Talk:Canada/Catalogs

Additional sports figures

In general, I do not favor the inclusion of athletes in the catalog of "Notable Canadians". Rather, they should be included in the appropriate sub-page of their sport.

Don Cherry (ice hockey, television commentator) - Maurice (Rocket) Richard (ice hockey) - Toe Blake (ice hockey) - Sandra Schmirler (curling) - Hayley Wickenheiser (ice hockey) - Myriam Bedard (biathlon) - Clara Hughes (cycling and speed skating)

James F. Perry 10:14, 14 February 2008 (CST)

Selection criteria for "Notable Canadians" listing

In compiling the listing of Notable Canadians, I have taken the approach that this list, attached as a subpage to the main entry for Canada, should contain a listing of those Canadians whose lives and activities were of exceptional and timeless importance to an understanding of Canada, its people, culture, and history. These are the people with whom an educated, intelligent person should, by and large, be familiar with if he or she wishes to assert that they have a good understanding of Canada. Alternatively, they are the people whose biographies constitute "high priority" biography topics for the subject of Canada.

The value of such a listing as on the article page lies in the thoughtfulness in choosing whom to include - that is, precisely in its selectivity, or, more accurately, its intelligent selectivity. In selecting individuals for inclusion on the list, I have consulted the following reference works, among others:

• H. Graham Rawlinson and J.L. Granatstein, The Canadian 100: the 100 Most Influential Canadians of the 20th Century (1997)
• Houghton Mifflin Dictionary of Biography (approximately 18,000 entries)
• Merriam-Webster's Collegiate Encyclopedia" (approximately 25,000 entries, including 10,000 biographies)
• The on-line Canadian Encyclopedia
• Memorable Canadians web site

James F. Perry 11:27, 26 February 2008 (CST)

Think this could be...

a catalog under Canada? --Robert W King 17:40, 26 December 2007 (CST)

I would sure think so! Hayford Peirce 17:51, 26 December 2007 (CST)

"90% are not notable": not true

As a Canadian author, I strongly disagree. There are some strange names in actors, to be sure, but after that it's not a bad basis. Shawn Goldwater 19:09, 5 February 2008 (CST)

Disagree with request to speedy delete this page

I'm not Canadian, and have no particular interest in notable Canadians, but I have added a couple of names to this list over time. I disagree with Mr. Perry that "90% of the names in this list are neither famous, notable, important, or maintainable." That is 100% *his* opinion, nothing more. Most of these people are reasonably well-known, at least within their own fields. I have finally tracked down the "Notable Canadians" subpage that he mentions and I find it to be very short, and, if these people listed are more prominent than the ones below, then, once again, that is his opinion. Perhaps all the names on this list should simply be moved to the other one.... Hayford Peirce 11:39, 13 February 2008 (CST)

The shortness of the listing on the "Notable Canadians" subpage in the Catalogs section of the Canada article is due solely to the fact that it is not (yet) complete. The people listed on the "Notable Canadians" page are Nobel Prize winners, or those who had a major role in the formation or history of the Canadian nation, or other highly important individuals. Just my opinion, of course!

I am building the "Notable Canadians" list based on the idea that the folks eventually listed therein should be truly "high priority" articles for Canada. Personally, I don't think any Canadian sports figures qualfy, not Wayne Gretzky, not even Don Cherry!

If there is any value to a listing of "Notable Canadians" (or Americans, etc) it is precisely in its selectivity and restriction to those who are truly notable.

One should also take into account the concept behind the subpages. There will be such subpages not only for Canada, but also each province of Canada, as well as subpages for entries such as CBC, Ice hockey, baseball, Toronto Blue Jays, etc. Many of the names listed on the present list (TV personalities, actors/actresses, sports figures) would more appropriately belong on subpages of, say, CBC, or ice hockey, rather than a subpage of Canada. Basically, is the person in question a notable baseball player, or a notable Canadian? If the former, but not the latter, he belongs on a list of "Notable baseball players", not "Notable Canadians".

You may, of course, move the present listing to the new subpage (where such lists belong), but I will immediately appeal the move to another editor.

James F. Perry 07:12, 14 February 2008 (CST)

Hayford, quoting from your posting:

"Most of these people are reasonably well-known, at least within their own fields."

Precisely the point! They may be reasonably well-known, as you say, within their own fields. But the list of "Notable Canadians", on the Canada subpage, should be a listing of people who are notable for Canada as a whole, not just within some sub-field, and not just reasonably (your words) well-known. James F. Perry 07:23, 14 February 2008 (CST)

I think James has a valid point. When I think of famous Canucks, I think of ones that are well known regardless of their field: Mike Meyers (comedian/actor), Wayne Gretzky (hockey player), Dave Thomas and Rick Moranis (from Strange Brew and the Great White North, 'eh!), Second City TV--obviously those who as soon as you see their name one might say "CANADA!" --Robert W King 08:55, 14 February 2008 (CST)

Not to weigh in about whatever people are arguing about above, if we keep this page, the sub-sub-page should not include "Catalog of" in its title; that's redundant. --Larry Sanger 07:39, 14 February 2008 (CST)

Agreed. I will transfer the name list to the talk page of "Notable Canadians" and we can debate about whom to include from there. Meanwhile, aware of your views about such lists, please note that I am using the "r" template so that I can see at a glance precisely where definition templates need still be built. James F. Perry 09:43, 14 February 2008 (CST)