ALAN  JAMES  JOHNSON

Thanks to Joyce for providing this page

FAMILY

James and Lucy Turner Johnson immigrated from Manchester, England to Peterborough, newly married, in 1923.  James worked for Canadian General Electric in Peterborough until retirement.  Alan was born in 1925 and his only sibling, David, was born in 1929.

TEACHING CAREER

Alan graduated in 1943 from Peterborough High School.

1943-44: Normal School in Peterborough

Alan taught in a 2-room school in Coboconk  until Christmas 1944.

1945: Alan was in the Army from January until September. He tried for paratroops, but didn’t weigh enough to meet regulations.

1945-46: Principal of a 3-room school in Apsley.

1946-48: Taught in Coppercliff.

1948-49: Taught Grade 8 in South Porcupine.

During these teaching years, Alan completed 10 courses in the B.A. program at Queen’s University by attending Queen’s in the summer and teaching through the winter.

1949-50: Attended Queen’s during regular academic year to complete his B.A., graduating in June, 1950.

1950-4: Taught Grade 8 at Central Senior Public School in Timmins. 

1954-7: Principal of Flora MacDonald Public School (12 rooms).

1955: Received his Master of Education degree from O.C.E.

1957 >>>> North Bay Teachers’ College.

FAMILY

Alan met Joyce Ryan* in September 1950, and they married in March 1951.  Their first child was born December 28, 1951 and their sixth was born in 1960: Marlo, Kit, Stephan, John, Matt and Mary Ann.

*Joyce was born in Timmins ('a wonderful multicultural home town') in 1925 and attended elementary and secondary school there. She completed her B.A. at the University of Toronto in 1948, and graduated from Toronto Teachers' College in 1949.

INTERESTS

Boy Scouts (through High School)

Religion: United Church > Unitarian-Universalists

Music: Classical and Jazz

Politics:  New Democrats

UNICEF

Boating:  Canoeing, camping, sailing

Skiing:  Downhill, later cross-country

Volunteer Committees:  Arts Centre, Community Concerts, Aids Committee