In celebration of Canada Day, The National followed six stories of Canadians making a difference around the world, from the occupied West Bank to Winnipeg. Highlights include a doctor in China being compared to a modern-day Norman Bethune; a researcher using the cellphone to improve medical treatment for AIDS patients in Kenya; a man whose organization donates bicycles worldwide; and a former Noranda VP who founded a social enterprise to train construction workers in inner-city Winnipeg. The choice these individuals have made to work in practical, grassroots ways to improve the quality of life for others, in Canada and internationally, will inspire students to think creatively about their civic participation and responsibilities.