Music: {allcanada} Canada names Walk of Fame stars

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TORONTO - From actors to a legendary musician, an astronaut, an author, a comic and a tennis star, a new group of seven is filling in significant gaps in Canada's Walk of Fame.

The Walk of Fame, which honours significant achievements in the arts, sports, science and innovation, yesterday announced Canadian-born Hollywood stars Sandra Oh and Ryan Reynolds as new inductees. Another choice is Burton Cummings, best known for singing with The Guess Who, already a member of the Walk of Fame.

"What a cool deal," Cummings told QMI Agency's Darryl Sterdan. "I'm the first one ever that's going to have two stars. The Guess Who, we got one 10 years ago; now I'm getting a solo one. It's a tremendous honour. I'm very thrilled that I will have one as a solo artist. Now, I'm thinking that if I can start some kind of new band and get one more, then I'll be the Eric Clapton of Canada."

Tennis star Daniel Nestor was also chosen this year, although the timing was lousy given that he and his doubles partner just bombed out early at Wimbleton. Nestor matches Reynolds' bad timing: his new Hollywood comicbook adventure movie Green Lantern just did poorly at the boxoffice.

Other inductees have no such problems. Acerbic comic Russell Peters is always in vogue. Dr. Roberta Bondar, a neurologist and astronaut, is a Canadian of extraordinary standing in the scientific community. The posthumous inductee this year is Montreal author Mordecai Richler, back in focus because the film adaptation of his novel Barney's Version has been acclaimed this year. Coincidentally, it was released on home entertainment Tuesday, just as Richler was named.

The members of the class of 2011 will officially be given their places on the Walk of Fame Oct. 1 as part of the four-day Canada's Walk of Fame Festival in Toronto. Canada's finance minister, Jim Flaherty, joined the corporate shmooze-fest Tuesday at the Windsor Arms Hotel. Calling it "another great day to be a Canadian," Flaherty coughed up a $500,000 grant to subsidize the festival, claiming it will help "stimulate the local economy and enliven Toronto's cultural landscape." He also quipped that the money comes from taxpayers, "so you should all pat yourself on the back as well."

That got a rise out Peter Soumalias, president and founding director of Canada's Walk of Fame. Soumalias quoted famous lyrics from Canadian singer-songwriter David Clayton Thomas, warbling "you've made me so very happy" from the Blood, Sweats & Tears hit.

Among others, both Flaherty and Soumalias paid tribute to emerging talent, one focus of the coming festival. The Fame folk did a good job Tuesday, showcasing dynamic young Ontario performer Alysha Brillinger and her three-piece ensemble.

"It's all about the opportunity to be seen, to be heard, to catch a break," Soumalias said. Sure enough, when Waterloo's Brillinger did a morning sound check, John Legend and his manager overheard and made contact — with the possibility that Brillinger may get her break soon than later.

DR. ROBERTA BONDAR:

Age 65, hometown: Sault Ste. Marie, Ont.

As the first neurologist in space, astronaut Bondar pioneered space medicine research and then used her fame to deepen scientific education in Canada.

BURTON CUMMINGS:

Age: 63, hometown: Winnipeg.

Both as a solo artist and as the lead singer of the legendary Winnipeg rock band The Guess who, Cummings has been sharing the land and representing Canada on the world stage for 45 years.

DANIEL NESTOR:

Age: 38, hometown: Belgrade, Yugoslavia, raised in Toronto

Learning his tennis in Canada (his parents emigrated before he turned four), Nestor is now the most successful player this country has ever produced. He is setting records in men's doubles and won Olympic gold in the sport in 2000.

SANDRA OH:

Age, 39, hometown: Nepean, Ont.

The sassy and talented Korean-Canadian made her mark in Canadian TV and film before going Hollywood, where her sterling credits include Sideways and five Emmy noms for her work in the hit TV series Grey's Anatomy.

RUSSELL PETERS:

Age, 40, hometown: Brampton, Ont.

As one of the most popular comics on the club and arena circuit, Peters has carved out a thriving career. His penchant for acerbic remarks about race (Peters himself is an Indo-Canadian) has turned him into a YouTube sensation with 60 million hits.

RYAN REYNOLDS:

Age, 34, hometown: Vancouver

After debuting in Canadian TV as a teen, Reynolds successfully made the leap to adult stardom in Hollywood. Recent credits include the current Green Lantern. Reynolds is also famous for hooking up with Alanis Morissette and later Scarlett Johansson.

MORDECAI RICHLER:

Died July 3, 2001, at 70, hometown: Montreal

As one of the most acclaimed English-language writers in Canadian literature, the curmudgeonly Richler left behind a rich legacy. His specialty was writing about the Jewish-Canadian neighbourhood in Montreal where he grew up.