Inspiring Canadian CEO tales

Every January, the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives releases its list of the country's highest-paid CEOs, and Canucks tend to get a little dismayed. Well, who can blame them? For the most recent year data's available, the 100 highest-paid chief execs, on average, earned a salary of about 189 times what a regular Canadian did. Said one online commenter to the CBC, "Nobody's time is worth that much money!"

It's important to remember, though, that numbers rarely tell the entire story. Many Canadian business leaders, while handsomely compensated now, had to scratch and claw their way from nothing to get where they are today. To balance the narrative a bit, MSN gets to know some of Canada's most noteworthy executives, and the modest beginnings they overcame to become the successful business leaders they are today.

* Bing: Inside a CEO's typical day