Professor Emeritus of social sciences Wolseley (Percy) Anderson died on Sunday, May 3 at the age of 84 in Toronto following an illness. Anderson and his colleague the late Professor Emeritus Rudolph Grant were among the pioneers of interdisciplinary studies at York University.
Professors Anderson and Grant conducted influential research for the Ontario Ministry of Education in 1975 on the challenges that Caribbean immigrants faced in adjusting to school systems in a new country. The resulting report titled “The New Newcomers” was used as a resource material by teachers and researchers across Canada.
Born in Guyana, Professor Anderson focused on education and social change, race and ethnic relations, diversity in the global village and planning of strategies for developing and utilizing human resources. He had a particular emphasis on Canadian-Caribbean relations and immigration trends.
Professor Anderson had numerous high profile volunteer roles, including serving as chair of the Legal Aid Clinic and as a founding member of a consultative committee between the Black community and the Toronto Police Services Board.
Visitation will be held at Highland Funeral Home, 3280 Sheppard Avenue East, Scarborough, on Thursday, May 7, from 6 to 9pm. A complete Funeral Service will be held at St. Margaret in the Pines Anglican Church, 4130 Lawrence Avenue East, Scarborough, Ontario (Lawrence Ave. E and Kingston Rd) on Friday, May 8, 2015 at 10 am. Professor Anderson leaves his wife of 59 years, two daughters and four grandchildren.
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the W.W. Anderson Award in Caribbean Studies available through the York University Division of Advancement, 4700 Keele Street, Toronto, ON, or Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre, 2075 Bayview Avenue, Toronto.