My great-grandfather, Bert Lawrence Gaudaur, was born in 1875 in Orillia, Ontario. Sometime before 1905, he emigrated to the United States, eventually settling in Buffalo, New York, where he lived until his death in 1956.

The Gaudaur family has deep roots in the Orillia and Simcoe area, and one of those branches leads to Bert’s cousin, Jacob “Jake” Gaudaur.

Jake grew up in Atherly Narrows, the beautiful waterway connecting Lake Simcoe and Lake Couchiching. As a young man, he took up rowing and went on to become a World Champion oarsman in both single and double sculling, as well as the holder of several world records. From the late 1800s to today, Jake Gaudaur has remained a source of great pride for Orillia and Canada, and we are incredibly proud of our connection to both Bert and Jake Gaudaur.

We certainly haven’t reached Jake’s level of athletic accomplishment, but we’ve always shared a deep appreciation for Ontario’s beautiful lakes and rich wilderness. Over the years, we’ve enjoyed many canoe trips throughout the northern Algonquin region — so much so that we even became engaged during one of our 70+ mile canoe adventures!

The family legacy continues through Jake Gaudaur Sr. to another well-known Orillian, Jake Gaudaur Jr. (1920–2007).

Jake Jr. was an accomplished athlete from an early age, beginning his athletic career at the Orillia Collegiate Institute. He became a Canadian National Rowing Champion and excelled in lacrosse and rugby as well. His athletic career included playing with the Hamilton Tigers and Toronto Argonauts before serving as a pilot during the Second World War. In 1942, he was a member of the Toronto RCAF Hurricanes, who won the 30th Grey Cup.

After the war, Jake Jr. continued his football career, playing for and eventually becoming part-owner of the Toronto Indians and Montreal Alouettes.

In 1950, Jake Jr. became captain of the Hamilton Tiger-Cats, leading the team to its first Grey Cup championship in 1953. The following year, in 1954, he was named president of the Tiger-Cats and went on to serve as both President and General Manager through 1967. During his tenure, the Tiger-Cats appeared in nine Grey Cup games, winning four championships in 1957, 1963, 1965, and 1967.

In 1968, Jake Gaudaur Jr. was named Commissioner of the Canadian Football League, a position he held until 1984.

Last week, we had the opportunity to travel through Orillia, Huntsville, and up to North Bay with my mother — Bert Lawrence Gaudaur’s granddaughter — to experience and explore a small part of this chapter of our family history.

To walk through the places where our ancestors lived, grew up, and made their mark has always been truly special. It serves as a wonderful reminder that family history isn’t just a collection of names and dates – it’s the places, stories, accomplishments, and connections that continue to carry forward through generations.

We’re incredibly proud of our Gaudaur roots and grateful to have had the opportunity to experience more of the history that connects our family to Orillia, Ontario, and beyond!

– Buffalo Hydraulic