28.1 Introduction
28.1.1 Introduction
|
|
28.1.2 Context: New Stage
The fact that I was concerned more with work and less with my studies, indicated a major tipping point in my life, and a change from one life stage to another. This change is illustrated in the following table.
| Stage: | Chapters | Dates: | Ages: | Description |
| 1 of 6 | 21-22 | 1955-1974 | 1-19 | public school, family, no health issues |
| 2 of 6 | 23-27 | 1974-1984 | 19-29 | university, insecure income, few assets, healthy |
| 3 of 6 | 28-45 | 1984-2004 | 29-49 | work (includes up to end of first semester at Subway Academy), stabilization of income, many issues resolved, assets built up, minor health issues |
| 4 of 6 | 46-53 | 2004-2015 | 49-60 | semi-retirement, consolidation, assets built up, equity peaks, first signs of aging such as major health problems |
| 5 of 6 | 54-60 | 2016-2030 | 61-75 | active retirement, but increasing health problems |
| 6 of 6 | 60-63 | 2030 on | 75 on | elderly, serene, poor health |
28.2 Editing the
"Historical Atlas of Canada
Volume One:
From the Beginning to 1800"
28.2.1 Introduction
|
I had been a top student in the courses I took with Professor Bill Dean in the 1970s. When I became a graduate student, he invited me to work with him teaching his courses --as the TA (Teaching Assistant) for the course. In January, 1984, he also invited me to become editorial assistant for him on volume One of the the Historical Atlas of Canada. By the summer of 1984, I was made the editorial assistant, not only for him, but for the entire Historical Atlas of Canada project.
|
|
28.2.3 HAC Head Office in Sid Smith
The head office of the entire project was in the basement of the University of Toronto's Sidney Smith building. The cartography office was in the South-West corner, and my office was right beside it. This was my home base for two years.
28.2.4 Others Involved
The group of scholars who worked on the "Historical Atlas of Canada" Included:
-
William Dean is Professor Emeritus, Department of Geography, University of Toronto. He has been the director of the Atlas project since its formal beginning in 1979.
-
Conrad Heidenreich is a professor in the Department of Geography, York University. He was a member of the editorial board for volume I of the Historical Atlas of Canada.
-
Thomas McIlwraith is a professor, Department of Geography at Erindale College, University of Toronto. He is a member of the original Organizing Committee and served as co-ordinator for the concise edition. He is the author of Looking for Old Ontario.
-
John Warkentin is Professor Emeritus, Department of Geography, York University. He is a member of the original Organizing Committee and served as a co-ordinating editor for the three volumes of the Historical Atlas of Canada.
-
Geoffrey Matthews was Chief Cartographer at the University of Toronto for more than thirty years, until his retirement in 1993. He was cartographer for twenty previous atlases, including all three volumes of the Historical Atlas of Canada.
-
Byron Moldofsky is a graduate in geography and cartography of the University of Toronto and Queen’s University. He has spent the past sixteen years as a cartographer and Production Co-ordinator with the Atlas project.
|
|
28.2.5 Three Volumes Published
The three-volume series was published in 1987, 1990 and 1993. It was the first of its kind and proved to be a national best seller and award winner. It was prepared by a committee of geographers, and, in this case, a committee proved be the proper vehicle for ensuring balance and to comprehensiveness. The atlas comprised a myriad of graphs and illustrations to expand upon the information presented in cartographical form. Each of the plates is dedicated to a single subject or theme, with supporting bibliographical information provided at the back of the book.
28.2.6 The Scope of the Atlas
The scope of the atlas extends from prehistoric (Norse) times to the 1960's and is organized in three broad sections: (i) "National Perspectives", which examines issues from the perspective of the country as a whole: exploration, boundaries, settlement, transportation, resources, agriculture, environment, etc.; (ii) "Defining Episodes", which illustrate turning points in the nation's history: wars, immigration, etc.; and (iii) "Regional Patterns", which, as the name suggests, examine events and circumstances of particular significance to one part of the country. Each of these is prefaced by a very useful introduction which puts the collection of individual studies into context.
The maps, themselves, are an combination of award-winning hand-drawn and computer-generated pieces of cartographical art. The accompanying charts and graphs are presented in a wide variety of forms and provide an excellent and engrossing laboratory for the general reader in learning to deal with the interpretation of graphical presentations. The clear presentation and written explanations make the atlas easily accessible to the general reader. At the senior school level (and, with appropriate guidance, below that), it could be used with great effect in individual research projects and classroom discussion and interpretation. For most purposes, the amount of information provided would suffice, but the opportunity is there for students to return to the original volumes for yet further detail if that is desired.
|
.
.
28.4
Milliken Contract to write: "Introducing Canada"
28.4.1 Introduction
One of my major projects during the 1980s was a series of books I wrote under contract with the Milliken Publishing Company.
28.4.2 Getting the Contract
How did I get these contracts?
The "Historical Atlas of Canada" was developing a very good reputation for scholarity amongst those in the publishing world. Bill Dean was asked by the
Milliken Publishing Company to recommend someone to write a new history and geography of Canada for high school students, to be entitled "Introducing Canada". This was to be part of a
series of social studies school texts which included books on every region in the world. He knew I had done some high school teaching and curriculum writing, and so recommended me for the job. I imagine that his other collegues were all post-secondary professors rather than high school level writers.
28.4.3 Preliminary Drawings
Over the course of the year that it took to write the text and draw the graphics for the book, the project went through a number of drafts and works-in-progress. Some of the illustrations that did not find their way into the final version are shown here:
28.4.4 Publisher's Description
Milliken describes the book as follows:
"This book presents supplementary learning experiences which focus on basic geographical concepts and skills. The activities provide practical learning projects, stimulate critical responses, and enhance the understanding of the geography of Canada. Each of the twelve teaching units in the book is introduced by a full-color transparency which emphasizes the basic concept of the unit. Student activity pages provide reinforcement and follow-up activities. The teaching guide offers student activity objectives, the teaching focus, suggestions for enrichment projects, and a complete answer key."
- Code Number:
MP4712
- Grade Level: 4-9
- Page Count: 12 transparencies / 32 reproducable pages
- ISBN Number: 1-55863-098-8
|
|
28.4.5 My Book Available On-line
In the 1990s, its title was changed to
"Canada Map Skills" and re-printed.
This book, in its second printing, is now available to ordered on-line through the publisher, Milliken, at
Canada -Map Skills
or at
Milliken Publishing. Their website also allows one to view the table of contents, a sample page, and a sample map in PDF format.
|
|
.
28.5 Doris and I
28.5.1 Introduction and Context
|
28.5.2 Boston Visit to Gwen Morgan
In March 198_, Doris and I visited my high school friend Gwen Morgan. Gwen had recently married Mark Handley-Derry and now lived in near the Massachesetts capital building on ____ Hill.
|
28.5.3 Doris' Daycare
Doris ran a daycare out of our home. First on the ground floor, and then when we moved upstairs in 1985, in the second floor.
|
|
The deck party below was in the summer of 1984. Doris is sitting in the hammock holding hands with Gwen Morgan Handley-Derry. Gwen's husband Mark is on the far right.
|
.
28.6 Independent Architectural Studies, including Dundas Sq Theatre Complex
28.6.1 Introduction
28.6.2 Dundas Sq Theatre Complex, Toronto
At this time, there was public discussion about what should be done with a triangular site on the South-East corner of Yonge and Dundas. It was to be called "Dundas Square" and there was talk of an architectural competition. In anticipation of this competition, which never materialized, I started design work on a project for a theatre complex.
28.6.3 Lessons From Carpenter Centre for the Visual Arts, Harvard
|
|
