Pierre Berton

For other people named Pierre Berton, see Pierre Berton (disambiguation).
Pierre Berton

Pierre Berton and Ruby in their later years at Kleinburg, Ontario
Born Pierre Francis de Marigny Berton
(1920-07-12)July 12, 1920
Whitehorse, Yukon, Canada
Died November 30, 2004(2004-11-30) (aged 84)
Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Resting place Kleinburg, Ontario, Canada
Occupation non-fiction author, journalist
Nationality Canadian
Alma mater University of British Columbia
Genre Canadian and Canadian history

Pierre Francis de Marigny Berton, CC OOnt (July 12, 1920 – November 30, 2004) was a noted Canadian author of non-fiction, especially Canadiana and Canadian history, and was a well-known television personality and journalist.

An accomplished storyteller, Berton was one of Canada's most prolific and popular authors. He wrote on popular culture, Canadian history, critiques of mainstream religion, anthologies, children's books and historical works for youth. He was also a founder of the Writers' Trust of Canada, a non-profit literary organization that seeks to encourage Canada's writing community. Berton's 50 books became popular because his light and fast-paced style was not weighted down by footnotes or deep probes into primary sources. Historian C.P. Stacey in 1980, said Berton demonstrated his skill as an anecdotalist, or storyteller, who emphasized the human dimension, while often overlooking the scholarship. His two-volume documentation on the War of 1812, running 928 pages, was republished in 2011 as "Pierre Berton's War of 1812 (Toronto: Anchor Canada, 2011).[1]

Early years

He was born on July 12, 1920, in Whitehorse, Yukon, where his father had moved for the 1898 Klondike Gold Rush.[2] His family moved to Dawson City, Yukon in 1921.[2] His mother, Laura Beatrice Berton (née Thompson) was a school teacher in Toronto until she was offered a job as a teacher in Dawson City at the age of 29 in 1907. She met Frank Berton in the nearby mining town of Granville shortly after settling in Dawson and teaching kindergarten. Laura Beatrice Berton's autobiography of life in the Yukon entitled I Married the Klondike was published in her later years and gave her, what her son Pierre describes as 'a modicum of fame, which she thoroughly enjoyed.'[3]

Berton's family moved to Victoria, British Columbia in 1932. At age 12 he joined the Scout Movement and later wrote that "The Scout Movement was the making of me". He credited Scouting with keeping him from becoming a juvenile delinquent. He started his journalism career in scouting and later wrote that "the first newspaper I was ever associated with was a weekly typewritten publication issued by the Seagull Patrol of St. Mary’s Troop." He remained in scouting for seven years and wrote about his experiences in an article titled "My Love Affair with the Scout Movement".[4]

Like his father, Pierre Berton worked in Klondike mining camps during his years as a history major at the University of British Columbia,[5] where he also worked on the student paper The Ubyssey.[6] He spent his early newspaper career in Vancouver, where at 21 he was the youngest city editor on any Canadian daily, replacing editorial staff that had been called up during the Second World War.[3]

Pierre Berton's childhood home in Dawson City

Berton himself was conscripted into the Canadian Army under the National Resources Mobilization Act in 1942 and attended basic training in British Columbia, nominally as a reinforcement soldier intended for The Seaforth Highlanders of Canada.[3] He elected to "go Active" (the euphemism for volunteering for overseas service) and his aptitude was such that he was appointed Lance Corporal and attended NCO school, and became a basic training instructor in the rank of corporal.[3] Due to a background in university COTC and inspired by other citizen-soldiers who had been commissioned, he sought training as an officer.[3]

Berton spent the next several years attending a variety of military courses, becoming, in his words, the most highly trained officer in the military. He was warned for overseas duty many times, and was granted embarkation leave many times, each time finding his overseas draft being cancelled.[3] A coveted trainee slot with the Canadian Intelligence Corps saw Berton, now a Captain, trained to act as an Intelligence Officer (IO), and after a stint as an instructor at the Royal Military College in Kingston, Ontario, he finally went overseas in March 1945.[3] In the UK, he was told that he would have to requalify as an IO because the syllabus in the UK was different from that in the intelligence school in Canada. By the time Berton had requalified, the war in Europe had ended. He volunteered for the Canadian Army Pacific Force (CAPF), granted a final "embarkation leave", and found himself no closer to combat employment by the time the Japanese surrendered in September 1945.[3]

In 1947 he went on an expedition to the Nahanni River with pilot Russ Baker. Berton's account for the Vancouver Sun was picked up by International News Service, making him a noted adventure-travel writer.

Editor in Toronto

Pierre Berton's Star on Canada's Walk of Fame

Berton moved to Toronto in 1947. At the age of 31 he was named managing editor of Macleans.[3] In 1957, he became a key member of the CBC's public affairs flagship program, Close-Up, and a permanent panelist on the popular television show Front Page Challenge.[7] That same year, he also narrated the Academy Award-nominated National Film Board of Canada documentary City of Gold, exploring life in his hometown of Dawson City during the Klondike Gold Rush.[8] He then released an album in conjunction with Folkways Records, entitled The Story of the Klondike: Stampede for Gold – The Golden Trail.[9]

Berton joined the Toronto Star as associate editor of the Star Weekly and columnist for the daily paper in 1958, leaving in 1962 to commence The Pierre Berton Show, which ran until 1973.[7] On this show in 1971 Berton interviewed Bruce Lee in what was to be the famous martial artist's only surviving television interview. Berton's television career included spots as host and writer on My Country, The Great Debate, Heritage Theatre, The Secret of My Success and The National Dream.[7] From 1966 to 1984, Berton and long-time collaborator Charles Templeton made the daily syndicated radio debate show Dialogue.

Berton served as the Chancellor of Yukon College and, along with numerous honorary degrees, received over 30 literary awards such as the Governor General's Award for Creative Non-Fiction (three times), the Stephen Leacock Medal of Humour, and the Gabrielle Léger Award for Lifetime Achievement in Heritage Conservation. He is a member of Canada's Walk of Fame, having been inducted in 1998. In The Greatest Canadian project, he was voted No. 31 in the list of great Canadians.[7] Berton was named Toronto Humanist of the Year 2003 by the Humanist Association of Toronto. The honour is presented by H.A.T. to men and women who, in their actions and creative endeavours, exemplify the principles of Humanism: a commitment to reason, compassion, ethics and human dignity.[10] He was named a Companion of the Order of Canada, Canada's highest decoration, and was also a member of the Order of Ontario.

Retirement

In 2004, Berton published his 50th book, Prisoners of the North, after which he announced in an interview with CanWest News Service that he was retiring from writing. On October 17, 2004, the $12.6 million CAD Pierre Berton Resource Library, named in his honour, was opened in Vaughan, Ontario.[11][12]

He had lived in nearby Kleinburg, Ontario, for about 50 years.[13]

Berton attracted attention in October 2004 by discussing his 40 years of recreational use of marijuana on two CBC Television programs, Play and Rick Mercer Report. On the latter show he gave a "celebrity tip" on how to roll a joint.[14][15][16]

Death

Berton died at Sunnybrook Hospital in Toronto, reportedly of heart failure, at the age of 84 on November 30, 2004.[2] His cremated remains were scattered at his home in Kleinburg.

Berton House Writers' Retreat

His childhood home in Dawson City, Yukon, now called Berton House, is currently used as a retreat for professional Canadian writers. Established authors apply for a three-month-long subsidized residency, adding to the area's literary community with events such as local public readings. Previously, the Berton House Writers' Retreat was administered by the Berton House Writers' Retreat Society and Elsa Franklin, Pierre Berton's long-time editor and agent. In October 2007, the deed to Berton House was passed to the Writers' Trust of Canada; the literary organization now oversees the program as part of its roster of literary support.[17]

Pierre Berton Award

Established in 1994, the Pierre Berton Award is presented annually by Canada's National History Society for distinguished achievement in presenting Canadian history in an informative and engaging manner. Berton was the first recipient and agreed to lend his name to future awards.

Pierre Berton Public School

A school in Vaughan, Ontario was named for Pierre Berton in the York Region District School Board in September 2011. The Berton family visited and had an official opening of the school in front of the students.

Awards

Honorary Degrees

Pierre Berton Received Many Honorary Degrees In Recognition of His Work as a Writer and Historian. These Include.

Honorary Degrees
Country Date School Degree
 Prince Edward Island 1973 University of Prince Edward Island Doctor of Laws (LL.D) [20]
 Ontario Spring 1974 York University Doctor of Letters (D.Litt) [21]
 Nova Scotia 1978 Dalhousie University Doctor of Laws (LL.D) [22]
 Ontario 5 June 1981 Brock University Doctor of Laws (LL.D) [23]
 Ontario 6 June 1981 University of Windsor Doctor of Letters (D.Litt) [24]
 Alberta 1982 Athabasca University Doctor of Athabasca University (D.AU) [25]
 British Columbia May 1983 University of Victoria Doctor of Laws (LL.D) [26]
 Ontario November 1983 McMaster University Doctor of Letters (D. Litt) [27]
 Ontario 1984 Royal Military College of Canada Doctor of Laws (LL.D) [28]
 Alaska 1984 University of Alaska Fairbanks Doctor of Fine Arts (DFA) [29]
 British Columbia 30 May 1985 University of British Columbia Doctor of Letters (D.Litt) [30]
 Ontario 1988 University of Waterloo Doctor of Laws (LL.D) [31]
 Ontario 7 June 2002 University of Western Ontario Doctor of Laws (LL.D) [32]
This list is incomplete; you can help by expanding it.

Bibliography

All of Pierre Berton's writings, including finished books and articles as well as manuscripts, drafts, and research material are now held in the Pierre Berton fonds at the McMaster University Archives here.[34]

References

  1. ↑ John R. Grodzinski, "Opening Shots from the Bicentenary of the War of 1812: Canadian Perspective on Recent Titles," The Journal of Military History (October 2012) 76#4 page 1189
  2. 1 2 3 Gerard, Warren (December 1, 2004). "He was 'all fire and sparkling with ideas'". Toronto Star. Toronto: Torstar. pp. A08–A09.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 Berton, Pierre (1987). Starting Out, 1920–1947. Toronto: McClelland and Stewart. ISBN 0-7710-1342-6.
  4. ↑ Berton, Pierre, "My Love Affair with the Scout Movement", Toronto Star, Toronto
  5. ↑ Parker, Janice (January 1, 2002). Craats, Rennay, ed. Writers. Weigl Educational Publishers. p. 42. ISBN 978-1-896990-90-3. Retrieved March 2, 2011.
  6. ↑ Brettell, Caroline (May 1999). Writing against the wind: a mother's life history. Rowman & Littlefield. p. 27. ISBN 978-0-8420-2783-0. Retrieved March 2, 2011.
  7. 1 2 3 4 "Pierre Berton 1920–2004". CBC News Online. The Canadian Broadcasting Corporation. November 30, 2004. Archived from the original on March 2, 2011. Retrieved 2010-05-22.
  8. ↑ Colombo, John Robert (1984). Canadian literary landmarks. Dundurn Press Ltd. p. 287. ISBN 978-0-88882-073-0. Retrieved March 2, 2011.
  9. ↑ "The Story of the Klondike: Stampede for Gold – The Golden Trail – Pierre Berton". Smithsonian Folkways. Archived from the original on March 2, 2011.
  10. ↑ "Humanist Association of Toronto".
  11. ↑ Wilkes, Jim (October 18, 2004). "Berton's name adorns new Vaughan library". Toronto Star. Toronto: Torstar. p. B.04. Retrieved 2010-05-22.
  12. ↑ "Pierre Berton Resource Library Wins Another Prestigious Award" (PDF). Vaughan Public Libraries. January 31, 2007. Retrieved 2010-05-24.
  13. ↑ "Pierre Berton: the writer at home". CBC.ca. March 29, 1987. Archived from the original on March 3, 2011.
  14. ↑ "RMR: Celebrity Tip with Pierre Berton". YouTube. October 18, 2004. Retrieved 2012-11-01.
  15. ↑ "Pierre Berton's celebrity toking tips". CBCNews Arts & Entertainment. The Canadian Broadcasting Corporation. October 15, 2004. Retrieved 2010-05-22.
  16. ↑ "Celebrity Tip with Pierre Berton". The Rick Mercer Report. The Canadian Broadcasting Corporation. October 18, 2004. Retrieved 2010-05-22.
  17. ↑ "Pierre Berton Writers' Retreat". Bertonhouse.ca. Retrieved 2012-08-15.
  18. ↑ Office of the Governor General of Canada. Order of Canada citation. Queen's Printer for Canada. Retrieved May 24, 2010
  19. ↑ "CSICOP Award Winners". Skeptical Inquirer. 20 (5): 7. 1996.
  20. ↑ http://www.upei.ca/about-upei/governance-and-structure/senate/past-honorary-degree-recipients
  21. ↑ http://secretariat.info.yorku.ca/senate/sub-committee-on-honorary-degrees-and-ceremonials/honorary-degree-recipients/#B
  22. ↑ http://www.dal.ca/academics/convocation/ceremonies/honorary_degree_recipients/hon_degree_1892_1999.html
  23. ↑ https://brocku.ca/webfm_send/38035
  24. ↑ http://www.uwindsor.ca/secretariat/sites/uwindsor.ca.secretariat/files/honorary_degree_by_convocation_2.pdf
  25. ↑ http://www.athabascau.ca/content/aboutau/media/documents/OPEN_fall-winter2010.pdf
  26. ↑ http://www.uvic.ca/universitysecretary/senate/honorary/recipients/index.php#1985
  27. ↑ http://www.mcmaster.ca/univsec/reports_lists/S_HD_Recipients.pdf
  28. ↑ http://www.pierreberton.com/awards.htm
  29. ↑ https://www.alaska.edu/uajourney/honorary-degrees/honorary-degree-recipient/1980/
  30. ↑ http://www.library.ubc.ca/archives/hdcites/hdcites8.html#berton
  31. ↑ https://uwaterloo.ca/secretariat-general-counsel/committees-and-councils/honorary-degrees-committee/honorary-degrees-granted/1980-1989
  32. ↑ https://www.uwo.ca/univsec/pdf/senate/honorary/honorary_degrees_by_year.pdf
  33. ↑ Sexy Book, from the Orlando Sentinel; published July 14, 1985; retrieved February 7, 2013
  34. ↑ Alex Erasmi. "Pierre Berton, McMaster libraries". Library.mcmaster.ca. Retrieved 2012-11-01.
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