Kirk Wipper
Encyclopedia
Kirk Albert Walter Wipper, C.M.
(December 6, 1923 – March 18, 2011) was a Canadian
academic and founder of the Canadian Canoe Museum
, which is presently located in Peterborough, Ontario
. He has been called a "pioneer in the development of outdoor education in Canada
."
, Manitoba
.
, including kayaks and canoes, became the basis for what would become the Canadian Canoe Museum
. In 1957, Wipper was gifted a dugout canoe, which is believed to have been crafted in 1890. Wipper soon began collecting other watercraft, which grew to approximately one hundred fifty pieces by the late 1960s. Wipper constructed a facility to house his collection at Camp Kandalore, a summer camp
he owned in the vicinity of Dorset, Ontario
. However, his growing collection outgrew this building, necessitating a search for a new facility. Wipper was contacted by a group of individuals, including several affiliated with the Trent University
, who were interested in moving his collection to a permanent exhibition
space in Peterborough, Ontario
. Wipper agreed to the proposal and a board of directors was formed for the project in 1989. In 1994, Wipper donated his entire collection to the new Canadian Canoe Museum
in Peterborough. He remained active in the museum as a volunteer and consultant
.
's School of Physical and Health Education in 1950. He worked as an assistant professor at the University of Toronto until his retirement in 1987. Wipper then served as the director of The Duke of Edinburgh's Award
of Canada and the President of the Royal Life Saving Society of Canada
following his retirement from academia.
Wipper also founded Camp Kandalore in Ontario and co-founded the Canadian Recreational Canoeing Association
. He was also a recipient of the Ontario Bicentennial Medal and the Government of Canada Centenary Medal.
Kirk Wipper died from a choking accident related to Parkinson's disease
while eating dinner with friends and family in Petersborough on March 18, 2011, at the age of 87. He was survived by his wife, Ann.
Order of Canada
The Order of Canada is a Canadian national order, admission into which is, within the system of orders, decorations, and medals of Canada, the second highest honour for merit...
(December 6, 1923 – March 18, 2011) was a Canadian
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
academic and founder of the Canadian Canoe Museum
Canadian Canoe Museum
The Canadian Canoe Museum is a museum dedicated to canoes located in Peterborough, Ontario, Canada. The museum's mission is to preserve and share the culture and history of the canoe.- History :...
, which is presently located in Peterborough, Ontario
Peterborough, Ontario
Peterborough is a city on the Otonabee River in southern Ontario, Canada, 125 kilometres northeast of Toronto. The population of the City of Peterborough was 74,898 as of the 2006 census, while the census metropolitan area has a population of 121,428 as of a 2009 estimate. It presently ranks...
. He has been called a "pioneer in the development of outdoor education in Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
."
Biography
Wipper was born December 6, 1923, in GrahamdaleGrahamdale, Manitoba
Grahamdale is a rural municipality in the province of Manitoba in Western Canada. The municipality exists in two disjoint sections that are separated by a part of the Fairford 50 Indian reserve.-External links:*...
, Manitoba
Manitoba
Manitoba is a Canadian prairie province with an area of . The province has over 110,000 lakes and has a largely continental climate because of its flat topography. Agriculture, mostly concentrated in the fertile southern and western parts of the province, is vital to the province's economy; other...
.
Canadian Canoe Museum
Wipper formed the Kanawa International Collection of Canoes, Kayaks and Rowing Craft. His collection, which consisted of more than six hundred individual watercraftWatercraft
A watercraft is a vessel or craft designed to move across or through water. The name is derived from the term "craft" which was used to describe all types of water going vessels...
, including kayaks and canoes, became the basis for what would become the Canadian Canoe Museum
Canadian Canoe Museum
The Canadian Canoe Museum is a museum dedicated to canoes located in Peterborough, Ontario, Canada. The museum's mission is to preserve and share the culture and history of the canoe.- History :...
. In 1957, Wipper was gifted a dugout canoe, which is believed to have been crafted in 1890. Wipper soon began collecting other watercraft, which grew to approximately one hundred fifty pieces by the late 1960s. Wipper constructed a facility to house his collection at Camp Kandalore, a summer camp
Summer camp
Summer camp is a supervised program for children or teenagers conducted during the summer months in some countries. Children and adolescents who attend summer camp are known as campers....
he owned in the vicinity of Dorset, Ontario
Dorset, Ontario
Dorset is a small community located on the boundary between the Lake of Bays Municipality in Muskoka District and the Algonquin Highlands Township in Haliburton County, Ontario, Canada. Dorset was originally called Cedar Narrows. In 1859 Francis Harvey became the first white settler here....
. However, his growing collection outgrew this building, necessitating a search for a new facility. Wipper was contacted by a group of individuals, including several affiliated with the Trent University
Trent University
Trent University is a liberal arts and science-oriented institution located along the Otonabee River in Peterborough, Ontario, Canada.The enabling legislation is the Trent University Act, 1962-63. The University was founded through the efforts of a citizens' committee interested in creating a...
, who were interested in moving his collection to a permanent exhibition
Exhibition
An exhibition, in the most general sense, is an organized presentation and display of a selection of items. In practice, exhibitions usually occur within museums, galleries and exhibition halls, and World's Fairs...
space in Peterborough, Ontario
Peterborough, Ontario
Peterborough is a city on the Otonabee River in southern Ontario, Canada, 125 kilometres northeast of Toronto. The population of the City of Peterborough was 74,898 as of the 2006 census, while the census metropolitan area has a population of 121,428 as of a 2009 estimate. It presently ranks...
. Wipper agreed to the proposal and a board of directors was formed for the project in 1989. In 1994, Wipper donated his entire collection to the new Canadian Canoe Museum
Canadian Canoe Museum
The Canadian Canoe Museum is a museum dedicated to canoes located in Peterborough, Ontario, Canada. The museum's mission is to preserve and share the culture and history of the canoe.- History :...
in Peterborough. He remained active in the museum as a volunteer and consultant
Consultant
A consultant is a professional who provides professional or expert advice in a particular area such as management, accountancy, the environment, entertainment, technology, law , human resources, marketing, emergency management, food production, medicine, finance, life management, economics, public...
.
Academic career
Wipper became a faculty member of the University of TorontoUniversity of Toronto
The University of Toronto is a public research university in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, situated on the grounds that surround Queen's Park. It was founded by royal charter in 1827 as King's College, the first institution of higher learning in Upper Canada...
's School of Physical and Health Education in 1950. He worked as an assistant professor at the University of Toronto until his retirement in 1987. Wipper then served as the director of The Duke of Edinburgh's Award
The Duke of Edinburgh's Award
The Duke of Edinburgh's Award , is a programme of activities that can be undertaken by anyone aged 14 to 24, regardless of personal ability....
of Canada and the President of the Royal Life Saving Society of Canada
Royal Life Saving Society of Canada
The Royal Life Saving Society Canada operates throughout Canada as the Lifesaving Society. The Society works to prevent drowning and water-related injury through its training programs, Water Smart public education, water-incident research, safety management and lifesaving sport...
following his retirement from academia.
Wipper also founded Camp Kandalore in Ontario and co-founded the Canadian Recreational Canoeing Association
Honors
In 2002, Wipper was named to the Order of CanadaOrder of Canada
The Order of Canada is a Canadian national order, admission into which is, within the system of orders, decorations, and medals of Canada, the second highest honour for merit...
. He was also a recipient of the Ontario Bicentennial Medal and the Government of Canada Centenary Medal.
Kirk Wipper died from a choking accident related to Parkinson's disease
Parkinson's disease
Parkinson's disease is a degenerative disorder of the central nervous system...
while eating dinner with friends and family in Petersborough on March 18, 2011, at the age of 87. He was survived by his wife, Ann.