View source for Canada's Walk of Fame

{{Short description|Walk of Fame in Ontario, Canada}}
{{Use Canadian English|date=November 2016}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=October 2019}}
{{Infobox museum
| name            = Canada's Walk of Fame<br/> {{langx|fr|Allée des célébrités canadiennes}}
| logo            = Canada's Walk of Fame Logo.svg
| logo_upright    = 0.5
| image           = Walk of Fame along Simcoe Street.jpg
| caption         = A line of stars along Simcoe Street
| established     = 1998
| location        = 18 Gloucester Lane<br />3rd Floor<br />[[Toronto]], Ontario<br />M4Y 1L5
| coordinates     = {{coord|43.6471|-79.38705|region:CA-ON_type:landmark|display=inline,title}}
| type            = [[List of halls and walks of fame|Walk of fame]]
| founder         = Peter Soumalias (co-founder)
| website         = {{Official URL}}
| embedded        = {{Infobox|child = yes
| label1      = Inductees
| data1       = [[List of inductees of Canada's Walk of Fame|173]]<ref name="Inductees: Nominations">{{cite web|url=https://www.canadaswalkoffame.com/inductees/nominations |title=Inductees: Nominations |publisher=Canada's Walk of Fame |access-date=29 June 2018}}</ref>}}
}}

'''Canada's Walk of Fame''' ({{langx|fr|link=no|Allée des célébrités canadiennes}}) in [[Toronto]], Ontario, Canada, is a [[walk of fame]] that acknowledges the achievements and accomplishments of Canadians who have excelled in their respective fields.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.canadaswalkoffame.com/ |title=Home |publisher=Canada's Walk of Fame |access-date=29 June 2018}}</ref> It is a series of [[maple leaf]]-like stars embedded in 13 designated blocks' worth of [[sidewalk]]s in Toronto in front of [[Roy Thomson Hall]], The [[Princess of Wales Theatre]], and The [[Royal Alexandra Theatre]] on [[King Street (Toronto)|King Street]] as well as Simcoe Street.

The first group was inducted in 1998, and it now includes 204 Canadian activists, scientists, philanthropists, athletes, coaches, actors, directors, writers, producers, musicians, comedians, cartoonists, models and others.<ref name="Inductees: Nominations" />

== History ==
The Walk of Fame was conceived in 1996 when co-founder Peter Soumalias suggested the idea of a Walk of Fame for famous [[Toronto]]nians to the board of the [[Toronto Entertainment District]] Association. They rejected his idea, but he went on to establish a Walk of Fame for Canadians in partnership with [[Bill Ballard]], [[Murray Cohl|Dusty Cohl]] and Gary Slaight. In spite of a lack of funds and research, and no media plan, the first class of inductees was inducted in 1998. Canada's Walk of Fame has become a popular tourist attraction in Toronto, and has been named the number one Canadian recognition event.<ref name="History">{{cite web|url=http://www.canadaswalkoffame.com/thewalk/history.xml.htm|title=History |author=Peter Soumalias|access-date=2 January 2008|publisher=Canada's Walk of Fame|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20080204073131/http://www.canadaswalkoffame.com/thewalk/history.xml.htm |archive-date = 4 February 2008|url-status=dead}}</ref>

==Induction==
===Process===
{{See also|List of inductees of Canada's Walk of Fame}}
Canada's Walk of Fame has five categories:
{{col div}}
* Arts & Entertainment
* Business & Entrepreneurship
* Philanthropy & Humanities
* Science & Technology
* Sports & Athletics
{{col div end}}
[[File:Mario Lemieux star on Walk of Fame adjusted.jpg|thumb|Star for [[Mario Lemieux]]]]
Nominations for potential inductees are accepted from the public year-round, culminating with their ''National Nomination Promotion'' during the month of April. In 2000, prior to the introduction of the online voting system, over 30,000 nominations were received via letters, fax and e-mail.<ref name="Record2">{{cite news|title=Walk on the 'famous' side; New pathway-to-the-stars entries include William Shatner and Gordie Howe|date=22 March 2000|page=E07|publisher=[[The Record (Waterloo Region)|The Record]]|author=Andrew Flynn}}</ref> Now submissions are accepted on the official Canada's Walk of Fame website and thousands of nominations are received every year, which are then sent to selection committee for consideration.

The committee then analyzes the nominees based on the following criteria: the nominee was born in Canada or has spent their formative or creative years in Canada; they have had a minimum of ten years experience in their field; they have had a national or international impact on Canada's Cultural heritage.<ref name="About">{{cite web|url=http://www.canadaswalkoffame.com/aboutus.xml.htm|title=About Us|date=29 January 2007|access-date=2 January 2008|publisher=Canada's Walk of Fame|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20080131053116/http://www.canadaswalkoffame.com/aboutus.xml.htm |archive-date = 31 January 2008|url-status=dead}}</ref> Following the Selection Committee's evaluation, the nominees that meet all of the requirements are forwarded to the board of directors, who then select the inductees.<ref name="About"/>

===Ceremony===
[[File:Canadas Walk of Fame Roberta Bondar.jpg|thumb|[[Roberta Bondar]] receiving her star during the 2011 induction ceremony]] 
New inductees are inducted annually at an unveiling ceremony where their star, a stylized [[maple leaf]], is revealed.<ref name="Record2"/> The first was held in 1998 and only four of the twelve living inductees attended: [[Karen Kain]], [[Norman Jewison]], [[Barbara Ann Scott]] and [[Rich Little]].<ref name="Record"/> The 2007 ceremony was held at Toronto's [[Hummingbird Centre]], was attended by all seven inductees and was hosted by [[Eugene Levy]].<ref name="Levy">{{cite web|url=http://www.canadaswalkoffame.com/pressreleases/releases.cfm?aid=728|title=Eugene Levy To Host 2007 Canada s Walk of Fame on CTV|date=28 February 2007|access-date=2 January 2008|publisher=Canada's Walk of Fame|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080109182329/http://www.canadaswalkoffame.com/pressreleases/releases.cfm?aid=728|archive-date=9 January 2008|url-status=dead}}</ref>

Past hosts include [[Trish Stratus]], [[Tom Green]], [[Jann Arden]],<ref>{{cite news|title=Canada's own star-studded walk unveiled in Toronto|date=26 June 1998|page=A18|newspaper=[[The Record (Waterloo Region)|The Record]]|author=John McKay}}</ref> [[Kurt Browning]] and [[Catriona Le May Doan]].<ref>{{cite news|title=Walk of Fame gala; Canadian stars honoured include The Tragically Hip, Gretzky, Monty Hall and Alex Colville|date=29 May 2002|page=A18|newspaper=[[The Hamilton Spectator]]|author=John McKay}}</ref> The ceremony was broadcast by [[CTV Television Network|CTV]] until 2008.<ref name="Levy"/> Beginning in 2009 the ceremony was broadcast by [[Global Television Network|Global]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.canadaswalkoffame.com/news/stars-to-shine-brighter-canada%E2%80%99s-walk-fame|title=Stars To Shine Brighter on Canada's Walk of Fame|publisher=Canada's Walk of Fame|date=8 June 2009|access-date=13 June 2009|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100203102837/http://www.canadaswalkoffame.com/news/stars-to-shine-brighter-canada%E2%80%99s-walk-fame|archive-date=3 February 2010}}</ref> The first ceremony on the network was hosted by [[Anne Murray]] while [[Howie Mandel]] hosted for the following two years.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.canadaswalkoffame.com/news/2009-inductee-howie-mandel-is-back-to-host-the-13th-annual-canada%E2%80%99s-walk-of-fame-tribute|title=2009 inductee Howie Mandel is back to host the 13th annual Canada's Walk of Fame tribute|publisher=Canada's Walk of Fame|date=27 September 2010|access-date=16 April 2011|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111105003343/http://canadaswalkoffame.com/news/2009-inductee-howie-mandel-is-back-to-host-the-13th-annual-canada%E2%80%99s-walk-of-fame-tribute|archive-date=5 November 2011}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.canadaswalkoffame.com/news/howie-mandel-celebrates-country%E2%80%99s-finest-host-2011-canada%E2%80%99s-walk-fame-awards|title=Canada's Walk of Fame|work=canadaswalkoffame.com|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111202211724/http://www.canadaswalkoffame.com/news/howie-mandel-celebrates-country%E2%80%99s-finest-host-2011-canada%E2%80%99s-walk-fame-awards|archive-date=2 December 2011}}</ref> [[Paul Shaffer]] hosted the event in 2012.<ref>{{cite AV media|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BrAgpJZy41k&feature=player_embedded|title=Canada's Walk of Fame Inductees|date=16 August 2012|via=YouTube}}</ref>

==Awards==

===Cineplex Legends Award===
Established in 2008, the '''Cineplex Legends Award''' is posthumously awarded to "Canadian pioneers in film, music, sport, arts, and innovation." Sponsored by [[Cineplex Entertainment]], the first recipients of the award were siblings [[Norma Shearer|Norma]] and [[Douglas Shearer]]. The award recipients are also given stars on the Walk of Fame.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.canada.com/calgaryherald/news/entertainment/story.html?id=4371a73f-30bc-4193-819f-21cf3e9d32c4|title=Albertans to take Canada's Walk of Fame|author=Canwest News Service|date=4 June 2008|access-date=4 June 2008|newspaper=[[Calgary Herald]]|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080605104718/http://www.canada.com/calgaryherald/news/entertainment/story.html?id=4371a73f-30bc-4193-819f-21cf3e9d32c4|archive-date=5 June 2008}}</ref>

=== Allan Slaight Honour ===
First awarded in 2010, the '''[[Allan Slaight]] Honour''', named after the leading figure in the Canadian radio industry, is awarded to a young Canadian for "making a positive impact in the fields of music." Recipients receive an honorarium of $10,000 from the Slaight Foundation, but are not considered inductees of the Walk of Fame.  So far, recipients of the Slaight award have been [[Nikki Yanofsky]], [[Drake (musician)|Drake]], [[Melanie Fiona]], [[Carly Rae Jepsen]], [[the Weeknd]], [[Shawn Mendes]], [[Brett Kissel]], [[Shawn Hook]], [[Jessie Reyez]] and [[Alessia Cara]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.canadaswalkoffame.com/inductees/allan-slaight-honour|title=Allan Slaight Honour|publisher=Canada's Walk of Fame|access-date=2 June 2018}}</ref>

=== RBC Emerging Artist Music Mentorship Prize ===
In 2012, in partnership with RBC, Canada's Walk of Fame created the RBC Emerging Artist Music Mentorship Prize. Valued at more than $100,000, it aims to support young Canadian musicians who submit a one-minute musical audio or audiovisual performance for a chance to win $25,000 cash, recording time, performance opportunities and more.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.canadaswalkoffame.com/support-us/emerging-artist-music-mentorship-prize|title=RBC Emerging Artist Music Mentorship Prize|publisher=Canada's Walk of Fame|access-date=16 April 2013|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130523043448/http://www.canadaswalkoffame.com/support-us/emerging-artist-music-mentorship-prize|archive-date=23 May 2013}}</ref>

== Festival ==
Canada's Walk of Fame Festival was established in 2010. It spans three days, culminating with the Canada's Walk of Fame Awards Show. It has included performances from Canadian musicians such as [[Sarah McLachlan]], [[Serena Ryder]], [[Crystal Shawanda]], [[Tom Cochrane]] and [[Melanie Fiona]]. It has also screened Canadian films and comedy acts.

== Criticism ==
[[File:Gordie Howe star on Walk of Fame ALT.jpg|thumb|right|Gordie Howe's star on the Walk of Fame as of April 2009. Damage can be seen on the bottom left corner.]]
In 1998, [[Laurie Brown (broadcaster)|Laurie Brown]] of the [[CBC Television|CBC]] criticized the Walk of Fame, calling it "just an attraction to lure tourists to theatres in the area." She claimed that it would only honour Canadians with international impact, saying "if it was truly for Canadians, then I think there would be more of a national bend to the whole thing. But I doubt I'm going to see a star on the Walk of Fame that is only a known-name here in Canada."<ref name="Record">{{cite news|title=Sidewalk constellation; Walter Ostanek, Leslie Nielsen in group joining Canada's Walk of Fame  |date=2 June 2001|newspaper=[[The Record (Waterloo Region)|The Record]]|author=John McKay}}</ref>

In September 2010, [[William Shatner]] commented on Twitter regarding damage to his star on the Walk of Fame: "I hear my star on the Canadian Walk of Fame is a bit frazzled ... but, then again, so am I. I wonder if anybody hovering around that area can tell me what's wrong with it and what needs fixing."<ref name=ShatnerTweet>{{cite news |url=https://www.thestar.com/entertainment/article/862007 |title=William Shatner tweets about damaged star on Walk of Fame|newspaper= [[Toronto Star]]|access-date=17 September 2010|date= 16 September 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20100920210855/https://www.thestar.com/entertainment/article/862007 |archive-date= Sep 20, 2010 }}</ref> The family of [[Gordie Howe]] also commented on the damage to his star. The Canadian Press reported that "A number of celebrities' stars are looking a bit rough around the edges."<ref>{{Cite news|title=Mr. Hockey's Walk of Fame plaque cracked|work=[[Winnipeg Free Press]]|agency=The Canadian Press|url=http://www.winnipegfreepress.com/sports/hockey/mr-hockeys-walk-of-fame-plaque-cracked-102841454.html|date=14 September 2010|access-date=17 September 2010 |url-status=live |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20110614173235/http://www.winnipegfreepress.com/sports/hockey/mr-hockeys-walk-of-fame-plaque-cracked-102841454.html |archive-date= Jun 14, 2011 }}</ref> The president of the Walk of Fame stated that damage was due to the freezing and thawing during Canadian winters and also sidewalk snowplows. It was announced that the city of Toronto would replace Shatner and Howe's damaged tiles,<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.thestar.com/entertainment/article/862576--damaged-stars-to-be-replaced-on-walk-of-fame?bn=1 |title=Damaged stars to be replaced on Walk of Fame|newspaper= [[Toronto Star]]|access-date=17 September 2010 | date=16 September 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100920040332/https://www.thestar.com/entertainment/article/862576--damaged-stars-to-be-replaced-on-walk-of-fame?bn=1 |archive-date= Sep 20, 2010 }}</ref> and the Walk of Fame was looking into an alternative to installing the plaques on a sidewalk where they are subjected to harsh environmental conditions.<ref name=ShatnerTweet/>

== See also ==
* [[List of Canadian awards]]
*[[Persons of National Historic Significance]]
{{Portal|Canada}}
*''[[Canada: A People's History]]''
*[[Canadian Newsmaker of the Year]]
*''[[Heritage Minutes]]''
*[[List of Canadian Victoria Cross recipients]]
*[[List of companions of the Order of Canada]]

== References ==
{{Reflist|colwidth=30em}}

== External links ==
{{Commons category}}
* {{Official website|1=http://www.canadaswalkoffame.com}}
{{Toronto landmarks}}
{{People of Canada}}

{{good article}}

[[Category:1998 establishments in Ontario]]
[[Category:Awards established in 1998]]
[[Category:Buildings and structures in Toronto]]
[[Category:Culture of Toronto]]
[[Category:Halls of fame in Canada| Walk of Fame]]
[[Category:Tourist attractions in Toronto]]
[[Category:Walks of fame]]