List of people from Thunder Bay

Musicians

• Dave Azzolini, songwriter for Toronto-based pop-rock band The Golden Dogs
• Sydney Blu (1977–), music producer and DJ
• Lauri Conger, keyboardist and songwriter for Parachute Club
• Bobby Curtola (1944–2016), early rock and roll singer and one-time teen idol
• Gaye Delorme (1947–2011), songwriter and guitarist
• Jaida Dreyer, country music singer-songwriter
• Natasha Fisher, singer-songwriter
• Don Grashey (1925–2005), songwriter and record producer
• Jessica Grassia, keyboardist, vocalist, and percussionist for Toronto-based pop-rock band The Golden Dogs
• Coleman Hell (1989–), singer, songwriter, dance producer
• Gary Kendall, bassist for Downchild Blues Band
• Hugh Le Caine (1914–1977), physicist, composer, inventor; built the Electronic Sackbut, one of the first synthesizers
• Daniel MacMaster (1968–2008), singer for the Canadian/British hard rock band Bonham
• Paul Shaffer (1949–), musician, actor, and comedian, best known as the bandleader on the Late Show with David Letterman
• Derek Sharp (1965–), rock singer, and guitarist; current lead singer of The Guess Who
• Ian Tamblyn (1947–), Juno Award-winning folk singer-songwriter, record producer and playwright

Writers

• Karen Autio, Finnish Canadian writer of children's fiction, notably the Saara Mäki historical novel trilogy.
• Michael Christie, short story writer and Scotiabank Giller Prize nominee
• Shane Peacock (1957–), writer of books for young adults
• Diane Schoemperlen (1954–), poet, novelist and short story writer
• Duncan Weller (1975–), children's book writer and illustrator who won the 2007 Governor General's Award for Children's Literature – Illustration for his book The Boy from the Sun

Business

• Derek Burney (1939–), civil servant, businessman and former diplomat
• Mel Pervais (1940–), Ojibwe, entrepreneur, energy industry executive
• Michael Rapino (1965–), CEO and President of Live Nation Entertainment
• James Whalen (1869–1929), businessman and entrepreneur with interests in forestry, shipbuilding, dredging, and towing

Educators

• Bruce Muirhead, historian and academic whose work focuses on Canada's foreign trade policy
• Penny Petrone (1925–2005), writer, educator, patron of the arts, and philanthropist
• Roy Piovesana (1942–2020), teacher and historian
• Gary Polonsky (1942–), educator, founding President and Vice-Chancellor of the University of Ontario Institute of Technology

Journalists

• Maurice Russell Brown (1912–2008), mining journalist
• Robin Philpot (1948–), journalist, Quebec nationalist
• Lorne Saxberg (1958–2006), broadcast journalist, news anchor on CBC Newsworld and NHK

Law

• Bora Laskin (1912–1984), jurist, former Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of CanadaOfficial Biography , Supreme Court of Canada website. Retrieved on April 20, 2007.

• Arthur Mauro (1927–), lawyer, businessman <small>2</small>

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Military

• Colonel Robert "Bob" Angus Keane (1914-1977), Canadian Army officer, Commanded The Lake Superior Regiment (Motor) during the Second World War and later commanded the 2nd Battalion, The Royal Canadian Regiment during the Korean War.
• Elizabeth Lawrie Smellie (1884–1968), nurse, first woman to be promoted to the rank of colonel in the Canadian Army

Politics

• Bob Andras (1921–1982), Liberal Member of Parliament for Port Arthur and Thunder Bay–Nipigon
• Iain Angus (1947–), Canadian politician, Thunder Bay City Councillor
• Hubert Badanai (born in Azzano Decimo, Italy) (1895–1986), automobile dealer and politician
• Ken Boshcoff (1949–), former mayor, Liberal Member of Parliament for Thunder Bay—Rainy River
• Joe Comuzzi (1933–), Conservative Member of Parliament for Thunder Bay—Superior North
• James Conmee (born in Sydenham Township, Canada West) (1848–1913), businessman, politician
• Donald James Cowan (born in Drumbo, Blenheim Township, Oxford County, Ontario) (1883–1964), mayor of Port Arthur, 1916–1917; Crown attorney for Thunder Bay District, Ontario
• Charles Winnans Cox (born in Westminster Township, Middlesex County, Ontario) (1882–1958), longest-serving mayor of Port Arthur, 1934–1948 and 1952
• Simon James Dawson (born in Redhaven, Banffshire, Scotland) (1820–1902), surveyor, civil engineer, politician
• Stan Dromisky (1931–2023), retired MP
• Ernie Epp (born in Winnipeg, Manitoba) (1941–), historian, former politician
• Doug Fisher (1919–2009), political columnist and politician
• Jim Foulds (1937–), former New Democratic Party MPP for Port Arthur
• Clarence Decatur Howe (born in Waltham, Massachusetts, United States) (1886–1960), politician, "Minister of Everything"
• Saul Laskin (1918–2008), first mayor of Thunder Bay and only Jewish mayor elected at the Lakehead; brother to Bora Laskin
• Robert James Manion (born in Pembroke, Ontario) (1881–1943), politician, leader of the Conservative Party 1938–1940
• Steve Mantis (born in Reading, Pennsylvania) (1950-), politician and former National Coordinator of the Canadian Injured Worker Alliance
• Jack Masters (1931–), former mayor of Thunder Bay and MP for Thunder Bay–Nipigon
• Lyn McLeod (1942–), Ontario politician, former leader of the Ontario Liberal Party
• Paul McRae (born in Toronto) (1924–1992), Liberal MP for Fort William
• Bev Oda (1944–), Conservative Member of Parliament for Durham, Ontario; Japanese Canadian
• Kevin Page (1957–), Canada's first Parliamentary Budget Officer
• George Wardrope (1899–1980), Progressive Conservative MPP for Port Arthur

Scientists

• Sanford Jackson (1909–2000), biochemist, inventor of the bilirubinometer
• Elsie MacGill (1905–1980), aeronautical engineer, the "Queen of the Hurricanes"
• David Pall (1914–2004), chemist, inventor of the Pall filter used in blood transfusions

Sports

Baseball

• Jeff Heath (1915–1975), left fielder for the Cleveland Indians, St Louis Browns, and Boston Braves

Curling

• Al Hackner (1954–), curler
• Katherine Henderson, president and CEO of Curling Canada
• Heather Houston (1958–), curler
• Krista McCarville (1982–), curler
• Lorraine Lang (1956–), curler, currently plays the alternate for Krista McCarville.
• Rick Lang (1953–), curler, currently serves as a performance consultant for Curling Canada.
• Sarah Potts (1989–), curler, currently plays lead for Krista McCarville.
• Frank Sargent (1902–1988), inductee into the Canadian Curling Hall of Fame and former president of the Dominion Curling Association

Ice hockey

• Jack Adams (1895–1968), hockey player; coach and general manager of the Detroit Red Wings
• Jeremy Adduono (1978–), left winger, Iserlohn Roosters (DEL)
• Alex Auld (1981–), goaltender, Ottawa Senators (NHL)
• Pete Backor (1919–1988), defenceman for the Toronto Maple Leafs (NHL), 1944–1945
• Peter Bakovic (1965–), retired left winger in the late 1980s for the Vancouver Canucks (NHL)
• Steve Black (1927–2008), retired hockey player
• Mackenzie Blackwood (1996–), goaltender for the Colorado Avalanche (NHL)
• Bob Bodak (1961–), retired ice hockey player for the Calgary Flames and Hartford Whalers (NHL), 1987–1990
• Gus Bodnar (1923–2005), centre for Toronto Maple Leafs and other NHL teams, winner of the Calder Trophy
• Brooke Boquist (1996–), ice hockey player
• Robert Bortuzzo (1989–), defenseman for the Utah Mammoth
• Danny Bois (1983–), winger for the Ottawa Senators (NHL)
• David Bruce (1964–), retired ice hockey player for various teams in the NHL
• Mike Busniuk (1951–), retired ice hockey player for the Philadelphia Flyers
• Larry Cahan (1933–1992), NHL player
• Taylor Chorney (1987–), defenceman for North Dakota Fighting Sioux (WCHA), prospect of the Edmonton Oilers
• Tom Cook (1907–1961), retired forward for Montreal Maroons and Chicago Blackhawks
• Alex Delvecchio (1931–), former centre and left winger for Detroit Red Wings and member of the Hockey Hall of Fame
• Lee Fogolin (1955–), retired NHL defenceman
• Lee Fogolin, Sr. (1927–2000), retired ice hockey player for Detroit Red Wings and Chicago Black Hawks
• Bruce Gamble (1938–1982), former professional ice hockey goaltender, Toronto Maple Leafs
• Dave Gatherum (1932–), former professional ice hockey goaltender, briefly with the Detroit Red Wings
• Pete Goegan (1934–), retired NHL player
• Bill "Goldie" Goldthorpe (1953–), retired career minor leaguer, the inspiration for the character Ogie Ogilthorpe in the film Slap Shot
• Smokey Harris (1890–1974), ice hockey forward, started his career with the Vancouver Millionaires
• Jeff Heerema (1980–), professional ice hockey winger for the Carolina Hurricanes and the St. Louis Blues in the NHL and with the Binghamton Senators (AHL)
• Katherine Henderson, president and CEO of Hockey Canada
• Bill Houlder (1967–), retired professional ice hockey defenceman
• Carter Hutton (1985–), goaltender for the Buffalo Sabres
• Tony Hrkac (1966–), retired professional ice hockey centre
• Haley Irwin (1988–), women's ice hockey player for the Calgary Inferno, and Olympic gold medalist in 2010 and 2014
• Jason Jaspers (1981–), professional ice hockey centre for Kölner Haie (DEL)
• Trevor Johansen (1957–), retired ice hockey player for various teams in the NHL
• Greg Johnson (1971–2019), retired NHL centre, notably the Detroit Red Wings
• Ryan Johnson (1976–), ice hockey player, St. Louis Blues (NHL)
• Scott King (1967–), goaltender for the Detroit Red Wings (NHL)
• Edgar Laprade (born in Mine Centre, Ontario) (1919–2014) centre for the New York Rangers 1945-1955, winner of Calder Trophy (1945–46) and Lady Byng Trophy (1949–50); played in NHL All-Star Game 1947, 1948, 1949, 1950; member of Hockey Hall of Fame.
• David Latta (1976–), left winger for Quebec Nordiques (NHL)
• Trevor Letowski (1977–), retired right winger, Carolina Hurricanes (NHL); head coach Windsor Spitfires (OHL)
• Danny Lewicki (1931–), retired ice hockey forward
• Pentti Lund (born in Karijoki, Finland) (1925–), retired ice hockey player, began his career with the Port Arthur Bruins
• Norm Maciver (1964–), retired ice hockey player, scored the final goal in Winnipeg Jets history
• Calum MacKay (1927–2001), former ice hockey player, notably of the Montreal Canadiens
• Connie Madigan (1958–1976), retired professional defenceman; oldest rookie in National Hockey League history
• Jimmy McLeod (1937–), retired ice hockey player for the NHL and WHA
• Matt Murray (1994–), goaltender for the Toronto Maple Leafs
• Fred Page (1915–1997), Hockey Hall of Fame inductee, former president of the Canadian Amateur Hockey Association
• Steve Passmore (1973–), professional ice hockey goaltender for HCJ Milano Vipers, Italian Serie A
• Walt Poddubny (1960–2009), former professional ice hockey left winger
• Chris Porter (1984–), former NHL left winger, currently playing for Providence Bruins
• Sean Pronger (1972–), ice hockey player
• Nelson Pyatt (1953–), retired ice hockey player
• Taylor Pyatt (1981–), retired ice hockey player for the NHL
• Tom Pyatt (1987–), centre for the Vancouver Canucks (NHL)
• Steve Rucchin (1971–), retired NHL centre, notably for Anaheim Ducks (NHL)
• Charlie Sands (1911–?), professional ice hockey right winger
• Frank Sargent (1902–1988), former president of the Canadian Amateur Hockey Association
• Patrick Sharp (1981–), left wing, Chicago Blackhawks (NHL)
• Dave Siciliano (1946–), ice hockey coach for the Thunder Bay Flyers and inductee into the Northwestern Ontario Sports Hall of Fame
• Eric Staal (1984–), centre, Florida Panthers (NHL)
• Jared Staal (1990–), retired NHL player
• Jordan Staal (1988–), centre, Carolina Hurricanes (NHL)
• Marc Staal (1987–), defenceman, Florida Panthers (NHL)
• Vern Stenlund (1956–), retired centre left for the Cleveland Barons
• Ralph Stewart (1948–), retired NHL defenceman for the Vancouver Canucks
• Ron Talakoski (1962–2009), retired ice hockey player for the New York Rangers (NHL)
• Mike Tomlak (1965–), retired ice hockey centre
• Vic Venasky (1951–), retired ice hockey player for the Los Angeles Kings (NHL)
• Gary Veneruzzo (1943–), retired NHL player
• Jimmy Ward (1906–1990), former NHL right winger
• Katie Weatherston (1983–), Olympian women's ice hockey player and Olympic gold medallist
• Arnott Whitney (1931–2024), defenceman, Hershey Bears
• Joe Wirkkunen (1928–1986), Finnish-Canadian ice hockey coach

Skiing

• Steve Collins (1964–), retired ski jumper, the youngest person ever to have won a Ski jumping World Cup event
• Dave Irwin (1954–), two-time Olympic downhill skier

Wrestling

• Melissa Coates (1971-2021), professional wrestler and fitness model
• Paul Diamond (born Tom Boric) (1961–), retired professional wrestler and soccer player, best known being one half of the tag-team "Badd Company"
• Vampiro (born Ian Richard Hodgkinson) (1967–), professional wrestler

Other

• Richard Xavier Baxter (1821–1904), Jesuit priest, known as ‘the Apostle of the Railway Builders’
• Gordy Ceresino (1957–), retired football linebacker for the San Francisco 49ers
• Mary DePiero (1968–), diver
• Keegan Gaunt (2000–), visually-impaired middle-distance runner
• Curt Harnett (1965–), retired Olympic cyclist
• Dan Ladouceur (1973–), retired lacrosse defenceman for the Toronto Rock (NLL)
• Jay Miron (1970–), professional BMX rider, has competed in every X-Games competition since 1995
• Liam Parsons (1977–), retired rower; bronze medallist at the Beijing 2008 Summer Olympics
• Bryan Rosenfeld (1965–), retired association football player
• Trevor Stewardson (1977–), light heavyweight boxer; competed for Canada at the 2004 Summer Olympics

Miscellaneous

• Barbara Kentner (1982–2017), murdered in 2017
• Viljo Rosvall and Janne Voutilainen, unionists and martyrs; mysteriously disappeared on November 18, 1929
• Ryan Wedding snowboarding Olympian turn druglord was place on the FBI Ten Most Wanted Fugitives on March 6, 2025

References