Murray Thomson

{{Short description|Canadian peace activist (1922–2019)}}

{{Infobox person

|name = Murray Thomson

|image = Murray McCheyne Thomson.jpg

|caption = Thomson in 2015

|birth_date = {{birth date|mf=yes|1922|12|19}}

|birth_place = Honan, China

|death_date = {{nowrap|{{death date and age|2019|5|2|1922|12|19}}}}

|death_place = Ottawa, Ontario, Canada

|nationality = Canadian

|awards = {{nowrap|Pearson Medal of Peace (1990),
Order of Canada (2001)}}

}}

Murray McCheyne Thomson {{post-nominals|OC}} (December 19, 1922 – May 2, 2019) was a Canadian peace activist{{cite book|last1=Lumley|first1=Elizabeth|title=The Canadian Who's who|date=2000|publisher=University of Toronto Press|isbn=0802049397|page=1257}}

Thomson was born in Honan, China where his parents were Christian missionaries. Thomson founded many non-profits in Canada.{{cite web|url=http://www.utpress.utoronto.ca/cgi-bin/cw2w3.cgi?p=thomson&t=12509&d=1424|title=Canadian Who's Who 1997 entry|accessdate=April 4, 2006}} He was the 1990 recipient of the Pearson Medal of Peace{{cite web |url=http://207.112.105.217/PEN/1991-02/sharpe.html |title=Murray Thomson: Ottawa's Peace Medal Winner |last=Sharpe |first=Alan |date=February 1991 |publisher=Peace and Environment News |access-date=1 August 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160816153703/http://207.112.105.217/PEN/1991-02/sharpe.html |archive-date=16 August 2016 |url-status=dead }}{{cite web | last=Watson | first=Rick | title=The Peacefund Canada Foundation | website=Peace Brigades International Canada | url=http://www.pbicanada.org/index.php/en/take-action-2/donate-2/the-peacefund-canada-foundation-2 | access-date=1 February 2018}} for his work in peace and justice{{cite web |url=http://www.dennisgruending.ca/2012/12/murray-thomson-peace-activist-at-90/ |title=Murray Thomson, peace activist at 90 |last=Gruending |first=Dennis |date=8 December 2012 |access-date=1 August 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160808101434/http://www.dennisgruending.ca/2012/12/murray-thomson-peace-activist-at-90/ |archive-date=8 August 2016 |url-status=dead }} and was made an Officer of the Order of Canada in 2001.{{Cite web|url=http://archive.gg.ca/media/doc.asp?lang=e&DocID=380|title=The Governor General announces new appointments to the Order of Canada}}{{Cite web|url=http://www.gg.ca/honour.aspx?id=139&t=12&ln=Thomson|title=Recipients|date=11 June 2018}} He was also awarded the (Canadian) Golden Jubilee Medal{{Cite web|url=http://www.gg.ca/honour.aspx?id=40482&t=6&ln=McCheyne%20Thomson|title=Recipients|date=11 June 2018}} and the Diamond Jubilee Medal{{Cite web|url=http://www.gg.ca/honour.aspx?id=104861&t=13&ln=Thomson|title=Recipients|date=11 June 2018}} He is a former Executive Director of CUSO.

He is credited in helping the formation of:

• Grindstone Island{{citation needed|date=March 2018}}
• The Peacefund Canada Foundation (1980s)
• Peace Brigades International (1981)
• Project Ploughshares (1976)
• Group of 78 (1980)
• Canadian Friends of Burma (1990)
• Canadians for a Nuclear Weapons Convention (2012){{citation needed|reason=uncertain|date=March 2018}}

Murray was a recognized international expert and advisor to governments, aid organizations, and lobbyists on disarmament and arms control.

He was significantly involved in starting the United Nations World Disarmament Campaign and drafting its policy document, which was passed by the United Nations General Assembly.

He continued to be active in advocating for disarmament into 2019.{{cite web | title=Canada must join new negotiations to eliminate nuclear weapons | website=Canadians for a Nuclear Weapons Convention | date=1 January 2017 | url=http://nuclearweaponsconvention.ca/2017/02/01/cnwc-statement-hill-times/ | access-date=1 February 2018}}

For several years he led a campaign among members of the Order of Canada in calling for an international Nuclear Weapons Convention. Over 1,030 members of the Order have signed the statement as of May 2019.{{cite web | title=Welcome | website=Canadians for a Nuclear Weapons Convention | date=1 December 2016 | url=http://nuclearweaponsconvention.ca/2017/01/01/welcome/ | access-date=1 February 2018}}

He died on May 2, 2019, in Ottawa, Canada.[http://www.quaker.org/peaceweb/poquak01.html Murray Thomson at Peaceweb/Peace/Ottawa]

His archives are held by William Ready Division of Archives and Research Collections at McMaster University in Hamilton, Ontario.