Famous Canadians with environmental interests and initiatives

​By Ivan Chen

Many famous Canadians have made efforts to protect the planet. (Credit: Mohamed_hassan/Pixabay)

Canada has produced countless celebrities, but some of its biggest names are using their fame for more than just entertainment. From actors to musicians, these celebrities have supported environmental causes, raised awareness and inspired fans to take action. Here are some Canadian celebrities making a difference on the planet.

1. Ryan Reynolds

Notable for his blockbuster roles, like in Deadpool, Ryan Reynolds is also an environmentalist. 

Reynolds was the philanthropic ambassador for the One Tree Initiative, a campaign between American outdoor recreation brand Eddie Bauer and non-profit organization American Forests, encouraging people to donate to plant trees.

In 2020, he matched donations made to Pacific Wild, an organization dedicated to wildlife conservation in B.C.’s Great Bear Rainforest, known as the Make Ryan Pay campaign. $150,000 in donations was collectively made.

Ryan Reynolds also helped voice “Curb Your Carbon,” an episode of the TV series The Nature of Things, which talks about easy ways to lessen individual carbon footprints. He was motivated by a desire to preserve the natural environment he grew up with in British Columbia so his children could experience the same natural beauty.

2. Rachel McAdams

Actress Rachel McAdams’ interest in the environment stemmed from a trip to Australia while in university. Since then, she has continued to champion environmental causes.

Launched in 2007, McAdams and a few friends ran an eco-lifestyle website called GreenisSexy.org for a few years. She often commutes by bike whenever possible.

She also supported Naomi Klein’s 2015 Leap Manifesto, which urged the Canadian government to tackle climate change through a social-justice approach, as well as Stand.Earth’s campaign in 2021 which urged the British Columbia government to protect the province’s old-growth forests amid logging and wildfire concerns.

3. Alanis Morissette

Alanis Morissette has long combined her music career with a passion for environmental protection. 

The singer was one of the first artists to have CD covers made from recycled paper. She initially paid for this out of pocket, but it has since become industry standard.

She was against oil drilling proposals in the U.S. state of Alaska; Morissette, other artists and environmental groups formed a coalition in 2001 to raise awareness and oppose these plans.

Morissette also ran her tour buses using biodiesel, a renewable alternative to standard diesel fuel, and narrated an environmental documentary called The Great Warming.

4. Neil Young

Beyond Neil Young’s famed music career, he has been an advocate for the environment.

While promoting his 2003 album Greendale, which has environmental undertones, Young’s tour bus used biodiesel, and he criticized the politics of intervening in foreign countries for their oil. 

In 2014, during his Honour the Treaties tour, he called out the Canadian government’s plans to expand oil projects in Alberta. Having seen oil sands sites firsthand, he found them to be destructive and driven by greed and profits. The funds he generated from the tour were allocated to Indigenous groups who were fighting legal battles against the projects.

5. Shawn Mendes

Singer Shawn Mendes has also woven sustainability into his platform.

During his 2019 and 2022 tours, Mendes sought to make tangible differences. As an ambassador of Flow Water — a Canadian company that sells water in Tetra Pak, a generally more sustainable form of packaging — Mendes began swapping out plastic water bottles for Flow’s bottles backstage at his concerts.

Mendes and his team have also committed to choosing more sustainable catering and hospitality partners, donating extra food and toiletries to food banks and shelters, using energy-efficient lighting and power for shows and recycling and composting waste. Merchandise would also be made with sustainable fabrics and fewer dyes. Fans were encouraged to carpool or use sustainable transportation to shows. 

Summary

Through music, film and philanthropy, these notable Canadians have used their platforms to raise awareness and push for a healthier planet, highlighting how environmentalism and fame can go hand in hand. 

Edited by Jess Blackwell