Before we whip out our stretchy pants and gobble down some turkey, there’s one more thing to add to our gratitude list: the iconic Canadian celebrities and sports teams that fill our hearts with maple leaf pride. Whether it’s the charm of Ryan Reynolds or the on-court hustle of the Toronto Raptors, Canada isn’t short of national treasures to be thankful for.  

In the true Thanksgiving spirit, we surveyed 3,000 Canadians to reveal which homegrown celebrities and sports teams they’re feeling the most grateful for this holiday. From stars like Keanu Reeves and Shania Twain, to powerhouses like the Edmonton Oilers – fresh off their recent Stanley Cup Playoffs run – the results are definitely something to feast your eyes on.  

Here’s a taste of the results:  

• Stars: Keanu Reeves ranks 1^st as the celebrity Canadians are the most thankful for  

• Stars: Ryan Reynolds brings home 2^nd place, with Jim Carrey following in 3^rd place  

• Sports: The Toronto Raptors ranks 1^st as the sports team Canadians are the most grateful for 

• Sports: The Toronto Maple Leafs glide into 2^nd place, with the Toronto Blue Jays following in 3^rd place  

These are the celebrities Canadians are the most grateful for 

Keanu Reeves carves out the #1 spot as the celebrity Canadians are the most thankful for nationwide. Raised in Toronto and gracing our screens since the age of 9, he’s starred in over 80 films while building a true Canadian reputation – the embodiment of kindness and generosity. Beyond the silver screen, he’s quietly made a huge impact – establishing a fund for children’s cancer, gifting 7-figure Christmas bonuses to struggling Matrix set workers, and handing out Rolex watches to his stunt teams. Known for treating everyone around him with respect, Keanu Reeves rightfully earned the title of ‘Mr. Nice Guy’ in both Hollywood and Canada. No wonder the nation is grateful for him!  

British Columbia’s very own ‘rizz’ master, Ryan Reynolds, swoops into #2 spot with Canadians feeling thankful for this West Coast treasure. With over 67 movies under his belt – ‘Deadpool’, ‘The Proposal’, and ‘Green Lantern’ to name a few – he’s charmed his way into everyone’s hearts on and off the screen. However, it’s not just his wit and charm that has Canadians feeling grateful this Thanksgiving. His generosity has been shown through his countless charitable causes – such as $1M to Food Banks Canada. He’s even been awarded the Governor General’s Performing Arts Award in 2021 as a recognition to his philanthropic work and contributions to the culture life of Canada. Now that’s something to raise a toast to.  

‘Somebody stop me!’ Laughing his way into the #3 spot, Jim Carrey takes his place in the national rankings with a comedic legacy, leaving us all saying ‘alrighty then’! Starting his stand-up career in Toronto at 15, Jim Carrey quickly became famous for his rubber-face expressions and energetic slapstick humour. From ‘The Truman Show’ to ‘How the Grinch Stole Christmas’ and ‘The Mask’, he’s left Canadians – and the rest of the world – chuckling for decades. You can find Canadians, or Newfoundlanders more specially, giving thanks to the man who never fails to make us laugh. 

Rounding out the top 5 national rankings, Edmonton’s very own Michael J. Fox lands in the #4 spot. With a longstanding career, he’s captured hearts worldwide through his film roles and advocacy for Parkinson’s research. Meanwhile, back in London, Ontario, Justin Bieber slides into the #5, proving that ‘Bieber Fever’ still runs strong across the country.  

Canada’s MVPs: Sports teams Canadians are grateful for 

Slam-dunking their way into #1 spot nationwide, the Toronto Raptors are the MVPs this Thanksgiving. As Canada’s only NBA team, they’ve built a massive, dedicated fan base – even cheered on by A-listers like Drake, The Weeknd, and Snoop Dogg. When they took home the 2019 NBA Championship, the city threw their biggest celebration in history – with 2 million people attending. The Raptors are truly the ‘toast of the court’ this Thanksgiving. 

Gliding into #2 spot, the Toronto Maple Leafs are skating into the grateful hearts of Canadians this Thanksgiving. Despite the Edmonton Oilers’ recent Stanley Cup Playoff run, it seems Canadians are showing more gratitude for the Leafs. As one of the oldest and most iconic franchises in the NHL, with 13 Stanley Cup championships under their belts (the #2 most in the league), they’ve earned their seat at the Thanksgiving table.  

Staying in the 6ix, the Toronto Blue Jays slide into third base as the most appreciated Canadian sports team this Thanksgiving. Just like the Raptors, they hold the honour of being Canada’s only MLB team, making them a true national treasure. They’ve knocked it out of the ballpark with two AL pennants and two World Series titles, cementing their place in MLB history. Whether it’s a grand slam or a diving catch, the Blue Jays continue to give Canadians something to cheer for each season.  

Rounding out the top five national rankings, the Montreal Canadiens take the #4 spot. With a record-setting 24 Stanley Cup championships, they stand as the most successful franchise in NHL history – a true reason for Canadians to be thankful for. Also skating into #5 spot, the Vancouver Canucks follow, capturing the hearts of fans with their grit and determination. With three Canadian NHL teams earning their spot in Canada’s top five gratitude list, it’s clear that hockey truly flows through the veins of the nation’s spirit.  

Conclusion 

As we gather to celebrate our loved ones and the essence of what makes Canada special this Thanksgiving, it’s clear that cultural icons like Keanu Reeves and powerhouse teams add a little extra flavour to what makes Canada special. These stars and sports teams remind us of the pride and gratitude that makes Canada what it is today.  

Methodology 

In September 2024, we surveyed 3,000 Canadian residents which Canadian celebrities and major sports teams they’re the most thankful for. The average age of respondents was 35 years old. The representative sample size comprised of 54.3% female, 43% male, 2.1% non-binary, and 0.5% transgender. 

Fair use

Feel free to use the data or visuals on this page for non-commercial purposes. Please be sure to include proper attribution linking back to this page to give credit to the authors.    

For any press questions, please contact rhiannon.odonohoe[at]casino.org 

While rugby union cannot compete with other major sports in terms of viewership, there is no shortage of drama and excitement in each and every fixture.

Fans are able to watch the best international teams compete on a yearly basis, with the northern hemisphere countries competing in the Six Nations and the southern hemisphere nations battling it out in the Rugby Championship.

Here, we take a trip down memory lane to look back at 10 of the greatest rugby union teams to grace the field – and no, it isn’t just a list of New Zealand squads!

10 – Barbarians (1973)

Many believe that the Barbarians’ success over New Zealand in 1973 ranks as the best ‘one off’ performance in the history of rugby union.

The All Blacks were firm favourites to prevail but the Baa-Baas selected a strong squad for the contest at Cardiff Arms Park, with a number of former British & Irish Lions in the side.

The game itself had everything. It had Phil Bennett’s famous sidestep in the build-up to Sir Gareth Edwards’ superb try early on and Carwyn James cemented his place as one of the greatest rugby union coaches in the annals of the sport.

9 – France (1994)

Another team, another defeat of New Zealand. In this case, Les Bleus secured victory in the most dramatic of circumstances.

France were one-nil up in the two match Test series but found themselves trailing in the second encounter with just one minute left on the clock.

Time was running out but France kept the ball alive, twisting and turning the entire length of the pitch to secure a famous win that left Eden Park in shock.

That was New Zealand’s first clean sweep series defeat in almost half a century and 30 and 48 matches later, France remain the last team to beat the All Blacks in Auckland.

8 – Australia (1984)

Australia were in a transitional period when they travelled over for a tour of England, Scotland, Wales and Ireland in autumn 1984 and most expected the Wallabies to struggle.

However, they exceeded all expectations and then some. The 1984 squad became the first Australian team to clinch a Home Nations Grand Slam – securing victory in all four Test matches and a success over the Barbarians to boot.

That tour sent shockwaves around the world and put Australia on a map as a force to be reckoned with in rugby union. Seven years later, they lifted the Rugby World Cup for the first time.

7 – South Africa (1995)

The South Africa team of 1995 takes seventh spot on this list, with the Springboks lifting the Rugby World Cup after an incredible display of strength and unity.

The country was going through a very difficult period but Francois Pienaar and his side inspired a nation with their success, putting South Africa in the spotlight on the world stage.

New Zealand were heavy favourites to win the 1995 showpiece but South Africa fought their way to an emotional success in extra-time.

6 – British & Irish Lions (1974)

The 1974 Lions tour in South Africa was a roaring success, with the touring side playing an incredible 22 games – avoiding defeat for over two months.

Willie John McBride was a fantastic coach and he had his team primed for a huge effort but nobody expected the Lions to do what they did. It was a magnificent achievement and one that union fans still refer to today.

The Lions were denied a series whitewash after a controversial referee decision in the final Test but the players were lauded for their achievements. Lions fans would need to wait 15 years for their next series success…

5 – New Zealand (2015)

The 2015 Rugby World Cup will be remembered for several reasons but New Zealand’s dominance is the main one and they take fifth place on this list.

Swagger and showmanship are two traits of every All Blacks squad but the 2015 team took this to new levels, with New Zealand becoming the first team to win back-to-back Rugby World Cups.

The pressure was on Steve Hansen’s side throughout the competition, but you wouldn’t have known it. New Zealand were expected to win and boy did they do that, well and truly putting Australia in their place in a one-sided final at Twickenham.

4 – England (2002-03)

Jonny Wilkinson’s drop goal will forever be regarded as the greatest moment in English rugby and that 2003 World Cup triumph was well deserved after an unprecedented era of success for the country.

England recorded victories over New Zealand, Australia and South Africa in the autumn of 2002 before completing a Six Nations Grand Slam in early 2003. Sir Clive Woodward’s team looked destined for greatness but could England live up to the hype?

The answer was yes. England – reduced to 13 men for a 10-minute spell – conquered the All Blacks on their own patch and set up a final with Australia. It was tense, it was gritty but ultimately England got the job done.

3 – Wales (1970s)

Wales were the team to beat in the 1970s, winning six Five Nations title and completing the Grand Slam in three of those campaigns.

Despite a narrow defeat to New Zealand in 1972, many believe that this Welsh team is the greatest team to represent the country. In the northern hemisphere, they were clear as the best rugby union side around.

Had the Rugby World Cup been around at the time, Wales would’ve stood a fair enough chance of winning the competition. Unfortunately, their 1970s squad was playing rugby way beyond its years and the country is still searching for a first World Cup success.

2 – New Zealand (1987-90)

Most New Zealanders would agree that this was the best All Blacks side – both in terms of talent and achievements. That New Zealand team was more powerful, fitter and just on another level to the rest.

The All Blacks went 23 Test matches in a row without defeat, winning 22 of those games and New Zealand were the team that everyone wanted to avoid during the period.

They produced the greatest Rugby World Cup tournament performance of all-time in 1987, scoring a sensational 43 tries in six matches en route to lifting the Webb Ellis Cup.

Filled with some of rugby’s greatest names, that All Blacks team was a cut above and it will take a monumental effort for a team to emulate their success.

1 – British & Irish Lions (1971)

The only Lions squad to triumph in New Zealand, the 1971 team was built around the dominant Welsh side of the era – with the likes of JPR Williams, Gareth Edwards and Barry John playing key roles throughout the tour.

The British & Irish Lions were sublime throughout the four-Test series, taking a narrow lead into the final encounter in Auckland. Trailing late in the game, Williams nailed a dramatic drop goal to salvage a draw and secure the series victory.

To this day, the 1971 team are widely regarded as the greatest rugby union team of all-time. Could we see another famous Lions series win when the current crop embark on their tour of South Africa in 2025?