Alexander Young Jackson, who specialized in painting scenes of the Canadian wilderness, was born in Montreal on October 3, 1882. For almost fifty years he roamed about Canada sketching, painting, and interpreting its landscapes. He wanted to teach Canadians to see and appreciate the beauty of their land. A. Y. Jackson seldom used human figures in his work, and when they did appear, they were insignificant compared to the power and majesty of nature.

In 1920, Jackson and six other Canadian painters formed the Group of Seven, with Jackson serving as it's principal spokesperson. The other painters included Lauren Harris, Fred Varley, Tom Thomson, J. E. H. MacDonald, LeMoine Fitzgerald, and Frank Johnson. This was a loose coalition of artists based on a shared desire to create a uniquely Canadian art. Members left and were added at various times and weren't always seven.

Alexander Young Jackson died in Kleinburg in 1974. Our school opened in 1970 -- A. Y. Jackson was here for its opening!