Murray Thomson | |
|---|---|
 Thomson in 2015 | |
| Born | December 19, 1922 Honan, China |
| Died | May 2, 2019 (aged 96) |
| Nationality | Canadian |
| Awards | Pearson Medal of Peace (1990), Order of Canada (2001) |
Murray McCheyne Thomson OC (December 19, 1922 – May 2, 2019) was a Canadian peace activist[1]
Thomson was born in Honan, China where his parents were Christian missionaries. Thomson founded many non-profits in Canada.[2] He was the 1990 recipient of the Pearson Medal of Peace[3][4] for his work in peace and justice[5] and was made an Officer of the Order of Canada in 2001.[6][7] He was also awarded the (Canadian) Golden Jubilee Medal[8] and the Diamond Jubilee Medal[9][8] He is a former Executive Director of CUSO.[4]
He is credited in helping the formation of:
- Grindstone Island
- The Peacefund Canada Foundation (1980s)
- Peace Brigades International[7][4] (1981)
- Project Ploughshares[7][4] (1976)
- Group of 78 (1980)
- Canadian Friends of Burma (1990)
- Canadians for a Nuclear Weapons Convention (2012)
Murray was a recognized international expert and advisor to governments, aid organizations, and lobbyists on disarmament and arms control.[7] He was significantly involved in starting the United Nations World Disarmament Campaign and drafting its policy document, which was passed by the United Nations General Assembly.[7] He continued to be active in advocating for disarmament into 2019.[10] For several years he led a campaign among members of the Order of Canada in calling for an international Nuclear Weapons Convention. Over 1,030 members of the Order have signed the statement as of May 2019.[11]
He died on May 2, 2019, in Ottawa, Canada.[12]
His archives are held by William Ready Division of Archives and Research Collections at McMaster University in Hamilton, Ontario.
Works
- Thomson, Murray (2015). Minutes to midnight : why more than 800 Order of Canada recipients call for nuclear disarmament (PDF). Ottawa, ON: Author. ISBN 978-0-9696808-1-9.
- A Time to Disarm: A Discussion Guide for Stimulating a National Dialogue on Canada and the UN's Special Session on Disarmament, 23 May - 28 June 1978 By Ernie Regehr and Murray Thomson
- Daring Confidence: The Life and Times of Andrew Thomson in China 1906–1942. By Murray Thomson
- Toward a Culture of Peace: Can We Afford to Pay the Price? By Murray Thomson
References
- ↑ Lumley, Elizabeth (2000). The Canadian Who's who. University of Toronto Press. p. 1257. ISBN 0802049397.
- ↑ "Canadian Who's Who 1997 entry". Retrieved April 4, 2006.
- ↑ Sharpe, Alan (February 1991). "Murray Thomson: Ottawa's Peace Medal Winner". Peace and Environment News. Archived from the original on 16 August 2016. Retrieved 1 August 2016.
- 1 2 3 4 Watson, Rick. "The Peacefund Canada Foundation". Peace Brigades International Canada. Retrieved 1 February 2018.
- ↑ Gruending, Dennis (8 December 2012). "Murray Thomson, peace activist at 90". Archived from the original on 8 August 2016. Retrieved 1 August 2016.
- ↑ "The Governor General announces new appointments to the Order of Canada".
- 1 2 3 4 5 "Recipients". 11 June 2018.
- 1 2 "Recipients". 11 June 2018.
- ↑ "Recipients". 11 June 2018.
- ↑ "Canada must join new negotiations to eliminate nuclear weapons". Canadians for a Nuclear Weapons Convention. 1 January 2017. Retrieved 1 February 2018.
- ↑ "Welcome". Canadians for a Nuclear Weapons Convention. 1 December 2016. Retrieved 1 February 2018.
- ↑ Murray Thomson at Peaceweb/Peace/Ottawa
Further reading
- "Murray Thomson". United Nations Association In Canada. 17 September 1990. Retrieved 1 February 2018.
- Stieren, Carl, ed. (1995). "Ottawa Quakers active in peace work (a selection)". Peaceweb. Peace and Social Concerns Committee, Ottawa Monthly Meeting, Religious Society of Friends. 1 (1).
- "Government House: Order of Canada" (PDF). Canada Gazette. 135 (42). 20 October 2001. (HTML)
- Thomson, Murray. "Presentation from CFOB's 20th Anniversary Party". YouTube.
- Peace activist Murray Thomson dies at 96
- "Murray Thomson fonds - Search Research Collections". McMaster University Library. William Ready Division of Archives and Research Collections. Retrieved 7 November 2019.