James Alexander Orr was born September 10, 1848 in Milton, Ontario. He married Sabra Maria Tait in 1873 in Meaford, Ontario and had one child - Florence Patricia. In 1891, he established Sudbury's first newspaper, the Sudbury Journal. Orr was an advocate of the community who refused to write anything negative about Sudbury.

James Orr served as a member of Sudbury's Town Council from 1904 to 1907 and also served as chairman for the Sudbury Public School Board. Orr was dedicated to the development of sporting activities in Sudbury, including curling, lacrosse, and hockey and would write with pride about Sudbury's sports organizations and events. 

Considered the father of curling in Sudbury, Orr was an avid curler who promoted the development of the sport through his newspaper.  He inspired the creation of the Sudbury Curling Club and encouraged Sudburians to try the sport.

James Orr died on November 18, 1931 at the age of 83.

Material compiled from Homegrown Heroes: A Sports History of Sudbury and Biographies of the Sudbury Region.