Charles Clarence “Clare” Laking (February 21, 1899 – November 26, 2005)
Charles Laking was one of the last surviving Canadian veterans of the First World War. At the time of his death, he was believed to have been the last surviving Canadian WWI veteran to have fought on the front lines.
He was born and raised in Campbellville, Ontario, and defied the wishes of his Methodist father when he joined the Canadian field artillery in 1917. He served as a signaller on the front lines in France. He received the French Legion of Honour and a Golden Jubilee Medal.
He died in Toronto at the Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre at the age of 106.
(Source: Wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charles_Laking)
Grand Duchess Olga Alexandrovna of Russia (June 13, 1882 – November 24, 1960)
Grand Duchess Olga was the last Grand Duchess of Imperial Russia under the reign of her elder brother, Czar Nicholas II. Her father was Alexander III of Russia; her mother was the daughter of Christian IX of Denmark, Maria Feodorovna, formerly titled Princess Dagmar of Denmark. Raised at the Gatchina Palace of St. Petersburg, Russia, the young Grand Duchess was closest to her brother, “Misha”, Grand Duck Michael Alexandrovich.
The Grand Duchess was an accomplished painter and was responsible for the creation of over 2,000 works of art. She was the last surviving grandchild of Alexander II of Russia and Empress Maria Alexandrovna. During the reign of her brother and father, she was styled “Her Imperial Highness (HIH), Grand Duchess Olga Alexandrovna of Russia.
After the downfall of the Romanovs, she, her mother, and other relatives, were imprisoned in the Crimea. During a political upheaval within the ad interim, revolutionary government, the remaining family escaped to Copenhagen, Denmark. Upon the death of her mother in 1928, the Grand Duchess and her second husband, Nikolai Kulikovsky, moved to a farm near Copenhagen. During the spring of 1948, the family emigrated to Canada settling on a diary farm in rural Campbellville, Ontario. Some years later, they moved to the town of Cooksville near Toronto.
(Source: Wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grand_Duchess_Olga_Alexandrovna_of_Russia)
Bruce Hood (b. 1937 - )
Bruce Hood was born in Campbellville, Ontario, Canada. He has been an author, businessman, politician, and professional ice hockey referee in the National Hockey League (NHL)
During his 21-year NHL career, Hood officiated 1033 regular season games, 157 Stanley Cup playoff games, three All-Star Games, and three Canada Cups. He was also the first professional to referee a World Championship game in 1985 the then Prague, Czechoslovakia. As an NHL referee, Hood was also instrumental in the formation of the NHL Officials Association in 1969.
He was the last official to wear a number one on his jersey, and the last to officiate in all Original Six arenas. In 1994, Hood was nominated to the Hockey Hall of Fame by 12 existing members, including former players like Bobby Hull and Maurice Richard.
