Charles Sangster was born in Kingston, Upper Canada (Ontario), in 1822. In 1849 he became editor of the Amherstburg Courier. From 1850 to 1861 he served as sub-editor of the Kingston Whig and was reporter on the Daily News in 1864. Sangster was also employed in the Post Office Department in Ottawa from 1868 to 1886. He contributed to the Literary Garland and published two books of verse The St.Lawrence and the Saguenay and Other Poems, (1856) and Hesperus and Other Poems and Lyrics (1860).

Alfred Sandham was born in Montréal in 1838 and was educated at common schools. In 1864 he was appointed general secretary of the Young Men's Christian Association in Montréal, a post he held for eleven years. In 1869 he was one of the founders of the Antiquarian and Numismatic Society of Montreal. Sandham moved to Toronto in 1878 and was secretary of the Toronto Y.M.C.A. from 1878 to 1882. He was the author of a number of historical and numismatic publications. As well he was involved in religious journalism and started The Christian Witness journal.