Spicer, Keith, 1934- : Keith Spicer was born in Toronto on 6 March 1934; he attended school there at Brown Public School and North Toronto Collegiate. As an undergraduate Spicer studied modern languages, at the University of Toronto (Honours B.A. in French and Spanish, 1956) and on exchange at the Université de Paris (Diplôme d'études de civilisation française, degré supérieur, 1955). Later as a post-graduate, he studied international relations at the Universite de Paris (Diplôme de l'Institut d'Études Politiques, 1958) and political science at the University of Toronto (Phd, 1962).
Keith Spicer's career was notable for his movement between the public and private sectors, and for his complementary interests in the communications industries, politics and the place of Quebec and French in Canada. Spicer began his work life as a professor teaching political science at the University of Ottawa (1961-64, 1965-66), the University of Toronto (1966-69), Dartmouth College (spring 1967), and Glendon College, York University (1969-70). Keith Spicer first worked in communications as a commentator for the French television and radio networks of the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation from 1961-1969, and for Radio Canada International from 1966-1970. During the latter period, he was also employed as an editorial writer at the Toronto Globe and Mail.
Spicer started the summer of 1964 as a staff researcher on the armed forces for the Royal Commission on Bilingualism and Biculturalism, but in July was recruited for a year to work as a speech writer for Guy Favreau, Minister of Justice. Five years later Spicer was asked to investigate means of publicizing the Official Languages policy of the federal government and he was subsequently named Canada's first Commissioner of Official Languages on 1 April 1970, a post he held until 31 July 1977. Spicer was a key figure in the promotion of official bilingualism and was noted for his innovative, but firm advocacy of federal bilingualism policies.
In 1977 Spicer left the civil service to work as a free-lance journalist, establishing Garden Hill Communications Ltd. (1977-1981) to market products and services which he developed. These included newspaper columns, TV and radio scripts, acting as host and interviewer in the broadcast media, public speaking, and writing. In the early 1980s Spicer introduced a communications training program for senior managers which he marketed through an unincorporated British Columbia enterprise, Executive Seminars International. When the seminar business grew, Spicer folded Garden Hill and launched the Spicer Communications Group, a British Columbia incorporated company; Spicer sold SCG to McLuhan and Davies Communication of Toronto on 1 January 1989. Spicer was also visiting professor of political science at the University of British Columbia in 1977-78, and Adjunct Professor of Canadian Studies at Simon Fraser University in 1978-79.
From 1 January 1985 to 31 August 1989, Spicer was Editor-in-Chief of the Ottawa Citizen, moving the paper upscale to achieve increased readership, advertising revenue, and reputation. He returned to the federal public service as Chairman of the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC) from 1 September 1989 until 30 June 1996. During that period, Spicer was asked to undertake the consultation of Canadians concerning the orientation of an amended constitution. He served as Chairman of the Citizen's Forum on Canada's Future from 1 November 1990 until 30 June 1991 and conceived of, created and directed the grassroots consultation of some 700,000 Canadians.
Spicer was active in a number of voluntary organizations, including seeking nomination as a Liberal candidate in the 1968 federal general election. He was one of the key organizers of the Commonwealth Student Volunteers in 1959 and later the Canadian Volunteers Overseas (forerunners of the Canadian University Service Overseas). Spicer is the author of many articles and books, including A Samaritan State? External Aid in Canada's Foreign Policy (Toronto, 1966), Cher péquiste...et néamoins ami (Montreal, 1980), and Winging It (New York and Toronto, 1982). He was made an officer of the Order of Canada in 1978 and received honorary doctorates from the University of Ottawa, Glendon College of York University, and Laurentian University. The biography is based on information contained within the fonds and on curriculum vitae supplied by the creator.
