Every year, a group of celebrated Canadians are inducted into Canada’s Walk of Fame. Whether it be through music, acting, sports or performing arts, these talented homegrown heroes contribute to our cultural identity and inspire fellow Canadians to pursue their own dreams.
2012 year sees an eclectic group of northern stars get their due: Canadian rock legend Randy Bachman earns his second star on the walk of fame after being inducted as part of The Guess Who back in 2001, Grammy and Juno-winning songstress Sarah McLachlan is among the inductees, along with ballerina Sonia Rodriguez whose husband, figure skater Kurt Browning, 
was honoured with his own star in 2006. Some sports heroes have scored an induction– former Ottawa Roughrider Russ Jackson who led his team to three Grey Cup victories and is widely considered the best QB in CFL history, as well as the legendary Team Canada 1972 who sent national pride soaring to new heights when they defeated Russia in the Summit Series. The late comedian Phil Hartman is also among the inductees, fulfilling a dream of his brother Paul’s who has been campaigning for three years to see Phil honoured. Singer Melanie Fiona is this year’s Alan Slaight award winner, an honour bestowed annually to the next generation of inspiring Canadians. Her good friend Drake earned the prize last year.
ET Canada‘s Cheryl Hickey was backstage with all the inductees right after they received their awards and while their fields may differ wildly, they all have one thing in common – they are very proud and humbled Canadians. Sarah McLachlan has achieved international stardom but moving south of the border has never been an option for the singer. “I’ve travelled all over the world and I’m always so thankful to come back and know this is my home,” she tells us. “This is the place where my roots are, my dear friends and my family – that’s my heart.”
Randy Bachman has been a part of two of the most successful rock bands to emerge from our country and he credits his hometown of Winnipeg with keeping him grounded – even at the height of his success. “You just go home, you’re one of the guys, one of the four Bachman boys,” he says.”You take out the trash, you mow the lawn and that’s very humbling coming back from New York being on tour.”
Paul Henderson inspired Canadians from coast to coast when he scored the winning goal in Game 8 of the Summit Series in 1972 but at the Canada’s Walk of Fame award ceremony, it was him who was inspired. “You know, Sarah, Sonia and Randy, to be on the same stage as them and be recognized, I sat there and thought ‘man, being a Canadian is really neat!.’”
Watch a special episode of ET Canada tonight featuring Cheryl’s backstage interviews with the inductees and make sure to catch the Canada’s Walk of Fame Awards Ceremony hosted by Paul Shaffer right here on Global on Sunday, October 14 at 8 p.m. ET/PT.
