Canadians have made a big impact on film history, and many of these achievements have been commemorated at the Academy Awards. From James Cameron to Rachel McAdams, some of the biggest names in the movie business hail from the north. You can usually expect a Canadian name to be in the running for the top awards. With the Oscars coming up, here are some of the top Canadian moments in Academy Awards history.

1930 – Mary Pickford Wins the Second Oscar for Best Actress

The very first Academy Awards ceremony was held in 1929, and in 1930, the second Best Actress award in history was awarded to Mary Pickford. Pickford was born in Toronto, and her win came for her role in the 1929 film “Coquette.” Pickford is known as a Canadian pioneer in the film industry, and she was also awarded an honorary Oscar in 1976 for her contributions to cinema.

1959 – A Canadian Hosts the Oscars

Comedian Mort Sahl was the first Canadian to host an Academy Awards show, when he took the stage with five others and quipped that he had become a sellout. To this date, the Montreal-born Sahl is still the only Canadian to have hosted the show.

1989 – National Film Board of Canada is Awarded an Honorary Oscar

To commemorate its 50th anniversary and its contribution to film, the National Film Board of Canada was awarded an honorary Oscar in 1989. This also happened to be the 60th anniversary of the Academy Awards themselves.

1998 – The Year of Titanic

In 1998, “Titanic” received nominations in 14 different categories, winning 11 of them. It is only one of three films, the others being “Ben-Hur” and “Lord of the Rings,” to win that many awards. It was a big night for Ontario-born Director James Cameron and Canadian superstar Céline Dion, who performed “My Heart Will Go On” while wearing the iconic sapphire necklace from the movie.

2000 – Robin Williams Blames Canada

Canada received an interesting spotlight at the 2000 Academy Awards with the Oscar-nominated song “Blame Canada” from the movie “South Park: Bigger, Longer and Uncut.” It was performed on stage by none other than the late Robin Williams, who danced alongside Rockette-style dancers dressed up in racy outfits inspired by the Mounties.

2012 – Christopher Plummer Gets His Oscar

At age 82, legendary Canadian actor Christopher Plummer was finally awarded the Oscar he had been chasing all his life for his role in “Beginners.” He was also the oldest actor to ever win the award, established the same year as his birth.

2017 – Donald Sutherland Awarded an Honorary Oscar

An Academy Award also eluded Canadian actor Donald Southerland over his decades-spanning career. Finally, at age 82 in 2017, he was awarded an honorary Oscar for his lifetime contributions to the craft.

When it comes to films, movie buffs and loyal Canadians have many ways to celebrate the contributions of Canucks in the industry. Perhaps 2023 will bring us another big moment to celebrate in years to come.