Hall of Fame

1994 Hall of Fame Inductees

John Perlin
< back

The 1977 Canada Summer Games created interest in sliding seat rowing. Following the Games, while Perlin was President of the Regatta Committee, Mr. J. Don Wilson offered the Committee a gift of sliding seat shells. The introduction of this type of shell caused considerable controversy. Despite the ensuing battle, Rowing Newfoundland was eventually incorporated under the auspices of the St. John's Regatta Committee. After a rocky start, the sliding seat program is now strongly supported by the Regatta Committee and has been very successful.

It was also at this time that interest in the Regatta started to increase. A few crews set their sites on breaking the Course Record set in 1901. Many myths had developed about this record - the boats were different, the course was different, the Pond was different, the time was recorded incorrectly, etc. But these few crews started to train more seriously year round adopting some of the techniques introduced for sliding seat rowing. The myth that the record time would never be beaten was shattered when Smith-Stockley broke the record in 1981.

Perlin was then asked to approach the current Lord Warden of the Cinque Ports, Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother to see if she would replace the famous Lord Warden's Medals. This she did by providing two sets of her 80th Birthday Crowns. She again replaced these, at Perlin's request, in 1991 with her 90th Birthday Crowns when the Course Record fell yet again.

Perlin was also responsible for initiating the contact with the College of Heralds in London which eventually lead to John O'Mara acquiring a Coat of Arms for the Regatta Committee.

At a critical time of change, after having served in most offices of the Committee, Perlin was once again pressed into service to fill a need when he agreed to serve as Vice-President, This was the year when the time for one of the first races was disputed because of malfunctioning clocks and watches. As Captain of the Course, Perlin had to make a very difficult decision which ultimately resolved the controversy to most people's satisfaction.

It was shortly after this very stressful year the Perlin accepted the Committee's invitation to become an Honorary Life Member of the St. John's Regatta Committee

John Perlin's years of service to the Regatta Committee were during a period of tremendous change. The need for professionalism became an essential element in the running of the Regatta, in fund raising and in rowing. It changed from a parochial, anachronistic, and archaic community event into one that has become a serious sport international in its scope. It is attracting more women and more young participants than ever before.

Finally, it was through Perlin's years of association with the Regatta Committee that he became involved with the Quidi Vidi/Rennie's River Development Foundation. The Regatta Committee was one of his strongest supporters for Chairmanship of the Foundation, a position he has held for seven years.

JOHN CROSBIE PERLIN C.V.O. , A. de C.
DATE OF BIRTH MARCH 2,1934

BACKGROUND/CAREER:

John Perlin is the son of Vera Elizabeth Crosbie Perlin, O.C., L.L.D. and Albert B. Perlin, O.C., D. LITT. He was educated at Holloway School and Bishop Field College in St. John's, and Appleby College, Oakville, Ontario. He Joined the family business in 1952 and was employed there in various capacities until 1967 when he accepted an invitation from the Government of Newfoundland to become the first Director General/Administrator of the St. John's Arts and Culture Centre, the major Newfoundland Government Centennial project in 1967. Subsequently after five additional centres were built in other Newfoundland and Labrador communities, he was appointed Newfoundland's first Provincial Director of Cultural Affairs. He continued in the role of Director General of Arts and Culture Centres and Director of Cultural Affairs until March 31,1989 when he "retired" from the Public Service.

Today he is a free lance Journalist and Columnist with the St. John's Evening Telegram, he also serves as Member of the Federal Cultural Property Export Review Board. in 1990 he was appointed Canadian Secretary To The Queen for Her 1990 Visit and in 1991 he served as the Newfoundland Co-ordinator for the Citizen's Forum On Canada's Future - The Spicer Commission. From 1952 up to and including the present day he has served on and been the President or Chairman of numerous National, provincial and St. John's Charitable and non-profit organizations covering a wide spectrum of activity.

Associations/Achievements:

Currently President / Chairman:

The Quidi Vidi Rennie's River Development' Foundation since 1985 National President Of The Duke Of Edinburg's Award - Young Canadians Challenge since 1989 St. John's Community Services Council

The Perlin Family Charitable Trust

Honorary Life Memberships:

The St. John's Regatta Committee
The Newfoundland' Society For The Physically Disabled The Vera Perlin Society (formally The St. John's Association For The Mentally Retarded) The Newfoundland And Labrador Drama Society The St. John's Library Board

Past President / Chairman:

The St. John's Regatta Committee 1977-1979 The Newfoundland Society For The Physically Disabled 1968-1970 The Newfoundland And Labrador Drama Festival Society 1966-1980 The Dominion Drama Festival - Theatre Canada 1974-1977 The St. John's Library Board

The St. John's Boys And Girls Club

The Newfoundland Council Of The Duke Of Edinburgh's Awards - Young Canadians Challenge 1982-1990 The Newfoundland Historic Trust

The Board Of Stewards and The Board Of Management, Cochrane Street United Church The Kinsmen Club Of St. John's

The Assembly Of Arts Administrators In Canada Atlantic Place Visual Arts Project Committee Newfoundland Government Permanent Anniversary Celebrations Committee 1981-1990 Newfoundland's 400th Anniversary Committee 1983 100th Anniversary Of Municipal Government In Newfoundland 1988 Ceremonies And Protocol Committee Jeux Canada Games 1977 Three National Drama Festivals held in 1967,1974, 1977 Organized ALL Royal and Canadian Vice Regal visits to Newfoundland And Labrador from 1914 to 1990

Currently serving as a member of the following Boards and Committees:

The St. John's Salvation Army Citizens Advisory Board The Advisory Board Of The St. John's Boys And Girls Club Rising Tide Theatre Association

Executive Committee Member The Canadiana Fund Of The National Capital Commission The Federal Cultural Property Export Review Board Wildlife Habitat Canada

Advisory Council Memramcook School For The Performing Arts An Honorary Patron National Screen Institute Of Canada

Past Member of the following Board Committees:

Governor Of The National Theatre School Of Canada 1968-1992 National Ballet Of Canada 1974-1990
The St John's International Mozart Committee 1991 The Grenfell Centennial Committee 1992
Founding Member Of The Canadian Association Of Presenters Founding Member Advisory Board Of The National Touring Office Of The Canada Council The Memorial University Art Gallery Advisory Board 1984-19s9 The Newfoundland And Labrador Arts Council 1980-1989 The St. John's Heritage Foundation
Councillor Of The Newfoundland Board Of Trade Councillor Of The Town Of Hogan's Pond

Other activities and involvements:

Currently is serving as the Senior Honorary Aide de Camp to the Lieutenant Governor Of Newfoundland appointed in November 1992. Previously served as Senior A.d.C. from 1986 to 1992, as Honorary Private secretary from 1981 to 1986, Acting Private Secretary in 1987, and has served as a Special a.d.c. to previous Lieutenant Governors in 1967 and from 1974 to 1981. Presently the President Of Newfoundland Publishing Services Limited, and is a Director of Whin Publications Limited.

Honours/Awards:

Appointed a Lieutenant Of The Royal Victoria Order (L.V.O.) In the Queen's New Years Honours list 1990, promoted to the rank of Commander of the Royal Victorian Order (C.V.O.) July 1990, awarded the Canada 125 Commemorative Medal December 1992, received the Royal Canadian Academy Medal for contribution to the Visual Arts 1978, St. John's Citizen of the Year 1988, invested as a Knight in The Military and Hospitaller Order of St. Lazarus of Jerusalem in Canada (K.L.J.) in 1977 promoted to Knight Commander (K.C.L.J.) in 1990. As previously noted has been honoured with Life Memberships in various organizations and has received other similar awards and certificates from a number of community based organizations.

BASIS FOR NOMINATION:

John Perlin has had a major involvement in the cultural and charitable sectors of St. John's, the Province of Newfoundland and nationally dating back to the early 1950's. This involvement has covered a wide spectrum of activities with particular emphasis on community based arts, environmental and heritage organizations as well as those organizations that are involved with youth and the physically and mentally handicapped. His long standing interest in amateur and community theatre dates back to the 1950's and he helped found two local theatre groups. Subsequently he joined the Board of the Nfld. Drama Festival Society and served an its Chairman for some 16 years. During that time he undertook the mounting and organizing of three national drama festivals in Nfld in 1967,1974 and 1977. He was elected President of the Dominion Drama Festival - Theatre Canada and was responsible for raising the money to clear its debts leaving it debt-free for his successors.

He initially became involved in youth work through his involvement with the Kinsmen Club of St. John's this resulted in his becoming a founding member of the St. John's Boys and Girls Club. He ultimately served as President of both organizations. Again in the late 1950's he joined, the Board of the Sunshine Camp Association which late became the Nfld. Society for the Care of Crippled Children and Adults, now the association for the Physically Disabled and ultimately served as its President in 1987. In an emergency situation in 1989 he was asked to assume the National Presidency and has been re-elected to this position most recently, in 1992. The Award program has thrived in Newfoundland and Labrador and operates in all provinces and territories in Canada. It operates in various forms in nearly 60 countries around the world and is considered to be one of the best programmes for young people available in Canada and elsewhere around the world for leadership training and development.

Several years ago he established the Perlin Family Charitable Trust which is designed to support the interests and activities that John Perlin and his parents have been involved with throughout their lifetimes.

In 1967 Premier Smallwood invited him to become the first Director General/ Administrator for the New Centennial Arts Centre in St. John's Perlin subsequently was responsible for the next 22 years in establishing and developing the emerging arts policies for the Nfld. Government. When he left the Public Service his office as Director of Cultural affairs was responsible for the programming and operation of six performing and visual art centres throughout the Province. This involvement led to his serving in a voluntary capacity on such Boards as the National Theatre School of Canada in Montreal, and the National Ballet of Canada.

He was a strong lobbyist for the establishment of the Touring Office of the Canada Council and the Assembly of Arts Administrators and as well served as a founding member of the Canadian Association of Presenters. Perlin continues his involvement as a patron of the performing and visual arts and in a number of other community organizations while working as a columnist/ Journalist and consultant.