The country’s highest mark of achievement is celebrating 25 years and inducting an iconic youth culture phenomenon to Canada’s Walk of Fame.
Canada’s Walk of Fame honours the country’s trailblazers and Degrassi made the first round of 2023 inductees, for arts and entertainment.
The global phenomenon, Degrassi, was created by Linda Schuyler and the late Kit Hood in 1979, and tells the coming-of-age stories of several high school students as they journey through life into adolescence.
The series spans over four decades and is considered a vanguard in inspiration, education and entertainment for teenagers everywhere, showcasing challenging stories with passion and triumph.
The Canadian sitcom, with over 500 episodes and four movies to date, led conversations that were considered taboo on television, such as teen pregnancy, racism, AIDS, eating disorders, child abuse, learning disabilities, gender identity, violence and more.
Political satirist Rick Mercer is also an inductee into the Walk of Fame and is receiving the arts and entertainment honour.
For Humanitarianism, Supreme Court Justice Rosalie Silberman Abella is being inducted as “A Champion of Human Rights and Social Justice.”
Record-breaking NHL sensation Connor McDavid is also being recognized in the sports and athletics category.
“As Canada’s Walk of Fame celebrates its first quarter century and looks towards the future, we remain dedicated to highlighting and celebrating Canadian changemakers, trailblazers, and influencers who have a lasting cultural impact on the fabric of Canadian identity,” Jeffrey Latimer, CEO Canada’s Walk of Fame said in a news release on Monday.
Canada’s Walk of Fame 25th anniversary celebration with star-studded performances and tributes will take place in Toronto on Dec. 2. A broadcast of the event will air at a later date on CTV.
Additional inductees will be announced in the months to come.
