Douglas Fisher was born in 1919 in Sioux Lookout, Ontario, and graduated from the University of Toronto with a degree in library science. Fisher worked in various fields throughout his life: including as a miner, teacher, librarian, politician, and journalist. During the Second World War, Fisher served in the Canadian military. Additionally, he served as chairman of Hockey Canada. Primarily, Fisher is known for being a political journalist and politician.

After graduating from the University of Toronto, Fisher taught history at the Port Arthur Collegiate Institute. In 1957, Fisher was elected as Member of Parliament for the Port Arthur District, beating the long-time incumbent C.D. Howe. He sat from 1957 to 1965. Fisher represented the Co-operative Commonwealth Federation (CCF) and then the New Democratic Party (NDP), as the party's name and identity changed. Fisher’s political service is known for his involvement in the transportation and shipbuilding industries in the Ontario northwestern region.

In 1965, Fisher began working as a columnist in Ottawa for the Toronto Sun and retired by 2006, after 46 years. As a journalist, Fisher was known for his political coverage and was praised by various politicians. Douglas Fisher passed away in 2009.

Sources

• Archeon. Fisher, Douglas. https://www.archeion.ca/fisher-douglas-3
• CBC. Celebrated political columnist Douglas Fisher dies at 89. https://www.cbc.ca/news/entertainment/celebrated-political-columnist-douglas-fisher-dies-at-89-1.834532
• Lakehead Archives. Douglas Fisher fonds. https://archives.lakeheadu.ca/index.php/douglas-fisher-fonds
• Wikipedia. Doug Fisher (politician). https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Doug_Fisher_(politician)

Toivo Pajala was born in 1903 in Vimpeli, Finland and educated at Western Bible College in Winnipeg. At age 19, Pajala migrated to Canada; by 1923, he migrated to Port Arthur, Ontario. Originally Pajala worked as a bushworker. Pajala is known as a preacher: first Laestadian and then Pentecostal. He was ordained in Toronto, in 1946. In 1949, Pajala married his wife, Sylvia.

In Port Arthur, Pajala served as the pastor of Saalem Finnish Pentecostal Church (1949-1963). By 1951, Pajala founded a Finnish-language Pentecostal radio program; it reached the rural areas of the Lakehead, including the camps of bushworkers. In 1936, Pajala migrated to Waukegan, Illinois; he worked as a pastor until retiring in 1967. Upon retirement, Pajala returned to Port Arthur. He remained active in the church until his passing in 1972.

• Lakehead University Archives. Tovio Pajala fonds. https://archives.lakeheadu.ca/index.php/rev-toivo-pajala-fonds
• Kahara, Tellervo, and Finnish Pentecostal Church Saalem. Kansanpappi, Toivo Pajala. Canadan Uutiset, 1985.

Ken Armson was born in Canada, and educated in England, before returning to study Forestry at the University of Toronto. He joined the faculty shortly after graduation, teaching from 1952 to 1978. He also began working for the Ontario Government through the 1970s, performing a review of forest management practices and playing a key role in establishing Forest Management Agreements between private industry and the Province. Ken’s career with the Ministry of Natural Resources culminated with his appointment as Provincial Forester. In retirement, Ken became involved in forest history work, including founding the Forest History Society of Ontario, and writing a memoir. Ken was awarded an honourary doctorate by Lakehead in 1992, and was made an Officer of the Order of Canada in 2016.

Dr. Albert E. Allen was a pathologist from Fort William. He was born in Hampton, Ontario. He graduated with a bachelors of biology from Victoria College in Toronto in 1929, and went on to obtain a doctoral degree in medicine from the University of Toronto in 1932. He worked at McGill University before accepting a position as Director of Pathology for the Ontario Health Regional Laboratory in Fort William in 1943. He was also the pathologist for St. Joseph’s Hospital until 1950, and for McKellar General Hospital until 1954.

Dr. Allen was known for his extensive knowledge of natural history. He was a contributor to many natural history publications, and was an avid outdoorsman. He was a founding member of the Toronto Ornithological Club; a trustee of the Ontario Waterfowl Research Federation; a member on the advisory board of the Lakehead Region Conservation Authority, a member of the Minnesota Ornithological Union; and was a president of the Thunder Bay Field Naturalists from 1943-47, and 1951-53. Dr. Allen was an avid bird watcher and regularly recorded notes of his observations. He also kept journals related to his activities on the study of nature, and of local events. Dr. Allen passed away in 1966 at the age of 60.