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James M. Ham
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No one deserves greater recognition as a founder of the Canadian Institute for Advanced Research than the late Jim Ham. While president of the University of Toronto, Jim set up the committee to look at a possible institute for advanced study to enhance research and scholarship in Canada. |
It was John Leyerle in his role as Dean of Graduate Studies who encouraged the President to do this. Jim set up a committee chaired by Robin Armstrong. The members of this committee were St. Clair Balfour, Angus Cameron, Barry French, Fraser Mustard, Craig Brown, Stefan Dupré, John Leyerle, Lou Siminovitch, John Wilson, Donald Ivey (ex-officio) and David Strangway (ex-officio). This committee's report and conclusions were as follows:
"That the University of Toronto should support in principle the creation of a Canadian Institute for Advanced Studies but not be a direct participant in its establishment,
and
"That the University at the executive level extend to the initial Board of Trustees of the Institute such cooperation as it feels proper in the circumstances."
Jim received this report and strongly encouraged a group led by the late John Wilson to take the steps to implement the recommendations in the report. (See Wilson in the first issue of Entropy.) Jim's view of the importance of this concept for Canada reflected his vision of the need for Canada to mobilize its scarce resources to be competitive in the research fields of importance for the future. His remarkable academic career and great intelligence along with his imagination made him a strong advocate for the Institute and the Institute benefited enormously from his work. In 1988 he formally joined the Institute as Advisor to the President, helping in the development and management of programs as well as in the difficult task of building support for the Institute.
Jim, in his association with the Institute, played a critical role in creating the Institute's report on science and technology and the future of Canada. This report, "Innovation and Canada's Prosperity : The Transforming Power of Science Engineering and Technology" helped create a base of understanding that facilitated Canada's developments in science, engineering and technology across the country. Jim was also instrumental in the production of two Institute reports on Canada's role in the Space Station, "Canada and the Space Station" (1985) and "Canada's Participation in the Space Station" (1986).
Jim's logical mind and unpretentious and unassuming personality made him a very effective contributor to the evolution of the Institute. His contributions to the academic community of Canada are many. We consider his contribution to the creation of the Institute and its development as one of his greatest contributions.
Dr. Bette Stephenson
 | Dr. Bette Stephenson has a very distinguished career in medicine and politics and has been a strong supporter and contributor from the very beginning of The Canadian Institute for Advanced Research. She graduated from medicine at the University of Toronto in 1946, a time when female graduates in medicine in a still male-dominated culture had to have excellent ability and political skills. After internship she went into general practice with her husband and medical colleague, Dr. Allan Pengelly. These two created a high quality general practice in Willowdale, with a dedicated group of patients. Their partnership has been the total opposite to the careers of women described in the recent book, Einstein's Wife. |
With Allan's support, Bette rose to become the first female president of the Canadian Medical Association. She led the profession responsibly and contributed to the leadership role of medicine in health, particularly health care. In 1972 she was appointed to the Ontario Government's Health Planning Task Force by Premier William Davis. Another member of the task force was Duncan Gordon, who as well as being the head of Woods Gordon, was Chairman of the board for The Hospital for Sick Children. The Chairman of this Task Force was Fraser Mustard, who was then head of Health Sciences at McMaster University.
According to Mustard, Stephenson and Gordon were at opposite ends of the pole when they started their work and after three months he was ready to toss in the towel. Finally, they came together when it was suggested that they build the report along the lines of how they would like the system to treat them if they were sick. This was, as it is today, common ground. Thus, all the professional (medical) and institutional barriers to discussion disappeared and a report that did not do well with the same barriers in society was created. Interestingly, many of the concepts set out in that report have been gradually implemented.
Bette Stephenson then went into politics and was elected to the Ontario Legislature in 1975 and became the Minister of Labour on entering the legislature. She was then appointed Minister of Education in 1978. When we started the Institute in 1982, John Wilson and Fraser Mustard approached her to see if the government would provide financial support. She agreed to match up to $125,000 in the first year against what they raised from the private sector. Part of the private sector income from the first year came from Duncan Gordon. The respect formed in the Task Force work was of help.
While she was still in the Cabinet, Bette Stephenson persuaded the Ontario Government to make a sustaining grant of $1,250,000 which has been renewed every year since it was started in 1986. Bette has been important in persuading each new government, regardless of political colour, why support for the Institute is important for Ontario and Canada. Ontario's total support over the years since 1982 is more than $14,000,000. She also played a key role in creating the federal government support. Although she helped build government support, she always felt the primary support should be from the private sector to avoid the steering effects of governments and politics. After she left politics, where she also served as Chairman of Management Board, Provincial Treasurer, and Deputy Premier, she joined the board of the Institute where her intelligence, integrity and toughness continue to play an important role in the acceptance of the Institute and sustaining the integrity and goals of the Institute. A very distinguished founder of the Institute.
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