After three pandemic-plagued years, Canadians have emerged, squinting and disoriented, into a new world order. While we were baking sourdough in lockdown, artificial intelligence evolved from the stuff of movie magic into big business. Basketball and soccer closed in on hockey to join the ranks of Canada’s national games. We finally began taking climate change seriously, churning out electric vehicles by the thousands and building skyscrapers out of renewable timber. And the coolest place to film a prestige TV show was suddenly…Alberta?
Commanding this weird, cool, occasionally scary new reality is a cohort of Canadians whose ideas and inventions are forging new industries and reinventing old ones. We’ve selected the top 10 changemakers in 10 categories. There’s Kris Collins, a former hairdresser who entertains some 48 million Gen Zers with her bite-sized TikTok sketches. Mindy Wight and Khelsilem of the Squamish Nation are in charge of a revolutionary $3-billion housing development in Vancouver. And tech whiz Raquel Urtasun is teaching cars how to drive themselves. Some of the people on our list are already household names. The rest are about to be.
Skip to a section:

Sports Stars
1. Scottie Barnes
NBA
The Raptors’ budding superstar is ushering in a new era of Toronto basketball
Click here to find out why Barnes tops the listThe Power List: Click the images for more sports stars

Political Backroomers
1. Jenni Byrne
Jenni Byrne + Associates
Poilievre’s chief adviser knows how Canadians think— and how they vote
Click here to find out why Byrne tops the listThe Power List: Click on the descriptions for more political backroomers

AI Trailblazers
1. Ivan Zhang, Aidan Gomez & Nick Frosst
Founders, Cohere
These whiz kids are building a smarter, friendlier chatbot
Click here to find out why Zhang, Gomez and Frosst top the listThe Power List: Click the images for more AI trailblazers

Real Estate Reformers
1. Mindy Wight and Khelsilem
Nch'ḵay̓ Development Corporation and Squamish Nation Council
For pairing real estate with reconciliation
Click here to find out why Wight and Khelsilem top the listThe Power List: Click the descriptions for more real estate reformers

Health care Innovators
1. Alika Lafontaine
Canadian Medical Association
Before, he was just one doctor. Now, he’s working to make life better for all of them.
Click here to find out why Lafontaine tops the listHealth care Innovators
The Power List: Click the images for more health-care innovators

Gaming Tycoons
1. Jade Raymond
Haven Studios
For setting out to do her own thing
Click here to find out why Raymond top the listGaming Tycoons
The Power List: Click the images for more gaming tycoons

Hollywood North Stars
1. Denis Villeneuve
Filmmaker
Forget streaming. This blockbuster director wants to save the silver screen.
Click here to find out why Villeneuve tops the listHollywood North Stars
The Power List: Click the images for more Hollywood North stars

Food Titans
1. Galen G. Weston
Loblaws
The country’s most powerful—and controversial—grocery mogul
Click here to find out why Weston tops the listFood Titans
The Power List: Click the images for more food titans

EV Entrepreneurs
1. Marissa West
GM Canada
This Michigan-raised auto exec is helping Canada usher in its EV revolution
Click here to find out why West tops the listEV Entrepreneurs
The Power List: Click the images for more EV entrepreneurs

TikTok Influencers
1. Kris Collins
@kallmekris
This former hairdresser is one of Tiktok’s biggest talents
Click here to find out why Collins tops the listTikTok Influencers
The Power List: Click the images for more TikTok influencers