William Arthur Irwin
Encyclopedia
William Arthur Irwin, often credited as W. Arthur Irwin (May 27, 1898 – August 9, 1999), was a Canadian
journalist and diplomat. He is best known for his work on Maclean's
, a magazine with which he held various positions across a quarter of a century. He also served as the Commissioner of the National Film Board of Canada
(NFB), and as Canadian high commissioner
or ambassador
to various countries.
Irwin was born in Ayr, Ontario
. During the First World War
he served abroad, before returning to Canada after the end of the conflict to attend the University of Toronto
. While still attending the university he made his first steps into journalism, working at The Mail and Empire
for $30 a week. He subsequently moved on to work for The Globe
, for which he worked until 1925 when he resigned following criticism from the paper's owner about a piece he had written during the 1925 federal election
.
The same year, he began working for Maclean's. He was initially the magazine's associate editor, becoming the full editor in 1945, although even before this point he was regarded as being the driving force behind the publication. He is credited with having brought a new generation of Canadian artists and writers to prominence at Maclean's, including Pierre Berton
, June Callwood
, Trent Frayne
and Clyde Gilmour
. Irwin was a Canadian nationalist
, who believed his job at Maclean's was "interpreting Canada to Canadians."
In addition to his journalistic career in this period, during the 1930s he worked with the Canadian Institute of International Affairs
. In the 1940s he also began working for the United Nations
, an organisation with which he continued to be associated through to the 1960s. In 1948 he suffered a personal loss when his wife Jean, whom he had married shortly after leaving university, died of asthma
.
Irwin left Maclean's in February 1950 when he became the Government Film Commissioner, in charge of the National Film Board. He had been recruited to try to restore the Board's public image and combat the perceived threat of communism
within the organisation. Some NFB staff were concerned about Irwin's appointment, both because of his complete lack of any experience in the film industry and because Maclean's sister publication, the Financial Post
, had made damaging revelations about communist elements in the NFB. However, Irwin made important changes that helped to revive the fortunes of the NFB. He re-wrote the National Film Act, making the organisation independent of government control. He also decided to move the NFB's headquarters from Ottawa
to Montreal
, believing it would benefit from being away from the capital.
It was also at the NFB that Irwin met his second wife, the writer and poet P. K. Page
. She was working as a scriptwriter at the NFB when he arrived there in 1950. She had decided to leave the NFB, and Irwin had initially invited her to dinner to try to persuade her to stay, from which had blossomed a friendship which turned to romance, and they married later the same year. Page later commented that her success as a poet would not have been possible without Irwin's support.
Irwin left the National Film Board in 1953, to take up work for the Department of External Affairs. He served as High Commissioner to Australia
, and then as Ambassador to Brazil
, Mexico
and finally Guatemala
before retiring from diplomatic service in 1964. He then worked as publisher of the Times newspaper in Victoria, British Columbia
until his retirement in 1971.
He died in Victoria in 1999, at the age of 101. He was survived by Page, and by his three children from his first marriage.
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
journalist and diplomat. He is best known for his work on Maclean's
Maclean's
Maclean's is a Canadian weekly news magazine, reporting on Canadian issues such as politics, pop culture, and current events.-History:Founded in 1905 by Toronto journalist/entrepreneur Lt.-Col. John Bayne Maclean, a 43-year-old trade magazine publisher who purchased an advertising agency's in-house...
, a magazine with which he held various positions across a quarter of a century. He also served as the Commissioner of the National Film Board of Canada
National Film Board of Canada
The National Film Board of Canada is Canada's twelve-time Academy Award-winning public film producer and distributor. An agency of the Government of Canada, the NFB produces and distributes documentary, animation, alternative drama and digital media productions...
(NFB), and as Canadian high commissioner
High Commissioner
High Commissioner is the title of various high-ranking, special executive positions held by a commission of appointment.The English term is also used to render various equivalent titles in other languages.-Bilateral diplomacy:...
or ambassador
Ambassador
An ambassador is the highest ranking diplomat who represents a nation and is usually accredited to a foreign sovereign or government, or to an international organization....
to various countries.
Irwin was born in Ayr, Ontario
Ayr, Ontario
The village of Ayr, Ontario, Canada is a settlement located within the Township of North Dumfries in the Regional Municipality of Waterloo in Southwestern Ontario...
. During the First World War
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
he served abroad, before returning to Canada after the end of the conflict to attend the University of Toronto
University of Toronto
The University of Toronto is a public research university in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, situated on the grounds that surround Queen's Park. It was founded by royal charter in 1827 as King's College, the first institution of higher learning in Upper Canada...
. While still attending the university he made his first steps into journalism, working at The Mail and Empire
The Mail and Empire
The Mail and Empire was formed from the 1895 merger of The Toronto Mail and Toronto Empire newspapers, both conservative newspapers in Toronto, Canada. The paper merged with The Globe to form the The Globe and Mail in 1936....
for $30 a week. He subsequently moved on to work for The Globe
The Globe (Toronto newspaper)
The Globe was a newspaper in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, founded in 1844 by George Brown as a Reform voice. It merged with The Mail and Empire in 1936 to form The Globe and Mail.-History:...
, for which he worked until 1925 when he resigned following criticism from the paper's owner about a piece he had written during the 1925 federal election
Canadian federal election, 1925
The Canadian federal election of 1925 was held on October 29 to elect members of the Canadian House of Commons of the 15th Parliament of Canada. Prime Minister William Lyon Mackenzie King's Liberal Party formed a minority government. This precipitated the "King-Byng Affair".The Liberals under...
.
The same year, he began working for Maclean's. He was initially the magazine's associate editor, becoming the full editor in 1945, although even before this point he was regarded as being the driving force behind the publication. He is credited with having brought a new generation of Canadian artists and writers to prominence at Maclean's, including Pierre Berton
Pierre Berton
Pierre Francis de Marigny Berton, was a noted Canadian author of non-fiction, especially Canadiana and Canadian history, and was a well-known television personality and journalist....
, June Callwood
June Callwood
June Rose Callwood, was a Canadian journalist, author and social activist. She was born in Chatham, Ontario and grew up in nearby Belle River.-Early life and career:...
, Trent Frayne
Trent Frayne
Trent Gardiner Frayne is a retired Canadian sportswriter whose career stretched over 60 years."Billy" Frayne, as he was known as a youth, was born to father Homer, who was a railroader for the Canadian Pacific Railway and mother Ella...
and Clyde Gilmour
Clyde Gilmour
Clyde Gilmour, was a Canadian broadcaster and print journalist, mostly known for his half-century career with CBC Radio.-Biography:...
. Irwin was a Canadian nationalist
Canadian nationalism
Canadian nationalism is a term which has been applied to ideologies of several different types which highlight and promote specifically Canadian interests over those of other countries, notably the United States...
, who believed his job at Maclean's was "interpreting Canada to Canadians."
In addition to his journalistic career in this period, during the 1930s he worked with the Canadian Institute of International Affairs
Canadian institute of international affairs
The Canadian Institute of International Affairs was a Canadian, non-partisan, nationwide forum for the discussion and analysis of international affairs. The CIIA had 13 branches across Canada and a membership of 1,300. It hosted conferences, seminars and a speaker series...
. In the 1940s he also began working for the United Nations
United Nations
The United Nations is an international organization whose stated aims are facilitating cooperation in international law, international security, economic development, social progress, human rights, and achievement of world peace...
, an organisation with which he continued to be associated through to the 1960s. In 1948 he suffered a personal loss when his wife Jean, whom he had married shortly after leaving university, died of asthma
Asthma
Asthma is the common chronic inflammatory disease of the airways characterized by variable and recurring symptoms, reversible airflow obstruction, and bronchospasm. Symptoms include wheezing, coughing, chest tightness, and shortness of breath...
.
Irwin left Maclean's in February 1950 when he became the Government Film Commissioner, in charge of the National Film Board. He had been recruited to try to restore the Board's public image and combat the perceived threat of communism
Communism
Communism is a social, political and economic ideology that aims at the establishment of a classless, moneyless, revolutionary and stateless socialist society structured upon common ownership of the means of production...
within the organisation. Some NFB staff were concerned about Irwin's appointment, both because of his complete lack of any experience in the film industry and because Maclean's sister publication, the Financial Post
Financial Post
The Financial Post was an English Canadian business newspaper, which published from 1907 to 1998. In 1998, the publication was folded into the new National Post, although the name Financial Post has been retained as the banner for that paper's business section and also lives on in the Post’s...
, had made damaging revelations about communist elements in the NFB. However, Irwin made important changes that helped to revive the fortunes of the NFB. He re-wrote the National Film Act, making the organisation independent of government control. He also decided to move the NFB's headquarters from Ottawa
Ottawa
Ottawa is the capital of Canada, the second largest city in the Province of Ontario, and the fourth largest city in the country. The city is located on the south bank of the Ottawa River in the eastern portion of Southern Ontario...
to Montreal
Montreal
Montreal is a city in Canada. It is the largest city in the province of Quebec, the second-largest city in Canada and the seventh largest in North America...
, believing it would benefit from being away from the capital.
It was also at the NFB that Irwin met his second wife, the writer and poet P. K. Page
P. K. Page
Patricia Kathleen Page, CC, OBC, FRSC , commonly known as P. K. Page, was a Canadian poet. She was the author of over 30 published books: of poetry, fiction, travel diaries, essays, children's books, and an autobiography.By special resolution of the United Nations, in 2001 Page's poem "Planet...
. She was working as a scriptwriter at the NFB when he arrived there in 1950. She had decided to leave the NFB, and Irwin had initially invited her to dinner to try to persuade her to stay, from which had blossomed a friendship which turned to romance, and they married later the same year. Page later commented that her success as a poet would not have been possible without Irwin's support.
Irwin left the National Film Board in 1953, to take up work for the Department of External Affairs. He served as High Commissioner to Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
, and then as Ambassador to Brazil
Brazil
Brazil , officially the Federative Republic of Brazil , is the largest country in South America. It is the world's fifth largest country, both by geographical area and by population with over 192 million people...
, Mexico
Mexico
The United Mexican States , commonly known as Mexico , is a federal constitutional republic in North America. It is bordered on the north by the United States; on the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; on the southeast by Guatemala, Belize, and the Caribbean Sea; and on the east by the Gulf of...
and finally Guatemala
Guatemala
Guatemala is a country in Central America bordered by Mexico to the north and west, the Pacific Ocean to the southwest, Belize to the northeast, the Caribbean to the east, and Honduras and El Salvador to the southeast...
before retiring from diplomatic service in 1964. He then worked as publisher of the Times newspaper in Victoria, British Columbia
Victoria, British Columbia
Victoria is the capital city of British Columbia, Canada and is located on the southern tip of Vancouver Island off Canada's Pacific coast. The city has a population of about 78,000 within the metropolitan area of Greater Victoria, which has a population of 360,063, the 15th most populous Canadian...
until his retirement in 1971.
He died in Victoria in 1999, at the age of 101. He was survived by Page, and by his three children from his first marriage.