Valentin John Linitsky was born in Kharkov, Russia [Ukraine] in 1891. After earning a law degree in Russia, he traveled extensively, living in Brazil, France, and Germany before settling in Canada. Lydia Petroff was also born in Kharkov, Russia (in 1901) to Sergei Petroff and Agrafin (Rachel) Avrashow. A sister, Jennie, was born in 1902. Following severe repression in that area after an abortive revolution against the Tsar in 1905, the Petroff family decided to immigrate; they arrived in Canada in 1906, eventually settling in Yorkton, Saskatchewan. Both Lydia and Jennie became teachers. While teaching in Alberta in 1929, Lydia met and married Valentin Linitsky. They moved to Saskatoon in 1935, where Valentin attended the University of Saskatchewan, graduating with an LLB in 1937. When the Petroff parents moved to Saskatoon in 1945, Jennie joined them. She lived with her parents until their deaths, then shared a house with her sister Lydia. Valentin Linitsky died on March 13, 1948; Lydia Petroff Linitsky died on January 2, 1988; and Jennie Petroff died on January 20, 1992.