David Bercuson
Encyclopedia
David Jay Bercuson, OC
, FRSC
(born August 31, 1945) is a Canadian
labour, military, and political historian.
Born in Montreal
, he attended Sir George Williams University and graduated from there in 1965 with a BA (Hons.)
in History and was awarded the Lieutenant-Governor's Silver Medal for the highest standing in history. He continued his studies at the University of Toronto
, receiving an MA
and Ph.D
in History in 1967 and 1971, respectively. His doctoral thesis was entitled “Labour in Winnipeg: The Great War and the General Strike”. In 1970-71 he was a visiting assistant professor at the University of Calgary. After he received his PhD, he was appointed Assistant Professor. He is now a full professor at the University of Calgary
and director of the university's Centre for Military and Strategic Studies
.
He has published academic and commercial books on a range of subjects, focusing primarily in modern Canadian politics, Canadian defence and foreign policy, and Canadian military history. He has written, co-authored, or edited more than thirty books. He also writes regular columns for Legion Magazine, the Calgary Herald
, and the National Post
, among other publications. He periodically does political and military commentary for CBC
and CTV
television. In 1991, he co-authored with Barry Cooper Deconfederation: Canada without Quebec, where he argued that Canada would benefit from Quebec separation.
. In 1988, he was elected as a Fellow of the Royal Society of Canada
. He was a recipient of the Vimy Award
, which recognizes a Canadian who has made a significant and outstanding contribution to the defence and security of the Canadian nation and the preservation of its democratic values. He was the Honorary Lieutenant Colonel of 41 Combat Engineer Regiment of the Canadian Forces
(2002-2010). http://www.army.forces.gc.ca/41CER/news.asp
Order of Canada
The Order of Canada is a Canadian national order, admission into which is, within the system of orders, decorations, and medals of Canada, the second highest honour for merit...
, FRSC
Royal Society of Canada
The Royal Society of Canada , may also operate under the more descriptive name RSC: The Academies of Arts, Humanities and Sciences of Canada , is the oldest association of scientists and scholars in Canada...
(born August 31, 1945) is a Canadian
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
labour, military, and political historian.
Born in Montreal
Montreal
Montreal is a city in Canada. It is the largest city in the province of Quebec, the second-largest city in Canada and the seventh largest in North America...
, he attended Sir George Williams University and graduated from there in 1965 with a BA (Hons.)
Bachelor of Arts
A Bachelor of Arts , from the Latin artium baccalaureus, is a bachelor's degree awarded for an undergraduate course or program in either the liberal arts, the sciences, or both...
in History and was awarded the Lieutenant-Governor's Silver Medal for the highest standing in history. He continued his studies at the University of Toronto
University of Toronto
The University of Toronto is a public research university in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, situated on the grounds that surround Queen's Park. It was founded by royal charter in 1827 as King's College, the first institution of higher learning in Upper Canada...
, receiving an MA
Master of Arts (postgraduate)
A Master of Arts from the Latin Magister Artium, is a type of Master's degree awarded by universities in many countries. The M.A. is usually contrasted with the M.S. or M.Sc. degrees...
and Ph.D
Doctor of Philosophy
Doctor of Philosophy, abbreviated as Ph.D., PhD, D.Phil., or DPhil , in English-speaking countries, is a postgraduate academic degree awarded by universities...
in History in 1967 and 1971, respectively. His doctoral thesis was entitled “Labour in Winnipeg: The Great War and the General Strike”. In 1970-71 he was a visiting assistant professor at the University of Calgary. After he received his PhD, he was appointed Assistant Professor. He is now a full professor at the University of Calgary
University of Calgary
The University of Calgary is a public research university located in Calgary, Alberta, Canada. Founded in 1966 the U of C is composed of 14 faculties and more than 85 research institutes and centres.More than 25,000 undergraduate and 5,500 graduate students are currently...
and director of the university's Centre for Military and Strategic Studies
Centre for Military and Strategic Studies
The Centre for Military and Strategic Studies at the University of Calgary is part of Canada's Department of National Defence nationwide security and defence forum research centres. Currently it has over 50 students at both the Masters and PhD level with...
.
He has published academic and commercial books on a range of subjects, focusing primarily in modern Canadian politics, Canadian defence and foreign policy, and Canadian military history. He has written, co-authored, or edited more than thirty books. He also writes regular columns for Legion Magazine, the Calgary Herald
Calgary Herald
The Calgary Herald is a daily newspaper published in the Canadian city of Calgary, Alberta.- History :The paper was first published on August 31, 1883 by Andrew Armour and Thomas Braden as The Calgary Herald, Mining and Ranche Advocate and General Advertiser. It started as a weekly paper with only...
, and the National Post
National Post
The National Post is a Canadian English-language national newspaper based in Don Mills, a district of Toronto. The paper is owned by Postmedia Network Inc. and is published Mondays through Saturdays...
, among other publications. He periodically does political and military commentary for CBC
CBC Television
CBC Television is a Canadian television network owned by the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation, the national public broadcaster.Although the CBC is supported by public funding, the television network supplements this funding with commercial advertising revenue, in contrast to CBC Radio which are...
and CTV
CTV television network
CTV Television Network is a Canadian English language television network and is owned by Bell Media. It is Canada's largest privately-owned network, and has consistently placed as Canada's top-rated network in total viewers and in key demographics since 2002, after several years trailing the rival...
television. In 1991, he co-authored with Barry Cooper Deconfederation: Canada without Quebec, where he argued that Canada would benefit from Quebec separation.
Honours
In 2003, he was made an Officer of the Order of CanadaOrder of Canada
The Order of Canada is a Canadian national order, admission into which is, within the system of orders, decorations, and medals of Canada, the second highest honour for merit...
. In 1988, he was elected as a Fellow of the Royal Society of Canada
Royal Society of Canada
The Royal Society of Canada , may also operate under the more descriptive name RSC: The Academies of Arts, Humanities and Sciences of Canada , is the oldest association of scientists and scholars in Canada...
. He was a recipient of the Vimy Award
Vimy Award
The Vimy Award is an award presented by the Conference of Defence Associations Institute to the “Canadian who has made a significant and outstanding contribution to the defence and security of and the preservation of democratic values". The award has been presented annually since 1991...
, which recognizes a Canadian who has made a significant and outstanding contribution to the defence and security of the Canadian nation and the preservation of its democratic values. He was the Honorary Lieutenant Colonel of 41 Combat Engineer Regiment of the Canadian Forces
Canadian Forces
The Canadian Forces , officially the Canadian Armed Forces , are the unified armed forces of Canada, as constituted by the National Defence Act, which states: "The Canadian Forces are the armed forces of Her Majesty raised by Canada and consist of one Service called the Canadian Armed Forces."...
(2002-2010). http://www.army.forces.gc.ca/41CER/news.asp
Books
- Bercuson, D.J. The Secret Army. Toronto : Lester & Orpen Dennys. 1983.
- Bercuson, D.J. & Herwig, H, One Christmas in Washington: The Secret Meeting Between Roosevelt and Churchill that Changed the World, New York: Overlook Press, 2005. Also, London: Weidenfeld, and Toronto: McArthur & Co.
- Bercuson, D.J. & Herwig, H., The Destruction of the Bismarck, New York: Overlook Press, 2001. Also, Toronto: Stoddart, 2001; London: Hutchinson, 2002.
- Bercuson, D.J. The Patricias. Toronto: Stoddart, 2001.
- Bercuson, D.J. Blood on the Hills: The Canadian Army in the Korean War. Toronto: University of Toronto Press, 1999.
- Bercuson, D.J., Granatstein, J.L., & Bothwell, R., Petrified Campus: The Crisis in Canada's Universities, Toronto: Random House of Canada, 1997.
- Bercuson, D.J. & Herwig, H., Deadly Seas: The Story of the St.Croix, the U305 and the Battle of the Atlantic, Toronto: Random House of Canada, 1997.
- Bercuson, D.J. Significant Incident: Canada's Army, the Airborne, and the Murder in Somalia, Toronto: McClelland and Stewart, 1996.
- Bercuson, D.J., Maple Leaf Against the Axis, Canada's Second World War, Toronto: Stoddart, 1995; Tokyo: Sairyusha, 2003 (Japanese translation).
- Bercuson, D.J., Battalion of Heroes: The Calgary Highlanders in World War Two