Thomas H. B. Symons
Thomas H. B. Symons | |
|---|---|
| President and Vice-Chancellor of Trent University | |
| In office 1961–1972 | |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Thomas Henry Bull Symons 30 May 1929 |
| Died | 1 January 2021 (aged 91) |
| Spouse |
Christine Ryerson (m. 1963) |
| Children | 3 |
| Parent | Harry Lutz Symons (father) |
| Education |
|
Thomas Henry Bull Symons CC OOnt FRSC (1929 –2021) was a Canadian professor and author in the field of Canadian studies.
Early life and education
[edit]Thomas Henry Bull Symons was born in Toronto on 30 May 1929, the son of writer Harry Lutz Symons and Dorothy Sarah Bull.[1] His brother is writer Scott Symons.[2] He studied at Crescent School and Upper Canada College,[3] then earned a Bachelor of Arts (BA) from Trinity College, Toronto in 1951. After graduation, he attended Oriel College, Oxford, from which he earned another BA (1953) and a Master of Arts (1957).[1] He later studied at Harvard University.[citation needed]
In 1981, Symons received an honorary doctorate from Concordia University.[citation needed]
Career
[edit]Symons began his career working at the University of Toronto's Trinity College, serving as a history tutor from 1953 to 1955, then as dean of a men's dormitory from 1955 to 1963.[1]
In 1961, he became the founding president of Trent University, serving as its president and vice-chancellor until 1972,[4] with the first students entering in the 1964-65 school year. Under his leadership, the university established Canada's first Indigenous studies program. While at Trent University, Symons was a proponent of Canadian studies, including helping to found the Journal of Canadian Studies.[1]
Symons chaired multiple associations, including the Association of Commonwealth Universities (1971-72), the Ontario Human Rights Commission (1975-78), Commission on Canadian Studies (1972-84), the Historic Sites and Monuments Board (1986–96); the Commission on Commonwealth Universities (1995–1996); and the Ontario Heritage Trust (2010–17). In his work with the Ontario Rights Commission, Symons helped publish Life Together: A Report on Human Rights in Ontario,[1] and "helped lead major advancements, particularly for the LGBT community".[5]
Starting in 1978, Symons served as the founding vice-president of the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada, a position he held until 1984.[1] Throughout the 1980s, Symons worked with the Commonwealth Standing Committee on Student Mobility.[1] He also served two three-year terms as chairman of the board of the United World Colleges (1980-86).[6]
He was also the chairperson of the Peterborough Lakefield Community Police Service.[7]
Symons retired in 1994.[1]
Symon's contributions to university leadership, Canadian studies, Commonwealth studies, United World Colleges, the Association of Commonwealth Universities, and other fields were discussed in Ralph Heintzman (ed), Tom Symons: A Canadian Life, published by University of Ottawa Press.[8] His leadership in universities and in Commonwealth Studies was discussed in Donald Markwell, "Instincts to Lead": On Leadership, Peace, and Education (Connor Court, 2013).[9]
Personal life
[edit]Symons married Christine Ryerson on 17 August 1963. They had three children.[4]
He died on 1 January 2021.[10]
Honours
[edit]- 1976: he was made an Officer of the Order of Canada,[citation needed] then was promoted to Companion in 1997.[1]
- 1977: he was made a Fellow of the Royal Society of Canada.[11]
- 1981: he received an honorary doctorate from Concordia University.
- 1984: he received the Award of Merit from the Association for Canadian Studies.
- 1998: he received the Governor General's International Award for Canadian Studies.
- 2002: he was awarded the Order of Ontario.
- 2012: he was made a Knight of the Order of St. Sylvester
- 2012: he received the Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal
- He is an Honorary Fellow of Oriel College, Oxford.[12]
Works
[edit]- Meta Incognita: A Discourse of Discovery - Martin Frobisher's Arctic Expeditions, 1576 - 1578 (1999)
- To Know Ourselves: The Report of the Commission on Canadian Studies (1975)
References
[edit]- 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 Page, James E.; Marshall, Tabitha (8 January 2021) [2007-12-17]. "Thomas H.B. Symons". The Canadian Encyclopedia. Archived from the original on 7 January 2026. Retrieved 29 June 2026.
- ↑ "His life was his art. Alas, it was not a masterpiece". The Globe and Mail. 27 February 2009. Archived from the original on 19 June 2018. Retrieved 29 June 2026.
- ↑ Heintzman, Ralph (2011). Tom Symons: A Canadian Life. University of Ottawa Press. ISBN 9780776607658.
- 1 2 "Thomas H.B. Symons fonds". Trent University. Archived from the original on 23 February 2014. Retrieved 13 February 2009.
- ↑ "Thomas Symons (obituary): Scholar, Educator, 91". The Globe and Mail. 5 January 2021. p. B16.
- ↑ Peterson, Alexander Duncan Campbell (2003). Schools Across Frontiers: The Story of the International Baccalaureate and the United World Colleges. Open Court Publishing. ISBN 978-0-8126-9505-2.
- ↑ "Message from the Chair". Archived from the original on 5 October 2008.
- ↑ "Tom Symons". Archived from the original on 24 September 2015. Retrieved 9 September 2014.
- ↑ "Instincts to lead - Donald Markwell - $44.95 : Connor Court Publishing, Australian Publisher". Archived from the original on 22 February 2017. Retrieved 22 December 2016.
- ↑ "Thomas H.B. Symons made his mark on Peterborough and the world". The Peterborough Examiner. 1 January 2021. Archived from the original on 3 January 2021. Retrieved 29 June 2026.
- ↑ "Fellows". Royal Society of Canada. Retrieved 29 June 2026.
- ↑ "Honorary Fellows". Oriel College, Oxford. Archived from the original on 26 May 2011.
External links
[edit]
- 1929 births
- 2021 deaths
- Canadian university and college chief executives
- Companions of the Order of Canada
- Fellows of the Royal Society of Canada
- Harvard University alumni
- Knights of the Order of St. Sylvester
- Members of the Order of Ontario
- Academics from Toronto
- Academic staff of Trent University
- Trinity College (Canada) alumni
- Upper Canada College alumni
- University of Toronto Schools alumni
- Academic staff of Trinity College, Toronto