Todd – TV Journalist

Born in Burlington, Ontario, Paula Todd is a Canadian journalist, lawyer and author. Todd hosted and co-produced the television program Person 2 Person, before moving on to CTV Newsnet. Todd has written articles in the Toronto Star and The Globe and Mail as well as several Canadian magazines. She received the Paramedic Association Media’s Award for public education in 2004 and became a best-selling author shortly thereafter. She currently works as an investigative reporter for W-FIVE.

Historic Figures

Joseph Brant – Founder

Joseph Brant, otherwise known as Thayendanegea, was a Mohawk, loyalist and statesman. He is best known for keeping his ties to the Mohawk people while still being able to relate to and work successfully with the white settlers. Brant worked as an interpreter for Sir. William Johnson, his successor in the British Indian Dept. Johnson aided missionaries in teaching Christianity to the Aboriginal people and also helped to translate religious materials into the Mohawk language. In the later years of his life Brant lived on Burlington Bay in an English style home and translated parts of the Bible into Mohawk.

Businesspeople/Humanitarians

Kayla Cornale – Inventor

Kayla Cornale was born in Burlington, Ontario and attended Assumption Catholic Secondary School. While in high school, she invented “Sounds into Syllables”. A teaching system for children, primarily those with autism, “Sounds into Syllables” applies the musical component of ‘pitch’ to the process of learning language. As a result of her invention, Cornale was one of 19 Canadian students invited to represent Canada at the 2005 and 2006 Intel International Science and Engineering Fairs where she placed first in the Behavioural and Social Sciences category in 2006. She was awarded a Top 20 Under 20 Award in 2006 and was highlighted on CNN Heroes: An All-Star Tribute featuring humanitarians from across the world. Cornale currently attends Stanford University where she is majoring in biological sciences.

William Alexander Farlinger – Charity Organizer

William Alexander Farlinger was an active organizer and patron of several charities and foundations. He raised millions of dollars annually as the founder and chair of the President’s Committee of the University of Toronto. He also was responsible for one of the largest fundraising campaigns ever for St. Joseph’s Hospital. Farlinger served on a number of task forces and academic, government and industrial committees during his life as well. For his services, he was made an Officer of the Order of Canada. Farlinger passed away in 2005.

J. Peter Gordon – Business Leader

J. Peter Gordon joined the Steel Company of Canada as a mechanical engineer and steadily advanced through the company to become its president, chairman and chief executive officer. He volunteered with numerous organizations throughout his life including McMaster University, the Olympic Trust, the YMCA, the Boys Clubs of Canada and numerous Toronto-area organizations. For his work, he was made an Officer of the Order of Canada. Gordon passed away in 2007.

John T. Mayberry – Business Leader

John T. Mayberry worked as the head of Dofasco, positioning the company as a leader in its field while also promoting environmentally sound initiatives. He stressed the importance of good stewardship, sustainable growth and community involvement. He was the first Canadian chair of the American Iron and Steel Institute. Mayberry also has given much of his time to a number of fundraising campaigns and organizations in Hamilton. For his work, he was made an Officer of the Order of Canada in 2006.

Academic/Science

John V. Basmajian – Professor Emeritus

Born in Constantinople, John V. Basmajian came to Canada in 1923. He taught at a number of universities, including the University of Toronto, Queen’s University and Emory University. In 1986, Basmajian was appointed Emeritus Professor of Medicine and Anatomy at McMaster University. He is best known for his significant influence over generations of physicians-in-training, his invention of several widely used medical devices and his development of numerous scientific techniques. For his work, he was awarded the Order of Ontario in 1991 and was made an Officer of the Order of Canada in 1994. Basmajian passed away in 2008.

Arthur N. Bournes – Professor Emeritus

Arthur N. Bourns was a professor of chemistry at McMaster University who also served as President of the university from 1972 to 1980. He is currently a Professor Emeritus at McMaster. Bourns is best known for the significant research he has conducted in the field of physical organic chemistry and the leadership he offered to both McMaster and the scientific community in Canada. His work led to the development of a national policy in support of basic and applied research. Bourns was made an Officer of the Order of Canada in1985.

Dr. Leslie Laking – Horticulturalist

Leslie Laking is an eminent horticulturalist who joined the staff of the Royal Botanical Gardens in 1946, rising to its directorship in 1954. In 1996, he was appointed Director Emeritus of the RBG. Throughout his life, he has consistently promoted the idea of botanical gardens as educational museums. He was made an Officer of the Order of Canada in 1979.

Archibald Shearer – Business Leader

Archibald Shearer is the former Executive Director of the Canadian Society of Laboratory Technicians. He is known as a leading authority in his field. Shearer helped guide the development of medical laboratory practice until it became an important part of the Canadian health care profession. He was awarded the Queen’s Jubilee Medal and made an Officer of the Order of Canada in 1980.

Joseph Tomecko – Chemist

Joseph W. Tomecko was a chemist and expert in paint technology. He was responsible for the Kaleidoscope Pavilion at EXPO 1967. He also acted as Chairman of the Boards of the Chemical Institute of Canada and Frontier College. Tomecko served in numerous other national and international organizations as well. For his service, he was made an Officer of the Order of Canada in 1978. Tomecko passed away in 1996.

Irence Uchida – Professor Emeritus

Irene A. Uchida is a Professor Emeritus of pediatrics and pathology at McMaster where she directed a model laboratory for more than twenty years. Her research on radiation and human chromosome abnormalities has made a significant contribution to medical science. For her work, Uchida was made an Officer of the Order of Canada in 1993.