Your Turn
Care to make a comment on any of the 50 selections featured on The Greatest Canadian Invention website? Think we left something out? Here's your chance to weigh in.
Just remember, the business of choosing the best Canadian inventions can be tricky. As you'll discover, there is almost no such thing as an absolutely original idea. Inventions often stem from a series of concepts borrowed from others, so it can be difficult to determine who exactly should receive credit for a breakthrough idea.
Then there's the issue of determining whether an invention or inventor can be considered "Canadian". Some of the personalities you'll meet were born in this country but came up with a brilliant idea while living abroad (think James Naismith and the game of basketball). Others may have been born overseas but spent most of their adult life working, and inventing, in Canada.
With that in mind, The Greatest Canadian Invention is all about embracing creativity and sparking discussion, and we welcome any suggestions you may have.
We'll be posting some of your comments, so check back to see if your thoughts made it to the website and, while you're at it, read what other Canadians are saying about The Greatest Canadian Invention.
Selected Comments
Aren't Canadians wonderful? I was not aware that all of these clever inventions were homegrown. I would like to see the "Greatest Canadian Invention" available for viewing in our school system, so youngsters could see and be proud of our many accomplishments. I personally voted for Marquis wheat, despite the obvious life-changing effects of so many others, such as the telephone, light bulb, insulin, etc. Although all these inventions are undoubtedly important, there is nothing more basic than feeding the planet. I am proud to know that Canada has contributed greatly to providing "the staff of life" to the entire world.
Barbara
We just finished renovating our kitchen. The Robertson screw and its screwdriver were the best. No fiddling with "star" screws or (even worse) slot ones! We now have a supply of at least five different lengths and sizes!
Hélène Godin
I chose Pablum, because its invention made it possible to not only nourish Canadian infants but also save millions of children in impoverished countries where nutrition is severely lacking.
Martin Kennedy
The Weevac 6 is a one of a kind device that serves a need that I've never before seen addressed. In an emergency situation in a hospital, it would seem to be the safest, most efficacious way of evacuating one of our most precious resources: babies!
Fay Alarie
Well, I think it's clear. While many of the inventions are outstanding, none has changed our world more than the telephone. In close second, the Robertson Screw has a special place in my heart, but I COULD live without it. I could use that stupid Phillips screw, but my life would be worse for it.
Ron Porteous
As much as I love other Canadian inventions such as the light bulb, Java, Pablum, poutine and a spicy Bloody Ceasar, I have to put my vote towards this plastic. In a society that produces the most waste in the world, I can't see why this plastic is not more prevalent in our everyday packaged goods, and why more such inventions are not being made legal requirements for corporations to use.
Sonya de Laat
If it's true that Canadians did invent the light bulb, they have illuminated mankind.
Michael Claydon
Bloody Caesar is bloody good.
Kerry Wilkes
Although I voted for the retractable beer carton handle, the Wonderbra came in a solid second.
Tom Bearse
Have you ever tried working overhead with a standard screwdriver? Nine times out of 10, the screw falls on the floor, or you end up with the blade of the screwdriver stuck in the palm of your hand. You need both hands to put a screw in, one on the screw, the other on the driver. With the Robertson screwdriver, this never happens. You can hold the screw upside down or right side up. It doesn't matter. It never falls off. This is a one-hand operation. One hand is always free to hold the work while the other screws it down. Best invention ever.
Steve Luptak
Being a computer geek myself, I can honestly say that Java is more widely used than any other invention on the list.
Erik LaBine
Great project for middle school kids!
Kerry Finney
I stumbled between Tommy Douglas and Alexander Graham Bell when I chose the Greatest Canadian. I ended up choosing Tommy Douglas, but the Greatest Canadian Invention is by far Alexander Graham Bell's telephone. Look how we use it today! Every business uses it, we use it to contact family and friends and just try getting 911 emergency help without the telephone. We can't live without it!
Shaun McGee
It seems imperative that the CBC and Canadians generally consider "great inventions" and everything else we admire, support, promote, buy, etc. in terms of environmental impacts. By that criterion, some of your supposedly "great inventions" are actually terrible inventions, like the snowmobile.
Judi
The birch bark canoe is not only synonymous with Canada, it was the invention that led to its exploration and development. And still today, with little change, it is used by Canadians for recreation and transportation.
David Goldman
There are a number of excellent inventions. It's hard to choose, but in the end I think it's a toss up between the electric light bulb and the telephone. How different our world would be without either.
Carola Dovbniak
Wow, what a hard choice to make to choose just one Canadian invention - it is amazing how many useful things have come out of the minds and hands of people from Canada. BRAVO!
Ann Schneider
Insulin saves thousands of lives each day, what's more important than a lifesaver?
Carly
The electric wheelchair has improved the lives of many Canadians and allowed people with mobility disabilities to become active in their communities.
John Archer
I don't think some of these can be considered "inventions." For example, insulin was really a discovery, not an invention. I feel that there should be a distinction between a discovery and an invention.
Shanna Pilon
GO POUTINE!!!
Kimberly
As an admirer of the female form, I must vote for the Wonderbra.
Darryl Stewart
Our tradition of innovative thought is very impressive, but it's unfortunate that so many of our inventions, along with our culture, is sold to the States and lost to our identity.
Wim Doelman
The other 49 inventions are interesting and many are useful, but nothing rivals the Robertson screw.
Gordon Harris
How could a child grow up to take partake in or appreciate the vast majority of the Canadian inventions highlighted without proper nutrition? Incredible and undeniable is the impact of Pablum on so many Canadian infants. Wow.
Ms. Harjinder K. Sekhon
I never knew before that there were so many great Canadian inventions. All, of course, are deserving of merit. I nearly chose the retractable beer carton handle, since it is so wonderfully useful, but in the end, I opted for the cobalt bomb because it has saved and improved so many lives. By the way, wasn't hockey a Canadian invention? I was surprised not to see it on the list.
Peter Murphy
The birch bark canoe stands out among the inventions, because it requires only simple tools, trees and the human hand to manufacture. When it is being used, it makes no noise and contributes beauty to the landscape; when it is being used, it causes no harm. Without it, travel within Canada might have been impossible for early settlers and explorers. It is ingenious but simple, and when it wears out, it becomes fuel for the forest from which it is made. It is the earliest of the inventions and contributed to their conception by making habitation possible in this country.
Barbara Holmes
My vote is for cold-resistant Marquis wheat. According to the formula of civilizations, surplus of food is the key to the evolution of a society. Marquis wheat helped to make Canada a player on the global stage, certainly more so than the zipper or basketball. It is an invention by a Canadian, which had great benefit for Canada and Canadians!
Thomas Baginski
Everyone uses the light bulb. Without the light bulb, we wouldn't be able to work all those long hours to come up with all the other 49 inventions. That's my story and I'm sticking to it!
Sylvia Lelievre
I believe that the greatest invention is the pacemaker. No one in my family I know has or needs a pacemaker, but it saves peoples' lives, so that alone should make it the greatest invention.
Kyle Mote
I think that the Canadarm is a good invention, because it is up in space showing us what we have never seen before. It is the longest we have been in space before. It can fix itself if it breaks down and it is just a cool invention.
Scott Brandon
I think that basketball should win, because it is one of my favourite sports. It teaches sportsmanship, teamwork, co-ordination, confidence and keeps you fit.
Matt Nunn
Eating hardy wheat makes life possible, light shows us the way - but communicating warms the heart makes it all so fun - so I chose A.G. Bell and the ubiquitous phone. :-)
Barbara J. Boire
The objective part of me votes for insulin (however, obviously not available to everyone in the world who would be benefit by it). So, perhaps the light bulb. But, selfishly, POUTINE!
Louise Whitaker
I voted for the pacemaker because at 23years of age, I wouldn't be who I am today without it. My gratitude goes out to John Hopps. Thanks a bunch.
Ashley McMaster
Who'd know – if you didn't have this program – that Canada produces such visionary intellects??
Mary Anne Taylor
As a member of the military, I have seen first hand the profound effect of radio communications all over the world. It revolutionized how society communicated and has saved countless lives.
Barry Mayer
Thanks – I had no idea that so many cool things came from Canadian minds!
Terri
I am astounded by the number of truly life-changing Canadian inventions. We Canadians are a self-defacing lot, not known for tooting our own horns, I guess. I think it's about time we stopped comparing ourselves to those who live in the United States and elsewhere; stopped fretting and asking foolish questions about The Canadian Identity and started accepting that we are a great nation. We are Canadians, who would want to be anything else? Smile.
Kathy Hedegard
How many times a day do you use a zipper?
Linda Lockey
Medical, life-saving inventions are all incredibly important. I couldn't choose between them, so I'll vote for the green garbage bag, which I've used as clothing, a suitcase, shelf liners, a sleeping bag/blanket/ground sheet and the answer to a multitude of problems. I've even put garbage in it.
Pam Best
My vote goes to the electron microscope. Even today, it provides powerful magnification for us to keep on making new discoveries in all fields of science. It has had a tremendous impact all over the world.
Nicole Schau
I think that less than half of these inventions are considered great and only a few to be the greatest. The greatest invention is the one that affects our lives every day or the one that we cannot do without. Such inventions as the light bulb, telephone and wireless voice transmission (radio) are among the few. We can live without the Wonderbra, poutine or the Bloody Caesers, just to name a few. In my view, these inventions are only fillers and are not there to make a real difference in all our lives.
Lorrie Matchett
I am British, Canadian, Australian. Without the invention of the phone, then cells and the internet, I would not be able to keep in touch with all my family and friends worldwide. (Hello everyone!) Thanks Canada – especially to the inventor (and his relations) of the phone.
Karen Hagger-Peen
I worked most of my life in a research lab, and inventing new ways to do difficult jobs was a main role. Thus I have been more aware than most people about the many wonderful inventions that Canadians have come up with. Great to have this show to make us more aware of our smart people. I'm a diabetic, so that's why I think insulin is so great an idea. Have used electron microscopes so I think that one is great, too!
Joe Vesso
Most of the 50 inventions that you have listed are worthy of mention, but some, such as instant replay, do not really have any major bearing on the day-to-day lives of most people. Some, like insulin (my vote!), have literally changed the lives of people & helped to save them. My second vote would be for the CPR dummy, as it has helped to train people to save lives. I guess it is all a matter of perspective, but, to me, things that make the difference between life & death, as well as quality of life, are more important than things like instant replay & zippers, great as these two inventions are. :)
Michelle Knowles
Loved the WEEVAC for humanity, loved and hated the underwire bra for myself. Runner-up: the marine screw propeller. Cheers,
Jan Dubord
Without the canoe, the fur trade would have looked completely different. Without the fur trade, Canada would look completely different. Without the canoe what would our Canada look like now?
Peter Bryan
The invention of standard time not only organized the railway schedules for Canada, but it impacts the life of everyone on Earth each day. Its impact ripples into international relations, trade, travel, scientific record keeping, communications and probably many more fields of which I'm not aware. By the way, it's only right that Canadians invented the pacemaker. It's retributive justice for inventing poutine!
Jan Wristen
I had no idea about the zipper! Voted for standard time. Radio transmission (sorry...) and Marquis wheat were the runners up. Could not in good conscience vote for the telephone as it eventually begat the cell phone – the no. 1 plague of modern society. Looking forward to the show!
Carolyn Ring-Ade
There are so many "worthy" inventions listed that it is very hard to choose the BEST, but in my mind, I believe that anything that can save a life has to be one of the most important discovery/inventions that this great country of ours, Canada, could produce for the benefit of the world. I cannot understand, though, how it could be that a handle for a case of beer would be lumped in with such a miracle as insulin. I truly believe that the lives of millions of people around the world is by far more important than getting my beer home without dropping it. Thank you,
Richard Westbrook
My addition would be the ATV and the air nailer. Without both of which our home would still be in the construction stage.
Julia
The canoe has allowed myself and many Canadians discover some of the greatest wilderness areas Canada has to offer. It has been a means for transportation for centuries and still is considered one of the greatest pastimes for many Canadians.
Melissa MacInnis
Although a lot of great inventions, if we don't cut down on our waste, our Earth will essentially be non-livable. Biodegradable plastic is a wonderful start!
Shauna
What an interesting contest. Canadians have certainly invented a diverse range of items. We should be "bragging" more about the achievements of Canadians!
Georgina McCallum
Over the years I have found the Robertson screwdriver to be the most efficient, easy to use fastener in home projects and in industrial use. Shame on the U.S. for adding a fifth side to the screwhead to beat paying the patent. Robertsons built Canada (literally).
Brad Campbell
Neither the beginning nor the goal, the BlackBerry is a major step towards a useful personal communications device. The integration of several services into a single interface has, by its market success, focused a confused industry onto some of the possibilities of global, accessible information for everyone.
Don Dubecky
The birch bark canoe is a true Canadian invention that has stood the test of time as originally the only form of transportation across our great ponds and rivers. Fur trading wouldn't have led to the Hudson's Bay Company without it.
Richard
I picked radio voice transmission, because of the impact it had on me as a child living in the N.W.T. Tuktoyaktuk was a world away from everyone. The radio gave me, and I'm sure my parents, a sense of being connected to the rest of the world when we were waiting out 60 below and 24 hr. nights
Garth Peebles
All of the inventions are great, but since Canada is about making all people feel equal, the electric wheelchair gets my vote. Many can now get around and see what a great country this is.
Marianne Lindemann
Quite disappointed that there was an obvious oversight – quite possibly the most significant Canadian invention of all time is missing from your list – the Beaver Tail. What about the Zamboni, the bear-proof suit, department store surveillance cameras...?
Andrew Millen
Java…it’s one of the greatest programming languages. We wouldn’t have much of a computer without it.
Andrew Rogers
It was difficult to decide, but in the long run I had to choose something that helped feed the world. All the other inventions are worthy, but after all is said and done, one must not be hungry in order to think clearly enough to make a good invention.
Des Emery
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