VICE-PRESIDENTS (ADMINISTRATION & FINANCE):
D.R. MACKAY (Brandon College 1947-1967; Brandon University 1967-1972)
Donald Ross MacKay was born in Weyburn, Saskatchewan. He came to Brandon College in 1936, and graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree in 1939 or 1940. From 1940-1947, MacKay served in the Canadian Army Canada and overseas. In September 1947 he was appointed Registrar-Bursar at Brandon College. During his career he also served as University Comptroller, Public Relations Officer, Director of Development, Secretary to the Board of Governors, Secretary of the Board of Directors, Secretary to Senate and Assistant to the President. He also served on the Brandon College Expansion Committee, the Hales Museum Committee and was the Chairman of the Athletic Directorate. MacKay retired from the University in 1984. After his retirement he served on the Brandon University Foundation Board of Directors. In recognition of his service to the University MaKay was presented with the Alumni Award in 1974 and with the Distinguished Service Award in 1981 for his contributions to society. MacKay's additional community involvement included the Centennial Auditorium Committee, the Brandon Schools Orchestral Band Association, the Planning Committee for First United Church - St. Paul's Church (what became Central United Church), the Manitoba Heart Foundation, the Kiwanis Club, the Wally Byam Caravan Club, Nitecappers and Northview Pools Inc.
MacKay's career at Brandon College and Brandon University was unprecedented in the breadth of administrative responsibility. As a result, records created during his tenure as Comptroller almost certainly also reflect his responsibilites beyond the Comptroller's Office.
Don MacKay died on April 2, 1990. He was predeceased by his first wife Gwen Dobie, with whom he had four children: Joan, Holly, Ross and Jane. He left behind a second wife, Mona.
CARMAN RUST (1973-1976)
Carman Frederick Rust was born in Brandon, Manitoba on August 27, 1935. He graduated from Brandon College in 1949 with an Arts degree. Rust completed his C.A. in Winnipeg in 1964, and from 1964-1969 he worked as an accountant with Donovan, Stone & Co. in Brandon. In 1969 he was hired as Assistant Comptroller under D.R. MacKay at Brandon University. He became Comptroller in 1973 and retired in 1976. Rust served as a Lieutenant in the Canadian Forces Supplementary Reserve and was a past President of both the Kinsmen Club of Brandon and the Brandon Golf & Country Club. He was married and had 3 children. Carman Rust died in Brandon on February 7, 2001.
ROSS EASTLEY (1976-1987)
Ross Eastley graduated from Brandon University in 1969 with a Bachelor of Arts degree. He then articled as a C.A. student with Donovan, Stone and Company, receiving his Chartered Accountant's degree in 1972. Eastley was hired as an Associate Accountant at Brandon University in 1973. He later became Accountant and was Acting Comptroller in 1976; in 1977 he became Comptroller, responsible for the accounting offices and ancillary enterprises. In the years following, Eastley became responsible for other areas such as the computer centre, the physical lant and personnel. After his job expanded in terms of responsibilities his title was changed ffrom Comptroller to Vice-President. Eastley also taught introductory accounting to students participating in Brandon Univeristy's Continuing Education program. He resigned from his position as Vice-President (Administration and Finance) in August 1987 to enter into private practise as a chartered accountant.
During his time at Brandon University, Easltey, along with Terry Mitchell, created TKM Software Limited, a venture that developed library software. In addition to his accounting practice, Eastley continued his work in this area following his departure from Brandon University. Since June 2005, he has held the position of Secretary-Treasurer of the Western School Division in Mordon, MB.
LARRY DAWSON (1987-1996)
Larry Dawson received his B.Sc. and his M.B.A. from the University of Alberta. He obtained a Registered Industrial Accountant certificate from the Society of Management Accountants in Manitoba.
Dawson was appointed Vice-President (Administration and Finance) of Brandon University on November 1, 1987. Prior to that appointment he held the post of Chief Financial Officer for East Kottenay Community College in Cranbrook, B.C. He had also been an instructor at the University of Alberta, Simon Fraser University and the University of Nairobi, Kenya.
He left Brandon University in 1996 to accept the position of Vice-President (Administration and Finance) at Mount Royal College in Calgary. After a brief period in the United Arab Emirates, Larry Dawson returned to Calgary, and at present (January 2006) he and his wife Barb continue to live there.
SCOTT LAMONT (1996-present)
No biographical information yet.
Scope and Content
Sub-series consists of records created and collected by the Office of the Bursar/Comptroller/Vice-President (Administration and Finance). It includes correspondence, financial information, reports, newsclippings, photographs, reference materials, lists, memos, blueprints, newsletters
Notes
A partial inventory for the sub-series exists as a Word document. In the years initally following the change from "Bursar" to "Comptroller" the terms were sometimes used interchangably. All files marked "Personal - D.R. MacKay" have been removed and placed in MG 1 Brandon University Teaching and Administration at 1.7 D.R. MacKay. Biographical information in the History/Bio field was taken from Brandon University calendars (1967-2006) and biographical files located in the McKee Archives. Partial biographical information for Larry Dawson was taken from an article in "The Quill" (September 24, 1987).
RG 6 Brandon University fonds
Series 4: Office of the Vice-President
Arrangement
Where there was no obvious arrangement, the files in the sub-series have been arranged chronologically. Original order was maintained in all other instances.
File consists of memos, correspondence, invitations and programs for School of Music events, International Music Camp adjudicators' comments, and information of the Brandon University String Scholarship program.
Storage Location
RG 6 Brandon University fonds
Series 4: Office of the Vice-President
4.2 Office of the Vice-President (Administration & Finance)
Box 7
File consists of correspondence, an honourary degree nomination for Betty Gibson, a membership list for the Canadian Association of Unviersity Development Officers and notices for School of Music concerts.
When the Department of Music was founded in 1906, it offered only conservatory-type instruction under the direction of Abbie Helmer Vining (1906-07). W.L. Wright, after four years' study in Berlin with Leopold Godowsky, took over in 1907 and remained director until 1947. During the 1920s and 1930s, the department attracted students from across Canada to work with Wright, Esther Magdalene Moore, Kathleen Moffat Fairbairn (piano), and Ruth Morgan (voice) towards graduate and post-graduate diplomas. During the Depression and the Second World War, music education at Brandon College declined as a result of financial woes facing the College and the departure of students to the war.
Under directors Peggy A. Sharpe (acting director 1947-48), and Lorne Watson (1948-1981), most instruction was given to elementary and high school students from Brandon. Through the encouragement and support of successive university presidents, the music faculty and university music credit courses were expanded to make possible a music minor within a B.A. or B.Sc. degree. By 1963, the college offered the first B.Mus. program (music education and applied) in Manitoba. In the same year, the Department of Music became the School of Music with two areas of activity: one continuing the conservatory tradition, the other leading to university degrees. Watson continued as director while Sharpe assumed the new position of supervisor of the conservatory. She was succeeded by Watson in 1981.
When Brandon attained university status, the School of Music became a member of the Western Board of Music (WBM), now Conservatory Canada. Later a B.Mus. (general) was added and, in 1980, the M.Mus. (music education and applied). In 1981, Watson was succeeded as director by Gordon Macpherson (1981-87), during whose tenure the position was re-named dean. In 1987 Lawrence Jones became dean. Jones was followed by Patrick Carrabre and Glen Carruthers.
Originally housed in Clark Hall, in 1963 the School of Music moved into a new building, officially opened by Sir Ernest MacMillan, on 28 October 1963. It housed a music library, electronic music studio, classrooms, rehearsal hall and studios. Increased enrolment in the 1970s necessitated the acquisition of three adjacent houses. On 5 October 1984, Queen Elizabeth II opened the present music building, which is named after her.
The school's reputation as a centre of string pedagogy dates from Albert Pratz' appointment to the faculty in 1964 and the engagement of the Halifax Trio (Brandon University Trio) as artists-in-residence in 1966. The Wawanesa Insurance Co. in 1964 established a string scholarship program, which has since been carried on through the Carl and Lyle Sanders Grant and the R.D. Bell String Scholarships. A Suzuki string program was set up in 1977, directed by Alison Ryles (B.Mus. Brandon, 1978) who was followed in 1981 by Gerhard Ginader.
Besides the Brandon University Trio, school ensembles have included the Brandon University Orchestra, Concert Band, Chorale, Jazz Bands and Guitar Ensemble. The Collegium Musicum, formed in 1973 by James Mendenhall, has a collection of replicas of early instruments. The school frequently produces an opera (or musical theatre work) directed by Sylvia Richardson.
Student pursuing a major in music education have founded an active organization known as the Brandon University Student Music Educators' Association (BUSMEA), which is, in effect, a student branch of Manitoba Music Educators Association (MMEA). Annual summer schools enhance the program. In the 1960s, under the direction of Peggy A. Sharpe, recitals and workshops were given by visiting artists. In the 1980s, the emphasis was on graduate courses, including the offering of a Kodaly specialist diploma.
In the conservatory, music for children classes, the Suzuki string program, and classes in the Alexander technique are offered. The conservatory offers courses for gifted students. It also sponsored annual workshops for teachers. Clinicians have included Lawrence Jones, Lorne Watson, Gordon Macpherson, Sydney Young McInnis, Shirley Yip, Elizabeth Grant and Irma Toews.
The School of Music acts as a musical focus for southwestern Manitoba. Beginning in the 1960s, it co-sponsored (with the MMEA) an annual choral/orchestral workshop in January attracting up to 300 music educators and students from Manitoba and beyond. Rehearsals of the Brandon Community Chorus and Community Orchestra take place at the school, as do most events of the Brandon Festival of the Arts. It is also the home of the annual S.C. Eckhardt-Gramatte competition for the Performance of Canadian Music and the annual Brandon Jazz Festival. One reason for such constant activitiy is the excellence of the Queen Elizabeth II Music Building, which includes an advanced electronic studio, rehearsal halls for orchestras, bands and choirs and a 200-seat hall with recording facilities and ideal acoustics. On the occasion of Lorne Watson's 40th anniversary at Brandon that hall was named the Lorne Watson Recital Hall in his honour.
The music school's first graduate (1966) was Jack Spalding. Honourary doctorates in music have been awarded to W.L. Wright (1969), S.C. Eckhardt-Gramatte (1970), Murray Adaskin (1972), Jon Vickers (1976), Kenneth Winters (1989), the Guess Who and Tom Cochrane.
Scope and Content
Series has been divided into three sub-series, including: (1) Dean of Music; (2) Music Faculty Council; and (3) School of Music publications.
Notes
The history/bio note was taken from the Encyclopedia of Music in Canada at http://www.collectionscanada.ca/emc/m17-119.01-e.php?uid=415&uidc=ID (January 2006). The entry was written by Lorne Watson. Peggy A. Sharpe died in 2005.
RG 6 Brandon University fonds
Series 7: Faculties and Schools
Related Material
A file of miscellaneous newspaper clippings etc. assembled by Eileen McFadden for the period 1979-1985, is located in the Institutional Files in the Reading Room.
