The Year of the Canadian
Canada captured the attention of the world – and, well, outer space – in 2013, from Leonard Cohen wrapping a hugely successful world tour on the back of his chart-topping Old Ideas album to Kathleen Wynne becoming the nation’s first openly gay premier. In March, however, Canada truly “launched” into the intergalactic consciousness when Cmdr. Chris Hadfield, 54, became the first Canadian to assume command of the International Space Station. While there, the astronaut channelled his inner artist, beaming back stunning photographs of Earth from space and going viral with a zero gravity rendition of David Bowie’s “Space Oddity” while also taking time to chat with fellow Canuck star trekker William Shatner. Then, in October, celebrated scribe Alice Munro, 82, received the Nobel Prize for Literature – becoming the first Canadian honoured with the award. Almost as amazing – an entire year of Canadian accomplishments went by and none of them involved beer, hockey or maple syrup.