Connect with us

Hi, what are you looking for?

Uncategorized

Before They Were Famous

Noteworthy Canadians who attended college or university in Ottawa. 

James Duthie –  TSN Host and Journalist
Carleton University

Born in Ottawa, James Duthie studied journalism before starting his career as a sportscaster. He has received 3 Gemini Awards and 2 Canadian Screen Awards for Best Sportscaster in Canada for his role as host on the NHL on TSN. He is also a published author, and an ambassador for the Cristian Children’s Fund of Canada. 

 

photo: @mrsimonali

 

Dan Aykroyd – Actor and Comedian
Carleton University

Dan Aykroyd studied sociology and criminology before leaving to pursue a career in comedy. He is most well-known for his role on Saturday Night Live and for writing and starring in the hit movie Ghostbusters (1984). To this day, he is the ‘most well-known’ member of Carleton’s Sock’n’Buskin theatre troupe. 

 

photo: @dan_aykroyd_fanpage

Alex Trebek – Host of Jeopardy
University of Ottawa

Trebek moved from his hometown of Sudbury at a young age and attended Lisgar Collegiate Institute before graduating with a degree in philosophy from the University of Ottawa. During his senior year at the university, he began working for CBC as a news and sportscaster. Just two years later, he started to take a series of TV show hosting jobs that led him to his pivotal role on Jeopardy. 

 

photo: @b985fm

 

k-os – Alternative rapper, Singer-Songwriter and Producer
Carleton University

Also known as Kevin Brereton, rapper k-os (pronounced chaos) attended Carleton University briefly before returning back to his hometown of Toronto and eventually pursuing music as a career.

photo: @kostelevision

 

Jason Blaine – Country Music Star
Algonquin College

Hailing from Pembroke, Ontario, Jason Blaine (formerly known as Jason McEwan), graduated from Algonquin College’s business program in 2000. In 2002, he won a nation-wide search for the next big star in country music—Project Discovery. From there, Blaine became famous for songs like Country Side, Back To You, and They Don’t Make Em’ Like That Anymore.

photo:@jasonblaineofficial

 

Dan O’Toole – Co-Anchor on TSN
Algonquin College 

O’Toole studied radio broadcasting at Algonquin College before starting his career as a sports anchor alongside co-anchor Jay Onrait. The pair began with weekly broadcasts on TSN’s Sportscentre. In 2013, they left TSN to work on Fox Sports 1 channel in Los Angeles. They have since returned to TSN and are once again co-anchors on SC With Jay and Dan 

 

photo: @tsnotoole

Zdeno Chára – Captain of the Boston Bruins
Algonquin College

Born in Czechoslovakia, Chára was first drafted in the 1996 NHL Entry Draft. Before playing for the Boston Bruins, he was traded to the Ottawa Senators and played on the team from 2001-2006. Chára has a degree in financial planning from Algonquin College, and speaks seven languages.  

 

photo: onlyinbos

Tom Green – Comedian from the Capital
Algonquin College

Green is a well-known Canadian comedian who was born in Pembroke, Ontario. He later moved to Gloucester. He graduated from Algonquin College after studying television broadcasting. His career has included stand-up comedy, radio and even rap. His most well-known success was The Tom Green Show, which was picked up by MTV in 1999. He also had a very brief marriage to Drew Barrymore in 2001.

photo: @tomgreen

 

Mia Martina – Pop Star
Carleton University

One of Canada’s most successful pop stars, Mia Martina’s big break came after she spent four years studying psychology at Carleton University. From there, she went on to work at a record label and launched her career into pop and Latin dance music. She is most well known for her hits Latin MoonBurning, and her most recent hit, Sooner or Later.
 

photo: princessmiamartina

 

Astronaut

University of Ottawa

Dafydd “Dave” Williams holds the record for Canadian space walks and has made two trips into space. But before being selected by the Canadian Space Agency in 1992, Williams had a career in medicine, obtaining his degrees from McGill University, and completing a residency in family practice in the faculty of medicine at the University of Ottawa. 

 

 

photo: @nasa

 

You May Also Like

Life

Ontario is no stranger to dock spiders who, despite their name, are found all over cottage country and not just on docks. Here are...

Entertainment

Adam Sandler turns 52 today, and in honour of his birthday, we’re taking a look at the highest grossing Sandler films over his almost...

Entertainment

Francesca Farago, also known as “Frankie,” became a hit sensation after the airing of Netflix’s reality show Too Hot To Handle.

Entertainment

Who says that Christmas movies have to spread love and happiness through seasonal joy? Sometimes, these movies need to indulge on the darkness that...

Advertisement Sysco