Showing 20427 results

People and organizations
Wahl, Clifford
Person

Clifford Wahl was a political activist in the Thunder Bay area. He ran unsuccessfully twice for provincial parliament in 1972 as independent and in 1974 as Communist.

Morrison, Jean
Person · 1926-2014

Jean Forsyth Morrison (née Case) was born Dec. 8 1926 in Sault Ste. Marie to Margaret Golding (née Summerby) and Dr. George Case. Morrison grew up in Cobalt and Newmarket, Ontario. She attended Trinity College at the University of Toronto where she met her husband Ken Morrison who she married in 1948 following their graduation. The couple had 3 children before relocating from Ottawa to Thunder Bay in 1966. In 1974 she became the first women to graduate with an M.A. in History from Lakehead University. Until her retirement in 1990 she served as a research historian at Old Fort William and established herself as a leading expert on Fort William and the North West Company. In recognition of Jean, the Fort William Historic Park renamed their library to The Jean Morrison Canadian Fur Trade Library. Morrison authores dozens of books and articles on Canadian labour and fur trade history, and was awarded an inaugural alumni honour award from the History Department at Lakehead University for her outstanding contributions to the field. Morrison passed away on Sept. 22 2014 in Thunder Bay at the age of 87.

Badanai, Bert
Person · 1926-2021

Hubert Louis George (Bert) Badanai was born in Fort William, Ontario on Sept. 7 1926 to May (née Checkley) and Hubert Badanai Sr. Bert graduated from Queen's University earning his B.A. in Economics and Math in 1948 before marrying Maxine Lelah Gage on June 16 1952, together they had 5 children. Bert was the General Manager and Dealer Principal of Kam Motors and Port Arthur Motors, part owner of Budget Rent A Car, and Target Motors Mazda. He was an automotive dealer with General Motors of Canada, serving for 40 years. Bert was a proud board member for the Quetico Conference and Training Center in Atikokan, which was designed to help businesses cope with change. from 1997 to 2000 Bert was elected Councillor at large for the City of Thunder Bay. He was a regular columnist for the Thunder Bay Post Newspaper and engaged in diverse topics affecting the city and region. Bert donated his extensive research books to the Thunder Bay Public Library. Bert died in Thunder Bay on Dec. 3 2021 at the age of 95.

Strickland, Helen Moore
Person · 1908-1977

Helen Strickland (née Moore) was born in Thunder Bay in 1908 and educated at both Mount Allison University (New Brunswick) and the University of Western Ontario. She was an artist and teacher. Strickland spent 15 years working on Silver Under the Sea with Julian G. Cross, a local engineer. Strickland died Feb. 25 1977 at the age of 59..

Assef, Walter
Person · 1913-1988

Walter Melund Assef was born May 31 1913 in Sioux Lookout, Ontario to John Hunna Khaleefy Assef and and Maria Rosa Penteado. Assef was a member of the first Thunder Bay City Council and a long-time Fort William Councillor. He was first elected as Mayor of Thunder Bay in 1973 but lost re-election in 1979 to Dusty Miller. Following Miller's term, Assef was re-elected in 1981 and served again until 1985. During his tenure as Mayor he campaigned against the construction of the Thunder Bay Community Auditorium, and refused to attend its opening in 1985. He became a notorious local figure and was sometimes called "Jolly Wally", a nickname that was reported to have been invented by HRH Prince Philip during one of his visits to the area. Assef died in Thunder Bay at the age of 74 on Jan. 14 1988.

Sorenson, Hans
Person · 1921-1997

Hans Sorenson was born in Tromsö, Norway on April 10 1921 to Emil and Korline Matilde Sorenson. The Sorenson family moved to Ignace, Ontario in 1924. Sorenson was a flying officer with the Royal Canadian Air Force during WWII and was awarded the Canadian Voluteer Service Medal, the 1939-1945 War Medal, and the Burma Star Defence Medal. In 1953 he was flight officer in "C" Flight at the RCAF station in MacDonald, Manitoba. He was killed during a robbery on Dec. 7 1997.

Murray, Doreen
Person · -2005

Born in Fort William, Doreen Helen Murray (née Jones) was a lifelong resident of the Lakehead, and attended school at Franklin and Central Schools as well as Fort William Collegiate Institute. Murray later graduated from North Bay Normal School and then began teaching in various schools over the years, the majority as a substitute teacher. She was a past president of the East Fort William Women's Institute, a former covener of the Federated Women's Institutes of Ontario, and past secretary and president of the Wesfort Community Centre. She was a lifetime member of the aforementioned organizations as well as the Thunder Bay Lapidary Society and the Hymers Agricultural Society. She was the first recipient of the Agricultural Service Diploma awarded by the Hymers Agricultural Society for more than 60 years of service to the Hymers Fair. Murray received many certificates from different groups and also was a the recipient of the Volunteer Medal marking the 125th anniversary of Confederation. She was also an award-winning seamstress and craftsperson. Murray was a member and the first president of the South Arthur Neighbourhood Planning Council. She died on June 3 2005 in Thunder Bay.

Knights, Helen
Person · 1912-2014

Helen Knights was born in Toronto Jan. 20 1912 to T.G and Helena Rogers. She was educated at Havergal College and received her B.A. at Victoria University. In 1937 she married Thomas Edgar Parkinson who was later killed in action during WWII. During the war Knights became an ambulance driver with the St. John's Ambulance in Toronto and served as a volunteer nurse at Christie Street Hospital and Women's College Hospital. She also worked at the family business, Lake Simcoe Ice and Enterprises. After her husband's death she became a dietitian at Moulton Ladies College in Toronto. She married Orval Knights of Thunder Bay in 1946 and they adopted 4 children together. Knights was an active member of the Thunder Bay artistic community. As a member of: Fire Earth and Fibre , Lakehead Area Craft Association, Lakehead Society of Fine Arts , Northwestern Association for Community Crafts , Northwestern Ontario Art Association, and the Quetico Centre Mrs. Knights communicated with government and non-governmental officials to promote exhibits and education in the artistic/craft community. Helen passed away on Nov. 23 2014 at the age of 102.

Foulds, James
Person · 1937-

James Francis Foulds was born in Port Arthur, Ontario in April 10 1937. He and his wife Judy have two children, Andrew and Michael. Foulds was educated at Lakehead Technical Institute and the University of British Columbia. Before entering politics, Foulds taught at Selkirk Collegiate for 14 years. In 1971 entered politics under the NDP and spent 16 years as MPP. At this time he also held various other roles including: Deputy Leader, Vice Chair of Ontario Hydro, and Chair of the Ontario NDP Caucus Administrative Committee. After retiring from politics, Foulds began working as a sessional lecturer at Lakehead University where he taught a course in Ontario politics. His involvement with Provincial Papers spanned from 1993-1997 during which time he was an integral member of the Board of Directors which oversaw the employee buyout in 1993 and resale of the plant to Rolland Inc. in 1997.

MacPhail, John
Person

John MacPhail was a graduate student at Lakehead University where he conducted extensive research on the Victoriaville Mall for purposes of writing his thesis. His thesis was completed in 1999. Upon graduating with his master's degree he moved to Oakville in order to teach grade seven at St. Dominic Catholic School. He was the 2007 recipient of the Governor General's Award for Excellence in Teaching Canadian History

Zimmerman, Ernest R.
Person · 1931-2008

Professor Ernest R. Zimmermann, Ph.D, was born June 18, 1931 in Cologne, Germany to Josef and Katharina Zimmermann. Zimmermann grew up in war-time Nazi Germany, and eventually was sent first to the Baltic Sea, then to the Eifel region, and finally to Delitzsch, Saxony. He was liberated by the U.S. Army's Timber Wolf Division at the end of April 1945. In June 1945 he journeyed back home to Cologne with his sister and later removed from school in 1947 to aid in reconstructing the family's home and business while become a butcher's apprentice. He worked as a journeyman for various employers before emigrating to Canada in Oct. 1953. He completed his high school diploma, and then attended McMaster University and attained an Honours B.A. in History in 1961. Through a Commonwealth Scholarship Zimmermann attended the University of London, Englad where he received his doctorate in Russian History in 1968. While in Canada, he met and married Betty Davidson in Stratford, Ontario in 1959 with whom he had two children/ He was remarried in 1992 to Beverley Leaman. Zimmermann returned to Canada and first taught at the University of Saskatchewan before he began his lengthy career at Lakehead University in 1967. At the university he was elected to various offices by his colleagues including: President of the L.U. Faculty Association (1973-1974, 1988-1989), the Canadian Association of University Teachers' Collective Bargaining Co-operative executive (1988-1991), the L.U. Senate and Board of Governors (1991-1994), Chair of the Department of History (1977-1978), and as Dean of the Arts (1978-1983). In the Thunder Bay community he served as a canvasser for the NDP in many provincial and federal elections. He also served on the City's Local Architectural Conservation Authority Committee, was an executive of the Thunder Bay Historical Museum Society, and the National Exhibition Centre for Indian Art. From 1974 to 1982 he produced and moderated a local phone-in television show called Forum. Zimmermann passed away on Aug. 24 2008 in Thunder Bay at the age of 77.

Morrison, Ken
Person · 1923-2010

Ken Morrison was born Sept. 3 1923 in Arnprior, Ontario to Rev. Lloyd Morrison and Kathleen Cowan. Morrison's early years were spent in Ottawa, Tweed, and Kemptville, Ontario. After serving in WWII, Morrison attended the University of Toronto where he received his MA in Political Science. While studying in Toronto, Morrison met Jean Case who he later married in 1948, and later had three children. Morrison joined the Communist Party after the war which led to a break with his Methodist/United Church family. He later left the Labour Progressive Party in 1956, but never lost his faith in socialism. Morrison was also a founding member of the NDP in Ottawa, where he worked as a high school teacher. He and his family then moved to Port Arthur, Ontario where he worked as Director of Admissions and Extension at Lakehead University from 1966-1973. In 1966 he joined the Unitarian Fellowship, where he served in numerous capacities as Lay Chaplain, President, Sunday Services chair, and Hospital Visitor. Following his career at the university, Morrison began working as a realtor and appraiser. Throughout his life Morrison remained a political and social activist and volunteered for many community organizations including the Thunder Bay Symphony Orchestra, Meals-on-Wheels, and the Thunder Bay Historical Museum Society. Morrison died on July 29 2010 in Thunder Bay at the age of 86.

Baril, Joan
Person

Joan Baril is an author based out of Thunder Bay, Ontario.

Tilson, Catherine
Person · -1977

Catherine (Katie) Poulin (née Tilson) was born and raised in Rainy River, Ontario before moving to Port Arthur, Ontario. In Port Arthur she met Frederick Eugene Poulin and became engaged. While her fiancé Freddie was fighting with the 16th Regiment in France during WWI, Katie worked at the Lycium and various other places in Port Arthur. Upon Freddie's return the couple were later married on Sept. 30 1919. The couple had 1 child. Following Freddie's death in 1943 she eventually made her way to Parry Sound, where she died in 1977.

Poulin, Frederick Eugene
Person · 1898-1943

Pte. Frederick Eugene Poulin (reg. #2383341) was born July 23 1898 in Calumet, Quebec to Charles Poulin and Alice Celeste Thibert. The family relocated to Port Arthur, Ontario prior to WWI. Poulin was drafted on Jan. 3 1918 in Port Arthur with the 16th Battalion. Poulin returned to Port Arthur after being discharged on Jan. 3 1919. He later married his fiancé Catherine Tilson on Sept. 30 1919. The couple had 1 child. Poulin died at the age of 45 on July 14 1943 in Port Arthur.

Andrews, John
Person · 1902-1986

John Andrews was born in Belfast, Northern Ireland on Feb. 17 1902. His family moved to Fort William in 1907, and later graduated from Fort William Collegiate Institute. He first worked for 18 years with the Western Grain Commission, and then established his own company in 1938, Northland Machinery Supply Company. Andrews' company became one of the leading companies under his direction and eventually opened branches in Vancouver, Calgary, Winnipeg and Sault Ste. Marie. Andrews eventually sold the company to Westeel-Rosco Ltd. in 1968 and officially retired the following year. In 1962, Andrews was appointed to the Lakehead Harbour Commission, and later served as its chairman twice from 1967-1969 and 1975-1977. He represented the Province of Ontario overseas as a delegate on a Provincial Trade Mission to Italy and Germany in 1967. Andrews was also involved in the capital fundraising campaign to estable Lakehead University, and later served on the Board of Governors for the institution. He was a longstanding member of the Freemasons, a serving brother of the Order of St. John, and a parishioner of St. Andrews Presbyterian Church. Mr. Andrews died in Thunder Bay on May 16 1986, survived by his wife Rhetta of 59 years.

Wass, Charles A.
Person · 1888-1918

Private Charles Alred Wass (id #865750) was born in England on Aug. 21 1888, an orphan. He later emmigrated to Canada in 1905. There is no information about Wass until he was hired by Norman E. Cloes as a labourer on the Cloes' farm, in 1913. Wass enlisted as a Private in the 181st Battalion of the Canadian Expeditionary Force, and was later transferred to the 52nd Battalion, Manitoba Regiment. On Nov. 13 1917, Wass was wounded at Passchendaele and sent to a hospital in Hastings, England to recover. After returning to the front Wass was killed in action on Oct. 1 1918 at the Battle of Cambrai, and was buried nearby in Canada Cemetery Tilloy Les Cambrai, Nord, France. He earned both a British Service Medal, and a British Victory Medal for his service in the war.

Reed, Ernest
Person · 1914-2004

Ernest H. Reed was born Nov. 14 1914 in Toronto, Ontario. He and his family relocated to Fort William in 1952 when he was transfered by the Great West Life Assurance Company, where he worked as a Branch Manager. Reed first ran for City Council in 1956 but was unsuccessful. However, in 1959 he was elected and then re-elected again in 1960 to council. In 1961 Reed successfully campaigned for the mayor election, and served as Fort William's mayor for the next eight years. During his tenure the new Fort William City Hall was constructed. During the process of amalgamation, Reed again ran to become the first mayor of Thunder Bay, but was defeated by Saul Laskin. Reed died on Oct. 6 2004 in Barrie, Ontario.

Eoll, George K.
Person

George K. Eoll was a teacher at Ogden School in Fort William from the mid 1930s to the mid 1940s. Later he was personnel manager for Marathon Paper Mills.

Doughty, John
Person

John Doughty is a diver and amateur filmmaker from Thunder Bay.