Tom Symons: A Canadian Life

Preface

Preface T his book might be called a festschrift. But, if so, it is a rather unusual one. A festschrift, in academic terminology, is a collection of essays presented to a distinguished academic figure by a group of colleagues as a way of honouring his or her achievement and influence. Traditionally the chapters in a festschrift might have little or even nothing to do with the person being honoured. Contributors might sometimes make a nod toward the honoree, or might choose a topic that reflected in some distant way that person’s interests or preoccupations. But otherwise the papers were often a heterogeneous collection reflecting the current research interests of the contributors more than anything else. Recently the editors of academic festschrifts have begun to plan more coherent collections of essays with greater organic unity and a more consistent link to the honoured figure. This book takes that trend even further. All of its chapters are explicitly about Tom Symons himself. Each one deals with some period of his professional life, or some theme or aspect of his work. And they are also arranged more or less chronologically. So, taken as whole, they add up to a professional biography of Tom Symons. Taken as a whole seems to be the right way to view him. Because the sum is even more impressive than the parts. Even for readers who think they already know all about Symons, or who think they have him pegged somehow, this book should come as a revelation. Some people 2 TOM SYMONS: A CAnAdiAn Life may think of him, primarily, as the founder of Trent University. Others think of him as the guru of Canadian studies. Some others may know something of his work in the field of human rights. But very few are likely to have a handle on the astonishing variety of areas of Canadian and international life in which Symons was engaged over the course of his career, or the deep ways in which he usually influenced them. Putting it all together is almost overwhelming. One cannot help being left with feelings not just of admiration but even of wonder, about how one man could have had the time or the energy to do so much. Especially when you reflect that—as Charles Beer, for one, reminds us—many of the activities described in individual chapters were going on at the same time. Credit for getting this book started should go to Jon Grant. It was he who proposed to me almost seven years ago that I should edit a book of essays about the life and work of Tom Symons. Jon has taken a supportive interest in the progress of the book ever since, for which I am grateful. And he showed admirable patience when the project was slowed down by some roadblock or other, for which I am even more grateful. I am also indebted to Jamie Benidickson, chair of the Symons Trust for Canadian Studies at Trent University, and to the other trustees. Jamie himself kindly agreed to contribute one of the important chapters to the book, and the trust, under his leadership, provided support for research assistance and for publication. The editor and many of the contributors are grateful to Kathryn McLeod for the helpful way in which she carried out her role as research assistant for the project. Her great familiarity with the Symons Papers in the Trent University Archives, her responsiveness to research queries, her judgment and discernment, and her thoughtful suggestions made an enormous contribution to the success of the project. Winnie Janzen, administrative assistant and research centre coordinator of the Frost Centre for Canadian Studies and Indigenous Studies at Trent University, provided invaluable support for the administration of the project. The staff of the Trent University Archives was generous in their time and efforts in locating and PREFACE 3 copying documents and photos for the book, and in providing access for contributors and researchers. I should particularly like to thank Bernardine Dodge, University Archivist Emeritus; Janice Millard, Curator, Archives, Special Collections, Rare Books and Gifts; and Jodi Aoki, Archives, Special Collections and Art Collection Co-ordinator. Mariella Choo Fon, Information Officer with the Historic Sites and Monuments Board of Canada, was helpful in providing photos from the board’s collection. Michael O’Hearn and Eric Nelson of the University of Ottawa Press welcomed this book project from the start and provided helpful support...