Canada’s Islands Database: Notable Persons

5 – Canada’s Islands and Notable Persons
 
ARCTIC

Baffin Island ( Nunavut)

Canada’s First Inhabitants
Ipirvik and Taqulittuq, Iqaluit

This Inuit couple of Baffin Island assisted Arctic explorers between 1860 and 1870
Designated in 1981; a plaque was dedicated in 1984

Pitseolak, Peter (1902-1973), Cap Dorset

Artist, photographer, hunter and historian
Designated in 1981, a plaque was dedicated in 1984

Navigators, explorers
Baffin, William (1584-1622), Pangnirtung

Arctic explorer; he mapped the Hudson Strait and the Davis Strait in 1615-1616
Designated in 1972; a plaque was dedicated in 1988

 Davis, John (1550-1605), Pangnirtung

Arctic explorer, he completed three expeditions in the search of the Northwest Passage in 1585-87
Designated in 1972; a plaque was dedicated in 1988

Frobisher, Sir Martin (1539-1594), Iqaluit

Arctic explorer, he headed three expeditions between 1576 to 1578, he was the first cartographer in the East
Designated in 1957; a plaque was dedicated in 1 974

Beechy Island ( Nunavut)

Navigators, explorers
Franklin, Sir John (1786-1847), Beechy Island

Arctic explorer and cartographer in 1819-22 and 1825-27, he disappeared in 1845
Designated in 1945, a plaque was also dedicated

Melville Island ( Northwest Territories)

Navigators and explorers
Parry, Sir William Edward (1790-1855), Melville Island

Arctic explorer; he headed three expeditions in the Northwest Passage, 1971

Not directly linked to an island:
Rae, John (1813-1893)

Fur trader, Arctic explorer, he tried to find Franklin (1848, 1851, 1853-54)
Designated in 1973

Not directly linked to an island:
Bernier, Capitain Joseph-Elzéar (1852-1934), L’Islet (Quebec)

Played an important role in affirming Canadian sovereignty in the Arctic archipelago
Designated in 1961; a plaque was dedicated in 1962

ATLANTIC

Cap-Breton Island ( Nova Scotia)

Artistic and Intellectual Life
Bourinot, Sir John George (1837-1902), Sydney

Clerk in the House of Commons from 1880 to 1902; he was the founder of the Royal Society of Canada
Designated in 1938; a plaque was dedicated in 1949/1971

Economic Life
Baldwin, Frederick Walker «Casey» (1882-1948), Baddeck

Engineer; he collaborated with Alexander Graham Bell in designing aircrafts and hydrofoils
Designated in 1957, a plaque was dedicated in 1978

McCurdy, John A.D. (1886-1961), Baddeck

He was the first to complete a controlled fight aboard a Silver Dart in the British Empire in 1909
Designated in 1974; a plaque was dedicated in 1978

Political Life
Desbarres, Joseph Frederick Wallet (1722-1824), Sydney

He was the first Lieutenant-Governor of Cap-Breton from 1784 to 1787; he also mapped the coast of Nova Scotia
Designated in 1925; a plaque was dedicated in 1927/1971

Society
La Boularderie, Sir, Alder Point

Louis-Simon (1674-1738) and his son Antoine (1705-1771) were colonizers of Cap Breton Island
Designated in 1964; a plaque was dedicated in 1969

Prince Edward Island

Military History
Pope, Georgina Fane (1862-1938), Summerside

She was the first Canadian attending nurse to serve in the Royal Canadian Army Health Services in 1908
Designated in 1983; a plaque was dedicated 1986

Artistic and Intellectual Life
Falconer, Sir Robert (1847-1943), Charlottetown

He was President of the University of Toronto from 1907 to 1932
Designated in 1944; a plaque was dedicated in 1950

Harris, Robert (1849-1919), Charlottetown

He was the portrait artist and painter to the Fathers of Confederation
Designated in 1945; a plaque was dedicated in 1949

Macphail, Sir Andrew (1864-1938), Orwell

A medical doctor, he was also a novelist and the founder and editor-in-chief of The University Magazine
Designated in 1945; a plaque was dedicated in 1955/1995

Montgomery, Lucy Maud (1874-1942), Cavendish

Famous novelist and author of the world-renown Anne of Green Gables, which takes place on Prince Edward Island

Schurman, Jacob Gould (1854-1942), Freetown

This educator and philosopher was President of Cornell University from 1892 to 1921
Designated in 1943; a plaque was dedicated in 1951

Whelan, Edward (1824-1867), Charlottetown

He was a Father of Confederation, a journalist and public speaker
Designated in 1939; a plaque was dedicated in 1939

Economic and Community Life
Belcourt, Reverend Georges-Antoine, Rustico

A catholic missionary at Red River from 1831 to 1858, he founded the Farmer’s Bank of Rustico
Designated in 1959; a plaque was dedicated in 1971

Political Life
Coles, Georges, (1810-1875), Charlottetown

He was a Father of Confederation
Designated in 1939; a plaque was dedicated in 1939

Davies, Sir Louis Henry (1845-1924), Charlottetown

He was Premier of Prince Edward Island from 1976 to 1879 and Chief Justice of Canada from 1918 to 1924
Designated in 1937; a plaque was dedicated in 1949

Gray, Colonel John Hamilton (1811-1887), Charlottetown

He was a Father of Confederation and Premier of Prince Edward Island from 1863 to 1865
Designated in 1939; a plaque was dedicated in 1939

Haviland, Thomas Heath (1822-1895), Charlottetown

He was a Father of Confederation
Designated in 1939, a plaque was dedicated in 1939

Laird, David (1833-1914), New Glasgow

He was the Lieutenant Governor of the Northwest Territories and Minister of the Interior
Designated in 1950; a plaque was dedicated in 1955

Lane, Franklin Knight (1864-1921), De Sable

He was United State Secretary of the Interior from 1913 to 1920 and led the Interstate Commerce Commission
Designated in 1938; a plaque was dedicated in 1954

Macdonald, Andrew Archibald (1829-1912), Charlottetown

He was a Father of Confederation
Designated in 1939; a plaque was dedicated in 1939

Palmer, Edward (1809-1889), Charlottetown

He was a Father of Confederation and Premier of Prince Edward Island
Designated in 1939; a plaque was dedicated in 1939

Patterson, Walter (1742-1798), Charlottetown

He was the first Governor of Prince Edward Island from 1769 to 1787; he stood out as a leader in the disputes surrounding land claims
Designated in 1974; a plaque was dedicated in 1978

Pope, James Colledge (1826-1885), Lower Bedeque

Premier of Prince Edward Island, he was also federal minister of the Marine and Fisheries from 1878 to 1882
Designated in 1938; a plaque was dedicated in 1951

Pope, Sir Joseph (1854-1926), Charlottetown

This eminent Foreign Affaires civil servant (1878-1925), he was also a writer
Designated in 1938; a plaque was dedicated in 1949

Pope, William Henry (1825-1879), Charlottetown

He was a Father of Confederation
Designated in 1939; a plaque was dedicated 1939

Religious Life
MacEachern, Bishop Angus Bernard (1759-1835), St. Andrews

He was Charlottetown’s first Roman Catholic bishop in 1829. His jurisdiction covered Prince Edward Island, New Brunswick and the Magdalen Islands

Newfoundland

Canada’s First Inhabitants
Demasduit (1796-1820)

She was one of the last survivors of the Beothuk people
Designated in 2000

Shanawdithit (1801-1829)

She was the last survivor of the Beothuk people
Designated in 2000

Navigators, Explorers
Bartlett, Captain Robert Abram (1875-1946), Brigus

The Arctic explorer completed the Peary expedition (1908-09) and other Arctic voyages (1913-18 and 1926-45)
Designated in 1969; a plaque was dedicated in 1972

Cook, Captain James (1728-1779), Corner Brook

This navigator charted the coast of Newfoundland (1763-1767), the Gulf of Saint Lawrence and Nova Scotia (1758-1762)
Designated in 1954; a plaque was dedicated in 1972

Cormack, William Epps (1796-1868), Milton

He was the first to cross the island by land (1822)
Designated in 1953; a plaque was dedicated in 1959

Artistic Life
Cullen, Maurice Galbraith, (1866-1934), St. John’s

This impressionist painted Quebec winter landscapes
Designated in 1944; a plaque was dedicated in 1952

Duley, Margaret Iris (1894-1968), St. John’s

She was an internationally recognized Newfoundland novelist
Designated in 1976; a plaque was dedicated in 1981

Pratt, E. J. (1883-1964), Western Bay

He was an noteworthy Canadian poet
Designated in 1975, a plaque was dedicated in 1978

Economic Life
Coaker, Sir William Ford (1871-1938), Port Union

This Newfoundlander and social reformer founded the Fishermen’s Protective Union in 1908
Designated in 1985; a plaque was dedicated in 1990

Whitbourne, Sir Rrichard (1579-1628), Trinity

He was a merchant and supporter of colonisation
Designated in 1984; a plaque was dedicated in 1987

Political Life
Bennett, Charles Fox (1793-1883), St. John’s

He was a well-known political leader and entrepreneur in Newfoundland
Designated in 1975; a plaque was dedicated in 1978

Bond, Sir Robert (1857-1927), Whitbourne

He was Colonial Secretary of Newfoundland from 1899 to 1897 and Prime Minister from 1900 to 1909
Designated in 1975; a plaque was dedicated in 1979

Carson, William (1770-1843), St. John’s

He was a 19th century militant for political and social reform in Newfoundland Designated in 1954; a plaque was dedicated in 1979

Carter, Sir Frederick Bowker Terrington (1819-1900), St. John’s

He was a Father of Confederation and Prime Minister of Newfoundland in 1865 and from 1875 to 1878
Designated in 1959; a plaque was dedicated in 1979

Guy, John, Cupids

This merchant and adventurer was Governor of the Newfoundland’s first English colony
Designated in 1952; a plaque was dedicated in 1955

Harvey, Sir John (1778-1852), St. John’s

He was Governor of Newfoundland from 1841 to 1846, and also Lieutenant-Governor of Prince Edward Island in 1836-37, and New Brunswick in 1837 to 1841
Designated in 1974; a plaque was dedicated in 1980

Kirke, Sir David (1597-1654), Calvert

He was the first Governor of Newfoundland from 1637 to 1651; he took hold of Quebec City in 1629
Designated in 1968; a plaque was dedicated in 1970

Shea, Sir Ambrose (1815-1905), St. John’s

He was a Father of Confederation and President of the Newfoundland House of Assembly from 1885 to 1887
Designated in 1959; a plaque was dedicated in 1979

Smallwood, Joseph «Joey» Roberts (1900-1991), St. John’s

He was a defender of Confederation in Newfoundland’s National Convention from 1946 to 1948; he was also a Father of Confederation
Designated in 1996

Religious Life
Coughlan, Reverend Laurence, Harbour Grace

He was the founder of the Methodist mission at Harbour Grace in British North America in 1765
Designated in 1965; a plaque was dedicated in 1968

Society
Clinch, Reverend John (1749-1819), Trinity

This missionary was a medical pioneer who introduced the Jenner vaccine against smallpox
Designated in 1964; a plaque was dedicated in 1968

Gilbert, Sir Humphrey (1537-1583), St. John’s

He was the leader in the British attempt to establish a colony on Newfoundland in 1583
Designated in1981; a plaque was dedicated 1983

Grenfell, sir Wilfred (1865-1940), St. Anthony

He was a minister and doctor; he improved living conditions in Newfoundland and Labrador
Designated in 1959; a plaque was dedicated in 1980

Reeves, Chief justice John (1752-1829)

He was an important lawman and historian in Newfoundland
Designated in 1995

Southcott, Mary Meager (1862-1943)

This pioneer adopted the Nightingale method in nursing care on Newfoundland Designated in 1998

 St. Lawrence River and St. Lawrence Basin ( Quebec)

Grosse Ile

Society
Montizambert, Doctor Frédérick (1843-1929), Grosse-Ile

He created quarantine stations that protected Canadians from deadly epidemics
Designated in 1998; a plaque was dedicated in 2000 

 Island of Montreal

Explorer
Cavalier de LaSalle, René-Robert (1643-1687), Lachine

He founded Lachine in 1667, rebuilt Fort Frontenac in 1675, and explored the western part of the Great Lakes
Designated in 1934; a plaque was dedicated in 1937

Military History
Le Moyne d’Iberville, Pierre (1661-1706)

He was a famous soldier in New France and attacked several British post in 1688 and 1697
Designated in 1937; a plaque was dedicated 1937

Cultural Life
Beers, George (1843-1900), Montreal

He was the inventor of modern lacrosse and the founder of the first Canadian Journal of Dentistry
Designated in 1976

Bibaud, Michel (1782-1857), Montreal

French Canadian poet and historian in 1830
Designated in 1944; a plaque was dedicated in 1950

Champagne , Claude (1891-1965), Montreal

He was a composer, musician and renowned educator
Designated in 1988; a plaque was dedicated in 1994

Gagnon, Clarence A. (1881-1942), Montral

He was an engraver and painter; he was a member of Royal Canadian Academy of Arts
Designated in 1944

McCord, David Ross (1844-1930), Montreal

He created one of the earliest and most important collections of objects, images and manuscripts associated with Canadian history
Designated in 1999

Morenz, Howie (1902-1937), Montreal

Famous hockey player; he helped the Montreal Canadians win the Stanley Cup three times
Designated in 1976; a plaque was dedicated in 1978

Morrice, James Wilson (1864-1924), Montreal

This landscape painter was a contemporary of J. M. Whistler and of H. Matisse
Designated in1954; a plaque was dedicated in 1993

Nelligan, Émile (1879-1941), Montreal

This poet was a member of the Montreal School of Literature
Designated in 1974

Notman, William (1826-1891), Montreal

He was an important Canadian photographer of the 19th century
Designated in 1975

Pelletier, Wilfrid (1896-1982), Montreal

He was orchestra director and founder of the Music Conservatory
Designated in 1988; a plaque was dedicated in 1999

Economic Life
Girouard, Sir Edouard Percy Cranwell (1867-1932), Montreal

Military engineer and railroad builder in Africa
Designated in 1938; a plaque was dedicated in 1951

Kennedy, Sir John (1838-1921), Montreal

Considered one of the great Canadian civil engineers, he transformed the port of Montreal into an important international portuary complex of the 20 th century
Designated in 2000

Macaulay, Thomas Bassett (1860-1942)

He was a key player in the founding of the modern-day life insurance industry in Canada
Designation in 1997

Macdonald, Sir William Christopher (1831-1917), Sainte-Anne de Bellevue

This manufacteurer and philantropist founded the Macdonald Tabacco company
Designated in 1974

Smith, Sir Donald A. (Baron of Strathcona) (1820-1914), Montreal

Administrator of the Hudson Bay Company and political figure, he was one of the founders of the Canadian Pacific Railway (1885)
Designated in 1971

Stephen, Sir George (1829-1921), Montreal

Banker and rail magnate (Canadian Pacific), he was also a philanthropist
Designated in 1971, a plaque was dedicated in 1982

Van Horne, Sir William (1843-1915), Montreal

Chief engineer and president of the Canadian Pacific (1882-1884, 1888-89)
Designated in 1954; a plaque was dedicated in 1961

 
Political Life
Bourassa, Henri (1868-1952), Montreal

This French Canadian politician was founder and editor-in-chief of the newspaper, Le Devoir
Designated in 1962; a plaque was dedicated in 1990

Cartier, Sir George-Étienne (1814-1873), Montreal

He was an important French Canadian political figure of the 19th century and a Father of Confederation
Designated in 1937; a plaque was dedicated in 1980

Cuvillier, Augustin (1779-1849), Montreal

He was a speaker of the Assemblée du Bas-Canada from 1841 to 1844 and founder of the Bank of Montreal
Designated in 1969; a plaque was dedicated in 1976

de Callière, Louis-Hector (1648-1703), Montreal

He demonstrated himself as an exceptional diplomat during a meeting between European and members of the First Nations, which took place in 1699 and 1700
Designated in 2000; a plaque was dedicated in 2001

Kondiaronk (1625-1701)

He played an important role in the negotiations that lead to the Great Peace of 1701
Designated in 2000; a plaque was dedicated in 2001

LaFontaine, Sir Louis-Hippolyte (1807-1864), Montreal

The reformist was co-president of the provincial Executive Council (1842-1843, 1848 to 1851)
Designated in 1937; a plaque was dedicated in 1975

Papineau, Louis-Joseph (1786-1871), Montreal

He was a famous French Canadian nationalist and Seignieur of Montebello
Designated in 1937

Religious Life
Bourgeoys, Marguerite (1620-1700), Montreal

She was the founder of the Notre-Dame congregation in 1658, the first Canadian religious community in Canada
Designated in 1985

Youville, Sainte-Marie-Marguerite d'(1701-1771), Montreal

She was the founder of the order of the Sisters of Charity (1737)
Designated in 1973; a plaque was dedicated in 1983

Scientific Life
Abbott, Maude Elizabeth Seymour (1869-1940), Montreal

She was an eminent pioneer in medicine and coronary disease research
Designated in 1993; a plaque was dedicated in 2000

Adams, Frank Dawson (1859-1942), Montreal

A geologist, he was the father or modern tectonics
Designated in 1943; a plaque was dedicated in 1950

Archibald, Doctor Edward William (1872-1945), Montreal

A for-runner in thoracic surgery of the 1920s, he contributed to the advancement of medical knowledge
Designated in 1998

Marie-Victorin, Brother (1885-1944)

A botanist, he was also a professor and author of the «Flore laurentienne» (1935)
Designated in 1987

Osler, Sir William (1849-1919), Montreal

A doctor, researcher, and professor, he was the author of a series of very popular essays
Designated in 1950; a plaque was dedicated in 1990

Penfield, Wilder Graves (1891-1976), Montreal

He was the founder and director of the Montreal Institute of Neurology Designated in 1988; a plaque was dedicated in 1991

Rutherford, Ernest (1871-1937), Montreal

This physicist was a pioneer in radioactivity and particle theory research
Designated in 1939; a plaque was dedicated in 1939

Seyle, Doctor Hans (1907-1982)

He dedicated himself to medical research; he is know as the father of stress research
Designated in 1989

Society
Charlton, Margaret Ridley (1858-1931)

Pioneer in medical library science and co-founder of the Medical Library Association, 1898
Designated in 2003

Chomedey de Maisonneuve, Paul de (1612-1676), Montreal

Founder of Ville-Marie in 1642, now Montreal
Designated in 1985; a plaque was dedicated in 1992

Gérin-Lajoie, Marie Lacoste (1867-1945)

Quebec women’s rights advocate; she campaigned in favour of women’s suffrage
Designated in 1997

Mance, Jeanne (1606-1673)

She was founder of the Hôtel Dieu de Montreal and the first Canadian lay nurse to be recognised as having worked in difficult conditions
Designated in 1998

Saint-Jean, Idola (1880-1945), Montreal

She was a forerunner of the women’s suffrage movement in Quebec, and contributed to the reform of the Civil Code in the 1920s and 1930s
Designated in 1997; a plaque was dedicated in 2002

Outaouais River (Quebec)

 Ile aux Alumettes

Political Life
Tessouat and the Borgne

Algonquin chiefs of the upper valley of the Outaouais on l’île aux Allumettes
Designated in 1983

PACIFIC

Vancouver Island ( British Columbia)

Artistic Life
Carr, Emily (1871-1945), Victoria

She was a renowned painter and writer
Designated in 1950; a plaque was dedicated in 1954 in 1987

Economic Life
Dunsmuir, Robert (1825-1889) , Victoria

He discovered coal near Nanaimo in 1869 and embarked on the building of a commercial empire
Designated in 1971; a plaque was dedicated in 1977

Political Life
Blanshard, Richard (1817-1894), Victoria

He was the first Governor of Vancouver Island from 1849 to 1851
Designated in 1951; a plaque was dedicated in 1952

De Cosmos, Amor (1825-1897), Victoria

He was British Columbia’s Premier from 1872 to 1874 and founder of the «British Colonist»
Designated in 1938; a plaque was dedicated in 1948

Douglas, Sir James (1803-1877), Victoria

He was Governor of Vancouver Island from 1851 to 1863 and first Governor of British Columbia from 1858 to1864
Designated in 1944; a plaque was dedicated in 1946

Gray, John Hamilton (1814-1889), Victoria

He was a Father of Confederation and a speaker in the New Brunswick Assembly in 1866-67
Designated in 1939; a plaque was dedicated 1941

Musgrave, Sir Anthony (1828-1888), Victoria

He was Governor of Newfoundland from 1864 to 1869 and of British Columbia from 1869 to 1871; he help prepare British Columbia for its entry into Confederation
Designated in 1975; a plaque was dedicated in 1985

Religious Life
Demers, Bishop Modeste (1809-1871), Victoria

He was the first bishop of Vancouver Island in 1846 and a missionary in the District of Columbia
Designated in 1973; a plaque was dedicated in 1977

Scientific Life
Plaskett, John Stanley (1865-1941), Victoria

He was the first director of the Federal Astrophysical Observatory in Victoria in 1917
Designated in 1949; a plaque was dedicated in 1952

Douglas, David (1799-1834), Cathedral Grove, McMillan Provincial Park, British Columbia

He was a pioneer of botany in western North America; he identified the Douglas pin
Designated in 1979; a plaque was dedicated in 1984

Hunt, George (1854-1933), Fort Rupert

He was an ethnographer, a collector, and a specialist in west coast cultures
Designated in 1989

Society
Begbie, Sir Matthew Baillie (1819-1894), Victoria

A celebrated judge, he was British Columbia’s Chief Justice from 1870 to 1894
Designated in 1959; a plaque was dedicated in 1972


Haida Gwai (Queen Charlotte Islands)

Cultural Life
Tahayren (Edenshaw, Charles) (1839-1924), Masset

Famous 19th century silver and stone Haïda sculptor
Designated in 1971; a plaque was dedicated in 1980


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