| In 1967, 1968 (Summer) he worked at the Grand River Conservation Authority as a Summer Employee. "I was involved in campground maintenance and security, gate house operation, tree planting." In 1971 and 1972 (Academic Years) at the University of Guelph he was a Graduate Teaching Assistant. "I conducted Canadian history seminars and graded assignments." In 1971 and 1972 (Summer Seasons) he worked with the Toronto Historical Board as a Seasonal Interpreter. "I was a Corporal in the Fort York Guard, also a military blacksmith demonstrator, guide and Interpreter at the Marine Museum." He was a member of the first Canadian archaeological expedition to Spain, for excavation at the Roman ruins at Carascosa del Campo in 1972. He received an M.A. in Canadian History from the University of Guelph, graduated in 1973. My thesis title was An Ethno-history of the Grand River Iroquois and the War of 1812. In 1973 he was a management Trainee with Parks Canada. From July,1973 to January,1974 he was at the Atlantic Regional Office of Parks Canada as Assistant to the Senior Interpretive Specialist (Historic) Atlantic Region- a training position for familiarization to Parks Canada. From January,1974 to September, 1974 he was the Park Superintendent at Castle Hill National Historic Park, Newfoundland, Parks Canada In 1974-76 he was the Senior Historic Interpretation Specialist in the Ontario Regional Office of Parks Canada in Cornwall ON. From October,1976 to October,1987 he was the Interpretation Officer for the Niagara National Historic Parks of Parks Canada including Niagara National Historic Park, including Fort George, Queenston Heights, Butler's Barracks, Fort Mississauga National Historic Sites. "I initiated and managed a demonstration programme of 1812 era military drill for infantry and artillery, military music, military blacksmithing and carpentry, and period cooking in the officers' kitchen. I also developed a Park Volunteer Programme that eventually was incorporated as a formal support group, as the Friends of Fort George. I developed an education in service programme with local school boards for the Fort George National Historic Park school visit programme, utilizing a "train the teacher" approach for off season site visits." From 1987 to 1995 he was the Chief Public Programmes at the Canadian War Museum. "I was responsible for the completion and upgrading of the permanent chronological exhibit galleries showing Canadian military history from earliest days to the modern era, as well as the planning and installation of annual temporary exhibits; this included management of a special $1.7 million grant from the Corporation for the upgrading of our exhibit galleries in time for the 50th anniversary commemorative period for the Second World War. I also organized the Friends of the Canadian War Museum to take an active role in the development of a guided tour service. I supervised the planning and delivery of special events such as Battle for a Capital in 1988, the 50th Anniversary of the Second World War in 1993, 1994, 1995, as well as an annual Remembrance Day commemoration. From 1995 to the present (1999) he was the Director of Collections and Research at the Canadian War Museum. "I developed a programme to open the Museum's warehouse, Vimy House, to the public, involving access to the large artifacts (artillery, armoured vehicles), and library/archival holdings. I also instituted the Operable Vehicle Programme to facilitate the full restoration and demonstration/operation of selected armoured and other vehicles in the Collection. From October 1997 to June 1998 he was Acting Director General of the Canadian War Museum. "I acted as Director General for all phases of the Museum's daily operations, and long term planning, until the appointment of the new Director & CEO's arrival and represented the Museum for media contacts with newspapers, radio. television, during a period of particularly intense media interest, over the proposed expansion of the Museum. He co-authoured the book, with Colin Duquemin (see also), The Grand River Canal, published in 1981. "When I was finishing my MA degree, I was thinking of museum work of some sort, or teaching. Parks Canada picked me up in 1973 as part of the Programme Administrator Development Programme. At that point I thought, "I will give it a try for a year, and see what happens." Well, that was a quarter of a century ago, and here I am, still in the field in one way or another. It has been a good experience." |
