Fonds F0179 - Robert M. Laxer fonds

Robert M. Laxer (1915-1998) was a psychologist, professor, author, and political activist. Laxer was born in Montreal, Quebec in 1915. He graduated from McGill University with a B.A. in 1936 and an M.A. in 1939. He later received his doctorate in clinical and learning psychology from the University of Toronto in 1962. Between 1938 and 1941, Laxer was a freelance journalist. He then served in the Canadian Army overseas. Upon his return from war service in 1947, Laxer continued freelance writing and research. In 1956, he became a psychologist at the Ontario Hospital in Toronto and went on to hold a joint appointment as a Special Lecturer in the Department of Psychology at the University of Toronto and as a Clinical Psychologist at the Toronto General Hospital between 1960 and 1964. After serving as an Assistant Professor at York University for a year, Laxer became Associate Professor at the Ontario Institute for Studies in Education in 1965 and then Full Professor in 1968. He remained in this position until his retirement in 1980. In addition to teaching, Robert Laxer was involved in various Canadian political groups such as the New Democratic Party, the Waffle Movement, the Committee for the Canadianisation of the Petroleum Industry, as well as the Council of Canadians. In addition, Laxer wrote numerous articles and books mostly concerning Canadian politics. He also founded the political journal, Spectrum, in 1981.