Early Life, Family and Training John Alfsen was born in Alpena, Michigan, on 23 December 1902. His early years in the United States were cut short when his family made the move to Canada. In 1913, at the age of eleven, he emigrated from Michigan and settled in Toronto. This transition marked the beginning of a life deeply rooted in the Canadian art scene, though his origins remained tied to the American Midwest. As he grew into adult…