TORONTO - Actor Eric McCormack knows it's a little un-Canadian to brag so he apologizes if he acts too excited over his new star on Canada's Walk of Fame.

"Being famous here really means a lot of apologizing, just really being sorry for it, because it's not the (Canadian) way," McCormack joked on Saturday as he walked the red carpet in Toronto.

"It's an unnatural state for a Canadian and I'm really sorry. I'm sorry."

McCormack was among seven new inductees to the club, which over the years has given stars to the likes of Margaret Atwood, Jim Carrey, Celine Dion, Michael J. Fox, Wayne Gretzky and Steve Nash.

Also honoured Saturday were Olympian Clara Hughes, Sarah Polley, David Clayton Thomas, Farley Mowat, Nelly Furtado, and the late magician Doug Henning.

McCormack said it's great that Canadians are finally recognizing homegrown talents and accomplishments, which wasn't always the case.

"Down in the States they'll say, 'When you were a kid did you think you'd be on the Walk of Fame?' and I say, 'When I was a kid there wasn't a Walk of Fame,"' McCormack said.

"This is a very new thing for Canadians, to celebrate themselves."

Hughes was beaming as she arrived on the red carpet and said she was thrilled to not only get a star, but also help applaud others.

"We've always done (great things) but we haven't always celebrated it and I think the Walk of Fame is something that really celebrates Canadians and excellence," she said.

"There's so many great people in this country doing so many fantastic things."

Polley said she too thought it was great to see a celebration of Canadian talent, although it might feel a little odd to some.

"I think it's always complicated for me because on the one hand we're always beating ourselves up for not celebrating ourselves enough. But for me, one of the national characteristics I'm most proud of in this country is humility," Polley said.

"So I sort of feel it's kind of a good sign we don't celebrate ourselves too much ... there's something so great about living in this country because we're not overly proud or overly comfortable with being proud.

"It's finding the balance between acknowledging the great things people have done in this country and also being proud of the fact that we're not the kind of people to boast too much."

Polley and Furtado were the youngest of the inductees -- both are turning 32 in the coming months -- and Furtado said it was humbling to be recognized while her career is still flourishing.

"It's kind of inspiring because I do feel like I've got a lot of work to do still and more dreams I want to accomplish, whether it's within music or outside of music," she said.

"I guess I was lucky enough to start young enough to be here today which is a little bit insane."

The induction ceremony was to be hosted by comedian Howie Mandel, who got a Walk of Fame star of his own last year.

Mandel said he was glad Henning was being honoured and recalled being inspired by his charisma and his work as the "consummate entertainer."

"Doug Henning is the man, he is magic," Mandel said.

"He's my first recollection of being aware of any magic, or any illusionists.

"He was certainly an inspiration and a great man and this is so well deserved, I wish he was here to see it."

The show will be broadcast on Oct. 20 at 9 p.m. ET/PT on Global and Slice. It is to included performances by Jully Black, Alex Cuba, Burton Cummings, Hawksley Workman and Nikki Yanofsky.

Yanofsky is also being presented with the inaugural Allan Slaight Award, recognizing achievements by a young Canadian.