Person

Thomson, Dale C.

1923-1999

Dale Cairns Thomson was born on June 17, 1923, in Westlock, Alberta, and died on April 27, 1999. His parents were Walter James Cairns Thomson and Margaret Charlotte Falkson. Thomson had two siblings, Peggy Thomson Scott and Walter Thomson. He married Shirley Lavinia Cull in 1967 and divorced in 1967, then married Hamidol Mena Syne in 1982 (she died in 1987), and then he married Lizanne Ryan in 1996. He had no children. Thomson served in the Royal Canadian Air Force during World War II and then attended the University of Alberta, graduating with a B.A. degree in 1948. He then obtained a diploma in international relations from the University of Paris in 1950 and a doctorate from the university’s Faculty of Letters in 1951. His thesis was titled “General Haushofer and his Ideas on Geopolitics.” After returning to Canada, Thomson worked at the National Film Board of Canada and then served as Associate Private Secretary to Canadian Prime Minister Louis St. Laurent, where he remained until 1958. Involved with both the Liberal Party of Quebec and the Liberal Party of Canada, in the 1958 Canadian federal election, he was the unsuccessful Liberal candidate in the Jasper-Edson riding. Thomson then returned to academia and authored numerous books, while writing articles in the Canadian press and commentating on television and radio about Canadian politics. Thomson was Vice-Principal of McGill University from 1973 to 1976 and Professor of Political Science from 1973 to 1994.

He attended Fort Assiniboine Public School in Fort Assiniboine, Alberta from 1928 to 1937 and Barrhead High School in Barrhead, Alberta from 1937 to 1941. In 1941 he enlisted in the Royal Canadian Air Force serving as a pilot officer in Coastal Command, and taking part in operations in the English Channel and Western Europe. He was discharged in August 1945, having obtained the rank of Flight Lieutenant and was awarded a Distinguished Flying Cross.

After the War, Thomson studied history and political economy at the University of Alberta from 1945 to 1948, receiving a BA degree. He went on to study at the institute d'Etudes Politiques at the Universite de Paris from 1948 to 1950, where he earned a diploma in international relations. In 1951 he was awarded a doctorat from the Faculte des Lettres of the Universite de Paris; his thesis was entitled "General Haushofer and his Ideas on Geopolitics." From 1953 to 1958 he worked as an Associate Private Secretary to the Right Honourable Louis St. Laurent, both in the Prime Minister's Office (1953 -1957) and when St. Laurent was leader of the opposition (1957-1958). He continued to be involved in party politics throughout his life, specifically with the Liberal Party of Canada and the Quebec Liberals.

Canadian politics was also the central focus of his academic career. Thomson taught in the Département de science politique of the Université de Montréal from 1960 to 1969, and was departmental director from 1963 to 1967. He was then a professor of international relations and founding director of the Center of Canadian Studies at the School of Advanced International Studies of The Johns Hopkins University in Washington, D.C. from 1969 to 1973. Following this, he moved to McGill University in Montreal to fill the new post of Vice-Principal (Planning), a position that included developing the university's relations with contemporary Quebec society (1973-1976). He also taught in McGill's Political Science Department from 1973 until his retirement from teaching in 1994.

Dale Thomson published several books and numerous articles, mostly on Canadian politics and governance. His major works are: Alexander Mackenzie: Clear Grit (1960); Louis St. Laurent Canadian (1967), also published in French; Canadian Foreign Policy: Options and Perspectives (co-author). (1971); Quebec Society and Politics: Views from the Inside. (editor). (1973); Jean Lesage and the Quiet Revolution (1984). also published in French; and Vive Ie Quebec Libre (1988. French edition 1990). He also wrote articles in the Canadian press and appeared on television and radio. mostly as a commentator on Canadian politics.

During his academic career, Thomson belonged to several professional organisations, such as the Association for Canadian Studies in the United States, the Canadian Political Science Association. the International Society for Political Psychology, la Societe Canadienne de Science Politique and the International Association for Mass Communication Research, amongst others. He was on the Board of Directors of the International Centre for Ethnic Studies located in Sri Lanka. In addition, he lectured and carried out research in Latin America, Europe, Africa, Asia and Australia.

Revised on June 17, 2024, by Leah Louttit-Bunker

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dale_C._Thomson