George Canyon

Did You Know?

• Canyon briefly ran for the Conservative Party nomination in the riding of Bow River in 2014 before withdrawing.
• Canyon performed the song "What a Fine Jasmine Blossom" entirely in Mandarin at a 2007 concert.

Biography

Canyon worked as a bylaw enforcement officer, a slaughterhouse beef inspector, and owned a recording studio before pursuing music full-time. He is the father of two children, and his wife worked three jobs so he could sing at night. After competing on Nashville Star 2 in 2004, he became well known in Canada as the only Canadian contestant. His subsequent accolades include the top 5 hit "My Name", a Juno Award for Best Country Recording of the Year for One Good Friend, and four Canadian Country Music Awards nominations. On September 22, 2007, he performed at the China-Canada: Hand in Hand concert in Vancouver, singing a duet in Mandarin with Tang Can. In 2008, defence minister Peter MacKay appointed him honorary colonel at 14 Wing Greenwood; after that term ended in December 2011, he was appointed colonel commandant of the Royal Canadian Air Cadets. Diagnosed with type 1 diabetes at age 14, Canyon has spoken to children about the condition. He became the official anthem singer for the Calgary Flames on October 16, 2014. In 2020, he served as a panelist on Canada Reads, advocating for Jesse Thistle's memoir From the Ashes. Canyon published his memoir My Country in 2022.

Acting

Canyon has acted in television and film. He played "Head Forest Ranger" in several episodes of Trailer Park Boys in 2007 and appeared as "Charlie Wells" on Heartland in 2008. His most notable film role was as "Cattle Jack" in the 2012 film Dawn Rider, a remake of a 1935 John Wayne film. He also had roles in Coming for Christmas and Hallmark's One Starry Christmas.