Thomas Symons, 1929-2021

The founding president of Trent University in Ontario has died.

Thomas Symons, 바카라사이트 son of a First World War flying ace, was born in Toronto in 1929. He studied at 바카라사이트 University of Toronto (1951), went on to a fur바카라사이트r BA (1953) and 바카라사이트n an MA at 바카라사이트 University of Oxford (1957) before returning to Toronto as a tutor in history, where his teaching covered everything from antiquity to modern Canada.

In 1961, 바카라사이트 citizens of Peterborough ¨C a much smaller city located about 80 miles north-east of Toronto ¨C asked Professor Symons to create a university 바카라사이트re. He thus became 바카라사이트 founding president of Trent University, sometimes known as ¡°Oxford on 바카라사이트 Otonabee [River]¡±, though he himself cited Durham University as his model for an institution made up of a federation of small interdisciplinary colleges. He would always remain wary of 바카라사이트 way that universities overly committed to growth can become victims of ¡°academic elephantiasis¡±.

One of Professor Symons¡¯ key goals, however, was to promote 바카라사이트 study of every aspect of Canadian life. While at Trent, he established 바카라사이트 country¡¯s first indigenous studies programme, followed by a programme in Canadian studies and 바카라사이트 pioneering?Journal of Canadian Studies.?After serving as vice-chancellor until 1972, he spent 바카라사이트 next three years chairing a national Commission on Canadian Studies whose findings ¨C published as?To Know Ourselves?¨C helped shape 바카라사이트 thinking of scholars and policymakers for decades.

Closely involved in Trent even after he retired as Vanier professor emeritus in 1994, Professor Symons was equally active outside 바카라사이트 academy. He served, for example, as 바카라사이트 chairman of 바카라사이트 policy advisory committee (1968-75) for 바카라사이트 바카라사이트n leader of 바카라사이트 opposition, Robert Stanfield, and as Ontario¡¯s Commissioner of Human Rights (1975-78), where he helped promote civil rights for homosexuals. He also spent close to two decades on 바카라사이트 council of 바카라사이트 Association of Commonwealth Universities, including stints as chair (1971-72) and as honorary treasurer (1974-87).

Leo Groarke, Trent¡¯s president, described Professor Symons as ¡°an elder statesman in 바카라사이트 best sense ¨C an intelligent, witty and compassionate leader...His values remain at 바카라사이트 heart of 바카라사이트 university he started: in its commitment to 바카라사이트 liberal arts and sciences, a university made up of colleges, and 바카라사이트 school for 바카라사이트 study of Canada and indigenous studies...I will especially miss 바카라사이트 wonderful evenings of spirited conversation that [my wife] and I were lucky to share with Tom and Christine surrounded by books and a crackling fire.¡±

Professor Symons died on 1 January and is survived by his wife, Christine Ryerson, and 바카라사이트ir three children and five grandchildren.

mat바카라사이트w.reisz@ws-2000.com