Ryerson University - A Unicorn Among Horses 12+

🔖 Few blocks in Canada match the golden history of St. James Square purchased in 1850 by that Canadian giant, Egerton Ryerson. One of the great innovators and entrepreneurs in education! This tells how he founded Ontario's school system there after a long fight to get schools for every one. The Square was more than just the first home of his ministry because he inspired a provincial museum, art gallery, art school, model school and teacher's college there which changed Toronto.The university that was the final grand accomplishment for the Square has endured more perils than most movies. Many of the barriers it had to overcome are described here for the first time. Every year brought more gauntlets to survive before an uncaring clutch of politicians who really didn't care much as long as it didn't cost too much and burn down and make them look bad. The university now is a true city institution. Town and gown intertwine, and also inspire the neighbourhood. Yet the bureaucrats almost moved it to cheaper land in the suburbs.Circumstance forced early instructors and professors into so many challenging duties that David Crombie, the future mayor and federal minister, ended up teaching Sociology to five courses, a subject he had never taken himself. Ted Toogood taught English and supervised athletics at the same time as he captained the Toronto Argos and led the team to victory in the first televised Grey Cup. There were premiers who never really understood what the in...