All right, here goes.

I'll start with a brief description of each of the CBC's greatest Canadians.

Dr. Fredrick Banting--inventor of insulin
Alexander Graham Bell--inventor of the telephone
Don Cherry--hockey commentator
Tommy Douglas--inventor of Medicare
Terry Fox--athlete, died while raising money for cancer research
Wayne Gretsky--hockey player
Sir John A. Macdonald--1st Prime Minister
Lester B. Pearson--a Prime Minister of Canada, winner of a Nobel Prize
David Suzuki--famous environmentalist
Pierre Trudeau--a Prime Minister of Canada

TEN PROVINCES TO KNOW AND LOVE - AND THREE TERRITORIES TO CUDDLE WITH
From So, You Want to Be Canadian, by Kerry Colburn and Rob Sorensen


British Columbia:
Never a dull moment in fun-filled B.C., where hippies and hipsters sail, smoke, ski, and happily drink to Canada’s coolest (not coldest) province.

Alberta:
It’s no wonder Texas is called “the Alberta of the U.S.” Big steers and black gold make this beefy province the last bastion of real cowboys and range-riding before the slide into liberal, hemp-happy B.C.

Saskatchewan:
The province where you can watch your dog run away for three days – expansive, sleek Saskatchewan doesn’t bother with mountains, but concentrates on raising hockey players, and people who can spell “Saskatchewan”.

Manitoba:
Here in Canada’s heartland, Manitobans celebrate having the coldest intersection in the country – Portage & Main in Winnipeg, immortalized by many Canuck musicians, including ‘Pegger Neil Young in the song “Prairie Town” – and for having a town called Flin Flon. (It’s fun to say!)

Ontario:
Canada’s political elite, corporate bigwigs, and blue-collar industrialists rub shoulders in this cosmopolitan province. It’s home to the nation’s capital, Ottawa, and its biggest city, Toronto – known affectionately as “New York without the garbage” and “London with better teeth”.

Quebec:
Lovingly deemed “Canada’s smoking section,” Quebec overflows with European culture, architecture, accents, and of course, poutine. Rumours of its secession have been greatly exaggerated – although feisty and independent-minded, Quebec is still firmly part of Canada. Hydroelectric power is Quebec’s gift to the Northeast and Celine Dion its gift to the world. (Oh yes, and maple syrup).

New Brunswick:
The only officially bilingual province in Canada, this quiet, unassuming little brother stays out of the limelight except once every twelve hours, when it shows off with the mind-blowing tides of Fundy. (Well, that happens in Nova Scotia too, but whatever).

Nova Scotia:
Seafood and sailing reign supreme in Nova Scotia. So climb aboard and fill your gullet with Digby scallops and lobsters bigger and cheaper than in Maine. If you don’t understand a word someone is saying, you’ve met and Acadian, the Canadian equivalent to the Cajun. (Well, that happens in New Brunswick too, but whatever).

Prince Edward Island:
A teeny, tiny island covered in rich, red muck, Prince Edward Island is proud of its two famous exports, Anne of Green Gables and potatoes, the latter celebrated in song by Canadian folk hero Stompin’ Tom Connors: “Bud the spud from the bright red mud rolling down the highway smilin’, the spuds are big on the back of Bud’s rig and they’re from Prince Edward Island.”

Newfoundland/Labrador:
Like the friendly dogs of the same name, folks from this province are loveable, frisky, often wet, and loyal at all costs. “Newfs,” as they’re affectionately called, are appreciated all the more for graciously stepping forward in their waders to become the constant punchline of the country’s jokes (so that no one had to make fun of foreigners).

Yukon Territories:
Generously allowing Alaska its breathing room, this Gold Rush territory rests just above B.C., providing solace to America’s fiftieth state when, like a lost puppy, it longs to snuggle up to something familiar.

Northwest Territories:
Despite the record cold, residents here are amazingly nimble-tongued, speaking no less than eight official languages – Chipewyan, Cree, Dogrib, English, Gwich’in, Inuktitut, Slavey, and French. (Yes, French!)

Nunavut:
Already sparking the cheer “I’ll have Nunavut!” this frosty new baby of Canada became a territory in 1999, and is the best place in the country to trip-out on Northern Lights. (That, and a really good snow cone).

Pearson also has a hockey award named after him, it's the MVP of the NHL as voted on by the player's association.

And home of several prominent Blue Jackets employees, including, I believe, radio commentator George Matthews and GM Doug MacLean.