Mazo De La Roche (1879 - 1961) Inducted 1966

Mazo De La Roche has a very tenuous link with Orillia; indeed, she makes no mention of ever having lived here in her autobiography, Ringing the Changes. We do have evidence that she spent one year here, living with her grandparents on Coldwater Road. Her name "Mazo Roche" appears in the High School Register, dated August 29, 1892.

She is best known as author of the Jalna novels, which chronicle the history of the Whiteoak family, depicting life on a 19th century farm in Southern Ontario. Her readers receive a gentle picture of Canada, of large houses and horses and gracious living. Her books are widely read throughout the world.

The Jalna books were made into a TV series a few years ago. A large, sprawling brick mansion in Clarkson, named Benares originally, is reputed to be the model for the Whiteoak home, and Mazo lived in a small cottage nearby.

She is buried in St. George's Anglican Cemetery at Sibbald's Point near Sutton.