Carl Arthur Pollock
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Carl Arthur Pollock, OC (1903 – August 16, 1978) was a
Canadian Canadians () are people identified with the country of Canada. This connection may be residential, legal, historical or cultural. For most Canadians, many (or all) of these connections exist and are collectively the source of their being ''C ...
businessman. Born in Kitchener,
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, graduated from the
University of Toronto The University of Toronto (UToronto or U of T) is a public university, public research university whose main campus is located on the grounds that surround Queen's Park (Toronto), Queen's Park in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. It was founded by ...
in
electrical engineering Electrical engineering is an engineering discipline concerned with the study, design, and application of equipment, devices, and systems that use electricity, electronics, and electromagnetism. It emerged as an identifiable occupation in the l ...
. A scholarship from the Massey Foundation financed two years at
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,
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. At university he showed exceptional talent in track and rowing. He taught for a short time at the University of Toronto, but his father's illness led him to choose a career in business and industry at the Kitchener electronics firm his father founded in 1907,
Electrohome Founded in 1907, Electrohome was Canada's largest manufacturer of television sets (TVs) from 1949 to 1987. The company was also involved in television broadcasting, and was a leader in data, video, graphics displays and projectors. From 1984 to 1 ...
. Pollock joined the firm in 1930, was president from 1951 to 1972, and oversaw the most successful years of Electrohome's history. During the decades to follow, Electrohome produced many different consumer products, including furniture, electric motors, small appliances, and most importantly, radios and televisions. By 1965, Electrohome products were being sold in 23 countries. Total sales in 1968 were $44.5 million. By end of the decade, Electrohome was the second largest employer in the Kitchener-Waterloo area, and colour television was the company's largest single product line. In fact, Electrohome engineered, designed, and manufactured the only Canadian colour television receiver. He was also the founder of several media outlets in Kitchener, including
CKKW CKKW-FM (99.5 FM) is a Canadian radio station licensed to Kitchener, Ontario, with studios located in Waterloo while its transmitter is located near Ottawa Street South and Trussler Rd in Kitchener. The station is owned by Bell Media and airs ...
, CFCA and CKCO. Pollock was a member of the National Design Council and in 1963 he became president of the Canadian Manufacturers' Association. He was convinced that Canadian technology and industry would take no second place. His own firm led in introducing several firsts in the electronics field. In 1975, he was made an Officer of the
Order of Canada The Order of Canada () is a Canadian state order, national order and the second-highest Award, honour for merit in the system of orders, decorations, and medals of Canada, after the Order of Merit. To coincide with the Canadian Centennial, ce ...
"for his many services to industry, particularly in the field of electronics and for a variety of community activities." He was a founder of the
University of Waterloo The University of Waterloo (UWaterloo, UW, or Waterloo) is a Public university, public research university located in Waterloo, Ontario, Canada. The main campus is on of land adjacent to uptown Waterloo and Waterloo Park. The university also op ...
, chairperson of the board of governors for eleven years and chancellor from 1975 to 1978. He was a founder of the Stratford Festival of Canada and supported musical groups, including the Kitchener-Waterloo Symphony Orchestra. His son John A. Pollock took over the role of 3rd generation president of
Electrohome Founded in 1907, Electrohome was Canada's largest manufacturer of television sets (TVs) from 1949 to 1987. The company was also involved in television broadcasting, and was a leader in data, video, graphics displays and projectors. From 1984 to 1 ...
in 1972, and led the company into a number of different electronics businesses, primarily industrial. The most successful products during this period was a line of data, video, and graphics projectors. Electrohome eventually was dissolved in an orderly wind down in late 2008. At University of Waterloo, the engineering building CPH (Carl Pollock Hall) is named after him.


See also

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List of University of Waterloo people The University of Waterloo, located in Waterloo, Ontario, Canada, is a comprehensive public university that was founded in 1957 by Drs. Gerry Hagey and Ira G. Needles. It has grown into an institution of more than 42,000 students, faculty, and st ...


References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Pollock, Carl 1903 births 1978 deaths Businesspeople from Kitchener, Ontario Chancellors of the University of Waterloo Canadian radio executives Canadian television executives Officers of the Order of Canada University of Toronto alumni