Saturday, March 26, 2011

Kirk Wipper Eulogy by Robin Campbell

It is indeed a privilege for me to speak this morning to celebrate the life of my colleague and friend Kirk Wipper. Ann, Doug, David, Johanna and your families, our thoughts are with you. For those of you who may not know my connection to Kirk and the Wipper family, I first met Kirk in 1957,when I was a young camper, the year Kirk bought Camp Kandalore. Since that time, I was so inspired by Kirk’s values that I continued at camp through my university years, was a Professor and colleague with Kirk at the University of Toronto and volunteered with him at the Royal Life Saving Society.
 Over his lifetime, we knew Kirk by many titles. For some of you it was husband, father or grandparent. For others, it was physical educator, coach, Professor, Camp Director, Curator, Professor Emeritus or Chancellor to name a few. For most of us, Kirk will be remembered simply as our friend. I think though, Kirk will be recognized by most as a visionary leader of Canadian Heritage and for those achievements, Kirk was given the Order of Canada in 2002. 
Throughout his life, Kirk believed in the value of education and worked tirelessly even after his retirement from the University of Toronto in 1987 on projects that would leave a wonderful legacy. You have heard about many of these activities this morning. 
Kirk joined the School of Physical and Health Education in 1950 and from the start was considered an innovator. Kirk was recognized as a pioneer in the development of outdoor education in Canada. In the 1970’s, Kirk developed the syllabus for outdoor education courses, a program that is still required today as part of the BPHE undergraduate curriculum at U of T. During his 37 years at the University, he taught more than 3,000 students and I see that some of them are here this morning. 
In 1959, the Royal Life Saving Society credited Kirk with introducing mouth-to-mouth artificial respiration into the Society’s Canadian training program. Also during Kirk’s term as President of the Ontario Branch between 1965 – 67, drafts of the first Canadian Life Saving manuals were written – a project headed by Joc Palm.
These are impressive accomplishments for a full-time University Professor and the owner of a summer camp. Perhaps my most vivid memories of Kirk were during our time together at Camp Kandalore. Next were Kirk’s extraordinary efforts to establish the Canoe Museum at the Camp in 1965 and its growth to become the world’s largest collection of small watercraft now displayed in Peterborough.  
Even at Camp, Kirk was always the educator. He described his three w’s (Water Safety, Woodsmanship and Wilderness travel) – if you add awareness of the environment – conservation of the woodlands and marshes and preserving the heritage of the First Nations peoples there was a sufficient body of knowledge to fill much more than our time at camp each summer.
There was also a lighter side at Camp. As the Director, most of us staff could tolerate Kirk’s incessant puns but it was difficult for me as the Assistant Director to explain the value of doing a headstand in a canoe to parents on parent’s day. It was certainly his signature trick. I don’t remember anyone else even attempting that stunt. At the time, most of us were smart enough to stay away from challenging Kirk to a wrestling match. In those days, the young campers saw him as an awesome figure strutting about the camp in a buckskin jacket. He knew every camper’s name and many of their phone numbers. He had at times an irritatingly good memory – but a valuable attribute for a Camp Director. 
One time Kirk asked one of youngest jr campers to stand on a chair after dinner to announce at the top of his lungs “ Free Tuck”. I never understood Kirk’s idea of giving away free tuck – but in today’s business parlance he was way ahead of the curve. Today, it would be called added value or good customer service.
In his own way, Kirk was a benefactor and patron of the arts. He encouraged musical talent and artistic expression. There were always singsongs after a meal and music at campfires with Neil Broadfoot or his successors strumming on the banjo or guitar.  We even put on the musical Oliver one year and invited the cottagers to join us. One year, Kirk commissioned Bob Forbes to make bigger than life figures of the fur trader, the lumberjack, the pioneer and the voyageur to hang in the dining hall. One pre camp, he even asked Wolf Ruck to carve a totem pole. Most of the time, we thought Wolf was slacking off just going for afternoon joy rides in a kayak. Later that summer, we found out that Wolf had qualified for the 1968 Olympic games in the K2 and K4 kayak events. Kirk always encouraged all of us to strive for the best – in our chosen field. 
Many for his “Nature Hikes” will remember Kirk He even became a celebrity. He had his own TV show “A Walk with Kirk”. I can remember vividly those walks where Kirk pointed out not only the flora and fauna but how they each fitted into the natural eco system – At the time, we were more concerned about swatting the mosquitoes than listening. He had to show us where the tamarack trees stood tall in the bog. On reflection, Kirk taught us valuable lessons on preserving the natural habitat. 
During the 1960’s the camp was always under construction. Cabin after cabin and extensions to the dining hall. One memory was my recollection of the 1966 pre-camp crew when we were building the swimming docks. It was a warm spring and we got hot dragging the oak logs off the hydro trail. We thought it generous of Kirk to offer us access to the soft drinks in the tuck shop. After each log run, we would sit by the water and drink a coke. It was not until just before the campers arrived that Kirk discovered that we had consumed 180 cases of soft drinks he commented in his usual style “O boys that was the camp supply of soft drinks for the whole summer. He took that incident in stride and knew that we were working our hearts out for him.
Kirk was also a spiritual leader. Chapel Island was a special place. On Sunday mornings, he always delivered an uplifting and poignant message. 
At the time, Kandalore was also known as one of the best tripping camps in the country. In the 1960’s after Halliburton became too populated, Kirk sent the trips to Algonquin Park. When it was difficult to find campsites he purchased Garden Island in Temagami to act as an outpost. Later, Doug Wipper operated trips from the island for many years. There were even more ambitious trips to Quetico and beyond. Kirk allowed the campers and staff to gain a glimpse at some of Canada’s best-preserved wilderness areas. At the same time he taught us to be resourceful and respectful of the environment.
 Kirk’s leadership in establishing the Canadian Canoe Museum. With the help of many over the years, Kirk preserved for future generations our 19th century pioneering heritage and the watercraft of the First Nations Peoples. 
At times, we thought of Kirk as an actor. Talk about live entertainment. He recreated the traditions of our First Nation’s peoples by inviting cabin groups to represent tribes. As would be expected, Kirk portrayed himself as the tribal chief. In the dim light of the campfire, he drew around him the tribes from Algonquin and Iroquois nations to smoke the peace pipe. We even tried the flaming arrow on a wire to start the fire or gunpowder to make the flash. But there was indeed a reverence to this ceremony. To the campers, this was a special evening. More importantly, it gave Kirk an opportunity to preserve the rich heritage of our First Nations Peoples. What I remember most were the lines from Henry Wadsworth Longfellow’s Song to Hiawatha
Hiawatha said to old Nokomis 
I am going on a long and distant journey
To the portals of the Sunset
To the regions of the home-wind of the north–west wind Keewaydin
Bade farewell to all the warriors
Bade farewell to all the young men
On the shore stood Hiawatha
Turned and waved his hand at parting 
On the clear and luminous water
Launched his birch-canoe for sailing 
From the pebbles of the margin 
Shoved it forth into the water.
This is my most vivid memory of Kirk – paddling off into the darkness – and knowing that he had left behind a powerful message.
Kirk was a good friend. His presence will be missed but his accomplishments have left a powerful legacy.
Robin Campbell,
Executive Director, Advancement
University of Toronto
Faculty of Physical Education and Health

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