Two thoughts may come to mind when you read the title for this post. The first is that I made a typo by using the term Prime Minister. The second is that one or both the names Dalton McGuinty or William Davis may come to mind as they have both been described as Ontario's Education Premier.
If you thought any of the above you would be wrong. Up until William Davis took office as Ontario's 18th Premier in 1971 the title for the leader of Ontario's government was Prime Minister. Davis changed the title shortly after stepping into the role. William Davis and Dalton McGuinty are significant Premier's when it comes to education in Ontario, but not as significant as John P. Robarts.
Robarts was a Minister of Education in Ontario and Ontario's Prime Minister from 1961 to 1971 which is a period of time that saw significant change to the educational landscape in Ontario. (Davis was Minister of Education during much of Robart's time as leader) The entire Ontario College system and several universities were opened during Robart's reign. Brock University, the University of Guelph, Nipissing University and Trent University all started as universities in the 1960's.
After leaving government Robarts served as Chancellor at both the University of Western Ontario (his alma mater) and York University. The Robarts Library at the University of Toronto is named after him along with the Robarts Research Institute at the University of Western Ontario.
No leader of the Ontario government can match this list of achievements for education in the province.
For more on Robarts you can read Steve Paiken's Public Triumph, Private Tragedy: The Double Life of John P. Robarts.
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