MP Notable–Hugh John Robertson
Hugh John Robertson (1939 – 2024) Adventuresome and scholarly, Hugh’s zest for teaching, research and the environment knew no bounds.
Hugh John Robertson (1939-2024), who passed away peacefully this spring, led a full and passionate life, always seeing opportunities from his early travels to his years of teaching, publishing and environmental activism. He was, in essence, a seeker of knowledge and innovative ideas. Equally, he was an influencer – a naturally gifted teacher, scholar and environmentalist.
The eldest son of Noel and Mary Robertson, Hugh was born in King William’s Town in Eastern Cape province, South Africa. He boarded at Queens College Boy’s High School in Queenstown where he made lifelong friends. He went on to study at Paarl Teacher Training College in Western Cape and, after graduation, began his teaching career at Dale College in 1962.
With his mother’s encouragement to see the world beyond South Africa, Hugh set off with friends on a year of travel and work that took him to Europe and England. In 1964, he arrived in Canada for a six-month teaching position at Dovercourt Public School in Toronto where he met the love of his life, Jo-Ann Elton – then 21 and a kindergarten teacher. An international courtship ensued when Hugh left to hitch-hike across the US to San Francisco where he hopped on a freighter to attend the 1964 Tokyo Summer Olympics.
Jo-Ann joined Hugh in South Africa and where they married in 1966. Jo-Ann worked at a travel agency while Hugh completed his BA at Rhodes University. After graduation, he applied for teaching jobs around the globe.
Back to South Africa
In 1968, Hugh was hired to teach at Ashbury College, where he enjoyed a successful 27-year career. There, he helped pioneer the introduction of the International Baccalaureate Diploma Program.
Ottawa became home with sons Mark joining the family in 1970 and Justin in 1972. The Robertsons first lived on Glasgow Cres. in Manor Park, then the Gatineau hills, Ashbury’s campus and the Glebe before settling in 1989 in their current Cardinal Glen home.
Ever the learner and perennial student, Hugh took a sabbatical from Ashbury to attend the University of Ottawa, graduating with his MA in History in 1983. His thesis, on the Royal Canadian Dragoons’ role in the Second Boer War, included on-site research that took the family back to South Africa.
His young sons accompanied him to cemeteries to find Canadian military headstones, and Hugh spoke with one of the last surviving Canadian veterans of the Second Boer War.
Authored several books
During his time at Ashbury, Hugh wrote several books to guide students in research, projects and essays. His book, The Research Essay: A Guide to Essays and Papers, first published in 1985, was considered a vital student manual. He later authored The English Essay, The Project Book, and Research and Communication Skills. Hugh was head of the college’s Social Science Department when he retired in 1995 to dedicate time to publishing his books through his own publishing house, Piperhill Publications.
Hugh’s concern and advocacy for the environment was not simply a hobbyist’s pursuit for trendiness’ sake. Back in 1990, before the world woke up to the reality of the garbage it was producing, Hugh became avidly committed to reducing, reusing and recycling at home.
His environmental activism extended to the community. In the mid-2000s, his series of ‘Kyoto’ Home Diary columns in the Manor Park Chronicle re-counted his family’s journey to make their home energy-efficient and greenhouse gas emission-free. .
He designed and installed a lattice-styled, steel front door to eliminate the need for air conditioning and replaced the clothes dryer with a retractable wooden rack. The Robertson’s home was the first in the neighbourhood to measure electricity use with a Smart Meter. Remarkably, from 2000 to 2003, they put out just one bag of garbage — mostly plastic ground down by Hugh —receiving a recognition award from the City of Ottawa!
Early converts to lowering dependency on carbon fuels, the Robertsons traded in their Volvo for a Toyota Prius hybrid.
Hugh also wrote on environmental issues for the New Edinburgh News. He encouraged neighbours to ‘go green’ by co-founding Glenviro, Cardinal Glen’s environmental sustainability committee.
Hiking adventures
Hugh’s interests and hobbies were many. Gardening held a special interest and supplied both family and friends with a bounty of organic vegetables. He cross-country skied, enjoyed Scottish country dancing, loved jazz and attending the Ottawa Jazz Festival, and being at Jo-Ann’s family cottage on Sand Lake, north of Huntsville, Ont.
In recent years, Hugh and Jo-Ann embraced hiking adventures. Trips included walking the 155 km of Scotland’s West Highland Way with friends, Hugh in bare feet to feel closer to the earth, and sections of the Camino de Santiago in Spain.
Hugh’s life was well-lived and purposeful. His legacy, marked by the special imprint he left on family, friends, students and the community, will have rippling effects for many years to come.
With kind appreciation to Jo-Ann Robertson.
A Manor Park Notable is a snapshot of an individual (now deceased) who lived in the Manor Park area, and who made a difference either through career or community involvement. Please send your suggestions for candidates or submissions to manorparknotables@gmail.com.