Notable Nerd

Name: Steve Paikin

• Born in Hamilton on June 9, 1960
• Attended Hillfield Strathallan College, an independent school in Hamilton
• Received his B.A. at the University of Toronto in 1981 and his master’s in broadcast journalism from Boston University in 1983
• Worked at the CBC from 1985–92; his jobs included CBLT Queen’s Park correspondent as well as the host of the daily news program on CBC Newsworld
• Joined TVO in 1992, hosting a series of current affairs programs, including Studio 2; he launched The Agenda with Steve Paikin in 2006
• Produced several documentaries, including Teachers, Tories and Turmoil and Chairman of the Board: The Life and Death of John Robarts
• Appointed chancellor of Sudbury’s Laurentian University in June 2013
• Made an Officer of the Order of Canada in 2013; appointed to the Order of Ontario in 2014
• Authored five books, including The New Game: How Hockey Saved Itself, as well as his most recent read, Paikin and the Premiers: Personal Reflections on a Half Century of Ontario Leaders
• Moderated leaders’ debates for three federal and two provincial elections
• Follow @spaikin on Twitter

Describe your elementary school self.

Absolutely, incredibly nerdy.

Describe yourself in high school.

Absolutely, incredibly nerdier.

What was your favourite subject?

The humanities: English, French, Latin, history. They’ve been very helpful in my job.

Favourite literary piece studied?

Johnny Tremain. It’s about a kid growing up in revolutionary times. It got me interested in American history, which I’m still into today.

Who are your favourite writers?

Elmore Leonard, Jeffrey Simpson, George F. Will, John Ibbitson and Jimmy Carter.

Favourite historical figures?

John A. Macdonald, Abraham Lincoln and John Robarts (premier of Ontario, 1961–71).

Who are your heroes?

Frank Sinatra and Johnny Carson. I wish I had had the opportunity to interview them.

Which teacher did you most admire?

Bryan Wylie — I am still in touch with him. In Grade 13, he taught English 2, which included art, literature and classical music. He made that class come to life. Even today, when I see a piece of art or hear music that we studied, I am taken right back to his classroom.

What do you wish you had been taught in school but weren’t?

We were taught about World War II in Grade 8. I’d have preferred it later. In my opinion, it was the most important era in history and I was too young to appreciate it.

If you could create any new course of your choice, what would it be?

Something similar to that English 2 class I mentioned. Filling our souls with culture is so important. I fear we’re losing that. How will the Toronto Symphony Orchestra be around in 50 years if students aren’t taught how to appreciate classical music?

What was your dream career?

I thought I’d be a teacher because I was fascinated by the idea of knowing stuff and passing it on to others. I feel like I’m still doing that but in a different way.

Tell us about your Learning 2030 series.

We heard a lot of neat ideas on the show; classrooms will be very different in 2030. What won’t change is the need for great teachers — the foundation of education.

What’s it like to be a chancellor?

It’s a bit like being a Governor General — you have no power, but you can have influence. I hope to be there for the students — to support them and be their cheerleader.

Are you still a self-described nerd?

Absolutely. With my interests, there’s no escaping it!

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