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Austin Mardon

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Austin Albert Mardon
Austin Mardon
Born (1962-06-25) 25 June 1962 (age 62)
Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
NationalityCanadian
Alma materUniversity of Lethbridge
South Dakota State University
Texas A&M University
Scientific career
FieldsHistorical astronomy
Websitewww.austinmardon.org

Austin Albert Mardon, CM Ph.D. (born 25 June 1962) is an author, community leader, and advocate for mental health.[1] He is an assistant adjunct professor at the John Dossetor Health Ethics Centre at the University of Alberta. In the mid 80's, he founded and today still directs the Antarctic Institute of Canada, a non-profit entity based in Edmonton, Alberta.[2] He is currently married to lawyer and activist Catherine Mardon, and has co-written several books with her.[1]

Biography

Family history

Mardon's paternal grandfather, Austin Mardon, attended Cambridge University prior to becoming a professor in comparative classics and history. With his wife, Marie, Mardon's grandfather purchased Ardross Castle in Scotland, which remained in the Mardon family until 1983.[3]

Early years

Dr. Mardon was born in Edmonton, Alberta in 1962 to May and Ernest George Mardon.[4] Dr. Mardon grew up in Lethbridge and currently resides in Edmonton.

As a child, Dr. Mardon was often sick and subject to a great deal of bullying in school. During this time, he spent many winters in Hawaii with his mother and sister.[5] In his late teens, Dr. Mardon lived in Scotland and attended Grenoble University.

Afterwards, Dr. Mardon returned to Canada and attended the University of Lethbridge. Here, he pursued a major in Geography.[6] He also served in the Canadian Primary Reserves, taking his basic training at the Canadian Armed Forces Base at Dundurn, Saskatchewan.[5]

Education

Dr. Mardon graduated in 1985 with a major in cultural geography from the University of Lethbridge.[7] He became a graduate student at South Dakota State University, where he also attended the Space Studies Program, and received a master's of science in 1988. He also received a master's degree in education from Texas A&M University in 1990. After he was diagnosed with schizophrenia, he earned a Ph.D from Greenwich University. He has done work on other degrees from Newman Theological College, Kharkov National University, and the University of South Africa. He received an honorary law degree (LL.D.) from the University of Alberta in 2011.[5][8]

Career

While doing graduate work at the South Dakota State University in 1986, Dr. Mardon was invited to be a member of the 1986-87 Antarctic meteorite expedition for NASA and the National Science Foundation. 170 miles from the South Pole station when his team found hundreds of meteorites. During his sojourn he suffered environmental exposure which damaged his lungs and gave him a permanent cough. He received the Antarctica Service Medal for his efforts and risk.[5]

On his return to Alberta, he gave lectures on Antarctica at the University of Calgary and the University of Lethbridge. He secured an interview to be a member of the Canadian/Soviet Arctic traverse from northern Siberia to Ellesmere Island in the Canadian Arctic, but failed to get on that expedition.[5]

He was a part of the failed meteorite recovery expedition in the Canadian Arctic near Resolute in the Northwest Territories, and wrote a paper on his conversations with locals and what the Inuit thought of meteorites. He was also supposed to join an Argentinian Antarctic expedition in the late 80's, but a fire at the Argentinian Antarctic base caused his membership to be canceled.[5]

One of his most significant contributions to astronomical science was a series of articles he wrote on the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle. The Chronicle is a running commentary on different events in England during the medieval period. With the assistance of his father, a medieval scholar, Dr. Mardon found eleven cometary events mentioned in the Chronicle that are not mentioned anywhere else in astronomical literature, as well as two meteor showers recorded in the Chronicle.[5]

In 1991, Dr. Mardon was invited to join an expedition to the South Pole sponsored by the Geographical Society of the USSR. He traveled to Moscow and met with some expedition officials, receiving a strange welcome with little information and odd accommodations.[9] He soon found out that he was under suspicion by the authorities and was arrested first by the GRU, then by the KGB.[4] Dr. Mardon was questioned, held for a time, and then forced to wander the streets of Moscow with an escort that could have been a spy or guard as well as a guide.[9] Dr. Mardon finally secured passage back to Canada after a harrowing experience in Moscow, and eventually received an official letter of apology from Moscow.[4]

In 1992, Dr. Mardon was diagnosed with schizophrenia. Following his diagnosis, Dr. Mardon began work as an activist for people with mental illnesses.[10] Dr. Mardon has written multiple books on the subject of mental illness, and has been bestowed several honors and awards for his work as a mental health advocate. In 2011 the Canadian Medical Association (CMA) awarded Dr. Mardon the CMA Medal of Honour in recognition of, "[...] personal contributions to the advance of medical research and education." In regards to the awarding of the medal to Dr. Mardon, CMA president Jeff Turnbull said, "Dr. Mardon has worked tirelessly to help Canadians better understand the issues around mental illness. In courageously talking openly about his own experiences, he is truly making a difference in coaxing mental illness out of the shadows in this country."[11] Dr. Mardon received his most prestigious honor in 2006, when he was awarded the Order of Canada.

As of February 2019, Austin has been serving on the University of Lethbridge senate.

Bibliography

Austin Mardon has edited, authored and self-published 50 books.[12] He has published books on Canadian politics, history, mental health, science, geography, fiction and children's fiction as well as numerous scholarly articles and abstracts. Many of his written works explore the topic of mental illness, with a specific focus on providing aid to the disabled.[10]

Non-fiction

  • A Conspectus of the Contribution of Herodotus to the Development of Geographical Thought (1990. Reprint in 2011)[13]
  • A Description of the Western Isles of Scotland (1990, Translator, with Ernest Mardon)[13]
  • The Alberta Judiciary Dictionary (1990, with Ernest Mardon)[13]
  • International Law and Space Rescue Systems (1991)[13]
  • Kensington Stone and Other Essays (1991)[13]
  • A Transient in Whirl (1991)[13]
  • The Men of the Dawn: Alberta Politicians from the North West Territories of the District of Alberta and Candidates for the First Alberta General Election (1991, With Ernest Mardon)[13]
  • Down and Out and on the Run in Moscow (1992, with Ernest Mardon)[13]
  • Alberta General Election Returns and Subsequent Byelections, 1882-1992, Documentary Heritage Society of Alberta (1993, with Ernest Mardon)[13]
  • Edmonton Political Biographical Dictionary, 1882-1990: A Work in Progress (1993, with Ernest Mardon)[13]
  • Biographical Dictionary of Alberta Politicians (1993, with Ernest Mardon)[13]
  • Alberta Executive Council, 1905-1990 (1994, co-author)[13]
  • Alone against the Revolution (1996, with M.F. Korn)[13]
  • Early Catholic Saints (1997, co-author)[13]
  • Later Christian Saints (1997, co-author)[13]
  • Childhood Memories and Legends of Christmas Past (1998, co-author) [13]
  • United Farmers of Alberta (1999, co-author)[13]
  • The Insanity Machine (2003, with Kenna McKinnon)[14]
  • English Medieval Cometry References Over a Thousand Years (2008, with Ernest Mardon and Cora Herrick)[15]
  • 2004 Politicians (2009, with Ernest Mardon)[16]
  • A Description of the Western Isles of Scotland (2009, with Ernest Mardon)[17]
  • Space Rescue Systems in the Context of International Laws (2009)[18]
  • Alberta Election Returns, 1887-1994 (2010, with Ernest Mardon)[19]
  • Community Place Names of Alberta (2010, with Ernest Mardon)[20]
  • Alberta's Judicial Leadership (2011, with Ernest Mardon)[21]
  • The Mormon Contribution to Alberta Politics (2 ed.) (2011, with Ernest Mardon)[22]
  • Mapping Alberta's Political Leadership (2011, with Ernest Mardon and Joseph Harry Veres)[23]
  • Alberta's Political Pioneers (2011, with Ernest Mardon)[24]
  • Alberta Ethnic German Politicians (2011, with Ernest Mardon and Catherine Mardon)[25]
  • Financial Stability for the Disabled (2012, with Shelley Qian and Kayle Paustian)[26]
  • The Liberals in Power in Alberta 1905-1921 (2012, with Ernest Mardon)[27]
  • Designed by Providence (2012, with Ernest Mardon and Claire MacMaster)[28]
  • Who's Who in Federal Politics in Alberta (2012, with Ernest Mardon)[29]
  • What's in a Name? (2012, with Ernest Mardon)[30]
  • History and Origin of Alberta Constituencies (2012, with Catherine Mardon)[31]
  • The Conflict Between the Individual & Society in the Plays of James Bridie (2012, with Ernest Mardon)[32]
  • Alberta Catholic Politicians (2012, with Ernest Mardon)[33]
  • Tea with the Mad Hatter (2012, with Erin Campbell)[34]
  • Lethbridge Politicians: Federal, Provincial & Civic (2 ed.) (2013, with Ernest Mardon)[35]
  • Alberta Anglican Politicians (2013, with Ernest Mardon)[36]
  • Political Networks in Alberta: 1905-1992 (2 ed.) (2014)[37]

Children's books

  • Many Christian Saints for Children (1997, coauthor) [13]
  • Early Saints and Other Saintly Stories for Children (2011, with May Mardon and Ernest Mardon)[38]
  • When Kitty Met the Ghost (2 ed.) (2012, with Ernest Mardon)[39]
  • The Girl Who Could Walk Through Walls (2012, with Ernest Mardon)[40]
  • Gandy and Parker Escape the Zoo: An Illustrated Adventure (2013, with Catherine Mardon)[41]
  • Grownup for a Week (2014, with Catherine Mardon, Aala Abdullahi and Agata Garbowska)[42]
  • Gandy and the Cadet (2015, with Catherine Mardon)[43]
  • Gandy and the Man in White (2016, with Catherine Mardon)[44]

Awards and honours

  • Antarctic Service Medal- US Congress(Navy)- 1987[45]
  • Duke of Edinburgh Award- Bronze Level- 1987[45]
  • Texas State Proclamation #51, Texas Legislature- 1988[45]
  • Governor Generals Caring Canadian Award- 1996, presented 1999[46]
  • Nadine Stirling Award, Canadian Mental Health Association- Alberta 1999[45]
  • Flag of Hope Award, Schizophrenia Society of Canada- 2001[6]
  • Distinguished Alumni Award from the University of Lethbridge- 2002[6]
  • Presidents Award, Canadian Mental Health Association-Alberta- 2002[47]
  • Queen Elizabeth II Golden Jubilee Medal- 2002[48]
  • Alberta Centennial Medal- 2005[49]
  • Ron LaJeunnesse Leadership Award, Canadian Mental Health Association- Edmonton 2005[45]
  • Order of St. Sylvester - 2017 [50]
  • Order of Canada, Member- October 2006, Invested- October 2007[51]
  • Bill Jefferies Family Award, Schizophrenia Society of Canada- 2007[47]
  • C.M. Hincks Award, Canadian Mental Health Association- National Division- 2007[47]
  • Best National Editorial, Canadian Church Press- 2010 for Western Catholic Reporter article[52]
  • Medal of Honour, Alberta Medical Association- October 2010[53]
  • Mental Health Media Award, Canadian Mental Health Association-Alberta October 2010 for AHE Edmonton Journal articles[52]
  • Honorable Kentucky Colonel- Commonwealth of Kentucky April 2011[52]
  • Honorary Doctorate, L.L.D., University of Alberta- 10 June 2011[54]
  • Medal of Honour, Canadian Medical Association- 25 August 2011[55]
  • Catherine & Austin Mardon CM Schizophrenia Award permanently endowed at U of Alberta for $500 per annum 2012[56]
  • Dr's Catherine & Austin Mardon CM Student Award Bursary established at Newman Theological College 2012[52]
  • Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal- Presented 28 May 2012[57]
  • Catherine & Austin Mardon CM Schizophrenia Award endowed at Norquest College for $1,000 per annum August 2013[58]
  • Honorary Doctorate, L.L.D., University of Lethbridge, 19 June 2014[59]
  • Honorary Social Worker, Alberta College of Social Workers, April 2015[60]
  • Mardon was elected into the Royal Society of Canada as a Specially Elected Fellow in 2014.[61]
  • Order of St.Sylvester (2017) [62]

References

  1. ^ a b Mardon, Austin; Mardon, Catherine (29 March 2016). "Austin and Catherine Mardon: Home ownership offers safe place for people with disabilities". Retrieved 5 July 2016 – via Edmonton Journal.
  2. ^ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 29 July 2016. Retrieved 27 July 2016.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  3. ^ "Ardross Castle - Heritage". Retrieved 8 May 2015.[self-published source]
  4. ^ a b c "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 14 October 2014. Retrieved 28 April 2015.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  5. ^ a b c d e f g http://www.encyclopedia.com/article-1G2-3416500091/mardon-austin-albert-1962.html
  6. ^ a b c "Austin Mardon (BA '85) | University of Lethbridge".
  7. ^ "Dr. Austin Mardon 2002 Distinguished Alumnus of the Year". University of Lethbridge. Retrieved 26 May 2015.
  8. ^ "Dr. Austin MARDON". Canadian Who's Who. 22 May 2015. Retrieved 26 May 2015.
  9. ^ a b Mardon, Austin (2012). Seven Days in Moscow. Edmonton, AB: Golden Meteorite Press. p. 30. ISBN 9781897472385.
  10. ^ a b "Austin Mardon". University of Alberta. Archived from the original on 24 December 2016. Retrieved 16 July 2015.
  11. ^ "CMA Awards Medal of Honour to Dr. Austin Mardon". Canada Newswire. 16 August 2011.
  12. ^ "Austin Mardon". Speakers' Bureau of Alberta. Retrieved 16 July 2015.
  13. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r Harline, Jonathan; Mardon, Austin A. "Contemporary Authors Biography" (Document). {{cite document}}: Cite document requires |publisher= (help); Unknown parameter |url= ignored (help)
  14. ^ McKinnon, Kenna; Mardon, Austin (19 January 2013). The Insanity Machine. ISBN 9781481222082. Retrieved 26 May 2015.
  15. ^ Mardon, Austin (2007). English Medieval Cometry References Over a Thousand Years. ISBN 9781897472002. Retrieved 6 July 2015.
  16. ^ Mardon, Austin; Mardon, Ernest (August 2011). 2004 Politicians - Austin Mardon, Ernest Mardon - Google Books. ISBN 9781897472026. Retrieved 6 July 2015.
  17. ^ Mardon, Austin (27 November 2010). A Description of the Western Isles of Scotland. ISBN 9781897472088. Retrieved 6 July 2015.
  18. ^ Mardon, Austin Albert (June 2012). Space Rescue Systems in the Context of International Laws - Austin Albert Mardon - Google Books. ISBN 9781897472217. Retrieved 6 July 2015.
  19. ^ Mardon, Ernest G.; Mardon, Austin Albert (2010). Alberta Election Returns, 1887-1994 - Ernest G. Mardon, Austin Albert Mardon - Google Books. ISBN 9781897472163. Retrieved 6 July 2015.
  20. ^ Mardon, Ernest G.; Mardon, Austin (2010). Community Place Names of Alberta - Ernest G. Mardon, Austin Mardon - Google Books. ISBN 9781897472170. Retrieved 6 July 2015.
  21. ^ Mardon, Austin (July 2011). Alberta's Judicial Leadership. ISBN 9781897472323. Retrieved 6 July 2015.
  22. ^ Mardon, Ernest G.; Mardon, Austin Albert (2011). The Mormon Contribution to Alberta Politics - Austin Mardon - Google Books. ISBN 9781897472231. Retrieved 6 July 2015.
  23. ^ Mardon, Austin (2011). Mapping Alberta's Political Leadership. ISBN 9781897472309. Retrieved 6 July 2015.
  24. ^ Mardon, Austin Albert (2010). Alberta's Political Pioneers - Austin Mardon. ISBN 9781897472125. Retrieved 6 July 2015.
  25. ^ Mardon, Ernest G.; Mardon, Austin Albert; Mardon, Catherine A. (2011). Alberta's Ethnic German Politicians - Austin Mardon. ISBN 9781897472286. Retrieved 6 July 2015.
  26. ^ Qian, Shelly; Mardon, Austin A.; Paustian, Kayle (August 2012). Financial Stability for the Disabled. ISBN 9781897472415. Retrieved 26 May 2015.
  27. ^ Mardon, Austin (2012). The Liberals in Power in Alberta 1905-1921. ISBN 9781897480083. Retrieved 6 July 2015.
  28. ^ Mardon, Austin (2012). Designed by Providence - Austin Mardon - Google Books. ISBN 9781897472903. Retrieved 6 July 2015.
  29. ^ Mardon, Ernest G.; Mardon, Austin Albert (May 2012). Who's Who in Federal Politics in Alberta - Ernest G. Mardon, Austin Albert Mardon - Google Books. ISBN 9781897472194. Retrieved 6 July 2015.
  30. ^ Mardon, Austin (2012). What's in a Name? - Austin Mardon. ISBN 9781897472583. Retrieved 6 July 2015.
  31. ^ Mardon, Austin Albert; Mardon, Catherine A. (2011). History and Origin of Alberta Constituencies - Austin Albert Mardon, Catherine A. Mardon - Google Books. ISBN 9781897472293. Retrieved 6 July 2015.
  32. ^ Mardon, Austin (August 2012). The Conflict Between the Individual & Society in the Plays of James Bridie - Austin Mardon - Google Books. ISBN 9781897472071. Retrieved 6 July 2015.
  33. ^ Mardon, Austin (2012). Alberta Catholic Politicians. ISBN 9781897472897. Retrieved 6 July 2015.
  34. ^ Campbell, Erin (February 2011). Tea with the Mad Hatter. ISBN 9781897472224. Retrieved 26 May 2015.
  35. ^ Mardon, Austin (21 July 2014). Lethbridge Politicians: Federal, Provincial & Civic. ISBN 9781897472552. Retrieved 26 May 2015.
  36. ^ Mardon, Austin (June 2013). Alberta Anglican Politicians. ISBN 9781897472873. Retrieved 6 July 2015.
  37. ^ Mardon, Austin (August 2014). Political Networks in Alberta: 1905-1992. ISBN 9781897472736. Retrieved 6 July 2015.
  38. ^ Mardon, Austin (25 December 2014). Early Saints and Other Saintly Stories for Children - Austin Mardon - Google Books. ISBN 9781897472446. Retrieved 6 July 2015.
  39. ^ Mardon, Austin; Mardon, Ernest G. (August 2012). When Kitty Met the Ghost - Austin Mardon, Ernest G. Mardon - Google Books. ISBN 9781897472378. Retrieved 6 July 2015.
  40. ^ Mardon, Austin; Mardon, Ernest G. (1991). The Girl Who Could Walk Through Walls - Austin Mardon, Ernest G. Mardon - Google Books. ISBN 9781895385434. Retrieved 6 July 2015.
  41. ^ Mardon, Austin; Mardon, Catherine; Garbowska, Agata (August 2013). Gandy and Parker Escape the Zoo: An Illustrated Adventure - Austin Mardon, Catherine Mardon, Agata Garbowska - Google Books. ISBN 9781897472828. Retrieved 6 July 2015.
  42. ^ Mardon, Austin; Mardon, Catherine; Abdullahi, Aala; Garbowska, Agata (23 September 2014). Grownup for a Week - Austin Mardon, Catherine Mardon, Aala Abdullahi, Agata Garbowska - Google Books. ISBN 9781897472866. Retrieved 6 July 2015.
  43. ^ Mardon, Catherine (April 2015). Gandy and the Cadet - Catherine A. Mardon, Austin Albert Mardon - Google Books. ISBN 9781897480182.
  44. ^ Mardon, Catherine A.; Mardon, Austin Albert (December 2015). Gandy and the Man in White - Catherine A. Mardon, Austin Albert Mardon - Google Books. ISBN 9781897480274.
  45. ^ a b c d e "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 7 July 2015. Retrieved 19 May 2015.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  46. ^ http://www.gg.ca/honour.aspx?id=750&t=4&ln=Mardon
  47. ^ a b c "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 24 December 2016. Retrieved 6 July 2015.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  48. ^ http://www.gg.ca/honour.aspx?id=36832&t=6&ln=Mardon
  49. ^ http://www.qp.alberta.ca/documents/gazette/2006/pdf/09_May15_Part1.pdf
  50. ^ "Advocates for the mentally ill honoured by the pope". 22 December 2017.
  51. ^ http://www.gg.ca/honour.aspx?id=6203&t=12&ln=Mardon
  52. ^ a b c d "Archived copy" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 23 September 2015. Retrieved 6 July 2015.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  53. ^ "Error".
  54. ^ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 14 June 2017. Retrieved 6 July 2015.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  55. ^ "Medical Staff" (PDF).
  56. ^ "First U of a Scholarship Award to Person with Schizophrenia".
  57. ^ "Diamond Jubilee honours for dedicated Edmonton citizens".
  58. ^ "New bursary will assist students with mental health challenges - NorQuest College - Edmonton, Alberta".
  59. ^ http://www.explorersclub.ca/pages/wp-content/uploads/FarAfield-July2014.pdf
  60. ^ http://www.acsw.ab.ca/pdfs/min_finalapproved_october_20141115.pdf
  61. ^ "The Royal Society of Canada Class of 2014 List of New Fellows" (PDF). The Royal Society of Canada. 9 September 2014. p. 14. Archived from the original (PDF) on 7 July 2015. Retrieved 9 May 2015.
  62. ^ "Advocates for the mentally ill honoured by the pope". 22 December 2017.
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