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Tom Clarke,
PHD
(59,60)
June 5,
2009 - Tom has vague memories of
starting Cubs in
Malartic, QC and continuing for a brief period while he lived at the East
Malartic Mine. It was several years later and another mining community north of
Sioux Lookout when the family moved to Toronto that he became a Cub again in
1951 at the 105th Toronto, St. James-Bond United Church. After a year in Cubs it
was on to the 105th Troop and eventually 105th Rover Crew. As a Scout he was
part of the Toronto contingent to the 50th anniversary Jamboree at Sutton
Coldfield, England in 1957. That same summer he attended the Silver Arrow camp,
on Wingfoot Island in Temagami. In December 1958, he became an Assistant
Scoutmaster in the 105th and several years later the Scoutmaster. In 1965 he
established the 105th Venturer Company and continued as Venturer Advisor through
1999 when he became Group Committee Chair.
The 105th were active users of HSR, or Camp Kennabi as it was
then known, with a two week camp each summer. Tom camped at Pioneer Point (later
the composite Pioneer Site) in the summer of 53, followed by three summers, 54,
55 & 56 at Birch Point.
Tom worked at HSR for
two summers where he served as Water Transport (59) and Composite ASM (60) on
the Loon Site. That was the summer that the Loon Troop cut through the Burnt
River to the Poverty Lakes south of Wilberforce. He also spent May and June of
1960 as one of three pre-camp staff who joined Bill Gainsforth, JC
Moore and Mrs Moore
to get things ready for the summer.
Tom's younger brother
Warner (66-77) also worked at camp.
Later as Troop Scouter
of the 105th, Tom brought the 105th to Birch Point for two week camps from 63
through 67. During this time, his interest in astronomy led him to help develop
the HSR “Star Hike” program. The 105th used the mainland portion for the most
part and years later in 91 or 92 when my son was a scout camping on Birch Point
with the 56th, I showed them the 105th markers painted on the cliff top on that
site.
Tom attended
University of Toronto
graduating in 1963 with a degree in Physics and in 1969 with a PhD in
Astrophysics. He joined the staff of the McLaughlin Planetarium of the
Royal Ontario Museum in 1968
as Assistant Curator and served as Head of the McLaughlin Planetarium from 1976
to its closure in late 1995. He continued with the Royal Ontario Museum in
Exhibit Development working on a number of special projects such as Ontario
TimeShip 2000 and major exhibits, retiring as Senior Project Manager in December
2003.
Tom continued his
Scouting in various roles including Area Commissioner, Assistant Regional
Commissioner for Venturers, and Key Trainer, Venturers working with John
Stephens among others on several Wood Badge Courses. In 1979 he was awarded the
Medal of Merit. He currently serves as Registrar with the 93rd Group in Toronto.
In 2009 he was awarded his 50 year service pin recognizing his service as an adult member of Scouts
Canada.
Tom has also served in
a leadership role in the
United Church of Canada at St. James-Bond United Church and currently
Fairlawn Avenue United Church and most recently serving two years June 2006
through May 2008 as Chair of Toronto South Presbytery.
Tom is married with
two grown children, Christopher and Caroline. He currently lives in Toronto and
can be reached at
tom.clarke@sympatico.ca. |
