Kirk Wipper, Canadian founder of the Canadian Canoe Museum died he was , 87.

Kirk Albert Walter Wipper, C.M. was a Canadian academic and founder of the Canadian Canoe Museum, which is presently located in Peterborough, Ontario died he was , 87. He has been called a "pioneer in the development of outdoor education in Canada."

(December 6, 1923 – March 18, 2011)

Biography

Wipper was born December 6, 1923, in Grahamdale, Manitoba.

Canadian Canoe Museum

Wipper formed the Kanawa International Collection of Canoes, Kayaks and Rowing Craft.^[1] His collection, which consisted of more than six hundred individual watercraft, including kayaks and canoes, became the basis for what would become the Canadian Canoe Museum.^[1] In 1957, Wipper was gifted a dugout canoe, which is believed to have been crafted in 1890.^[1] Wipper soon began collecting other watercraft, which grew to approximately one hundred fifty pieces by the late 1960s.^[1] Wipper constructed a facility to house his collection at Camp Kandalore, a summer camp he owned in the vicinity of Dorset, Ontario.^[1] However, his growing collection outgrew this building, necessitating a search for a new facility.^[1] Wipper was contacted by a group of individuals, including several affiliated with the Trent University, who were interested in moving his collection to a permanent exhibition space in Peterborough, Ontario.^[1] Wipper agreed to the proposal and a board of directors was formed for the project in 1989.^[1] In 1994, Wipper donated his entire collection to the new Canadian Canoe Museum in Petersborough.^[1] He remained active in the museum as a volunteer and consultant.^[1]

Academic career

Wipper became a faculty member of the University of Toronto's School of Physical and Health Education in 1950.^[1] He worked as an assistant professor at the University of Toronto until his retirement in 1987.^[1] Wipper then served as the director of The Duke of Edinburgh's Award of Canada and the President of the Royal Life Saving Society of Canada following his retirement from academia.^[1] Wipper also founded Camp Kandalore in Ontario and co-founded the Canadian Recreational Canoeing Association^[2]

Honors

In 2002, Wipper was named to the Order of Canada.^[2] He was also a recipient of the Ontario Bicentennial Medal and the Government of Canada Centenary Medal.^[1]
Kirk Wipper died from a choking accident related to Parkinson's disease while eating dinner with friends and family in Petersborough on March 18, 2011, at the age of 87.^[1][2] He was survived by his wife, Ann.^[1]

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