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
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.
In 1981, Symons received an honorary doctorate from Concordia University.
Career
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
Symons married Christine Ryerson on 17 August 1963. They had three children.[4]
He died on 1 January 2021.[10]
Honours
- 1976: he was made an Officer of the Order of Canada, 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
- 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
- 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
- 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
- University of Toronto alumni
- Upper Canada College alumni
- University of Toronto Schools alumni