(excluding self employment, joint venture contracts & volunteer work)
Sales Clerk
1973-1979 & 1985 at Sam The Record Man, 343 Yonge St. Toronto, Ontario.
Mostly I worked part-time on Friday nights and Sundays, but for about one full year, I believe it was during 1978 & 1979, I worked full time. I loved being able to listen to music all the time I was working. I enjoyed helping customers find what they were looking for, which usually was easy, but sometimes challenging. Often customers would engage me and my fellow store clerks in rounds of "name that tune", humming or singing a few lines. One customer, whom I feel sorry for, back in 1974, came in looking for something that sounded like Pink Floyd's Dark Side of the Moon but when I suggested he buy Floyd's immediately previous album, Meddle , his expectations were too exacting, and he came back disappointed and complaining. The guy still had faith in my expertise, though. In hindsight, I don't think there was anything I could have recommended that would have satisfied the man. I believe anything I might have suggested would have been too different from that monumental creation of Pink Floyd, which spent 741 weeks on the Billboard Top 100 Albums chart, and quite deservedly too, in my opinion.
Drama Specialist 1974 in the Creative Arts Department of Camp Northland/B'Nai Brith's Junior Camp, Parry Sound, Ontario.
Bus Daddy 1974 to 1977 with Salsberg's Tickets & Tours. I supervised busloads of people going to and from rock concerts on both sides of the Canada U.S. border. Among the performances I assisted in this way with were Jethro Tull (Niagara Falls, NY 1974) , a double bill in a nice old concert hall in Buffalo, NY with Strawbs and another personal favourite British progressive rock band, Renaissance , Paul McCartney & Wings (Detroit 1976) The Rolling Stones (Buffalo 8-8-1975) , and Elvis Presley (Toronto) .
Census Representative 1976 & 1981, working for Statistics Canada. I got to meet some very interesting people who, for one reason or another, had had trouble completing their census form and submitting it. Mostly they were people who had trouble understanding English and were struggling through life in other ways as well, especially financially. My heart went out to almost all of them - except for the slightly drunk guy who yelled at me for entering into his apartment while he was out on the back yard patio with his wife and daughter and his front door was wide open which seemed like an invitation to enter, especially since he was unable to hear my knocking or calling at the door. It was quite the contrast to the time I met a singer from a famous Canadian singing group living in the Portugal Square area of Toronto who very politely invited me in and finished off the census form right away for me.
Assistant Field Technician Early Summer 1977, working for Sentinel Communications, North York, Ontario, repairing and transporting answering machines.
Supplies Manager Late Summer 1977, working at Camp Robin Hood in Stouffville, Ontario. I was responsible for managing inventory, requisitions, supervising an assistant and keeping weekly written accounts. What a boring job! To add insult to injury, a bunch of jerks who worked there, near the end of the season ambushed me and threw me into the swimming pool. The camp director had said the year before if anyone did this AGAIN they would get fired, but he didn't keep his word. The guys got off free as birds. I decided not to work for this outfit again.
Telephone Interviewer 1980 for Intercontact/ Cogem market research firm. I quit after a week or so. No room for creativity in this kind of a job. I vaguely recall the supervisor and co-workers being very easy to get along with, though, so overall it wasn't so bad. At the time I took on the job I was thinking of perhaps becoming a Doctor of Sociology, but afterwards I was much less inclined.
Senior Counsellor Summer, 1981, Camp Northland, Haliburton, Ontario. I programmed and supervised activities for 16 to 150 children aged 7 to 11. I produced two plays with the drama club children but I can't recall much about either of them except that in one the kids performed a song by Frank Zappa , which they loved doing, but the audience didn't go wild for.
Senior Counsellor
Summer, 1983. Summerfun program, a daycamp program run under the auspices of High Park Montessori School.
Teacher 1983/84, working at High Park Montessori School, in Toronto, Ontario alongside Dina Park, a very experienced Montessorian Dutch Master, co-teaching about 40 elementary aged children. At the Washington Montessori Institute, the year before, I had been prepared to teach in the ideal Montessori school. I found out from one of the trainers there, Elizabeth Margaret Stephenson, that, in her opinion, there are two or three such schools in the world. I don't recall where she said they were, but as lovely as the principals, staff, parents and children were at HPMS, this school was not matching with what I had been trained for. I chose to move on, taking guitar lessons over the Summer, in preparation for working with students at another Montessori school the next year. Before I left, I did move HPMS a step closer towards the ideal by instituting a program called "going out" , which is not the same thing as "field trips". I was told the program lived on at HPMS my leaving there, which gave me a good feeling.
Director 1984-1985 Working at the North York Montessori Learning Centre with 15 students aged 5 to 9 years of age language arts, mathematics, science, social studies, physical education and music. I was hired on the understanding that I'd be getting the Elementary program for the school started, putting my own stamp on it, and being able to be as true to ideal Montessori principles and practices as I saw fit, but unfortuneately the timing of the project was premature. I should have started with fifteen "normalized" children aged 6 to 7 and a full budget, but that's not what I was given. The elementary program was postponed a few years, and so was my teaching career. At the end of the year I went back to school to study what was in my heart, radio broadcasting. A little late, but better late than never. I've been told by the principal/owner that the NYMLC eventually did expand successfuly into the realm of elementary education, which is good news.
Substitute Teacher 1987 to 1989, various school boards in the Greater Toronto Area. At different times I worked as a teacher of children in all grades from kindergarten to grade 9, as well as with youngsters in E.S.L. and other special education programs.
Special Programs Junior Teacher 1989/90, Parkfield Junior School in Etobicoke, working with 15 children, aged 9 to 11, who had learning and social difficulties.
"Grade 2" Teacher September 1990 to June 1992, at The Elms Junior & Middle School, Etobicoke, Ontario, working with about 22 children at a time, ages 6 to 8.
Urban Enumerator October, 1992, working for Elections Canada in preparation for the National Referendum. I also served as a polling clerk on referendum day. My supervisor was Diane Glazer of North York.
Revision Assistant for Elections Ontario The date was the 10th of October, 2007. I was stationed at the elementary school I went to for seven years as a child, which was nostalgic. I enjoyed helping people get their electoral records straightened out so they would be allowed to vote, and at the end of the night assisting with the counting of the ballots.
Mostly I worked part-time on Friday nights and Sundays, but for about one full year, I believe it was during 1978 & 1979, I worked full time. I loved being able to listen to music all the time I was working. I enjoyed helping customers find what they were looking for, which usually was easy, but sometimes challenging. Often customers would engage me and my fellow store clerks in rounds of "name that tune", humming or singing a few lines. One customer, whom I feel sorry for, back in 1974, came in looking for something that sounded like Pink Floyd's Dark Side of the Moon but when I suggested he buy Floyd's immediately previous album, Meddle , his expectations were too exacting, and he came back disappointed and complaining. The guy still had faith in my expertise, though. In hindsight, I don't think there was anything I could have recommended that would have satisfied the man. I believe anything I might have suggested would have been too different from that monumental creation of Pink Floyd, which spent 741 weeks on the Billboard Top 100 Albums chart, and quite deservedly too, in my opinion.
Drama Specialist 1974 in the Creative Arts Department of Camp Northland/B'Nai Brith's Junior Camp, Parry Sound, Ontario.
Bus Daddy 1974 to 1977 with Salsberg's Tickets & Tours. I supervised busloads of people going to and from rock concerts on both sides of the Canada U.S. border. Among the performances I assisted in this way with were Jethro Tull (Niagara Falls, NY 1974) , a double bill in a nice old concert hall in Buffalo, NY with Strawbs and another personal favourite British progressive rock band, Renaissance , Paul McCartney & Wings (Detroit 1976) The Rolling Stones (Buffalo 8-8-1975) , and Elvis Presley (Toronto) .
Census Representative 1976 & 1981, working for Statistics Canada. I got to meet some very interesting people who, for one reason or another, had had trouble completing their census form and submitting it. Mostly they were people who had trouble understanding English and were struggling through life in other ways as well, especially financially. My heart went out to almost all of them - except for the slightly drunk guy who yelled at me for entering into his apartment while he was out on the back yard patio with his wife and daughter and his front door was wide open which seemed like an invitation to enter, especially since he was unable to hear my knocking or calling at the door. It was quite the contrast to the time I met a singer from a famous Canadian singing group living in the Portugal Square area of Toronto who very politely invited me in and finished off the census form right away for me.
Assistant Field Technician Early Summer 1977, working for Sentinel Communications, North York, Ontario, repairing and transporting answering machines.
Supplies Manager Late Summer 1977, working at Camp Robin Hood in Stouffville, Ontario. I was responsible for managing inventory, requisitions, supervising an assistant and keeping weekly written accounts. What a boring job! To add insult to injury, a bunch of jerks who worked there, near the end of the season ambushed me and threw me into the swimming pool. The camp director had said the year before if anyone did this AGAIN they would get fired, but he didn't keep his word. The guys got off free as birds. I decided not to work for this outfit again.
Telephone Interviewer 1980 for Intercontact/ Cogem market research firm. I quit after a week or so. No room for creativity in this kind of a job. I vaguely recall the supervisor and co-workers being very easy to get along with, though, so overall it wasn't so bad. At the time I took on the job I was thinking of perhaps becoming a Doctor of Sociology, but afterwards I was much less inclined.
Senior Counsellor Summer, 1981, Camp Northland, Haliburton, Ontario. I programmed and supervised activities for 16 to 150 children aged 7 to 11. I produced two plays with the drama club children but I can't recall much about either of them except that in one the kids performed a song by Frank Zappa , which they loved doing, but the audience didn't go wild for.
Teacher 1983/84, working at High Park Montessori School, in Toronto, Ontario alongside Dina Park, a very experienced Montessorian Dutch Master, co-teaching about 40 elementary aged children. At the Washington Montessori Institute, the year before, I had been prepared to teach in the ideal Montessori school. I found out from one of the trainers there, Elizabeth Margaret Stephenson, that, in her opinion, there are two or three such schools in the world. I don't recall where she said they were, but as lovely as the principals, staff, parents and children were at HPMS, this school was not matching with what I had been trained for. I chose to move on, taking guitar lessons over the Summer, in preparation for working with students at another Montessori school the next year. Before I left, I did move HPMS a step closer towards the ideal by instituting a program called "going out" , which is not the same thing as "field trips". I was told the program lived on at HPMS my leaving there, which gave me a good feeling.
Director 1984-1985 Working at the North York Montessori Learning Centre with 15 students aged 5 to 9 years of age language arts, mathematics, science, social studies, physical education and music. I was hired on the understanding that I'd be getting the Elementary program for the school started, putting my own stamp on it, and being able to be as true to ideal Montessori principles and practices as I saw fit, but unfortuneately the timing of the project was premature. I should have started with fifteen "normalized" children aged 6 to 7 and a full budget, but that's not what I was given. The elementary program was postponed a few years, and so was my teaching career. At the end of the year I went back to school to study what was in my heart, radio broadcasting. A little late, but better late than never. I've been told by the principal/owner that the NYMLC eventually did expand successfuly into the realm of elementary education, which is good news.
Substitute Teacher 1987 to 1989, various school boards in the Greater Toronto Area. At different times I worked as a teacher of children in all grades from kindergarten to grade 9, as well as with youngsters in E.S.L. and other special education programs.
Special Programs Junior Teacher 1989/90, Parkfield Junior School in Etobicoke, working with 15 children, aged 9 to 11, who had learning and social difficulties.
"Grade 2" Teacher September 1990 to June 1992, at The Elms Junior & Middle School, Etobicoke, Ontario, working with about 22 children at a time, ages 6 to 8.
Urban Enumerator October, 1992, working for Elections Canada in preparation for the National Referendum. I also served as a polling clerk on referendum day. My supervisor was Diane Glazer of North York.
Revision Assistant for Elections Ontario The date was the 10th of October, 2007. I was stationed at the elementary school I went to for seven years as a child, which was nostalgic. I enjoyed helping people get their electoral records straightened out so they would be allowed to vote, and at the end of the night assisting with the counting of the ballots.