Local Characters/

Mike Rodden was born On April 24, 1891 in Mattawa, Ontario. He left his hometown at the age of 15 to attend the University of Ottawa where he won the Junior boxing title. After graduating from the University of Ottawa, he enrolled at Queen's University, graduating in 1910. He went on to play football for Toronto Parkdale (1915) and the Toronto Argonauts (1919-1920). He would also coach both of these teams, and was Head coach of the Hamilton Tigers Cats that won the Grey Cup championships in 1928 and 1929. He was also a National Hockey League referee. His induction into the Hockey Hall of Fame as a referee (1962) and the Canadian Football Hall of Fame (1964) makes him the only man to achieve this honor for many years. His main occupation was sports journalist. He worked for the Toronto Globe as a reporter in 1918, then sports editor. He died on January 11, 1978.

Gilbert Parent was born on July 25, 1935 in Mattawa, Ontario. When he was a young boy, his father moved the family to Welland, Ontario, Gilbert earned a teaching certificate. He became a physical education teacher and in 1974 ran for the Liberal Party in the federal election and won. He was re-elected in 1979, 1980. He was defeated in 1984, but regained his seat four years later in 1988. He was re-elected in the 1993 and 1997 elections. He is best known as Speaker of the Canadian House of Commons between 1994 and 2001. He retired in 2005 and died on March 3, 2009.

Maurice Nadon was born on July 18, 1920 in Mattawa, Ontario. He was born at home directly across the street from the museum. He joined the R.C.M.P. at Ottawa in January 1941. He served as a security officer for the Head of State at Expo'67 in Montreal and was promoted to Assistant Commissioner in 1970. In 1972, he served as Deputy Commissioner in charge of all R.C.M.P. Criminal Operations. In January of 1974, he became the fifteenth Commissioner of the R.C.M.P. and served until his retirement in 1977. He was the first French Canadian Commissioner in the history of the force. He died in December 2009.