William Thorsell
Encyclopedia
William Thorsell, O.Ont
(born 6 July 1945 at Camrose, Alberta
) is a Canadian journalist, past Director and Chief Executive Officer
of the Royal Ontario Museum
. After his tenure at the ROM he became a Distinguished Senior Fellow at the Munk School of Global Affairs, University of Toronto.
In 1966, he graduated with a Bachelor of Arts
degree at the University of Alberta
and earned his Master of Arts
degree from that institution in 1970. He received a Master of Public and International Affairs from Princeton University
's Woodrow Wilson School of Public and International Affairs in 1972.
In 1975, Thorsell joined the Edmonton Journal's
editorial board for approximately a year. After a brief term on the Globe and Mails editorial board in Toronto, he returned to the Edmonton Journal in 1977 as an associate editor.
In 1984, he rejoined the Globe and Mail writing for its Report on Business
and returning to the paper's editorial board. He began a 10-year term as that paper's editor-in-chief from January 1989, after which he chaired the paper's editorial board for several months. In 1995, the University of Alberta awarded him an honorary Doctor of Laws.
In August 2000, Thorsell was appointed to the top management position at the Royal Ontario Museum. He was awarded the Order of Ontario
in 2007. In 2010, he was made a Knight of the Order of Arts and Letters (2010).
Order of Ontario
The Order of Ontario is the most prestigious official honour in the Canadian province of Ontario. Instituted in 1986 by Lieutenant Governor Lincoln Alexander, on the advice of the Cabinet under Premier David Peterson, the civilian order is administered by the Governor-in-Council and is intended to...
(born 6 July 1945 at Camrose, Alberta
Camrose, Alberta
Camrose is a city in central Alberta, Canada, amid some of the richest farmland in the prairies. It is a relatively small city which originally grew up along a railroad and now grows along Highway 13. Camrose is a scenic community with many parks, leading to its moniker "The Rose City"...
) is a Canadian journalist, past Director and Chief Executive Officer
Chief executive officer
A chief executive officer , managing director , Executive Director for non-profit organizations, or chief executive is the highest-ranking corporate officer or administrator in charge of total management of an organization...
of the Royal Ontario Museum
Royal Ontario Museum
The Royal Ontario Museum is a museum of world culture and natural history in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. With its main entrance facing Bloor Street in Downtown Toronto, the museum is situated north of Queen's Park and east of Philosopher's Walk in the University of Toronto...
. After his tenure at the ROM he became a Distinguished Senior Fellow at the Munk School of Global Affairs, University of Toronto.
In 1966, he graduated with a Bachelor of Arts
Bachelor of Arts
A Bachelor of Arts , from the Latin artium baccalaureus, is a bachelor's degree awarded for an undergraduate course or program in either the liberal arts, the sciences, or both...
degree at the University of Alberta
University of Alberta
The University of Alberta is a public research university located in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. Founded in 1908 by Alexander Cameron Rutherford, the first premier of Alberta and Henry Marshall Tory, its first president, it is widely recognized as one of the best universities in Canada...
and earned his Master of Arts
Master of Arts (postgraduate)
A Master of Arts from the Latin Magister Artium, is a type of Master's degree awarded by universities in many countries. The M.A. is usually contrasted with the M.S. or M.Sc. degrees...
degree from that institution in 1970. He received a Master of Public and International Affairs from Princeton University
Princeton University
Princeton University is a private research university located in Princeton, New Jersey, United States. The school is one of the eight universities of the Ivy League, and is one of the nine Colonial Colleges founded before the American Revolution....
's Woodrow Wilson School of Public and International Affairs in 1972.
In 1975, Thorsell joined the Edmonton Journal's
Edmonton Journal
The Edmonton Journal is a daily newspaper in Edmonton, Alberta. It is part of the Postmedia Network.-History:The Journal was founded in 1903 by three local businessmen — John Macpherson, Arthur Moore and J.W. Cunningham — as a rival to Alberta's first newspaper, the 23-year-old...
editorial board for approximately a year. After a brief term on the Globe and Mails editorial board in Toronto, he returned to the Edmonton Journal in 1977 as an associate editor.
In 1984, he rejoined the Globe and Mail writing for its Report on Business
Report on Business
Report on Business, commonly referred to as simply ROB, is the financial section of The Globe and Mail, a large Toronto-based Canadian newspaper. It is the most lengthy completion of economic news in Canada, and is considered an integral part of the newspaper...
and returning to the paper's editorial board. He began a 10-year term as that paper's editor-in-chief from January 1989, after which he chaired the paper's editorial board for several months. In 1995, the University of Alberta awarded him an honorary Doctor of Laws.
In August 2000, Thorsell was appointed to the top management position at the Royal Ontario Museum. He was awarded the Order of Ontario
Order of Ontario
The Order of Ontario is the most prestigious official honour in the Canadian province of Ontario. Instituted in 1986 by Lieutenant Governor Lincoln Alexander, on the advice of the Cabinet under Premier David Peterson, the civilian order is administered by the Governor-in-Council and is intended to...
in 2007. In 2010, he was made a Knight of the Order of Arts and Letters (2010).