THE LIF'E AND LEGACY OF DON TOPPIN Paul Bertrand A thesis submitted in conformity with the requirements for the degree of Master of Arts Department of Adult Education, Community Development and Counselling Psychology Ontario Institute for Studies in Education of the University of Toronto BCopyright by Paul Charles Bertrand 2000 National tibrary Bibliothèque nationale du Canada Acquisitions and Acquisitions et Bibliographie Services services bibliographiques 395 Wellington Street 395. rue Wellington Ottawa ON KIA ON4 Ottawa ON K1A ON4 Canada Canada The author has granted a non- L'auteur a accordé une licence non exclusive licence allowing the exclusive permettant à la National Libraxy of Canada to Bibliothèque nationale du Canada de reproduce, loan, distribute or sell reproduire, prêter, distribuer ou copies of this thesis in microform, vendre des copies de cette thèse sous paper or electronic formats. la forme de microfiche/fi, de reproduction sur papier ou sur format électronique. The author retains ownership of the L'auteur conserve la propriété du copyright in this thesis. Neither the droit d'auteur qui protège cette thèse. thesis nor substantial extracts fiom it Ni la thèse ni des extraits substantiels may be printed or othewise de celle-ci ne doivent être imprimés reproduced without the author's ou autrement reproduits sans son permission. autorisation. Canada THELIE AND LEGACYOF DONTOPPIN PAULCHARLES BERTRAND MASTEROF ARTS 2000 DEPARTMENTOF ADULTEDUCATION, COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT AND COUNSELLING PSYCHOLOGY ONTARIOINSTITUTE FOR STUDIESIN EDUCATIONOF THE ABSTRACT This thesis provides a selected swey and anecdotai account of the life of Don Toppin from childhood to present. Given the difficulty in documenting the early events of Mr. Toppin's life, oral history rnethods were employed. The fist and second chapters are based on interviews with Mr. Toppin. The latter haif of the thesis is based on primary sources including Mr. Toppin's writings and correspondence. Mr. Toppin's work is assessed in the context of the development of adult education in Canada. His comection with the popular traditions of adult education, community development and citizenship participation are explored in some detail. His contributions to future studies in Canada in the new millennium are also discussed. 1 would like to thank Mr. Don Toppin for his extraordinary patience and valued fnendship over the years. 1would also like to thank James A. Draper, my thesis supervisor, for his assistance, clear direction and concemed support. His abiding faith in the power of adult leamers to overcome obstacles and achieve their goals has supported me through this work. 1wodd also likè to thank Budd Hail, who served on die thesis comrnittee, for his valuable input. Professor Harold Troper of the Ontario Institute for Studies in Education provided important practical information and rerninded me that the stories of the iesser known members of our society are as worthy of telling as the stones of the famous. Speciai thanks as well to Mr. Toppin's colleagues who have generously taken time to speak with me. Finally, 1 would like to thank my wife Carol whose steadfast support has sustained me through this work. Table of Contents ... Acknowledgments........ .. ...... ......... ................................................................................................................. III Table of Contents ............................................................................................................................................... iv Chapter 1. Introduction ........................... .................................................................................. 1 MF~HODOLOGY...................................................................................................................................................... -7 Oral History ...................................................................................................................................................... -7 Historical Validiry ......................... ... ........................................................................................................... 5 Narrative and Genre.......................................................................................................................................... 8 Personal Reliability ........................................................................................................................................... 9 OBJEC~VES.................... ... ................................................................................................................................ 9 Chapter 2. The Early Years: 1917-1939 ................................. ........... ............................................................. 14 Yom WORK...................................................................................................................................................... 14 Young Canada S Corner................................................................................................................................ 28 Young Canada Radio Hour .......................... ., ............................................................................................... 29 Older Boys ' Parliament .................................................................................................................................20 The Canodian Insîitute of Public .4flairs Radio Program ............................................................................... 22 Canadian Federation of Youth ......................... ........................................................................................ 26 EMERGMGTHEMES .............................................................................................................................................. 28 Common Future ............................................................................................................................................... 29 Elimination of War ......................................................................................................................................... 30 Citken Pariicipation and Cornmunity Dwe fopment ...................................................................................... 30 The Speciai Role of Canada ............................................................................................................................ 31 Smmary ............. .... .................................................................................................................................... 32 UNIVERSITYYEARS AND CHANGMGGOALS .................................................................................................... 32 Chapter 3. The Corporate Years 1939-1967 ................................ .... ...................................................38 CORP~RATEEXPER~CE ................................................................................................................................... 38 Insurance Executive ........................................................................................................................................ 38 Incarne Securiw Concept ................................................................................................................................. JO Camto Coasl Advertising Corporation................... ,.. ............................................................................. 41 CORPORATETWING CONSULTANT.................................................................................................................... 42 Educational Technology and Programmed Imtruction .................................................................................. 42 Productivity Project A TLL '67 ......................................................................................................................... 17 This Cybernetic Age ....................................................................................................................................... 53 NOTES.......................... ,., .. ,.......................................................................................................................... 58 Chapter 4. Social Innovator: The Muskoka Years 1967-1978 .............. .................. ......... 60 THEFIN PILOTPROJECT ON LEISURELWG .......................................................................................... 60 Centennial Acres ............................................................................................................................................ 61 Career Assessm endSeIf-Directed L earning.................................................................................................... 64 Corpurate Programs ........................... .. ....................................................................................................... 64 MUSKOKAINSTITUE FOR THE R~RE................................................................................................................ 66 Purpose ........................................................................................................................................................ 66 Appendix 4: Great Millennium Songs ..................... .... .......O... .......... ................................. 144 Chapter 1. Introduction James Draper, professor, Ontario htitute for Studies in Education, first suggested the topic of this thesis to me in 1994.