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Guglielmo Giovanni Maria Marconi, electrical engineer, inventor and businessman (born 25 April 1874 in Bologna, Italy; died 20 July 1937 in Rome, Italy). Marconi’s early experiments in wireless telegraphy demonstrated the potential of long-range radio communication. He is generally considered the inventor of the radio. Marconi’s first reputed reception of a transatlantic radio signal occurred at Signal Hill in St. John’s, Newfoundland, in 1901. The following year, he built a wireless transmission station in Glace Bay, Nova Scotia. Half of the 1909 Nobel Prize in Physics went to Marconi for his work in wireless telegraphy.

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Guy Laliberté, OC, OQ, street performer, businessman (born 2 September 1959 in St-Bruno, QC). Laliberté is the fire-breathing accordionist and stilt-walking founder of Cirque du Soleil. He transformed a small band of Québec buskers and street musicians into a performing organization of international repute. Laliberté is also the founder of the One Drop Foundation and in September 2009, he became the first Canadian space tourist.

This article was originally published in Maclean’s magazine on January 13, 2003. Partner content is not updated.

H. Harrison McCain, executive (born 3 November 1927 in Florenceville, New Brunswick; died 19 March 2004 in Boston, Massachusetts). The son of an exporter of seed potatoes, McCain graduated from Acadia U and worked as a sales executive for Irving Oil Co.

Harley Hotchkiss, businessman, community leader, philanthropist (born at Tillsonburg, Ont 12 Jul 1927; died at Calgary, Alta 22 Jun 2011). Harley Hotchkiss was known as a "builder.

Harold Greville Smith, industrialist (b at Sheffield, Eng 25 Jan 1902; d at Montréal 19 Feb 1974). After graduating from Oxford, Smith was hired by a chemical firm later absorbed by Imperial Chemical Industries.

Harry Gordon Johnson, economist, teacher, author (b at Toronto 26 May 1923; d at Geneva, Switz 9 May 1977). He obtained his formal education at Cambridge (BA), U of T (MA) and Harvard (PhD). He held permanent teaching positions in Canada and Europe and visiting positions at universities worldwide.

Harry John Carmichael, industrialist (b at New Haven, Conn 29 Sept 1891; d at Toronto 28 Oct 1979). Born in the US of Canadian parents, Carmichael came to Canada and became president and general manager of McKinnon Industries, St Catharines, Ontario, in 1929.

Harry William Hays, farmer, rancher, businessman, politician (b at Carstairs, Alta 25 Dec 1909; d at Ottawa 4 May 1982). He was mayor of Calgary 1959-63, federal minister of agriculture 1963-65 and senator 1966-82.

Hart Almerrin Massey, manufacturer, philanthropist (b in Haldimand Twp, Upper Canada 29 Apr 1823; d at Toronto 20 Feb 1896).

Harvey Reginald MacMillan, entrepreneur (b at Newmarket, Ont 9 Sept 1885; d at Vancouver 9 Feb 1976). After studying at the Ontario Agricultural College and the Yale Forestry School, MacMillan worked on the BC coast as a timber cruiser in 1907.

Heather Maxine Reisman, OC, entrepreneur, business executive (born 28 August 1948 in Montreal, QC). Reisman is best known as the founder, executive chair and CEO of Indigo Books & Music, Canada’s largest book and specialty toy retailer, and the co-founder of Kobo, a top global e-reader maker. She holds honorary doctorates from several universities and a bachelor’s degree in social work from McGill University. In 2022, Reisman was inducted into Canada’s Walk of Fame.

Henry Birks, silversmith, founder of Henry Birks and Sons (b at Montréal 30 Nov 1840; d there 16 Apr 1928). He graduated from Montreal High School in 1856 and spent the next winter perfecting his French. In April 1857 he joined Savage and Lyman, a large firm of watchmakers and jewellers.

Henry Borden, businessman, public servant (b at Halifax 25 Sept 1901; d at Toronto 5 May 1989). Educated at McGill, Dalhousie and Oxford, Borden became one of Toronto's most prominent corporate lawyers.

Henry Robert Emmerson, lawyer, businessman, premier of New Brunswick (b at Maugerville, NB 25 Sept 1853; d at Dorchester, NB 9 July 1914).

Henry Franklin Bronson, lumber manufacturer (b at Moreau Twp, Saratoga County, NY 24 Feb 1817; d at Ottawa 7 Dec 1889). In 1852 Bronson and his partner John Harris moved to Bytown [Ottawa] to exploit the timber reserves of the Ottawa Valley, bringing his family the following year.

In the late 1860s Henry Davis and others began trading along the upper PEACE RIVER in opposition to the HUDSON'S BAY COMPANY (HBC). In 1886 he based his operation at FORT VERMILION and competed with the HBC until his death.

Henry Morgan, merchant, founder of Canada's oldest department store (b at Saline, Scot 1819; d at Montréal 12 Dec 1893). After apprenticing in a Scottish wholesale house, Morgan came to Canada 1845 and opened a dry-goods store with David Starke Smith on St Joseph Street (now Notre Dame) in Montréal.

Henry Newton Rowell Jackman, "Hal," financier, philanthropist, lieutenant-governor of Ontario (b at Toronto 10 June 1932). The son of Henry Jackman, a successful Depression-era entrepreneur, Jackman was born into Toronto's elite.

Herbert Clifford (Herb) Belcourt, CM, entrepreneur, philanthropist (born 6 July 1931 in Lac Ste. Anne, AB; died 5 July 2017 in Sherwood Park, AB). Belcourt was a celebrated Métis philanthropist and businessman recognized for starting several successful businesses in Edmonton and Sherwood Park, including Belcourt Construction, which became one of the largest power line companies in Alberta. Belcourt was also a philanthropist who gave back to the Métis community of Alberta through affordable housing and education bursaries.