The path outside Toronto’s Meridian Hall has long held a collection of maple leaf stars that twinkle beneath the feet of passersby. Each bronze star represents a thread in the fabric of Canadian cultural identity – and soon, this constellation will grow brighter with a new class of luminaries.
In a ceremony scheduled for November 2025, filmmaker Shawn Levy and rock band Our Lady Peace will join the ranks of iconic Canadians immortalized on Canada’s Walk of Fame. The announcement came yesterday afternoon during a waterfront press conference where organizers revealed the full slate of 2025 inductees.
“When I got the call, I was honestly speechless,” said Shawn Levy, the Montreal-born director whose work bridges Hollywood blockbusters and thoughtful indies. His journey from McGill University drama student to the helm of franchises like “Deadpool & Wolverine” and Netflix’s “Stranger Things” represents a uniquely Canadian success story – one built on collaborative spirit rather than cutthroat ambition.
Standing near Lake Ontario as gentle waves lapped against the harbor, Levy reflected on his roots. “Growing up in Montreal, I never imagined my name would one day be alongside people like Margaret Atwood or Oscar Peterson. Canada gave me my foundation – this sense that stories matter, that different perspectives enrich us all.”
For Raine Maida, frontman of Our Lady Peace, the induction represents the culmination of three decades creating the soundtrack to Canadian lives. The band’s early albums “Naveed” and “Clumsy” helped define alternative rock in the 1990s, becoming touchstones for a generation.
“We’ve toured every province, played everything from hockey arenas to tiny clubs in Thunder Bay,” Maida said. “The connection we’ve built with fans across this country – it’s something sacred to us.”
The 2025 class spans diverse fields including science, sports, and humanitarian work. Dr. Samantha Nutt, founder of War Child Canada, will be recognized for her tireless advocacy for children in conflict zones, while Olympic champion sprinter Andre De Grasse joins the athletic pantheon.
According to Jeffrey Latimer, CEO of Canada’s Walk of Fame, this year’s selections reflect a deliberate effort to showcase Canada’s evolving identity. “We’re looking beyond traditional definitions of fame to celebrate those who’ve shaped our national conversation, whether through art, innovation, or service,” Latimer explained.
The induction ceremony has evolved significantly since its 1998 inception. What began as a modest tribute to Canadian achievement now draws thousands of spectators and broadcasts nationally on CBC. Statistics Canada research indicates these cultural celebrations contribute significantly to national identity formation, particularly among young Canadians and new citizens.
For communities seeing their stories represented in these selections, the impact resonates deeply. When Indigenous filmmaker Alanis Obomsawin was inducted in 2021, a survey by the Canada Council for the Arts showed a corresponding increase in interest about Indigenous cinema among general audiences.
The physical Walk itself has become a destination for both tourists and locals, with Toronto Tourism reporting over 40,000 visitors specifically seeking out the landmark each year. Each star, crafted by Canadian artisans using sustainable materials, costs approximately $30,000 to create and install – funded through a combination of corporate sponsorships and government cultural grants.
I visited the Walk last October, on one of those perfect autumn days when Toronto seems to shimmer between seasons. A family from Edmonton pointed excitedly at Burton Cummings’ star while their teenage daughter snapped photos. Nearby, a tour group from Japan clustered around Drake’s dedication. This physical monument somehow manages to represent something intangible – the cultural conversations that bind us across vast geography.
When Our Lady Peace takes the stage at November’s ceremony, it will mark a full-circle moment for Canadian music. The band’s 1997 performance of “Superman’s Dead” at the Juno Awards stands as an iconic moment in Canadian broadcasting – a raw, powerful statement that Canadian artists needn’t apologize for their ambition.
“We wrote those early songs in my parents’ basement in Mississauga,” Maida told me after the announcement. “To go from there to a permanent place in our country’s cultural memory – it’s humbling.”
Shawn Levy’s induction comes as Canadian directors increasingly shape global entertainment. From Denis Villeneuve to Sarah Polley, Canadian filmmakers have brought distinctly northern sensibilities to international audiences, emphasizing collaboration over individualism.
Previous inductee Catherine O’Hara perhaps best captured the meaning of these honors when she said: “Canada allowed me to develop my voice without demanding I fit any particular mold. That freedom is our greatest cultural export.”
The induction ceremony will be held November 23, 2025, at Meridian Hall, followed by a gala supporting the Walk of Fame’s educational initiatives that reach over 20,000 students annually through classroom programs exploring Canadian achievement.
As twilight settled over the harbor after yesterday’s announcement, Levy paused to consider what this recognition means beyond personal achievement. “Stars fade in Hollywood,” he said. “But what matters is the stories we tell about ourselves, about who we are as Canadians. I hope my work helps us see ourselves a little more clearly.”
