Introduction

Innovation is not unique to Canada, nor is it specific to any particular group of people. All of us are innovators in some way. The problems we address—as individuals, as companies large and small, and even as government agencies—and the approaches we take, are strongly influenced by circumstance, experience and need. Innovation Canada looks at the driving forces that have shaped our innovations and our country. These forces include everything from Canada’s vastness and extreme weather, to the natural curiosity we all have for nature and our world. Whether designed by an innovator such as engineer Armand J. Bombardier, or medical doctor Wilder Penfield—and whether it is the design for a simple farm implement such as a folding harrow, or a fighter aircraft such as the Avro Arrow, you’ll find more than a hundred fascinating stories and artifacts in Innovation Canada. This Curator’s Choice highlights just a few of these, showcasing Canada’s enduring innovative spirit, and our desire as a nation to improve the world in which we live.