Hugh Cairns

Other Events:

• Eby ID Number: Waterloo-30142
• Residence: 1948, 260 Main St. E., Cambridge, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada

Hugh married Lilly McAuley Crawford 7 Oct 1920, , Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada. Lilly (daughter of Daniel Sharp Crawford and Esther Mitchell) was born Sep 1896, Paisley, Renfrewshire, Scotland; died 1992; was buried , Mount View Cemetery, Cambridge, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada. [Group Sheet]

Other Events:

• Interesting: education, public service
• Military: WW2 RCAF
• Eby ID Number: Waterloo-220175
• Hall of Fame - Cambridge: 2004

Notes:

Obituary for John Crawford Cairns

In loving memory of John ('Chon') Cairns, who passed away on the 14th of May 2014, surrounded by family, poetry, and song.

John was born in Galt, Ontario, the eldest of three sons of Hugh and Lily (Crawford) Cairns, Scottish immigrants of modest schooling but formidable self-education. His childhood, shaped by the Great Depression, was a happy time, about which he often reminisced in later life. In his book My Life as a Kid, he described hockey games on frozen ponds, getting up at 5 am to deliver 3 newspaper routes by bicycle, and pitching for the Galt baseball team in the provincial finals.

Graduating from Galt Collegiate Institute in 1938, John worked briefly as a bank teller before joining the Royal Canadian Air Force in September of 1941, inspired by radio coverage of the Battle of Britain. He served, until September 1945, primarily in India and Burma as a radar technician for Coastal and Transport Commands. The war years, marked by their sense of purpose, sacrifice and camaraderie in the face of adversity, strongly influenced his global outlook and lasting determination to make a positive impact in the world.

Following the war, a veteran's scholarship allowed John to attend the University of Western Ontario where he earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in 1951, being made a member of the Honour Society for outstanding extracurricular activities and academic achievements. As editor of the Folio, he published Alice Munro's first three short stories. While at university, he fell in love with the artistically talented Beverley Woolmer. They were married on October 25, 1951, sailing immediately to Tanganyika, East Africa, where John worked for six years as a District Officer and Commissioner, one of the few Canadians in the British Administrative Service, while Beverley organized the export of local carvings. Those days in East Africa were among the happiest in John and Beverley's life, and saw the birth of daughters Sandra and Lisa, postings in Kilwa, Mikindani, Morogoro and Dar Es Salaam, and long safari journeys to remote tribal villages. John's experiences in East Africa were distilled in his book Bush and Boma: The Life of a District Officer, illustrated by Beverley and published in 1958.

Returning to Canada, John taught high school for two years while earning a Master of Arts degree at the University of Western Ontario and a teaching degree. In 1962, with newly born twin daughters Eva and Stephanie in tow, the family set forth for Africa again where John was advisor to the Government of Eastern Nigeria under a Canadian External Aid program. There he introduced programs for educational reform in primary, secondary and teacher training levels in Eastern Nigeria and served as a team leader for re-designing the English language education of Cameroon. Son Graeme was born in 1964, when the family was on leave in Canada. In 1966 the family returned to Canada where John was responsible for adult education programs for aboriginal peoples throughout the North West Territories under the Department of Indian Affairs and Northern Development.

The family moved to Paris, France in 1968 when John became Director of UNESCO's Experimental World Literacy program. John's work at UNESCO was characterized by travel to every corner of the world, Cold War political intrigue, and the development of ground-breaking literacy programs. He was particularly proud of his work on functional literacy and education for women. In 1972 he was appointed Secretary General for the Third International Conference on Adult Education in Tokyo, Japan.

Wanting to return the family to its Canadian roots, John joined the University of Guelph in 1974, serving until 1986 as Director of the Centre for International Programs. He initiated approximately 100 international projects, developing the University of Guelph as a leader in Canada for international development programs. At home, John and Beverley undertook the hands-on restoration of a heritage stone house in the village of Elora, with a wild flower garden that has been captured by many artists. Twin grandchildren Allegra and Riel joined the household.

After retirement from the University of Guelph, John was active as an international consultant into his mid-eighties, working in a broad array of international settings. As monitor of CIDA's Canada/China Management Education program from 1989 to 1995, he contributed significantly to the introduction of modern management education by China's leading universities and that country's move towards a free market economy.

John entered the last years of his life with characteristic energy. Springs were spent tending the garden in Elora and enjoying gin and tonic on the front porch; summers chopping wood, putting on new roofs and taking daily morning baths in the icy stream waters at Berkenfels, the family cottage in Quebec. Fall and winter days were spent by the window watching birds at the feeder, and evenings reading by the fire. He returned to visit Mikindani, and took journeys to enjoy the rugged landscapes of the Scottish moors and the Yukon. He visited children and grandchildren scattered in China, the Yukon, Western Canada and Europe. During this time John wrote My Life as a Kid and made final revisions to an unpublished novel set in post-colonial East Africa.

John received the first World University Service of Canada's Lewis Perinbam Award in International Development in 1986. In 2004 he was inducted into the Galt Collegiate Institute Stairway of Excellence and the Cambridge Hall of Fame.

In April of 2014 John suffered a fall, followed by illness and surgery. Developing postoperative pneumonia, he was unable to recover.

As one son-in-law said, they don't make many like 'Chon' anymore: a man who took safari-length hikes well into his 80s, could build a stone wall, re-roof a house, recite reams of poetry, and who gave the gift of education to lives across the globe. A lover of great literature, rugged scenery, an honest day's work, Celtic music evenings, gin and tonic and a good apple pie, he described his life as "a great adventure and something worthwhile". We will miss John's wisdom, jokes and poetry. Our memories of him will keep all of us on a better course.

John was predeceased by his brother Jim, and is survived by his brother Alan, wife Beverley, five children (Sandra; Lisa (Woody); Stephanie (Eric); Eva (David); and Graeme), six grandchildren (Allegra; Riel (Melissa); Rowan; Sebastian; Logan; and Anders) and three great grandchildren (Isaac; Calian; and Kwaya).

"John Crawford Cairns Obituary - Waterloo, ON | Obittree™". 2021. Obittree.Com. https://obittree.com/obituary/ca/ontario/waterloo/erb--good-family-funeral-home/john-cairns/1870373/.

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John C. Cairns was born in Galt on July 19, 1921 and received his elementary education at Central Public School before graduating from Galt Collegiate Institute in 1938. He then worked as a teller on the Bank of Montreal in Galt until he joined the Royal Canadian Air Force in September 1941. He served in the military until September 1945 in Canada, the United Kingdom, India and Burma as a radar technician for the Coastal and Transport Commands. Following the war he attended the University of Western Ontario where he earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in 1950. In 1951 he was made a member of the Honour Society, University of Western Ontario, for outstanding extracurricular activities and academic achievement and then took a position as a District Officer and District Commissioner in the British Administrative Service in Tanganyika, East Africa. His experiences in that country are recounted in "Bush and Boma: The Life of a District Officer" published in England in 1958. Following his time as an administrator in East Africa he returned to Canada where he taught high school in Delhi, Ontario and Kitchener-Waterloo. At the same time he completed a Master of Arts degree at the University of Western Ontario and obtained a teaching degree. He taught high school until 1962 when he became an educational advisor to the Government of Eastern Nigeria under a Canadian External Aid program. While in this position he introduced programs for widespread educational reform in primary, secondary and teacher training levels in Eastern Nigeria and served as a team leader for re-designing the English language education system of Cameroon, West Africa following that country achieving it's independence from the administration of France and Great Britain in the early 1960's. During his time in Africa he wrote three text books on the teaching of the English language that were published by the African University Press in 1967 and 1968. Mr. Cairns left Africa in 1966 to accept a position as Head of the Adult Education section of the Northern Administration branch of the Canadian Department of Indian Affairs and Northern Development where he planned and managed the department's adult educational programs for Canada's aboriginal peoples throughout the North West Territories. He remained with the Department of Indian Affairs and Northern Development until 1968 when he was named Director of both UNESCO's Experimental World Literacy program and the Division of Adult Education for UNESCO in Paris, France. Concurrently he served as Acting Director for UNESCO's Department of Out of School Education. In these positions Mr. Cairns coordinated and administered global educational programs that covered everything from basic literacy to university education in over 50 countries. This involved the management of some 60 international specialists at headquarters and over 350 staff officers employed in field offices around the world. During this period Mr. Cairns decided upon and helped design the basic UNESCO approach to evaluation used throughout the Experimental World Literacy Program. This work involved the largest evaluation of socio/economic development activities carried out to that date in the United Nations system. While with UNESCO Mr. Cairns planned and/or chaired 24 international Seminars and Conferences on educational issues including the Third International Conference on Adult Education held in Tokyo, Japan in 1972. He also represented UNESCO at 15 conferences and meetings during his time with the organization. In 1974 Mr. Cairns moved to the University of Guelph where he served until 1986 as the Director of the Centre of International Programs. In this position he was responsible for the overall planning and management for approximately 100 university international development projects. During this period Guelph was recognized as the leading university in Canada for international development programs and Mr. Cairns was invited to speak on his experiences at 30 major educational conferences in Canada and the United States. In 1985 Mr. Cairns began service as a consultant involved in the planning, monitoring or evaluating of educational programs for countries in Africa, Asia, Latin America and the Caribbean. In this capacity he was prepared over 80 professional reports on educational systems for the Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA), the Council of Ministers of Education and other agencies and various non-governmental organizations in Canada, the United States and Latin America. As monitor of the CIDA's Canada/China Management Education program (CCMEP II) from 1989 to its completion in 1995 Mr. Cairns was responsible for professional analysis/advice concerning the introduction and development of modern management education into nine of China's leading universities. This model, later extended into more than 15 more Chinese universities, played a major role in providing the trained personnel for China's move towards a more open free market economy. In addition to the four books and the 80 professional reports mentioned earlier, Mr. Cairns has published numerous articles focusing on adult education, literacy and rural development. He has served as the Canadian representative at the International Association of Community Educators, as a member of the management committee of the International Council for Adult Education and on the Board of Directors of both World Literacy of Canada and Laubach Literacy International, Syracuse, New York. He has been a member of the executive board of the Canadian Commission for UNESCO and of the International Boards of the University of Calgary and the Sumner Institute of Linguistics in Dallas, Texas. John C. Cairns passed away in 2014.

"Cambridge Hall Of Fame". 2021. Cambridge.Ca. https://www.cambridge.ca/en/learn-about/cambridge-hall-of-fame.aspx#.

John married Beverley Woolmer [Group Sheet]

Other Events:

• Military: RCAF WW2
• Eby ID Number: Waterloo-97420

Notes:

JAMES PEARSON CAIRNS October 5th, 1923 \endash March 2nd, 2010 Beloved husband, adored father, treasured grandfather and loyal friend, James Pearson Cairns (Jim) died as he lived, with courage, patience and an unfailing sense of humour.
Jim was born in Galt, Ontario, the second son of Hugh and Lily Cairns. He attended Galt Collegiate Institute, graduating with a scholarship to the University of Toronto. His education was interrupted by a brief stint in the RCAF as a wireless mechanic (likely the high water mark of his mechanical achievements). He returned to university after the war, graduating with the Breuls Gold Medal in Political Science. After earning an M.A from Columbia University, he went to Oxford on a Beaver Club Scholarship. Although he had to withdraw in order to recover from tuberculosis, there was a silver lining to his time in the U.K. While convalescing, he met his very own English rose, Patricia Parnell. They married in 1952. Daughter Rosemary was born in 1956. Jim completed a Ph.D. at Johns Hopkins University, graduating Phi Beta Kappa. He joined the Faculty of the Royal Military College in 1960, retiring as professor emeritus after 30 years of distinguished service, including twelve years as Dean of Arts.

Although his career was a source of personal satisfaction, what really mattered to Jim was family and friends. He was a gentle and dedicated partner to Pat for 57 years, a loving father to Rosemary, a role model and second father to son-in-law Daniel (Way), and an exemplary grandfather to Erin, Alexander and Kielan. He followed their exploits with tremendous pride, offered considered counsel, and, above all, demonstrated for them the qualities of fairness, pursuit of excellence, and commitment to social justice. Jim was proud of the considerable achievements of his two brothers, John and Alan, both distinguished academics. Jim was a passionate reader, whose well-marked collection of books provides testament to his rigorous engagement with the world. He played chess for 70 years, was a long-standing member and Past President of the Kingston Chess Club, and a keen participant in correspondence chess - often managing twelve to fifteen games at a time via snail mail. He loved his garden, enjoying the yearly rituals of planting and harvesting tomatoes, beans and raspberries, which he and Pat 'put up' in their well stocked freezer.

Jim was a generous and compassionate man, whose life was filled with great good fortune, who appreciated the gifts that fate bestowed upon him, and who tried, every day, to make a difference. A celebration of his life is planned for 1 p.m., May 8th, Senior Staff Mess, Royal Military College - just about the time that the peas need planting.


The Globe and Mail on Mar. 6, 2010.
"James CAIRNS Obituary (2010) - The Globe And Mail". 2021. Legacy.Com. https://www.legacy.com/obituaries/theglobeandmail/obituary.aspx?n=james-pearson-cairns&pid=189940065.

James married Patricia Parnell [Group Sheet]

Other Events:

• Interesting: education
• Name: Alan Cairns
• Eby ID Number: Waterloo-220178

Notes:

Obituary of Hugh Alan Craig Cairns

In loving memory of H. Alan C. Cairns, who passed away on August 27, 2018, surrounded and comforted by the love of his daughters Lynn, Wendy, Elaine and his partner Anne.

Alan was a celebrated academic, a scholar and a gentleman. He was a devoted father to daughters Lynn, Wendy, and Elaine (Raffles) and Silly Grandpa to Eli, Sadie and Tess. He shared his later years with partner Anne Innis Dagg in Waterloo. Together they adventured widely \endash cycling in Cuba, rafting the Tatshenshini, hiking to Cape Scott. He will be remembered for his humour and enjoyment of the simple pleasures of life \endash cheese, opera, bubbly water, corn on the cob, poetry and limericks, leftovers, daffodils and his story about meeting the Queen. A dedicated and loyal friend, he had a wonderful capacity to see the best in people and maintained friendships around the world. He delighted in the exchange of ideas and the pursuit of scholarship, happily supporting and mentoring fellow academics.

Born and raised in Galt, now a part of Cambridge, Ontario, Alan was the youngest son of Scottish immigrants Hugh and Lily (Crawford) Cairns. Younger by 9 and 7 years than brothers John and Jim, 'wee Alan' towered at over 6 foot 4 in his prime. Alan left behind his first love \endash playing baseball with the Galt Pups - to study political science at the University of Toronto, graduating in 1953 with a gold medal, where he also earned his MA. He obtained his doctorate from Oxford University; his thesis, based on research conducted while living in Rhodesia, was later published as Prelude to Imperialism (1965).

With wife Patricia (Grady), Alan lived in Vancouver, raising three daughters (and dog Gregory), teaching Political Science at the University of British Columbia from 1960 to 1995, serving as head of that department from 1973 to 1980. His research focussed on Canadian politics, particularly federalism, electoral and party systems, judicial review, and constitutional issues. Alan also studied Aboriginal issues in depth as a member of the Hawthorn Commission in the mid-1960s, returning to these issues in his prize-winning 2000 book Citizens Plus. Alan was also one of three research directors of the (Macdonald) Royal Commission reporting in 1985 on the economic union and Canada's development prospects.

Visiting appointments and chairs were held over the years at the University of Toronto, Memorial University of Newfoundland, the University of Edinburgh, Harvard University, Queen's University, the University of Saskatchewan, York University, the University of Waterloo and the University of British Columbia.

Alan was a member of the British Columbia Advisory Committee on the Constitution, leading up to the 1982 Constitution Act. In that year he was awarded the Molson Prize of the Canada Council and he subsequently received a Killam award for 1989-1991. He is a member of the Royal Society of Canada, an Officer of the Order of Canada and is the recipient of Honorary Degrees from the University of British Columbia, University of Saskatchewan, University of Toronto and Carleton University. In 2003, he was inducted into the City of Cambridge Hall of Fame.

Despite failing health, in his last years, Alan did his best to continue engaging with the issues about which he had spent his life thinking and writing. In his final days, Alan was deeply moved to receive numerous messages from friends and colleagues across the globe expressing their admiration and affection for him. Alan was supported in his last days by his daughters, his partner Anne, her sons Hugh (Kate) and Ian (Laura), and daughter Mary (Ian), as well as the extended Cairns clan. In the words of his favourite, the Immortal Sir Harry Lauder, Alan 'kept right on to the end of the road'. He will be missed.

A Celebration of Life for H.Alan C. Cairns will be held on Tuesday, October 9, 2018, from 5:30 p.m. - 8:00 p.m. in Vancouver B.C. at Cecil Green House, UBC, 6251 Cecil Green Park Road. Please RSVP to ebcairns@gmail.com

Arrangements entrusted to the Erb & Good Family Funeral Home 171 King St. S., Waterloo, www.erbgood.com or 519-745-8445.

"Obituary Of Hugh Alan Craig Cairns | Erb & Good Family Funeral Home". 2021. Erbgood.Com. https://erbgood.com/tribute/details/14179/Hugh-Cairns/obituary.html.

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Alan C. Cairns was born in Galt in 1930 and received his elementary schooling at Central Public School. He graduated from Galt Collegiate Institute prior to studying Political Science and Economics at the University of Toronto. He won the Gold Medal in his final year and after receiving a B.A. degree in 1953 and an M.A. degree in 1957 went on to study at St. Antony's College, University of Oxford from which he obtained a D. Phil degree in 1963. He was a member of the Department of Political Science at the University of British Columbia from 1960 until his retirement in 1995 and served as head of the department from 1973 to 1980. Professor Cairns was the first holder of the Brenda and David McLean Chair in Canadian Studies at the University of British Columbia (1993-1995). He has had visiting appointments and chairs at the University of Toronto, Memorial University of Newfoundland, the University of Edinburgh, Harvard University, Queen's University, the University of Saskatchewan, York University, the University of Waterloo and the University of British Columbia. Professor Cairns has received honourary degrees from Carleton University (1994), the University of Toronto (1996), the University of British Columbia (1998) and the University of Saskatchewan (2002). Professor Cairns is a well-known expert on constitutional and political issues whose writings and research are said to have profoundly influenced the way scholars think about issues such as federalism, the Charter of Rights and Freedoms, the operation of democracy and the rights of aboriginal peoples. Professor Cairns has been described as Canada's leading authority on federalism and governance. As a writer and commentator he has made a significant contribution to academic analysis and public debate on questions concerning constitutional developments in Canada. Professor Cairns has brought a meticulous scholarly sensibility, a keen awareness of constitutional priorities and a passion about the constitutional future of the country to bear on issues of pressing and significant concern to the citizens of Canada. In recognition of his achievements he has been made an Officer of the Order of Canada and a Fellow of the Royal Society of Canada. He received the Queen's Silver Jubilee Medal as well as the President's Medal from the University of Western Ontario. He was the recipient of the prestigious Canada Council Killam Research Fellowship from 1989 to 1991 and was awarded the first Governor-General's International Award for Canadian Studies in 1994. He received the Molson Prize of the Canada Council in 1982 and was the research director for institutions for the Royal Canadian Commission on the Economic Union and Development Prospects for Canada (1983-1985). Professor Cairns' writings are considered pivotal to Canadian political thought. An article that he wrote and published in the Canadian Journal of Political Science in the late 1960's was that journal's most cited article. His book Charter versus Federalism: The Dilemmas of Constitutional Reform (1992) ranks as one of the most insightful analyses of the Canadian constitutional debate. Another of his books Citizens Plus: Aboriginal Peoples and the Canadian State was a runner up for the 2000/2001 Donner Prize for the best book on Canadian public policy.

"Cambridge Hall Of Fame". 2021. Cambridge.Ca. https://www.cambridge.ca/en/learn-about/cambridge-hall-of-fame.aspx#.