Conserving our Natural Community | Corwin Cambray (BA 1967, MA 1973)
Corwin Cambray (BA 1967, MA 1973) has stood by the phrase “community and the public, first and always,” for as long as he can remember. Throughout his undergraduate studies, a career in public service, and his involvement in church and local organizations, he has continuously embodied this value. Corwin received his Bachelor of Arts and Master of Arts in Regional and Resource Planning from the University of Waterloo and was both a resident and the first Student Council President of Conrad Grebel College.
Corwin realized his interest in regional planning when he transferred to the University of Waterloo to study under Professor Ralph Krueger. “I was interested in a thesis he had written on the Niagara fruit belt,” Corwin explained. Shortly thereafter, Professor Len Gertler arrived at the university and established a new program in Regional and Resource Planning. Corwin, under the leadership of Professor Gertler, produced reports that led to the development of the Niagara Escarpment Planning and Development Act. This Act acknowledged the distinctive characteristics of the Niagara Escarpment. The Act also instituted the Niagara Escarpment Plan Area, which had the goal of protecting the Escarpment land stretching from Queenston to Tobermory as a sustained natural environment.
After completing his master’s degree, Corwin worked with the Regional Municipality of Niagara as a Senior Planner, eventually becoming the Commissioner of Planning and Development. Spanning 33 years, his public service career was filled with many accomplishments, including the development of a Niagara regional tree bylaw, which helped prevent widespread forest destruction. He also developed Official Plan policies protecting Niagara’s fruit lands, agricultural lands, and additional environmental landscapes, furthering his philosophy that “applying one's talents and energy can contribute to a healthier, more sustainable society.”
“I think that my growing recognition of the importance of community grew from my stay at Grebel,” Corwin reflected. He further elaborated, “Grebel was a community of diverse students which came together from a variety of places and backgrounds. Consequently, my work in the public sector, participation in community organizations and Church work was broadened through my stay at Grebel.”
Throughout his career, Corwin was motivated by the importance of public engagement for the betterment of the whole community. This belief is evident in his actions, as he persuaded municipalities in the Niagara Region to pass by-laws allocating reserved parking for physically disabled residents, while also promoting equitable community planning through the development of regional policies establishing group homes and affordable housing in the Niagara Region.
Alongside his professional achievements, Corwin has held leadership positions in both his church and communal organizations. “I’ve always been a strong advocate of helping people that are less fortunate,” he stated. Corwin is an active member in the Parish of St. George's Anglican Church, serving as Treasurer, Warden, and Lay Delegate to The Synod of the Diocese of Niagara. He was the President of the St. Catharines and District Canadian Mental Health Association for seven years and is a Life Member for his efforts. Corwin also served as co-chair of the Red Feather Society of the United Way of St. Catharines and District with his wife, Grace-Ann.
After he retired from regional municipal government in 2007, Corwin received a provincial cabinet appointment to be a Commissioner of the Niagara Escarpment Commission, where he continued to honour and protect the Escarpment. For his remarkable service and contributions to his profession, Corwin has been acknowledged by the Ontario Professional Planners Institute on two separate occasions and was granted lifetime membership in 2022 for more than 35 years of involvement. He has also served as a mentor for junior planners, contributing to the progression of professional planning in Ontario.
Corwin has enjoyed being physically active throughout his life, participating in many sports, including football, basketball, and baseball. He continues to play tennis several times a week both in St. Catharines and Southampton, and is on the Board of Directors of the Southampton Residents' Association.
Corwin remembered Grebel as “a lovely college,” and recalled that “I had a good time at Grebel... the meals were good – which is important.” He also appreciated the newness of his dorm room, as the residence building had been opened only a few years before he began his studies. He was elected President of Grebel’s first Student Council and noted the experience as being very informal, as it was “just a bunch of students whose main task was to try to get through university.”
“The key to my success (if you want to call it that) was to have good professors – that’s fundamental,” he explained, advising students to “not forget to help the people in your community, wherever you are.” He recognized during his own studies that “as a student, it is important to interact with fellow students, listen to their stories and participate in Grebel activities. Much can be learned outside the classroom.”
When reflecting on his extensive, fulfilling career, Corwin deliberated, “I didn't know what I was going to do when I graduated 1967, I didn't know what I was going to do when I got my master's degree, and I didn't know what I was going to do in 2007, but they're all related.” He concluded, “and it all turned out well.”
By Natasha Forth
Corwin Cambray (BA Hons 1967, MA 1973) is an impressive representation of both leadership and service, with a profession devoted to community betterment, environmental sustainability, and to helping others. Through his many achievements, he has demonstrated how individuals can help develop a more inclusive, sustainable community. Corwin and his wife Grace-Ann remain actively involved in their neighbourhoods of Southampton and St. Catharines, ON, and in the lives of their children and grandchildren.
Corwin's story is part of Grebel's 60 Stories for 60 Years project. Check out our 60 Stories page for more articles in this series. If you would like to nominate a Grebel alumnus to share about their experiences at Grebel, please submit a nomination form.