Insulin 1922

Dr. Frederick Banting and his team of researchers at the University of Toronto saved and improved the lives of diabetics worldwide when they announced the discovery of insulin, the hormone produced by the pancreas to regulate blood sugar. Banting and his supervisor, John James Rickard Macleod, won the Nobel Prize the following year.

Source: The Canadian Encyclopedia

Snowmobile 1937

The first snowmobile was patented June 29, 1937 by Joseph Armand Bombardier in Quebec. The original snowmobile had seven seats, and was targeted at doctors, ambulance drivers, and priests living in remote areas. Bombardier later developed a series of snowmobiles to be used in the Second World War.

Source: The Canadian Encyclopedia

Electron microscope 1938

The first practical electron microscope was first built at the University of Toronto in 1938 by two graduate students, James Hillier and Albert Prebus. The microscope was able to magnify 7000 times, an incredible feat compared to other microscopes at the time that had magnification of 2000 times.

Source: University of Toronto

Source: Science.ca

Walkie-talkie 1938

While there have been several individuals who claim to have invented the walkie-talkie, top science and technology universities credit the invention to Toronto-born Alfred Gross. Gross patented the walkie-talkie in 1938, a device he had been working on since age 12.

Source: The Globe and Mail

Canadarm 1981

Canada’s most notable robotic achievement, Canadarm, was developed by the National Research Council of Canada. The Canadarm was signed over to NASA in 1981, and traveled to space later that year. It was used by NASA for 30 years in several different missions, including the construction of the International Space Station.

Source: Canadian Space Agency

Source: The Canadian Encyclopedia

56k modem 1996

The 56k modem, which allowed for a 66% increase in download speed compared to previous modems, was invented by Toronto-born Brent Townshend in 1996. The 56k modem was able to keep internet speed more consistent than any other modem at that time, and has now become synonymous with dial-up internet.

Source: MIT

BlackBerry 1999

The original BlackBerry, released in 1999 by Research In Motion, was a pager capable of email. Only three years later, BlackBerry developed the first smartphone, five years before the original iPhone was released.

Source: The Canadian Encyclopedia