Thomas H.B. Symons

Thomas H.B. Symons was born at Toronto, Ontario on May 30, 1929, son of Harry Lutz Symons and Dorothy Sarah Bull. He was educated at Upper Canada College, University of Toronto (B.A. 1951), and Oxford University (B.A. 1953, M.A. 1957). He married Christine Ryerson on August 17, 1963 and with her had three children: Mary, Ryerson and Jeffery. Professor Symons has held many posts as an educator over the years, including Assistant Dean of Men, Trinity College and Instructor of History, University of Toronto 1953-55; and Dean, Devonshire House, University of Toronto 1955-63. However, his most notable post was as the founding President and Vice-Chancellor of Trent University, 1961-72. Symons has also held many presidencies, chairmanships and memberships in various organizations, mainly dealing with the topics of education, Canadian studies, native rights and human rights. From 1971 to 1973, Symons was the President of the Canadian Association in Support of Native Peoples. He is the author of several reports and articles and has contributed chapters to many books including: "Political Education in Canada" 1988; "Archives Libraries and the Canadian Heritage" 1983; "A Century of Canada's Arctic Islands, 1880-1980" 1981; "A History of Peel County" 1967; and "Native Rights in Canada" 1970. Professor Symons resides in Peterborough, Ontario. (Taken from: "Canadian Who's Who, 1993." Toronto: University of Toronto Press Incorporated, 1993.)†