WOVS remembers Dr. Irving Baker

Dr. Irving Baker (top right) at WOVS’ 40th anniversary reunion in 2007.

By Beth Bohnert

With the November 8 passing of Dr. Irving Baker, Canadian optometry lost a champion who guided its growth as a profession for more than 60 years.

Dr. Baker’s life was one of service – as an optometrist in the Medical Corps during World War II; as president of the Ontario Association of Optometrists; and for nearly three decades, as Registrar of the College of Optometrists of Ontario.

During his long career, Dr. Baker helped to create policy and legislation that now underpins the practice of optometry across Canada. And he was one of a group of people who worked tirelessly to align the College with a university, an affiliation that would confirm optometry as an autonomous discipline based on scientific knowledge.

For those of us at WOVS, Dr. Baker had special significance. In 1967, it was he who received the official word launching the School of Optometry at the University of Waterloo. He served as an Adjunct Professor here and in 2004, in recognition of his many achievements, the University granted him an honorary Doctor of Laws degree.

In his letter nominating Dr. Baker for the honour, WOVS Professor Emeritus Dr. Bill Bobier cited “the long standing efforts that Irving Baker provided in the professional development of Optometry within Ontario and Canada as a whole.”

“These efforts were largely achieved through a tireless and scholarly pursuit where independent thinking was a requirement, given that there were few teachers and advisors who could point the way.”

We at WOVS extend our deepest sympathy to Dr. Baker’s family and friends.