Thomas Symons
Encyclopedia
Thomas Henry Bull Symons, CC
, O.Ont
, FRSC
(born May 30, 1929) is a Canadian
professor and author in the fields of Canadian Studies.
Born in Toronto
, Ontario
, the son of Harry Lutz Symons and Dorothy Sarah Bull, Symons graduated from Upper Canada College
in 1942. He attended the University of Toronto
(B.A. 1951), Oxford
(B.A. 1953, M.A. 1957), and Harvard University
. He was the founding President of Trent University
, serving as its president and vice-chancellor from 1961 to 1972.
Between 1980 and 1986 he served two three-year terms as chairman of the Board of the United World Colleges
.
He is the Chair Person of the Peterborough Lakefield Community Police Service.
On August 17, 1963, he married Christine Ryerson. They had three children: Mary, Ryerson and Jeffery.
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...
, O.Ont
Order of Ontario
The Order of Ontario is the most prestigious official honour in the Canadian province of Ontario. Instituted in 1986 by Lieutenant Governor Lincoln Alexander, on the advice of the Cabinet under Premier David Peterson, the civilian order is administered by the Governor-in-Council and is intended to...
, 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 May 30, 1929) 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...
professor and author in the fields of Canadian Studies.
Born in Toronto
Toronto
Toronto is the provincial capital of Ontario and the largest city in Canada. It is located in Southern Ontario on the northwestern shore of Lake Ontario. A relatively modern city, Toronto's history dates back to the late-18th century, when its land was first purchased by the British monarchy from...
, Ontario
Ontario
Ontario is a province of Canada, located in east-central Canada. It is Canada's most populous province and second largest in total area. It is home to the nation's most populous city, Toronto, and the nation's capital, Ottawa....
, the son of Harry Lutz Symons and Dorothy Sarah Bull, Symons graduated from Upper Canada College
Upper Canada College
Upper Canada College , located in midtown Toronto, Ontario, Canada, is an independent elementary and secondary school for boys between Senior Kindergarten and Grade Twelve, operating under the International Baccalaureate program. The secondary school segment is divided into ten houses; eight are...
in 1942. He attended 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...
(B.A. 1951), Oxford
University of Oxford
The University of Oxford is a university located in Oxford, United Kingdom. It is the second-oldest surviving university in the world and the oldest in the English-speaking world. Although its exact date of foundation is unclear, there is evidence of teaching as far back as 1096...
(B.A. 1953, M.A. 1957), and Harvard University
Harvard University
Harvard University is a private Ivy League university located in Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States, established in 1636 by the Massachusetts legislature. Harvard is the oldest institution of higher learning in the United States and the first corporation chartered in the country...
. He was the founding President of Trent University
Trent University
Trent University is a liberal arts and science-oriented institution located along the Otonabee River in Peterborough, Ontario, Canada.The enabling legislation is the Trent University Act, 1962-63. The University was founded through the efforts of a citizens' committee interested in creating a...
, serving as its president and vice-chancellor from 1961 to 1972.
Between 1980 and 1986 he served two three-year terms as chairman of the Board of the United World Colleges
United World Colleges
UWC is an education movement comprising thirteen international schools and colleges, national committees in over 130 countries and a series of short educational programmes. The UWC movement aims to make education a force to unite people, nations and cultures for peace and a sustainable future...
.
He is the Chair Person of the Peterborough Lakefield Community Police Service.
On August 17, 1963, he married Christine Ryerson. They had three children: Mary, Ryerson and Jeffery.
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)
Honours
- In 1976 he was made an Officer of the Order of CanadaOrder of CanadaThe 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...
and was promoted to Companion in 1997. - In 1977 he was made a Fellow of the Royal Society of CanadaRoyal Society of CanadaThe 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...
. - In 1984 he received the Award of Merit from the Association for Canadian StudiesAssociation for Canadian StudiesThe Association for Canadian Studies is a non-profit organization, founded at Queen's University in 1973. Its activities are conducted in both Official Languages of Canada. Through the organization, its individual and institutional members initiate and support research and teaching in Canadian...
. - In 1998 he received the Governor General's International Award for Canadian Studies.
- In 2002 he was awarded the Order of OntarioOrder of OntarioThe Order of Ontario is the most prestigious official honour in the Canadian province of Ontario. Instituted in 1986 by Lieutenant Governor Lincoln Alexander, on the advice of the Cabinet under Premier David Peterson, the civilian order is administered by the Governor-in-Council and is intended to...
. - He is an Honorary Fellow of Oriel College, Oxford.
External links
- Thomas Henry Bull Symons at The Canadian EncyclopediaThe Canadian EncyclopediaThe Canadian Encyclopedia is a source of information on Canada. It is available online, at no cost. The Canadian Encyclopedia is available in both English and French and includes some 14,000 articles in each language on a wide variety of subjects including history, popular culture, events, people,...
- Canadian Who's Who 1997 entry