"The story of my life" : (being reminiscences of sixty years' public service in Canada.)

A vivid memoir unfolds the life of a man whose energy helped shape Canada’s early public institutions. Beginning with his birth in 1833 and his entry into the Ministry of Agriculture, the narrative traces his rise through the fledgling civil service, offering a window into the challenges of a young nation still defining its identity.

Written by a close confidant who served alongside him for decades, the book blends personal letters, detailed recollections, and contemporary illustrations. It reveals a leader whose passion for popular education transformed schools into a source of national pride, while also showing the humility and warmth that earned him the loyalty of colleagues at every level.

Listeners will be drawn into the bustling streets of 19th‑century Toronto, the pioneering classrooms of Victoria College, and the spirited debates that marked the era’s public discourse. The memoir captures both the public triumphs and the private convictions of a figure whose influence still echoes in today’s Canadian education system.