Barry Duncan was our founder, our mentor, and our great friend. If not for Barry, AML would not exist. He was a deep influence on hundreds of teachers as they refined their own media teaching expertise. He authored several textbooks (notably, Mass Media and Popular Culture), and received several awards and international accolades for his unrelenting promotion of media literacy. In his lifetime, he taught for many years at Toronto’s School for Experiential Education  (S.E.E.), as well as teaching the Media Studies Additional Qualifications courses for both the University of Toronto and York University. As a result of Barry’s career and tireless volunteer work with The Association for Media Literacy, Ontario is the beneficiary of high-quality, world-leading media education. He was, quite simply, to K-12 Media Education what McLuhan was to the post-secondary discipline, and a wonderful man who will be greatly missed.

Click here to hear a 1990 interview with Barry on how he got AML off the ground.

On June 6 of 2012, The Association for Media Literacy lost Barry. Many media educators benefited from Barry’s support and guidance.  Some contributed the following comments:

Through all the years we have been so lucky to know you and to count ourselves among your friends, you have been there for us with your vast depth of knowledge, your profound pedagogy in educating young people , along with some of the most fascinating innovative teaching ideas…. and ALWAYS your wonderful , whole-hearted and unconditional support!
–Marieli Rowe National Telemedia Council Madison, Wisconsin

Students across Ontario and around the world have you to thank for inspiring them to think critically about everything from Justin Bieber to history books. I would like to think that current student engagement and mobilization around the world is somehow connected to the enlightenment that critical media literacy that has made its way into the curriculum in various forms. You have inspired us all and I am so fortunate to have worked with you – Kristine Collins National Film Board

Little did I know that meeting you would be the beginning of a fond friendship and a profound shift in my own career. You’ve truly contributed to an international dialogue about media and why it’s so important that we address it seriously at school.  I have learned so much from you, Barry. –Kari Dehli Ontario Institute for Education University of Toronto

Barry, I hope you know how extraordinary you are. Not only are you a wonderful person, but you have always been a generous mentor and friend to me and towards many of us here at MNet.
–Jane Tallim Co-Executive Director, Media Smarts Canada