Description: (Canadian Journalist and Founder of the Theatre Festival ‘Stratford Festival of Canada')
Tom Patterson, a journalist and World War II veteran, founded the Stratford Festival of Canada. Despite lacking theatre experience, he envisioned Stratford hosting Shakespearean performances. With the help of director Tyrone Guthrie, he established the festival in 1953. Patterson served as the festival's general manager and contributed to the growth of Canadian cultural institutions. His contributions earned him prestigious awards and the naming of festival theaters and islands in his honor.