It's been a transformative year for Canadians — one that wouldn't have been the same without some key figures. Maclean's 2021 Power List was recently published. The magazine handpicked 50 Canadians who it says are "breaking ground, leading the debate and shaping how we think and live." We have highlighted six Canadian from the list who either broke the internet or changed our country in major ways, and sometimes both. Editor's Choice: New Zealand Enjoys Lockdown-Free Living With 20,000-Person Concert (PHOTOS) Justin Trudeau When the world felt as though it was on the brink of ruin, it was Justin Trudeau who Canadians looked to, not only for leadership but also for comfort. From responding to a deadly global pandemic to making Canadians laugh out loud, not many can deny that the PM was on the frontlines, according to Maclean's. Dismiss the Prime Minister if you like, but the fact is that in the past year he had (and used) power on a scale nobody in the country could match. Paul Wells on why Trudeau is No. 1 on the 2021 Maclean's Power List: https://t.co/0oQUE6jTiH pic.twitter.com/ogb8u0R963— Maclean's Magazine (@macleans) January 18, 2021 Joyce Echaquan The death of Joyce Echaquan, a mother of seven, was captured on camera and had the nation and other parts of the world at a standstill. Her story resurfaced a long-overdue conversation about racism in Canada and within the health care system, as well as the unfair treatment of Indigenous peoples, per the report. Joyce Echaquan, a 37-year-old Atikamekw mother of seven, died not long after her gut-wrenching live-stream in a Quebec hospital. Her voice is driving a national conversation about racism that was long overdue. She is still being heard, loud and clear: https://t.co/3dUWH9Uy1n pic.twitter.com/zxmvFabfcN— Maclean's Magazine (@macleans) January 18, 2021 Theresa Tam Canada's full-time top doctor will go down in history as the queen of social distancing with how much effort she put into reminding Canadians of the necessary life-saving precautions to take in order to fight COVID-19. In her limited spare time, she managed to fit in a conversation with Santa to help ease the hearts of parents and children over the holidays. Theresa Tam (@CPHO_Canada) is No. 12 on the 2021 Maclean's Power List: https://t.co/3dUWH9Uy1n pic.twitter.com/KIWt3ve78t— Maclean's Magazine (@macleans) January 18, 2021 Elliot Page Making headlines is one thing, but obliterating the internet is another. It's something Elliot Page is no doubt familiar with. The famous Canadian actor did so when he came out as trans in 2020 in a beautiful open letter that quickly went viral. When Elliot Page came out as trans in an Instagram post, his community rejoiced. Why the Nova Scotian actor is No. 29 on the 2021 Maclean's Power List: https://t.co/3dUWH9Uy1n pic.twitter.com/yqBoKmN2Be— Maclean's Magazine (@macleans) January 18, 2021 Masai Ujiri Masai Ujiri is a well known key player in the Toronto Raptors franchise (off the court). On top of his accomplishments, one moment from 2020, captured on tape, made Canadians band together. Ujiri proudly walking to his team after winning the championship game and being shoved by a security guard "using unjustified force against a Black man," shed light on systemic racism faced in the Black community. As NBA All-Star Weekend approaches in Toronto, Maclean's spoke to Raptors GM Masai Ujiri: https://t.co/U1iXlV2yW6 pic.twitter.com/epwmxesI8t— Maclean's Magazine (@macleans) February 12, 2016 The Nova Scotia Shooting Panel What is being called "the deadliest mass shooting in Canadian history" saw over 20 people dead. The shooting that occurred in Nova Scotia made the country hold its breath. Its death toll broke the hearts of Canadians. Since the shooting, the panel looking at the tragic events has also sparked a conversation on how the RCMP handled the situation, according to Maclean's. Our 2021 Power List: 50 Canadians who are breaking ground, leading the debate and shaping how we think and live: https://t.co/QUx5EVaGCh— Maclean's Magazine (@macleans) January 18, 2021
