- Davidson Dunton
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Davidson Dunton Born Arnold Davidson Dunton
July 4, 1912
Montreal, QuebecDied February 7, 1987 (aged 74)
Ottawa, OntarioAwards Order of Canada Arnold Davidson Dunton, CC (July 4, 1912 – February 7, 1987) was a Canadian educator and public administrator.
He was educated at Lower Canada College, Montréal, and at universities in Canada, France, Britain, and Germany. He worked as a reporter on the Montreal Star 1935-37, as associate editor 1937-38, and was editor of the Montréal Standard in 1938. He joined the Wartime Information Board in 1942 and was general manager 1944-45. In late 1945, at age 33, he was appointed the first full-time chairman of the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (CBC).
Throughout the controversies that arose over the funding and regulation of the new medium of television, Dunton was a persuasive defender of the corporation's independence and a strong advocate of the need to fund publicly a television system. Shortly after the CBC completed its network from coast to coast in July 1958, he resigned and became president of Carleton University. Dunton was widely commended for the tact and intelligence with which he had overseen the development of CBC television.
He was appointed by Prime Minister Lester Pearson co-chairman, (with André Laurendeau), of the Royal Commission on Bilingualism and Biculturalism in 1963, which has profoundly influenced federal government language policies. He stepped down as Carleton's president in 1972 to become director of the Institute of Canadian Studies at Carleton (1973-78) and later fellow of the Institute. He was a Companion of the Order of Canada and received honorary diplomas from seven Canadian universities. The Dunton Tower at Carleton University is named in his honour.
Honours
- 1954 - he received a Doctor of Laws, honoris causa from the University of Saskatchewan.
- 1959 - he received a Doctor of Laws, honoris causa from the University of British Columbia.
- 1970 - he was made a Companion of the Order of Canada.
- 1977 - he received a Doctor of Laws, honoris causa from the University of New Brunswick.
Article from the Canadian Encyclopedia:www.thecanadianencyclopedia.com/index.cfm?PgNm=TCE&Params=f1ARTf0002467 - 12k
Preceded by
Howard B. ChasePresident of the
Canadian Broadcasting Corporation
1945–1957Succeeded by
Alphonse OuimetCategories:- 1912 births
- 1987 deaths
- University of Saskatchewan alumni
- Canadian university and college chief executives
- Presidents of the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation
- Canadian civil servants
- Companions of the Order of Canada
- Canadian academic biography stubs
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