It’s often been said about Norm, “Sharp by name, Sharp by nature”. And that acuity is obvious in the marked influence he’s had on mathematics education in Ontario.
Norm was raised in Wynyard, Saskatchewan, and later attended the University of Saskatchewan, the University of Wisconsin and the University of Toronto. He taught navigation in the RCAF during WW II. For 25 years, Norm taught and was mathematics department head at Upper Canada College in Toronto. He also spent 15 years as the mathematics coordinator for the Etobicoke Board of Education.
Norm helped usher in some of the biggest changes to mathematics teaching in this province. He introduced and evaluated “New Math” programs provincially, and was responsible for bringing calculators and the metric system to mathematics classes in Etobicoke schools.
Norm is the co-author of a number of textbooks. He has been president of numerous professional organizations: O.A.T.M., Private School Mathematics Teachers Association, and O.M.C.
Norm is the recipient of two National Science Foundation Fellowships, and the Teacher of the Year Award presented by the Association of Professional Engineers. He has worked with the Canadian Mathematics Competition committees at the University of Waterloo, and is a founder of the O.M.C.A.
Norm also spent five years as superintendent of the midway at the Canadian National Exhibition and has been active with the Toronto Hockey League.