We lost another icon from the halcyon days of the mid/late sixties (& beyond) at the University of Alberta (UofA). Peter Meekison has died.

While the Globe + Mail gave a very comprehensive obituary recently, it dwelt on the many accomplishments of Dr. Peter Meekison: Professor, Deputy Minister, University VP, Commission Co-Chair and the like. I’d like to give a little different insight.

I came across Peter as I was still an active leader in student government. I was wrapping up my B.Ed degree and I needed a political science course. My good friend, the late Dr. Owen Anderson told me of this new prof just arrived from Duke University (and their well-respected Canadian Studies program). Furthermore this guy had been a leader in student government during his undergraduate years (majored in Engineering). It was Owen’s recommendation that I take his basic course in Government of Canada.

I did and he was good. Now I was kind of busy in those days. I had a full course load, was teaching in the mornings at an Edmonton Junior Hi, and was Coordinate of Students’ Activities in the UofA Students’ Union. So my focus on courses was limited. On the Stanine Marking System in effect at the time, I only scored a six [6] – the class average – but Peter and I became friends and he appreciated my contributions to the course. He invited me to take the 400-level course the next year (when I was enrolled in the M.Ed. Degree – Secondary School Level Curriculum & Instruction).

This was a smaller class, with some very bright students, so I had to work harder and actually pay attention – result though was an eight [8] – above the class average. But way more importantly I really learned a great deal about the way governments work in Canada. He was a brilliant scholar who could explain things in a way that any student would immediately grasp. And in this second course, he implemented some neat learning activities. While occasionally we might meet at one of the student’s homes, most of the time, as it was scheduled in the evening and operated more as a seminar session, someone would be tasked with bringing refreshments. Good strategy (often aided by Molson)! After class as many as wished would then retire to the Faculty Club for another hour or so of heated conversation. While some more would go home at that point, those who stayed, would wander over to his house which was near the campus and we would debate the issues of the day until we were too loud for his kids to sleep. At this point the remainder would go home except perhaps two or three who would then go out to the Saratoga Restaurant for midnight dinner!! Peter had that kind of impact.

As I was completing my M.Ed. I was also completing my efforts to firmly establish the Freshman Orientation Seminars (FOS) program at the UofA. Peter encouraged me to consider going to the States to pursue a doctorate – as U of Minnesota had a very innovative Orientation program (although led by faculty members), he agreed that was the best move. I did, and for reasons beyond the need of explanation at the moment, I ended up with an M.A. (Educational Foundations) and came home.

Peter did not stay in the shadows. Even though I landed some part-time teaching at the UofA while launching my consulting firm (g.w. sinclair & associates, ltd.), he was insistent that I return to school and obtain a Ph.D. He felt my time in the USA was long enough to separate me from my earlier UofA studies. Furthermore, he felt that with my leadership background he was willing to recommend me to the Department of Educational Administration in the Faculty of Education. Long story short, even though my experiences in leadership were not the normative school system based type, my reputation from my earlier student days combined with Peter’s vigorous promotion, got me in. The rest is history on that particular journey.

We kept in touch over the years. Occasionally having a lunch at the Faculty Club or a lengthy phone conversation about some issue I was coming across in my consulting work. Meanwhile he too went beyond his professorial work and did some great things. Then my daughter enrolled at the UofA and after one particularly strange grading decision, I decided to contact Peter who was by that time a VP at my alma mater. He explained the change in policy and admitted that it was a financial decision that resulted each year in providing sufficient revenue to hire three part-time sessionals in different faculties. Again, his honesty and academic firmness impressed me, even though the decision was not in my favour.

After his retirement and the move to Victoria, we got together again, this time at the UVIC Faculty Club. We had a long visit, including a tour of his wonderful new home near the ocean. There were many laughs and a goodly number of recollections of moments we had earlier shared. I then moved to PEI and we didn’t have the same opportunities to keep meeting. When I returned to BC, I discovered one day that his wife, Patti had died. {She was a gem – often tolerating our late night invasion of her home that year of Poli Sci 420. Perhaps she simply saw it as payback for a bunch of us students, banding together one evening to move them from their rental in the Highlands neighbourhood of Edmonton to what became a long time home in the Windsor Park area near the campus.} I then attempted to track Peter down, and eventually was put in touch with his daughter, only to discover that Peter was in care, with the early stages of dementia. We did have one last energetic phone call, but the next time I called he was out of his room and we did not talk again.

I haven’t had many mentors in my life. But of those who I met in the academy, perhaps three stand out and Peter is one of them. Not only did he teach me copious amounts of knowledge about democracy in Canada, he also made sure that I obtained a Ph.D. Moreover he taught me that my approach to things pedagogical was correct and that I should always place student engagement front and centre. He also reinforced the notion that in any learning moment, make sure there is time for humour and friendship. Peter was a special gift to Canada and more particularly to Alberta but for me, he was a very special gift who will never be forgotten… Good bye good friend…

g.w.