Davidson Dunton (April 15, 1902 – October 27, 1987) was a Canadian civil servant, academic, and public policy leader. He is most noted for his role as the first chairman of the Board of Broadcast Governors (later the Canadian Radio‑television and Telecommunications Commission) and for serving as the first chairman of the Royal Commission on Bilingualism and Biculturalism.
Early life and education
Born in Cobalt, Ontario, Dunton earned a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Toronto in 1924 and a Ph.D. in political science from the University of Chicago in 1930.
Career
- Civil service: After returning to Canada, Dunton joined the Department of Labour, where he contributed to the development of unemployment insurance legislation.
- Academia: He served as a professor of political science at the University of Toronto and later became the president of Carleton University (1962‑1972).
- Broadcasting regulation: In 1958, Dunton was appointed chairman of the newly created Board of Broadcast Governors, overseeing the regulation of Canadian radio and television. He guided the transition to the Canadian Radio‑television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC) in 1968.
- Bilingualism and biculturalism: From 1963 to 1970, Dunton chaired the Royal Commission on Bilingualism and Biculturalism, which examined the status of English and French linguistic groups in Canada and laid the groundwork for official bilingualism policies.
Honours and legacy
Dunton was made a Companion of the Order of Canada in 1970 for his contributions to public service and education. The Davidson Dunton Library at Carleton University is named in his honor. He is remembered for his influence on Canadian social policy, higher education, and the regulatory framework governing broadcasting.
Selected publications
- The Canadian Constitution and the Provincial Government (1935)
- The Impact of Radio on Canadian Culture (1962)
Personal life
Dunton married Margaret Sinclair in 1935; the couple had three children. He died in Ottawa, Ontario, at the age of 85.
