Meisel, John (b. 1923)

[photo of Louise D. Acton Building]

One of Canada's most-respected political scientists, Meisel served as Chair of the Canadian Radio-Television and Telecommunications Commission from 1980 to 1983. He was born of Czech origin in Vienna, Austria and came to Canada in 1942. He attended the Universities of Toronto and London and has taught political studies at Queen's since 1949.

Meisel pioneered the study of election behaviour in Canada and has devoted a large part of his career to bridging the gap between English and French Canada. During his tenure as head of the CRTC from 1980 to 1983, he presided over the introduction of pay-TV to Canada. He is the Sir Edward Peacock Professor of Political Science Emeritus and past President of the Royal Society of Canada.

He has also served as Chair on the Editorial Board of the Queen's Quarterly and is the writer and publisher of more than 100 articles, monographs, and books.