Canada is home to some of North America’s most prestigious universities. While all schools have specialities, there are few that receive nearly universal acclaim for their diverse and exceptional programs. In order to breakdown a list of Canada’s best academic institutions, I consulted with Momentum Ventures CEO Matt Keezer. Keezer, who launched the Canadian online travel agency FlightHub in 2012, has been a leader in the Canadian tech scene since the founding of Momentum Ventures, and has been hands on with recruiting talent from across Canada. This includes bright minds from many Canadian universities. With that in mind, I asked him what schools pique his interest when scoping out talent.

McGill University

Founded in 1821, McGill University has been churning out future leaders, bright minds, and athletes for almost 200 years. Among its alumni it counts 12 Nobel Laureates, 140 Rhodes Scholars, three Canadian Prime Ministers, and three astronauts. Featuring some of the highest admission standards in Canada, McGill is well-known for its Arts, Sciences, and Medicine faculties. Located in downtown Montreal, their main campus is in an extremely central area, much like their Montreal-based rival Concordia University.

University Of Toronto

Another veteran of Canadian academia, The University Of Toronto was founded in 1827. Surrounding Queens Park in Toronto and situated very close to The Royal Ontario Museum, The University Of Toronto is located in a very prime location in Canada’s largest city. While not featuring as many distinguished Nobel Laureates or Rhodes Scholars as McGill, The University Of Toronto can hang its hat on some huge discoveries in the field of medicine. These include the discovery of insulin, and pioneering work on stem cell research. It is also the home of the first practical electron microscope.

University Of British Columbia

The offspring of Montreal’s McGill University, the McGill University College of British Columbia was founded in 1908. It turned independent in 1915, becoming officially known as the University Of British Columbia. A major research school, The University Of British Columbia is recognized worldwide as one of the best schools in the World when it comes to project funding, with over 8,000 funded in 2014. Famous alumni include known environmentalist and scientist David Suzuki and current Prime Minister of Canada Justin Trudeau.

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