List of Canadian Jews

This list of Canadian Jews includes notable Canadian Jews or Canadians of Jewish descent, arranged by field of activity.

Academic figures

Biology and medicine

Eric Berne (1910–1970), psychiatrist
John Bienenstock (1936– ), immunologist
Daniel Borsuk (1978– ), plastic surgeon
Éric Cohen (1958– ), molecular virologist
Max Cynader (1947– ), ophthalmologist and neuroscientist
Dorothy Dworkin (1889–1976), nurse and founder of Mount Sinai Hospital, Toronto
William Feindel (1918–2014), neurosurgeon
Samuel Freedman (1928– ), clinical immunologist
Phil Gold (1936– ), medical researcher
Larry Goldenberg (1953– ), medical researcher
Carl Goresky (1932–1996), physician and scientist
Michael Hayden (1951– ), geneticist
Sara Hestrin-Lerner (1918–2017), physiologist
Abram Hoffer (1917–2009), physician and psychiatrist
Charles Hollenberg (1930–2003), physician and medical researcher
Harold Kaplan (1928–1998), psychiatrist
George Karpati (1934–2009), neurologist
Gideon Koren (1947– ), pediatrician
Gabor Maté (1944– ), physician
Harry Medovy (1904–1995), paediatrician
Henry Morgentaler (1923–2013), doctor and abortion activist
Richard Goldbloom (1924–2021), paediatrician
Mel Rosenberg (1951– ), microbiologist
Sydney Segal (1920–1997), pediatrician and neonatologist
Louis Siminovitch (1920–2021), molecular biologist
Nahum Sonenberg (1946– ), microbiologist and biochemist
Ralph Steinman (1943–2011), medical researcher; Nobel Prize in Medicine (2011)
Karl Stern (1906–1975), neurologist and psychiatrist
Mark Wainberg (1945–2017), HIV/AIDS researcher
Zena Werb (1945–2020), cell biologist

Computing and mathematics

Dror Bar-Natan (1966– ), topologist
Yoshua Bengio (1964– ), computer scientist
David Borwein (1924–2021), mathematician
Jonathan Borwein (1951–2016), mathematician
Michael Gurstein (1944–2017), computer scientist
Israel Halperin (1911–2007), algebraist
Hans Heilbronn (1908–1975), mathematician
William Kahan (1933– ), computer scientist and mathematician; Turing Award (1989)
Irving Kaplansky (1917–2006), mathematician
Yael Karshon (1964– ), symplectic geometer
Cecilia Krieger (1894–1974), mathematician
Nathan Mendelsohn (1917–2006), combinatorialist and group theorist
Pierre Milman (1945– ), algebraic and differential geometer
Louis Nirenberg (1925–2020), analyst; Abel Prize (2015)
Anatol Rapoport (1911–2007), applied mathematician
Robert Steinberg (1922–2014), algebraist
George Zames (1934–1997), control theorist

Engineering

Norbert Berkowitz (1924–2001), engineering researcher
Gregory Chamitoff (1962– ), NASA astronaut and engineer
Valery Fabrikant (1940– ), mechanical engineer and convicted murderer
Charles Hershfield (1910–1990), structural engineer
Josef Kates (1921–2018), engineer
Leon Katz (1924–2015), biomedical engineer
Cyril Leonoff (1925–2016), geotechnical engineer

History

Irving Abella (1940– ), historian
Norman Cantor (1929–2004), historian
Natalie Zemon Davis (1928– ), historian
David Feuerwerker (1912–1980), historian
Jan Grabowski (1962– ), historian and writer
Jack Granatstein (1939– ), political and military historian
Ronald Hamowy (1937–2012), historian and political theorist
Gabriel Kolko (1932–2014), historian
Michael Marrus (1941– ), historian
David Noble (1945–2010), historian of technology
Derek Penslar (1958– ), historian
Harold Troper (1942– ), historian
Daniel Woolf (1958– ), historian

Humanities

Gregory Baum (1923–2017), priest and theologian
Leon Edel (1907–1997), literary critic; Pulitzer Prize (1963)
Archie Green (1917–2009), folklorist
Marvin Herzog (1927–2013), professor of Yiddish language
Norma Joseph (1944– ), professor of Jewish Studies
Barbara Kirshenblatt-Gimblett (1942– ), scholar of Jewish studies
Allan Nadler (1954– ), professor of Jewish studies
Adele Reinhartz (1953– ), professor of Biblical literature
David Roskies (1948– ), literary scholar
Abraham de Sola (1825–1882), professor of Semitic languages and literature
Ruth Wisse (1936– ), professor of Yiddish literature

Philosophy

Howard Adelman (1938– ), philosopher
Gerald Cohen (1941–2009), political philosopher
S. Morris Engel (1931– ), philosopher
Emil Fackenheim (1916–2003), philosopher and theologian
Raymond Klibansky (1905–2005), historian of philosophy
Lou Marinoff (1951– ), philosopher
Roger Nash (1946– ), philosopher
Michael Neumann (1946– ), philosopher
Jay Newman (1948–2007), philosopher
Leonard Peikoff (1933– ), philosopher
Hillel Steiner (1942– ), political philosopher

Physics and chemistry

Isaac Abella (1934–2016), physicist
Sidney Altman (1939–2022), molecular biologist; Nobel Prize in Chemistry (1989)
Alfred Bader (1924–2018), chemist
Myer Bloom (1928–2016), physicist
Jacques Distler (1961– ), physicist
Ursula Franklin (1921–2016) metallurgist and physicist
Helen Freedhoff (1940–2017), theoretical physicist
Stanton Friedman (1934–2019 ), nuclear physicist and ufologist
Jack Halpern (1925–2018), inorganic chemist
Shlomo Hestrin (1914–1962), biochemist
Leopold Infeld (1898–1958), physicist
Werner Israel (1931–2022), physicist
Martin Kamen (1913–2002), chemist
Leon Katz (1909–2004), physicist
Victoria Kaspi (1967– ), astrophysicist
Lawrence Krauss (1954– ), theoretical physicist
David Levy (1948– ), astronomer
Rudolph Marcus (1923– ), chemist; Nobel Prize in Chemistry (1997)
Maya Paczuski (1963– ), physicist
John Polanyi (1929– ), chemist; Nobel Prize in Chemistry (1986)
Juda Hirsch Quastel (1899–1987), biochemist
Sara Seager (1971– ), astronomer
Moshe Shapiro (1944–2013), chemist and physicist
David Shugar (1915–2015), physicist
Louis Slotin (1910–1946), physicist and chemist
Joe Schwarcz, science writer and chemist
Theodore Sourkes (1919–2015), biochemist
Rudolf Vrba (1924–2006), biochemist
Leo Yaffe (1916–1997), nuclear chemist and university administrator

Bernard Avishai (1949– ), professor of business
Ellen Bialystok (1948– ), psychologist
Paul Bloom (1963– ), psychologist
Reuven Brenner (1947– ), economist
Michel Chossudovsky (1946– ), economist
Stanley Coren (1942– ), psychologist
Kurt Freund (1914–1996), sexologist
Rochel Gelman (1942– ), psychologist
Reva Gerstein (1917–2020), psychologist
Erving Goffman (1922–1982), sociologist
Myrna Gopnik, (1935–), linguist
Ida Halpern (1910–1987), ethnomusicologist
Samuel Hollander (1937– ), economist
Gad Horowitz (1936– ), political scientist
Helmut Kallmann (1922–2012), musicologist
Ivan Kalmar (1948– ), anthropologist
James Laxer (1941–2018), political economist
Daniel Levitin (1957– ), cognitive psychologist
Ronald Melzack (1929–2019), psychologist
Henry Mintzberg (1939– ), business theorist
Sylvia Ostry (1927–2020), economist
Leo Panitch (1945–2020), political scientist
Norman Penner (1921–2009), political scientist and historian
Steven Pinker (1954– ), cognitive psychologist and linguist
Susan Pinker (1957– ), psychologist and writer
Frances Fox Piven (1932– ), political scientist
Gad Saad (1964– ), evolutionary psychologist
Myron Scholes (1941– ), financial economist; Nobel Prize in Economics (1997)
Vera Shlakman (1909–2017), economist
Lionel Tiger, anthropologist
Jacob Viner (1892–1970), economist
Kenneth Zucker (1950– ), psychologist and sexologist
Shlomo Weber (1949– ), economist

University administration

Isaac Hellmuth (1819–1901), founder of the University of Western Ontario
Myer Horowitz (1932–2022), president of the University of Alberta
Sheldon Levy (1949– ), president and vice-chancellor of Ryerson University
Jack N. Lightstone (1951– ), provost of Concordia University; president of Brock University
Frederick Lowy (1933– ), president and vice-chancellor of Concordia University
Arnold Naimark (1933– ), president of the University of Manitoba
Mordechai Rozanski (1946– ), president of the University of Guelph
Bernard Shapiro (1935– ), principal and vice-chancellor of McGill University
Harold Shapiro (1935– ), president of Princeton University
Daniel Woolf (1958– ), principal and vice-chancellor of Queen's University
Max Wyman (1916–1991), president of the University of Alberta

Activists

Manuel Batshaw (1915–2016), social worker
Marjorie Blankstein , community activist
Judy Feld Carr (1938– ), human rights activist
Sabina Citron (1928–2023 ), activist and author
Martha Cohen (1920–2015), community activist
Betty Dubiner (1912–2008), disabilities activist
Bernie Farber (1951– ), Jewish community leader and social activist
Abraham Feinberg (1899–1986), human rights activist.
Shulamith Firestone (1945–2012), radical feminist
Ruth Frankel (1903–1989), activist
Howard Galganov (1950– ), political activist
Saul Hayes (1906–1980), activist
Goldie Hershon (1941–2020), activist and Jewish community leader
Lotta Hitschmanova (1909-1990), international development and humanitarian leader
Kalmen Kaplansky (1912–1997), human rights activist
Hillel Neuer (1969– ), executive director of UN Watch
Judy Rebick (1945– ), political activist
Dorothy Reitman (1932– ), activist
Léa Roback (1903–2000), social activist and feminist
Irv Rubin (1945–2002), Kahanist activist
David Shentow (1925–2017), Holocaust educator

Artists

Architects and designers

Hans Blumenfeld (1892–1988), architect and city planner
Benjamin Brown (1890–1974), architect
Jack Diamond (1932–2022), architect
Frank Gehry (1929– ), architect
Gregory Henriquez (1963– ), architect
Phyllis Lambert (1927– ), architect and philanthropist
Cornelia Oberlander (1921–2021), landscape architect
Peter Oberlander (1922–2008), architect
Moshe Safdie (1938– ), architect
Arnold Scaasi (1930–2015), fashion designer

Fine arts

Omer Arbel (1976– ), sculptor and designer
Aba Bayefsky (1923–2001), artist
Arnold Belkin (1930–1992), painter
Barry Blitt (1958– ), illustrator
Sam Borenstein (1908–1969), painter
Ghitta Caiserman-Roth (1923–2005), artist
Lynne Cohen (1944–2014), photography
Yehouda Chaki (1938– ), artist
Sorel Etrog (1933–2014), sculptor
Albert Gilbert (1922–2019), photographer
Gerald Gladstone (1929–2005), sculptor
Eric Goldberg (1890–1969), painter
Jack Goldstein (1945–2003), multimedia artist
Pnina Granirer (1935– ), painter
Philip Guston (1913–1980), abstract expressionist
Gilah Yelin Hirsch (1944– ), artist
Eli Ilan (1928–1982), sculptor
Gershon Iskowitz (1921–1988), artist
Sarah Jackson (1924–2004), artist
Mayer Kirshenblatt (1916–2009), painter
Sylvia Lefkovitz (1924–1987), painter and sculptor
Stanley Lewis (1930–2006), sculptor
Harry Mayerovitch (1910–2004), artist and architect
Louis Muhlstock (1904–2001), painter
Henry Orenstein (1918–2008), painter
Alfred Pinsky (1921–1999), painter
David Rabinowitch (1943– ), sculptor
Royden Rabinowitch (1943– ), sculptor
William Raphael (1833–1914), painter
Meyer Ryshpan (1898-1985), painter
Miriam Schapiro (1923–2015), artist
Regina Seiden (1897–1991), painter
Yechiel Shainblum, (died 1987), painter and sculptor
Joe Shuster (1914–1992), co-creator of Superman
Erik Slutsky (1953– ), painter
Max Stern (1904–1987), art dealer
Avrom Yanovsky (1911–1979), cartoonist

Business

Finance

Mitch Garber (1964–), investor and business executive
Sol Kanee (1909–2007), banker and Jewish community leader
Alvin Libin (1931– ), investor and co-owner of Calgary Sports and Entertainment
Lazarus Phillips (1895 –1986), director of the Royal Bank of Canada and senator
Louis Rasminsky (1908–1998), Governor of Bank of Canada
Jeff Rubin (1954– ), chief economist of CIBC World Markets
Gerry Schwartz (1941– ), CEO of Onex Corporation
Alex Shnaider (1968– ), co-founder of the Midland Group
Lawrence Stroll (1959– ), investor
Mark Wiseman (1970– ) CEO of the CPP Investment Board

Media

Izzy Asper (1932–2003), chairman of Canwest Global Communications
Leonard Asper (1964– ), president and CEO of Canwest Global Communications
Avie Bennett (1928–2017), chairman of McClelland & Stewart
Jacques Bensimon (1943–2012), director of the National Film Board of Canada
Mark Breslin (1952– ), co-founder of Yuk Yuk's
Edgar Bronfman Jr. (1955– ), CEO and chairman of Warner Music Group
Paul Godfrey (1939– ), president and CEO of Postmedia Network
Michael Goldbloom (1953– ), president of Star Media Group
Ian Greenberg (1942– ), co-founder and CEO of Astral Media
Michael Hirsh (1948– ), co-founder of Nelvana
Mel Hurtig (1932–2016), publisher
Jonathan Kay (1968– ), editor-in-chief of The Walrus
Ezra Levant (1972– ), political commentator and founder of Rebel News
David Margolese (1957– ), founder of Sirius XM Radio
Louis B. Mayer (1884–1957), co-founder of Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Studios
Andy Nulman (1959– ), co-founder of Just for Laughs
M. J. Nurenberger (1911–2001), founder of the Canadian Jewish News
Bernard Ostry (1927–2006), chair and CEO of TVOntario
Robert Rabinovitch (1943– ), president and CEO of the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation
A. M. Rosenthal (1922–2006), executive editor of The New York Times; Pulitzer Prize (1960)
Brian Segal (1943– ), president and CEO of Rogers Publishing
Jay Switzer (1956–2018), president and CEO of CHUM Limited
Jack L. Warner (1892–1978), president of Warner Bros. Studios
Moses Znaimer (1942– ), co-founder and head of Citytv
Mortimer Zuckerman (1937– ), co-founder of Boston Properties and media proprietor

Natural resources

Robert Friedland (1950– ), founder of Ivanhoe Mines
Leon Joseph Koerner (1892–1972), philanthropist and industrialist
Peter Munk (1927–2018), founder of Barrick Gold
Joseph Rotman (1935–2015), businessman and philanthropist
Seymour Schulich (1940– ), mining businessman and philanthropist
Irving Schwartz (1929–2010), entrepreneur and philanthropist
Levy Solomons (1730–1792), merchant and fur trader

Philanthropists

Bluma Appel (1919–2007), philanthropist
Jenny Belzberg (1928– ), philanthropist
Alfred David Benjamin (1848–1900), businessman and philanthropist
Lillian Bilsky Freiman (1885–1940), philanthropist and civil leader
Ruth Goldbloom (1923–2012), co-founder of Pier 21

Real estate

Marcel Adams (1920–2020), real estate investor
Sylvan Adams (1958– ), real estate investor
David Azrieli (1922–2014), real estate magnate
Samuel Belzberg (1928–2018), businessman
The Ghermezian family, shopping mall developers
Mitchell Goldhar (1962– ), founder of SmartCentres and owner of Maccabi Tel Aviv F.C.
Michal Hornstein (1920–2016), businessman and philanthropist
The Reichmann family, real estate magnates
Edward Reichmann (1925–2005), real estate magnate
Paul Reichmann (1930–2013), real estate magnate
Jack Singer (1917–2013), real estate developer
Allan Zeman (1949– ), developer

Retail

Aldo Bensadoun (1939– ), founder of the Aldo Group
The Bronfman family, businesspeople and philanthropists
Charles Bronfman (1931– ), co-chairman of Seagram's
Edgar Bronfman Sr. (1929–2013), head of Seagram's and president of the World Jewish Congress
Samuel Bronfman (1889–1971), founder of Seagram's
Dov Charney (1969– ), founder of American Apparel
Lyon Cohen (1868–1937), businessman and philanthropist
George Cohon (1937– ), founder of McDonald's Canada
Nathan Cummings (1896–1985), co-founder of Consolidated Foods
Leslie Dan (1929– ), founder of Novopharm
Sir Mortimer Davis (1866–1928), tobacco industry executive
Archibald Jacob Freiman (1880–1944), founder of Freimans
Hershey Friedman (1950– ), owner of Agri Star
Daniel Friedmann (1956– ), CEO of MacDonald, Dettwiler and Associates
Daryl Katz (1961– ), founder of Katz Group of Companies and owner of the Edmonton Oilers
Murray Koffler (1924–2017), founder of Shoppers Drug Mart
Ed Mirvish (1914–2007), founder of Honest Ed's
Jack Rabinovitch (1930–2017), philanthropist
Heather Reisman (1948– ), founder and CEO of Indigo Books and Music
Dani Reiss (1973– ), president and CEO of Canada Goose
Irv Robbins (1917–2008), co-founder of Baskin-Robbins
Bruce Rockowitz (1958– ), CEO and vice-chairman of Global Brands Group
Harry Rosen (1931– ), founder of Harry Rosen Inc.
Larry Rosen (1956– ), chairman and CEO of Harry Rosen Inc.
Calin Rovinescu (1955– ), president and CEO of Air Canada
Isai Scheinberg (1946– ), co-founder of PokerStars
Mark Scheinberg (1973– ), co-founder of PokerStars
Isadore Sharp (1931– ), founder and chairman of Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts
Barry Sherman (1942–2017), chairman and CEO of Apotex
Jeffrey Skoll (1965– ), president of eBay
Sam Steinberg (1905–1978), president of Steinberg's
Larry Tanenbaum (1945– ), chairman of Maple Leaf Sports & Entertainment

Law

Judges

Rosalie Abella (1946– ), Supreme Court Justice
Harry Batshaw (1902–1984), Quebec Superior Court Justice
Charles Dubin (1921–2008), Chief Justice of Ontario
Morris Fish (1938– ), Supreme Court Justice
Samuel Freedman (1908–1993), Chief Justice of Manitoba
Constance Glube (1931–2016), Chief Justice of Nova Scotia
Alan Gold (1917–2005), Chief Justice of Quebec
Sydney Harris (1917–2009), judge
Bora Laskin (1912–1984), 14th Chief Justice of Canada
Herbert Marx (1932–2020), Quebec Superior Court Justice and Minister of Justice
Michael Moldaver (1947– ), Supreme Court Justice
Nathaniel Nemetz (1913–1997), Chief Justice of British Columbia
Marshall Rothstein (1940– ), Supreme Court Justice
Tillie Taylor (1922–2011), Saskatchewan's first female magistrate

Lawyers

Monroe Abbey (1904–1993), lawyer
Maurice Alexander (1889–1945), barrister
Dennis Beker (1989–present), lawyer
Louis Bloomfield (1906–1984), lawyer and businessman
Alan Borovoy (1932–2015), lawyer and human rights activist
Harold Buchwald (1928–2008), lawyer
Reuben Cohen (1921–2014), lawyer and businessman
Martin Friedland (1932– ), lawyer
Rocco Galati (1959– ), constitutional lawyer
Edward Greenspan (1944–2014), lawyer
Adolphus Hart (1814–1879), lawyer and activist
David Matas (1943– ), human rights lawyer
Ed Morgan (1955– ), international lawyer
Harry Rankin (1920–2002), lawyer
William Schabas (1950– ), professor of international law
Morris Shumiatcher (1917–2004), lawyer and human rights activist
Harvey Strosberg (1944– ), lawyer
Harry Walsh (1913–2011), criminal lawyer
Benjamin Zimmerman (1862–1923), justice of the peace

Military

Morris Cohen (1887–1970), Canadian Expeditionary Force officers and adventurer
Eleazar David David (1811–1887), cavalry officer
Ben Dunkelman (1913–1997), World War II and 1948 Arab–Israeli War soldier
Moe Hurwitz (1919–1944), World War II soldier
Maxwell Kogon (1920–1980), World War II bomber pilot
Yank Levy (1897–1965), soldier and military instructor
Gill Rosenberg (1983– ), member of the Women's Protection Units
Sydney Shulemson (1915–2007), World War II fighter pilot
Peter Stevens (RAF officer) (1919–1979), German born WWII RAF officer, and RCAF post-war, best known for multiple POW escapes

Performing arts

Actors and performers

Harvey Atkin (1942–2017), actor and voice actor
Aviva Armour-Ostroff, actress and filmmaker
Liane Balaban (1980– ), actress
Jay Baruchel (1982– ), actor, comedian, and screenwriter
Frances Bay (1919–2011), character actress
Lani Billard (1979– ), television actress
Lionel Blair (1928–2021), actor and choreographer
Ben Blue (1901–1975), actor and comedian
Lloyd Bochner (1924–2005), actor
Bobby Breen (1927–2016), actor and singer
Howard Busgang, comedian
Neve Campbell (1973– ), film and television actress
Maury Chaykin (1949–2010), actor
Boris Cherniak (1964– ), hypnotist
Emmanuelle Chriqui (1975– ), actress
Lauren Collins (1986– ), television actress
Pauline Donalda (1882–1970), operatic soprano
Barbara Dunkelman (1989– ), actress and internet personality
Ophira Eisenberg (1972– ), comedian
Jamie Elman (born 1976 or 1977), actor
Jake Epstein (1987– ), television actor
Celia Franca (1921–2007), founder of the National Ballet of Canada
Victor Garber (1949– ), actor
Jessalyn Gilsig (1971– ), television actress
Joanna Gleason (1950– ), actress
Jake Goldsbie (1988– ), television actor
Lorne Greene (1915–1987), actor
Nathan Fielder (1983– ), actor and comedian
Corey Haim (1971–2010), actor
Monty Hall (1921–2017), game show host
Melissa Hayden (1923–2006), ballerina
Lou Jacobi (1913–2009), actor
Jonathan Keltz (1988– ), actor
Shane Kippel (1986– ), television actor
Sylvia Lennick (1915–2009), actress
Caissie Levy (1981– ), stage actress and singer
Eugene Levy (1946– ), actor and director
Jaclyn Linetsky (1986–2003), television actress
Mary Livingstone (1905–1983), radio comedian and actress
Howie Mandel (1955– ), actor and comedian
Rick Moranis (1953– ), actor and comedian
Harley Morenstein (1985–), actor and Internet personality
Irene Pavloska (1889–1962), mezzo-soprano
Gloria Reuben (1964– ), television actress
Spencer Rice (1963– ), writer, director and performer
Sasha Roiz (1973– ), actor
Saul Rubinek (1948– ), actor, director, producer and playwright
Jonathan Sagall (1959– ), actor
Mort Sahl (1927–2021), stand-up comedian
William Shatner (1931– ), actor, director, and writer
Norma Shearer (1902–1983), actress and Hollywood star
Frank Shuster (1916–2002), comedian
Anna Silk (1974– ), actress
David Steinberg (1942– ), comedian and director
Stuart Stone (1980– ), actor
Tara Strong (1973– ), actress
Kyle Switzer (1985– ), television actor
Theresa Tova (1955– ), actress and playwright
Al Waxman (1935–2001), actor
Johnny Wayne (1918–1990), comedian
Joseph Wiseman (1918–2009), theatre and film actor
Finn Wolfhard (2002– ), actor

Directors and producers

Barry Avrich (1963– ), television producer and film director
Laszlo Barna (1948– ), television producer
Zack Bernbaum, film director
Murray Cohl (1929–2008), film director
David Cronenberg (1943– ), filmmaker and screenwriter
Garth Drabinsky (1949– ), film and theatrical producer
Bob Ezrin (1949– ), music producer
Ken Finkleman (1946– ), television producer
Jay Firestone (1956– ), film and television producer
Sidney Furie (1933– ), film director
Herman Geiger-Torel (1907–1976), opera director
Jake Gold (1958– ), musician manager
Harold Greenberg (1930–1996), film producer
Al Guest (1933– ), animation producer and director
Arthur Hiller (1923–2016), director
John Hirsch (1930–1989), theatre director
Michael Hirsh (1948– ), television producer
Kenny Hotz (1967– ), producer and entertainer
Simcha Jacobovici (1953– ), film director
Estelle Klein (1930–2004), artistic director
Franz Kraemer (1914–1999), radio producer
Shawn Levy (1968– ), film director and producer
Avi Lewis (1968– ), documentary filmmaker and television host
Benjamin Lumley (1811–1875), opera director
Francis Mankiewicz (1944–1993), director
Lorne Michaels (1944– ), television producer
David Mirvish (1944– ), theatre producer
Sydney Newman (1917–1997), producer
Noah Pink, screenwriter and television producer
Jeremy Podeswa (1962– ), film and television director
Ivan Reitman (1946–2022), film producer and director
Jason Reitman (1977– ), film director
J.R. Rotem (1975– ), record producer
Albert Ruddy (1930– ), film director
Harry Saltzman (1915–1994), film producer
Paul Saltzman (1943– ), film director and producer, founder of Sunrise Films
Arna Selznick (1948– ), film director and story artist specializing in animation
Dora Wasserman (1919–2003), playwright and theater director

Composers

Murray Adaskin (1906–2002), composer
Karel Ančerl (1908–1973), conductor
István Anhalt (1919–2012), composer
Louis Applebaum (1918–2000), film score composer
Milton Barnes (1931–2001), composer and conductor
Boris Berlin (1907–2001), musical instructor and composer
David Botwinik (1920–2022), composer
Alexander Brott (1915–2005), conductor and composer
Boris Brott (1944– ), conductor
Percy Faith (1908–1976), bandleader
Harry Freedman (1922–2005), composer
Lewis Furey (1949– ), composer
Srul Glick (1934–2002), composer
Helmut Kallmann (1918–1985), composer
Uri Mayer (1946– ), conductor and violinist
Oskar Morawetz (1917–2007), composer
Albert Pratz (1914–1995), conductor and violinist
Paul Shaffer (1949– ), bandleader
Howard Shore (1946– ), composer
Ben Steinberg (1930– ), composer and conductor
Heinz Unger (1895–1965), conductor
Maurice Zbriger (1896–1981), composer and violinist

Musicians

Classical

Frances Adaskin (1900–2001), pianist
Harry Adaskin (1901–1994), violinist
Ellen Ballon (1898–1969), pianist
Denis Brott (1950– ), cellist
Rivka Golani (1946– ), viola player
Moshe Hammer (1946– ), violinist
Ofra Harnoy (1965– ), cellist
Jacques Israelievitch (1948–2015), violinist
Minuetta Kessler (1914–2002), concert pianist
Anton Kuerti (1938– ), pianist
Zara Nelsova (1918–2002), cellist
Isidor Philipp (1863–1958), pianist and composer
Ari Posner (born 1970), film and television score composer
Ezra Schabas (1924–2020), musician
Harold Sumberg (1905–1994), violinist
Ethel Stark (1910–2012), violinist and conductor
John Weinzweig (1913–2006), composer
George Zukerman (1927– ), bassoonist and impresario

Jazz

Paul Bley (1932–2016), pianist
Jim Gelcer (1961– ), jazz musician
James Gelfand (1959– ), jazz pianist
Moe Koffman (1928–2001), jazz musician
Sophie Milman (1983– ), jazz musician
Nikki Yanofsky (1994– ), jazz-pop singer

Leonard Cohen
A-Trak (1982– ), DJ
Oscar Brand (1920–2016), folk singer
Drake (1986– ), rapper and actor
Corey Hart (1962– ), singer
Paul Hoffert (1943– ), founding member of Lighthouse
Geddy Lee (1953– ), lead singer of Rush
Efrim Menuck (1971– ), musician
Ben Mink (1951– ), songwriter and musician
Steven Page (1970– ), founding member of Barenaked Ladies
Peaches (1966– ), electronic musician
Robbie Robertson (1943–2023), lead guitarist of The Band
Eddie Schwartz (1949– ), songwriter and music producer
Sharon, Lois & Bram, children's music group
Amy Sky (1960– ), singer-songwriter
Socalled, rapper and producer
Chaim Tannenbaum, folk singer
Vanity (1959–2016), singer-songwriter
David Usher (1966– ), frontman for Moist
Bob Wiseman (1962– ), composer and founding member of Blue Rodeo
Zal Yanovsky (1944–2002), rock musician, the Lovin' Spoonful guitarist
Alissa White-Gluz (1985– ), death metal vocalist

Politics

Diplomats

Klaus Goldschlag (1922–2012), ambassador
Allan Gotlieb (1928–2020), ambassador
Saul Rae (1914–1999), diplomat
Norman Spector (1949– ), diplomat and journalist

Mayors

Michael Applebaum (1963– ), mayor of Montreal
Sidney Buckwold (1916–2001), mayor of Saskatoon
Martin Dobkin (1942– ), first mayor of Mississauga
Lumley Franklin (1808–1873), mayor of Victoria
Philip Givens (1922–1995), mayor of Toronto and Liberal MP
Lorry Greenberg (1933–1999), mayor of Ottawa
Jacquelin Holzman (1935– ), mayor of Ottawa
Sam Katz (1951– ), mayor of Winnipeg
Leonard Arthur Kitz (1916–2006), mayor of Halifax
Mel Lastman (1933–2021), mayor of Toronto
Saul Laskin (1918–2008), mayor of Thunder Bay
Stephen Mandel (1945– ), mayor of Edmonton and leader of the Alberta Party
Danny Nathanson, mayor of New Waterford, Nova Scotia
David Oppenheimer (1834–1897), mayor of Vancouver
Nathan Phillips (1892–1976), mayor of Toronto
Harvey Rosen (1949– ), mayor of Kingston
Morley Rosenberg (1937– ), mayor of Kitchener
Max Silverman (1906-1966), mayor of Sudbury

Politicians

Jack Austin (1932– ), senator and cabinet minister
Dave Barrett (1930–2018), 26th Premier of British Columbia
George Benjamin (1799–1864), Conservative MP
Peter Bercovitch (1879–1942), Liberal MP and Quebec Liberal MNA
Lawrence Bergman (1940– ), Quebec Liberal MNA and cabinet minister
Harry Blank (1925– ), Quebec Liberal MPP
Annie Buller (1895–1973), co-founder of the Communist Party of Canada

Elinor Caplan (1944– ), Liberal MP and cabinet minister
Jim Carr, Liberal MP and Minister of Natural Resources
Leon Crestohl (1900–1963), Liberal MP
Saul Cherniack (1917–2018), Manitoba NDP MP and cabinet minister
Tony Clement (1961– ), Minister of Industry and Minister of Health
Irwin Cotler (1940– ), Liberal MP and Minister of Justice
David Croll (1900–1991), senator and Liberal MP
Julie Dabrusin (1971– ), Liberal MP
Barney Danson (1921–2011), Liberal MP and Minister of National Defence
Samuel Factor (1892–1962), first Jewish MP elected in Ontario
Sheila Finestone (1927–2009), Liberal MP and senator

Myra Freeman (1949– ), 29th Lieutenant Governor of Nova Scotia
Linda Frum (1963– ), senator
Irving Gerstein (1941– ), senator and businessman
Marc Gold (1950– ), senator and law professor
Carl Goldenberg (1907–1996), senator
Victor Goldbloom (1923–2016), Quebec Liberal MNA and doctor
Karina Gould (1987– ), Liberal MP and Minister of Democratic Institutions
Herb Gray (1931–2014), Liberal MP and Deputy Prime Minister
Ezekiel Hart (1770–1843), first Jew elected to a Canadian Parliament
Solomon Hart Green (1885–1969), first Jew to sit in a provincial legislature
Stanley Hartt (1937–2018), Chief of Staff
Sharren Haskel (1984– ), Likud MK
Chaviva Hošek (1946– ), academic and politician
Anthony Housefather (1971– ), Liberal MP and mayor of Côte Saint-Luc
Samuel William Jacobs (1871–1938), Liberal MP and Jewish community leader
Michael Kerzner, Solicitor General of Ontario
René-Joseph Kimber (1786–1843), member of Parliament in Lower Canada and the Province of Canada
Monte Kwinter (1931–2023), Ontario Liberal MPP and cabinet minister
Melissa Lantsman (1984—), first Jewish woman elected as a Conservative MP
Howard Levine, Toronto city councillor
Michael Levitt, Liberal MP
David Lewis (1909–1981), NDP leader and MP
Stephen Lewis (1937–2026), Ontario NDP leader, MP and ambassador
Jack Marshall (1919–2004), PC MP and senator
Tom Marshall (1946– ), 11th Premier of Newfoundland and Labrador

Herbert Marx (1932-2020), Quebec Liberal MNA, Minister of Justice, Solicitor-General
Arthur Mitchell, leader of the Yukon Liberal Party
Marty Morantz (1962– ), Conservative MP
Nicolas Muzin, political strategist
Henry Nathan Jr. (1842–1914), first Jew elected to the House of Commons
Joe Oliver (1940– ), Conservative MP and Minister of Finance
Annamie Paul, leader of the Green Party of Canada
Bob Rae (1948–), Leader of the Liberal Party of Canada and 21st Premier of Ontario
Simon Reisman (1991–2008), civil servant
Fred Rose (1907–1983), Labour–Progressive MP and Soviet spy
Jacques Saada (1947– ), Liberal MP and cabinet minister
Morton Shulman (1925–2000), Ontario PC and NDP MPP
Peter Shurman (1947– ), Ontario PC MPP
Mira Spivak (1934– ), senator
Sidney Spivak (1928–2002), leader of the Manitoba PC Party
Hunter Tootoo (1963– ), Liberal MP
Gerry Weiner (1933– ), PC MP
Dov Yosef (1899–1980), Israeli minister

Religious leaders

Reuven Bulka (1944–2021), rabbi and writer
Jacob Raphael Cohen (1738–1811), rabbi
Solomon Frank (1900–1982), synagogue rabbinical leader in Winnipeg and Montreal
Simon Glazer (1876–1938), rabbi
Elyse Goldstein (born 1955), Reform rabbi
Joan Friedman, first female rabbi in Canada
Yitzchak Hendel (1916–2007), Lubavitch rabbi
Sheea Herschorn (1893–1969), Chief Rabbi of Montreal
Pinhas Hirschprung (1912–1998), Chief Rabbi of Montreal
Solomon Jacobs (1861–1920), rabbi
Israel Isaac Kahanovitch (1872–1945), Chief Rabbi of Winnipeg
Meshulim Feish Lowy (1921–2015), Tosher Rebbe
Gunther Plaut (1912–2012), rabbi and author
Avraham Aharon Price (1900–1994), Chief Rabbi of Toronto
Nahum Rabinovitch (1928–2020), rabbi and posek
Eli Rubenstein (1959– ), rabbi and Holocaust educator
Erwin Schild (1920–2024), rabbi
Jacob Immanuel Schochet (1935–2013), rabbi and scholar
Shmuel Abba Twersky (1872–1947), Makarover Rebbe
Joseph Weinreb (1869–1943), Chief Rabbi of Toronto

Writers

Authors

David Albahari (1948– ), novelist
Sue Ann Alderson (1940– ), children's novelist
Lisa Appignanesi (1946– ), writer and novelist
Isidore Gordon Ascher (1835–1914), novelist and poet
Saul Bellow (1915–2005), writer; Nobel Prize in Literature (1976), Pulitzer Prize (1976)
David Berman, (1962–), graphic designer, author
David Bezmozgis (1973– ), author
Martha Blum (1913–2007), writer
Matt Cohen (1942–1999), novelist and children's writer
Cory Doctorow (1971– ), science fiction author and blogger
Sheila Fischman (1937– ), translator
Kathy Friedman, poet
Phoebe Gilman (1940–2002), children's author
Nora Gold, writer
Adam Gopnik (1956– ), writer and essayist
Phyllis Gotlieb (1926–2009), science fiction novelist
Charles Yale Harrison (1898–1954), novelist
Sheila Heti (1976– ), novelist
George Jonas (1935–2016), writer and journalist
Guy Gavriel Kay (1954– ), fantasy writer
Naïm Kattan (1928–2021), novelist and essayist
Naomi Klein (1970– ), author and filmmaker
Eric Koch (1919–2018), author, broadcaster and academic
Gordon Korman (1963– ), children's and young adult fiction writer
Henry Kreisel (1922–1991), writer and novelist
Allan Levine (1956– ), historian and novelist
Norman Levine (1923–2005), writer and poet
Shar Levine (1953– ), children's author
Jack Ludwig (1922–2018), novelist and sportswriter
Seymour Mayne (1944– ), author and poet
Judith Merril (1923–1997), science fiction writer
Anne Michaels (1958– ), poet and novelist
Sarah Mlynowski (1977– ), writer
Alison Pick (1975– ), novelist
David Rakoff (1964–2012), author
Edeet Ravel (1955– ), novelist
Mordecai Richler (1931–2001), author and essayist
Nancy Richler (1957–2018), novelist
Joel Rosenberg (1954–2011), science fiction author
Chava Rosenfarb (1923–2011), author and poet
Devyani Saltzman (1979– ), author
Gail Simmons (1976– ), food writer
Mariko Tamaki (1975– ), graphic novelist
Morley Torgov (1927– ), novelist
Aren X. Tulchinsky (1958– ), author and screenwriter
Eleanor Wachtel (1947– ), writer and broadcaster
William Weintraub (1926–2017), author
Michael Wex (1954– ), novelist
Adele Wiseman (1928–1992), author
Hirsch Wolofsky (1878–1949), Yiddish author
Shulamis Yelin (1913–2002), writer and teacher

Journalists and broadcasters

Barbara Amiel (1940– ), journalist
Sonia Benezra (1960– ), television and radio interviewer
David Brooks (1961– ), political commentator
Andrew Cohen (1955– ), journalist
Nathan Cohen (1923–1971), theatre critic, broadcaster
Michael Coren (1959– ), columnist and talk show host
Red Fisher (1926–2018), sports journalist
Josh Freed, columnist
Barbara Frum (1937–1992), journalist
David Frum (1960– ), political commentator
Eli Glasner, entertainment reporter
Ian Halperin (1964– ), investigative journalist
Ken Hechtman (1967– ), journalist
Ariel Helwani (1982– ), mixed martial arts journalist
Simma Holt (1922–2015), journalist and politician
Barbara Kay (1943– ), columnist
Jonah Keri (1974– ), sports writer
Karin Kloosterman, journalist
Charles Krauthammer (1950–2018), columnist
Michele Landsberg (1939– ), journalist and feminist activist
Dahlia Lithwick, senior editor at Slate
Jonathan Mann (1960– ), journalist
Peter Newman (1929– ), journalist
Hal Niedzviecki (1971– ), writer
Steve Paikin (1960– ), journalist and author
Abraham Rhinewine (1887–1932), journalist
Carol Rosenberg, journalist
Morley Safer (1931–2016), broadcast journalist and reporter
Percy Saltzman (1915–2007), weather forecaster
Joe Schlesinger (1928–2019), journalist
Lionel Shapiro (1908–1958), journalist and novelist
Dan Shulman (1967– ), sportscaster
Evan Solomon (1968– ), journalist
Larry Zolf (1934–2011), journalist

Poets

Elizabeth Brewster (1922–2012), poet
Leonard Cohen (1934–2016), poet and singer-songwriter
Adeena Karasick (1965– ), poet
A. M. Klein (1909–1972), poet and novelist
Rachel Korn (1898–1982), poet and author
Aaron Kreuter
Irving Layton (1912–2006), poet
Eli Mandel (1922–1992), poet
Ida Maze (1893–1962), Yiddish poet
Melech Ravitch, (1893–1976), Yiddish poet
Joe Rosenblatt (1933–2019), poet
Gregory Scofield (1966– ), poet
Esther Segal (1895–1974), Yiddish poet
J. I. Segal (1896–1954), Yiddish poet
Joseph Sherman (1945–2006), poet
Sholem Shtern (1907–1990), Yiddish poet
Mark Strand (1934–2014), poet and essayist
Miriam Waddington (1917–2004), poet
Tom Wayman (1945– ), poet
Yudika (1898–1988), Yiddish poet

Screenwriters and playwrights

Ted Allan (1916–1995), screenwriter and playwright
Ben Barzman (1910–1989), screenwriter
Len Blum (1951– ), screenwriter
Joel H. Cohen, television writer
Robert Cohen, comedy writer
Stan Daniels (1934–2007), screenwriter, director, and producer
Evan Goldberg (1982– ), screenwriter
Elan Mastai (1974– ), screenwriter
Hannah Moscovitch (1978– ), playwright
Sharon Pollock (1936–2021), playwright
Oren Safdie (1965– ), playwright
Rick Salutin (1942– ), playwright
Adam Seelig (1975– ), playwright
David Shore (1959– ), television writer
Beverley Simons (1938– ), playwright
Sandor Stern (1936– ), screenwriter
Mel Tolkin (1913–2007), television comedy writer

Sports

Athletics

Sasha Gollish (1981– ), competitive runner
Abby Hoffman (1947– ), track and field athlete
Gordon Orlikow (1960– ), decathlon, heptathlon, and hurdles competitor, Athletics Canada Chairman, Canadian Olympic Committee member, Korn/Ferry International partner
Corson Robert Micheal Brown (1904—1969), runner and long Jew

Baseball

Gabe Cramer (born 1994), baseball player, pitcher
Goody Rosen (1912–1994), baseball player, outfielder, All-Star
Adam Stern (1980– ), baseball player, outfielder

Basketball

Doodie Bloomfield (1918–1950), basketball player
Julius Goldman (1910–2001), basketball player
Bennie Lands (1921–2014), basketball player
Irving Meretsky (1912–2006), basketball player
Mendy Morein (1926–2003), basketball player
Cy Strulovitch (1925–2020), basketball player
Sol Tolchinsky (1929–2020), basketball
Murray Waxman (1925–2022), basketball

Canadian football

Sam Berger (1900–1992), president of the CFL
Noah Cantor (1971– ), CFL player
Mark Cohon (1966– ), CFL Commissioner
Sydney Halter (1905–1990), CFL Commissioner
Lew Hayman (1908–1984), Toronto Argonauts and Montreal Alouettes coach

Chess

Jacob Ascher (1841–1912), chess master
Mark Bluvshtein (1988– ), chess grandmaster
Nathan Divinsky (1925–2012), chess master
Selim Franklin (1814–1885), chess master
Sofia Polgar (1974– ), chess grandmaster
Daniel Yanofsky (1925–2000), Canada's first chess grandmaster

Combat sports

Mark Berger (1954– ), judoka, Olympic silver & bronze (heavyweight)
Maxie Berger (1917–2000), boxer
Eddie Creatchman (1928–1994), wrestler and manager
Al Foreman (1904–1954), boxer
Sarah Kaufman (1985– ), mixed martial artist
Sammy Luftspring (1916–2000), boxer, Canadian champion welterweight, Canada's Sports Hall of Fame
Fred Oberlander (1911–1996), wrestler; world champion (freestyle heavyweight); Maccabiah champion
Lanny Poffo (1954– ), wrestler
Irving Ungerman (1923–2015), boxing promoter and manager
David Zilberman (1982– ), freestyle wrestler

Figure skating

Ellen Burka (1921–2016), figure skater
Petra Burka (1946– ), figure skater
Dylan Moscovitch (1984– ), pairs skater
Louis Rubenstein (1861–1931), world figure skating champion

Hockey

Murray Bannerman (1957– ), ice hockey, goaltender (NHL)
Hy Buller (1926–1968), ice hockey, All-Star defenceman (NHL)
Michael Cammalleri (1982– ), ice hockey, left wing (New Jersey Devils)
Jason Demers (1988– ), ice hockey defenseman (Arizona Coyotes)
Steve Dubinsky (1970– ), ice hockey, centre (NHL)
Oren Eizenman (1985– ), ice hockey centre
Kaleigh Fratkin (1992– ), ice hockey defenseman (Metropolitan Riveters)
Mark Friedman (1995– ), ice hockey, NHL
Cecil Hart (1883–1940), Montreal Canadiens coach and namesake of the Hart Memorial Trophy
Adam Henrich (1984– ), ice hockey, left wing/centre (Serie A)
Michael Henrich (1980– ), ice hockey, right wing, first Jewish player drafted in first round to the NHL
Eric Himelfarb (1983– ), ice hockey centre (HC Thurgau)
Corey Hirsch (1972– ), ice hockey, goaltender (NHL)
Josh Ho-Sang (1996– ), ice hockey forward (New York Islanders)
Zach Hyman (1992– ), ice hockey left wing/centre (Edmonton Oilers)
Joe Ironstone (1898–1972), ice hockey goaltender (NHL)
Max Labovitch (1924–2018), ice hockey, right wing (NHL)
Brendan Leipsic (1994– ), ice hockey left wing (Vancouver Canucks)
Devon Levi (2001– ), ice hockey, goaltender (Northeastern Huskies, Canada men's national junior ice hockey team)
Alex Levinsky (1910–1990), ice hockey, defenceman (NHL)
Jacob Micflikier (1984– ), ice hockey forward (EHC Biel)
David Nemirovsky (1976– ), ice hockey, right wing (CSKA Moscow)
Bob Nystrom (1952– ), ice hockey, right wing (NHL)
Eric Nystrom (1983– ), ice hockey, left wing (NHL)
Cory Pecker (1981– ), ice hockey, right wing (NHL, Nationalliga B)
Bob Plager (1943–2021), ice hockey defense (NHL)
Samuel Rothschild (1899–1987), ice hockey left wing (NHL)
Eliezer Sherbatov (1991– ), ice hockey, left wing (KHL)
Max Silverman (1900–1966), ice hockey manager
Trevor Smith (1985– ), ice hockey, centre (Toronto Maple Leafs)
Ronnie Stern (1967– ), ice hockey, right wing (NHL)
Josh Tordjman (1985– ), ice hockey goaltender (EC Red Bull Salzburg)
Mike Veisor (1952– ), ice hockey, goaltender (NHL)
Stephen Weiss (1983– ), ice hockey, forward (Detroit Red Wings, NHL)
Ethan Werek (1991– ), ice hockey, forward (OHL, NHL)
Bernie Wolfe (1951– ), ice hockey, goaltender
Larry Zeidel (1928–2014), ice hockey defenceman (NHL)

Racing

Tanya Dubnicoff (1969– ), track cyclist
Leah Goldstein (1969– ), Canadian-Israeli professional road racing cyclist winner of the Race Across America, World Bantamweight Kickboxing Champion, and Israel Duathlon national champion
Yonnie Starr (1905–1990), racehorse trainer
Lance Stroll (1998– ), Formula One driver

Racket sports

Sharon Fichman (1990– ), tennis player
Sherman Greenfeld (1962– ), racquetball player
Jesse Levine (1987– ), Canadian-American tennis player
Denis Shapovalov (1999– ), tennis player
Andrew Sznajder (1967– ), tennis player

Soccer

Adam Braz (1981– ), former professional soccer player
Tomer Chencinski (1984– ), Israeli-Canadian soccer player
Gottfried Fuchs (1889–1972), soccer (German national team)
Daniel Haber (1992– ), soccer player
Samuel Hazan (1983– ), soccer player
Frederick Stambrook (1929–2005), president of the Canadian Soccer Association

Other

Josh Binstock (1981– ), beach volleyball player
Sam Schachter (1990– ), beach volleyball player
Ben Weider (1923–2008), bodybuilder and entrepreneur
Joe Weider (1919–2013), bodybuilder and entrepreneur