Ned Corbett

Last updated

Edward Annand Corbett (1884-1964) was an innovator and pioneer adult educator in Canada. Born on April 12, 1884 [1] in Truro, Nova Scotia to Rev. Thomas Corbett and Agnes Harriett (Crowe) Corbett his early life included moves to Tyne Valley, Prince Edward Island; Blackville, New Brunswick and Rockburn, Quebec. [2]

Working his way through university as a salesman of stereoscopic photographs in Quebec and a horseback-tourist guide for the Banff Springs Hotel, he completed a BA in theology in 1912, and a MA, from McGill University.

During World War I, he assisted Henry Marshall Tory in establishing the Khaki College in Sussex, England, which offered Canadian soldiers opportunity to develop skills like bookkeeping, animal husbandry, and English. In 1921 his wartime mentor who was acting President of the University of Alberta, offered Corbett a position in the University Extension Department, as assistant to its director, A.E. Ottewell, whom he later succeeded in 1927. As director of University of Alberta's Extension Department get involved with establishing the university's radio station, CKUA - a pioneer in using new media in the vast province for educational purposes. The program has been credited as Canada's first educational broadcaster and Canada's first public broadcaster. [3]

Corbett lists of involvement within Alberta were wide including president of the Alberta Drama League and founding director of the Banff School of the Arts (1933).

By 1935 his scope had widened to the national level and he was instrumental in the establishment of the Canadian Association for Adult Education (CAAE), becoming the first director. His focus on citizenship education, rural adult education, and Canadian nationalism were all key interests during a time covering the Great Depression, World War II, and the post-war period. The period was one of major change when the shift from rural to urban living was having an significant impact on Canadians. Over this time he shaped the CAAE into a highly effective and significant Canadian institution.

Drawing on his early radio experience as an educational tool Corbett's worked with the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (CBC), the National Film Board (NFB) as well as Canada's Wartime Information Board, and is credited as the creative force [4] behind the popular CBC broadcasts, National Farm Radio Forum (Farm Forum) which ran from 1941 to 1965 that grew out of the New Canada Movement. [5]

One of his most creative contributions to Canadian adult education was with John Robbins, secretary of the Canadian Council on Education for Citizenship: The Joint Planning Commission (1947) described as one of the most notable and successful features of adult education at the national level in Canada. In 1949, Corbett headed the Canadian delegation to the first UNESCO World Conference on Adult Education held in Denmark.

After retirement from the CAAE in 1951, Corbett continued writing on topics of Canadian history and biography. A tribute to his father and family live Father God Bless Him (1953), describes his childhood years in Eastern Canada. He also wrote a biography of his early mentor, Henry Marshall Tory (1954) and an autobiography, We Have With Us Tonight (1957).

Ned Corbett married Anna Rae Dickson on June 3, 1912, in Seaforth, Ontario. [6] They had three children during their marriage. Their eldest son Bruce Sherwood Corbett died on November 8, 1944, in action while serving with Royal Canadian Air Force. [7] Ned died on October 28, 1964, in Toronto, Ontario, at the age of 80.

Selected publications

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">University of Alberta</span> Public research university in Alberta, Canada

The University of Alberta, also known as U of A or UAlberta, is a public research university located in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. It was founded in 1908 by Alexander Cameron Rutherford, the first premier of Alberta, and Henry Marshall Tory, the university's first president. It was enabled through the Post-secondary Learning Act.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bruce Hunter (poet)</span> Canadian poet, fiction and non-fiction author

Bruce Hunter is a Canadian poet, fiction and non-fiction author.

Myrna Kostash is a Canadian writer and journalist. She has published several non-fiction books and written for many Canadian magazines including Chatelaine. Of Ukrainian descent, she was born in Edmonton, Alberta and educated at the University of Alberta, the University of Washington, and the University of Toronto. She resides in Edmonton, Alberta.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">CKWS-DT</span> Global station in Kingston, Ontario, Canada

CKWS-DT is a television station in Kingston, Ontario, Canada, part of the Global Television Network. Owned and operated by network parent Corus Entertainment, the station maintains studios on Queen Street in downtown Kingston, and its transmitter is located near Highway 95 on Wolfe Island, south of the city.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Herb Dickieson</span> Canadian politician

Herb Dickieson is a retired physician and a former educator and politician in Prince Edward Island, Canada. Dickieson was the first and, to date, only member of the New Democratic Party of Prince Edward Island to have sat in the Legislative Assembly.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Nova Scotia Liberal Party</span> Political party in Nova Scotia, Canada

The Nova Scotia Liberal Party is a centrist provincial political party in Nova Scotia, Canada and the provincial section of the Liberal Party of Canada. The party currently forms the Official Opposition in Nova Scotia, under the leadership of Zach Churchill. The party was in power most recently from the 2013 election until the 2021 election.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jay Ingram</span> Canadian broadcaster

Jay Ingram CM is a Canadian author, broadcaster and science communicator. He was host of the television show Daily Planet, which aired on Discovery Channel Canada, since the channel's inception in 1995. Ingram's last episode of Daily Planet aired on June 5, 2011. Ingram announced his retirement but stated he will make guest appearances on Daily Planet. He was succeeded by Dan Riskin. His book The End of Memory: A Natural History of Aging and Alzheimer's is forthcoming from St. Martin's Press in 2015.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Paul Fromm (white supremacist)</span> Canadian white supremacist

Frederick Paul Fromm is a former Canadian high school teacher, white supremacist, neo-Nazi, and perennial political candidate.

<i>Street Legal</i> (Canadian TV series)

Street Legal is a Canadian legal drama television series, which aired on CBC Television from 1987 to 1994 before returning with six new episodes starting March 4, 2019. Street Legal was the longest-running one-hour scripted drama in the history of Canadian television, holding the record for twenty years before being surpassed by Heartland's 139th episode on March 29, 2015.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Henry Marshall Tory</span> Canadian academic

Henry Marshall Tory was the first president of the University of Alberta (1908–1928), the first president of the Khaki University, the first president of the National Research Council (1928–1935), and the first president of Carleton College (1942–1947). His brother was James Cranswick Tory, Lieutenant Governor of Nova Scotia (1925–1930).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Banff Centre for Arts and Creativity</span> Arts centre in Banff, Alberta, Canada

Banff Centre for Arts and Creativity, formerly known as The Banff Centre, located in Banff, Alberta, was established in 1933 as the Banff School of Drama. It was granted full autonomy as a non-degree granting post-secondary educational institution in 1978. It offers arts programs in the performing and fine arts, as well as leadership training. Banff Centre is a member of the Alberta Rural Development Network.

Harry Joseph Boyle was a Canadian broadcaster and writer.

Kathleen Elizabeth McDonnell is a Canadian author. She has been writing plays, fiction and non-fiction for both adults and young audiences since the late 1970s, and has also been a freelance broadcaster for CBC Radio.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Danielle Smith</span> 19th Premier of Alberta

Marlaina Danielle Smith is a Canadian politician and journalist who has been serving as the 19th premier of Alberta since October 11, 2022, and leader of the United Conservative Party (UCP) since October 6, 2022. Smith entered provincial politics in 2009, becoming the leader of the Wildrose Party. She won a seat in the Legislative Assembly of Alberta in 2012, serving as leader of the Opposition until 2014, when she resigned to join the governing Progressive Conservatives (PCs). She was the member of the Legislative Assembly (MLA) for Highwood from 2012 until 2015, and became MLA for Brooks-Medicine Hat on November 8, 2022.

Citizens' Forum is a Canadian current affairs television program which aired on CBC Television from 1955 to 1962.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2014 in Canada</span> List of events

Events from the year 2014 in Canada.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2014 Progressive Conservative Association of Alberta leadership election</span>

The 2014 Progressive Conservative Association of Alberta leadership election was prompted by Alison Redford's announcement that she would be resigning as leader of the Progressive Conservatives and Premier of Alberta on March 23, 2014.

Open College was a radio-based university-credit distance education provider based in Toronto, Canada; it primarily served listeners in Ontario.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Rachael Thomas</span> Canadian politician

Rachael Thomas is a Canadian politician who was elected to represent the riding of Lethbridge in the House of Commons of Canada in the 2015 federal election. A member of the Conservative Party, she was reelected in the 2019 and 2021 federal elections. Thomas is the current Shadow Minister for Canadian Heritage and she has served as the Official Opposition critic for Youth, Persons with Disabilities, Status of Women, and Digital Government.

<i>National Farm Radio Forum</i> Canadian radio program

The National Farm Radio Forum was a weekly radio show that aired on the CBC from 1941 until 1965. The program was targeted at rural audiences, who were encouraged to form local listening groups ("forums"). Forums would meet weekly to listen to the broadcast together and discuss its content. The program was praised for its effectiveness as a form of adult education, and for encouraging socialization and community improvement projects.

References

  1. Dales, Graeme. "Dales Family Tree". Ancestry.com. Retrieved 21 May 2020.
  2. Dales, Graeme. "Dales Family Tree". Ancestry.com. Retrieved 21 May 2020.
  3. Warman, David P. "Edward (Ned) Annand Corbett". Encyclopedia of Canadian Adult Education. Retrieved 21 May 2020.
  4. Warman, David P. "Edward (Ned) Annand Corbett". Encyclopedia of Canadian Adult Education. Retrieved 22 May 2020.
  5. "National Farm Radio Forum". CBC Radio. Rewind. Retrieved 22 May 2020.
  6. Dales, Graeme. "Dales Family Tree". Ancestry.com. Retrieved 22 May 2020.
  7. "In memory of: Flying Officer Bruce Sherwood Corbett". Canadian Virtual War Memorial (CVWM). Retrieved 22 May 2020.