Charles (Charlie) Jackson, who became head of the Western Ontario Institute of Technology (which was the predecessor to St. Clair College), died at his retirement home in London on May 7. He was 100.
Mr. Jackson became the principal of the Western Ontario Institute of Technology (W.O.I.T.) in 1960 and served until 1966. He served as St. Clair College’s Vice President – Academic from 1967 to 1978,
Mr. Jackson oversaw the transition of WOIT (which was located on Mercer Street in Windsor) to St. Clair College, under the provincial legislation creating a network of Colleges of Applied Arts and Technology back in the late 1960s.
He once told a reporter that the success of the community college initiative was a source of pride for him. He noted that the year before the South Windsor land acquisition where St. Clair now sits, W.O.I.T graduated 80 students but there were 120 jobs waiting for them.
“Our students were already able to talk on their bosses’ level,” he said at the time. “We were proving that we offered a concentrated and job-oriented education for people who wouldn’t or couldn’t go to university. Our students were adults and we treated them as adults……and it paid off. “
Mr. Jackson moved to London after his retirement. He leaves behind his wife Jean, four children, 10 grandchildren and 11 great-grandchildren.
St. Clair President Patti France honoured Mr. Jackson as a trailblazer and someone who cared deeply about the College. “W.O.I.T. built the foundation for St. Clair College to continue the work of providing a place for students to advance their education, find jobs in their fields and contribute to their communities.”
In September of 2014, the College named the road in front of the Ford Centre of Excellence in Manufacturing (FCEM) at our main campus, Chas Jackson Way in his honour. His portrait is displayed on the wall of Griffin Hall (across from our College bookstore) alongside the portraits of the past College Presidents.
A memorial service will be held later to celebrate Mr. Jackson’s life. More information can be found here: https://windsorstar.remembering.ca/obituary/charles-jackson-1082316450.
