The Power List 2023
After three pandemic-plagued years, Canadians have emerged, squinting and disoriented, into a new world order. While we were baking sourdough in lockdown, artificial intelligence evolved from the stuff of movie magic into big business. Basketball and soccer closed in on hockey to join the ranks of Canada’s national games. We finally began taking climate change seriously, churning out electric vehicles by the thousands and building skyscrapers out of renewable timber. And the coolest place to film a prestige TV show was suddenly…Alberta?
Commanding this weird, cool, occasionally scary new reality is a cohort of Canadians whose ideas and inventions are forging new industries and reinventing old ones. We’ve selected the top 10 changemakers in 10 categories. There’s Kris Collins, a former hairdresser who entertains some 48 million Gen Zers with her bite-sized TikTok sketches. Mindy Wight and Khelsilem of the Squamish Nation are in charge of a revolutionary $3-billion housing development in Vancouver. And tech whiz Raquel Urtasun is teaching cars how to drive themselves. Some of the people on our list are already household names. The rest are about to be.
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Sports Stars
1. Scottie Barnes
NBA
The Raptors' budding superstar is ushering in a new era of Toronto basketball
Political Backroomers
1. Jenni Byrne
Jenni Byrne + Associates
Poilievre’s chief adviser knows how Canadians think— and how they vote
AI Trailblazers
1. Ivan Zhang, Aidan Gomez & Nick Frosst
Founders, Cohere
These whiz kids are building a smarter, friendlier chatbot
Real Estate Reformers
1. Mindy Wight and Khelsilem
Nch'ḵay̓ Development Corporation and Squamish Nation Council
For pairing real estate with reconciliation
Health care Innovators
1. Alika Lafontaine
Canadian Medical Association
Before, he was just one doctor. Now, he’s working to make life better for all of them.
Gaming Tycoons
1. Jade Raymond
Haven Studios
For setting out to do her own thing
Hollywood North Stars
1. Denis Villeneuve
Filmmaker
Forget streaming. This blockbuster director wants to save the silver screen.
Food Titans
1. Galen G. Weston
Loblaws
The country’s most powerful—and controversial—grocery mogul
EV Entrepreneurs
1. Marissa West
GM Canada
This Michigan-raised auto exec is helping Canada usher in its EV revolution
TikTok Influencers
1. Kris Collins
@kallmekris
This former hairdresser is one of Tiktok’s biggest talents