Mike Myers accepts Canadian Screen Icon Award
The Scarborough-born comedian thanked Canada, his parents, the TTC, and his hometown in an emotional acceptance speech Sunday.
Mike Myers received the Canadian Screen Awards' Icon Award on Sunday, recognizing decades of work in film and television — from Austin Powers to Shrek to Saturday Night Live.
Born and raised in Scarborough, Myers delivered a speech that balanced humour and genuine emotion. He thanked Canada outright, then caught himself: "I had a whole speech about how much I love Canada, but I suspect some of you might be sick of hearing that at this point."
He paused visibly while thanking his late parents for immigrating to Canada, telling the audience his parents taught him the importance of being silly and embracing humour. He offered a playful shout-out to Canadian taxpayers — "I've got 40 million people behind me" — before pivoting to an unexpected moment of gratitude.
"I want to thank the Toronto Transit Commission," he said. "It's a better way."
Myers then paid tribute to Scarborough itself, crediting his hometown with teaching him what he called the "three Fs": "When to fight, when to be funny, and when to flee." He closed by thanking Canada again, visibly emotional as he said he would "literally be nothing" without the country.
Myers joins Denis Villeneuve, Catherine O'Hara, and Alex Trebek among recipients of the Icon Award. For a city that produced him, the recognition felt like coming home.