Jack (John Richard) Chambers, artist and experimental filmmaker, was born in London, Ontario in 1931. He studied at the Escuela Central de Bellas Artes de San Fernando in Madrid from 1957 to 1959. In Spain he met Olga Sanchez Bustos, whom he married in Canada in 1963. They made their home in London and had two children, John (b. 1964) and Diego (b.1965). Chambers’ style of painting and drawing in the 1960s was characterized by a dreamlike quality. Toward the end of that decade, his work became intensely focused on the depiction of reality, often relating closely to source photographs, most of which were taken by the artist himself. Between 1964 and 1970 Chambers also directed eight films. The subjects of his work were often domestic or regional, focusing on his experience in London. In 1967, Chambers founded Canadian Artists’ Representation to try to establish fee scales for reproduction rights and rental fees for works in public exhibitions, and served as president from 1967 to 1975. In 1969 Chambers published his essay “Perceptual Realism”, and that same year, was diagnosed with leukemia. From 1971 to 1977 he worked on “Red and Green,” a study of art and perception (unpublished). Chambers died in London in 1978. His work is in the collection of the Art Gallery of Ontario, the National Gallery of Canada, the Montreal Museum of Fine Arts, and numerous other Canadian galleries.
Denis Landry est né à Azilda en Ontario, le 16 mai 1919. Il a commencé l’école à l'âge de sept ans et a gradué de la huitième année de l'École Publique Azilda #2, à l’âge de quatorze ans. Landry n’a pas pu continuer son éducation pour des raisons économiques. Il a commencé à travailler sur la ferme familiale où il s’occupe de la pasteurisation du lait et prend soin des animaux. Landry épouse Thérèse Paquette, le 6 janvier 1945. Sept enfants naissent de ce mariage.
Landry est un catholique dévoué qui aime la musique religieuse. Il est membre de la chorale de la paroisse de Chelmsford et quand la paroisse Sainte-Agnès est formé, il devient le directeur de la chorale pendant vingt ans.
Landry est une figure importante dans le secteur d'éducation dans les régions d'Azilda et de Chelmsford. Il joue un rôle significatif pendant la création de la Commission scolaire séparée du Roman Catholic Separate School Section No.1 [RCS.S No.1] en 1955. Il est nommé commissaire de la Commission scolaire séparée RCS.S No.1 de 1955 à 1956. Grâce aux efforts des commissaires, les écoles catholiques dans le district No.1 et No.2 se fusionné en 1961. Landry est élu président de la Commission scolaire séparée RCS.S No.1 & 2, le 7 janvier 1961. Les assemblés pour la commission sont tenus à l'école Ste-Marie à Azilda. Les commissaires de la Commission scolaire séparée jouent un rôle important dans la création de deux nouvelles écoles séparées; l’école St-Patrick et l’école St-Dominique-Savio. En 1965, Landry est nommé commissaire pour le Chelmsford Valley District High School Board. Il sert six ans comme commissaire pour ce Conseil pour assurer que tous les enfants catholiques de la région puissent poursuivre leurs études au niveau secondaire. En 1968, le Ministère de l'Éducation décide de restructurer l’administration en Ontario. Landry est nommé par le Chelmsford High School Board pour servir sur le comité 'Add-Hoc' pour préparer les documents nécessaires pour la restructuration des conseils scolaires en Ontario. Nommé représentant des écoles séparées de l’Ouest Landry tient ce poste pour douze années. Il dévoue 32 ans de service comme commissaire pour les écoles séparées et donne à une nouvelle génération d'enfants catholique française de la région de Rayside Balfour l’occasion d'apprendre et de grandir dans un système d'éducation convenable.
Lors de sa participation à l'évolution du système d’éducation à Azilda, Landry travaille comme mineur à Inco pour soutenir sa famille. Après 43 ans de service, Landry prend sa retraite et continue à travailler comme un agent d’immobiliers. Il est fier de la culture française. Son enthousiasme pour l'éducation, le village d'Azilda et la culture française l'inspiré à écrire et publier le livre Azilda, comme je l’ai connue.
Landry est aussi membre de la Coopérative funéraire et un membre fondateur du Club d’âge d’or d’Azilda. Denis Landry meurt le 6 mai 2008 à l'âge de 88 ans.
Anna Belle Wing Kindlund (later Mrs. Alois Trnka), 1876-1922, was an artist born in Buffalo, New York. She studied with W. Hitchcock in Buffalo, and G. Bridgman in New York. She was a member of the Buffalo Society of Artists and the New York Society of Craftsmen, and is listed in Who Was Who in American Art as a painter and miniaturist.
John Jackson (1947 - ) is an environmental activist in Ontario, Canada. Jackson received his BA from the University of Waterloo in 1969. He is a researcher, project director, advisor, chair and coordinator of numerous environmental agencies. Jackson served as President of the Ontario Toxic Waste Research Coalition, a citizens' and agricultural group which succeeded in halting the Ontario Waste Management Corporation's plans to build a hazardous waste plant in West Lincoln in the Niagara Peninsula. In recognition of his leadership, John Jackson was presented a scroll by the Member of Provincial Parliament for the Riding of Lincoln.
A.H. Howard (fl. 1889-1904) was an artist and member of the Toronto Art League.
William Lyon Mackenzie King (1874-1950) was Canada’s Prime Minister for 22 years, holding office 1921-1926, 1926-1930, and 1935-1948. King was born in Berlin (later renamed Kitchener), Ontario. King received his BA, LLB, and MA at the University of Toronto. At Harvard University he received an MA and a PhD. King was leader of the Liberal Party from 1919-1948.
Kenneth Hewitt (1937- ) was a professor of geography and environmental studies at Wilfrid Laurier University in Waterloo, Ontario, from 1976 until his retirement in 2002. Hewitt earned his BA and MA at Cambridge University, and his PhD at London University. He is a founding member of the Cold Regions Research Centre. Hewitt has been the recipient of many research awards. Hewitt was proclaimed Wilfrid Laurier University Research Professor for 1988-1989, and received the Award for Scholarly Distinction in Geography from the Canadian Association of Geographers in 1991.
Jim Heldmann is an alumnus of Wilfrid Laurier University having graduated with a BA in 1958 and an MA in 1990. As an undergraduate, Heldmann was a member of the editorial staff of the Cord as well as News Weekly where wrote the humor advice column “Miss Winks”. He was also a member of the Keystone editorial staff and the curling team.