Notable Canadians to consider this Canada Day

Individuals across Canada and expats living abroad celebrate Canada Day each July 1. As Canadians consider and commemorate their country's rich history, it's also worth noting the many influential individuals who hail from the nation sometimes referred to as the Great White North. This July, Canadians can consider the contributions of some of their most recognizable countrymen.

· Drake: Born in Toronto in 1986, Aubrey Drake Graham, otherwise known as "Drake," is among the best-selling musical artists in the world. A five-time Grammy winner, Drake has sold more than 170 million records and has advocated for various causes related to social justice.

· Michael J. Fox: Among the more recognizable Hollywood stars of the last four decades, Michael J. Fox was born in Edmonton in 1961. By the mid-1980s, Fox was a Hollywood mainstay, starring in iconic roles such as "Marty McFly" in the "Back to the Future" film trilogy and as "Alex P. Keaton" in the popular sitcom "Family Ties," which aired from 1982 to 1989. In the late 1990s, Fox shared his diagnosis of Parkinson's disease, and has since served as a vocal advocate for finding a cure.

· Roberta Bondar: Seventy-eight-year-old Roberta Bondar was Canada's first female astronaut and the first neurologist in space, proving that Canadians' influence extends not only beyond the country, but even the planet. Bondar also is the first astronaut to receive a star on Canada's Walk of Fame, a fitting commendation given her accomplishments in space.

· Ryan Reynolds: Perhaps most notable for his role as the titular character in the "Deadpool" film franchise, Reynolds is an accomplished actor and businessman whose pursuits in the latter field once included ownership stakes in Aviation Gin and Mint Mobile. Reynolds also is a co-owner, alongside fellow actor Rob McElhenney, of the Welsh football club Wrexham A.F.C., a unique addition to his portfolio that gained wider recognition upon the release of the popular television show "Welcome to Wrexham."

· Yann Martel: Booker Prize-winning novelist Martel is widely known for his international bestseller Life of Pi, which has sold more than 12 million copies across the globe was adapted for film in 2012. Born in Spain to French-Canadian parents in 1963, Martel and his family ultimately settled in British Columbia. Martel has served as a visiting professor at the University of Saskatchewan and has long advocated for the importance of the arts in Canada.