Dr. Murchison G. Callender

Dr. Murchison G. Callender was born in the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago. He is the eldest of four children of Elton and Dorothy Callender and was the first in his family to attend university. He graduated from Sir George Williams (now Concordia) with a Bachelor of Science degree. Subsequently, he went on to McGill University to research diabetes and the effects of insulin deprivation which led to blindness in the animal model, which fascinated him. Not long after he met Chloe, also a student, who later became his wife.  At the time, Chloe wore rigid / hard contact lenses which made her eyes red after a period of wear. This stimulated interest in the eye and motivated him to achieve a Doctor of Optometry and a Master of Science in physiology at the University of Waterloo.  Later, he received the Master of Philosophy in Vision Science at Aston University, Birmingham, England. He joined the Faculty of Optometry and Vision Care at the University of Waterloo where he earned international recognition through his research related to contact lenses.

When he was first appointed to the faculty of the School of Optometry as a professor, Dr. Callender assumed the responsibility for organizing and developing a modern contact lens clinic that would satisfy the educational needs of a large university-based teaching clinic, as well as providing a first-class service to the public of Waterloo Region. He held several administrative positions, including the Director of the Contact Lens Clinic and Admissions Officer.

Dr Callender was a seminal force in the development of contact lens-related research, focusing on the study of the physiology and microbiology of the cornea and lacrimal system. He established the first university-based scientific protocols for these areas of research in Canada. The School of Optometry at the University of Waterloo is only one of two such programs in Canada, and the only one with English as the language of instruction. As a result, Dr. Callender’s optometry graduates have practiced across Canada, and his teaching and research have affected the clinical care of millions of Canadians.

Dr. Callender studied the impact of the loss of vision through eye diseases on disadvantaged communities. With donations from local service clubs, as well as from the countries he served, Dr. Callender established a programme for optometry students to set up vision clinics in the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago, and Jamaica. At these clinics, local professionals worked alongside the students to diagnose and prescribe care. This partnership served over 30,000 Jamaicans and reshaped the way vision care was perceived across the island.  Dr Callender’s dedication to outreach in Jamaica has been recognized by The Foundation For International Self-help (FISH) Jamaica limited, the Canadian Friends of St. Thomas, the Lions Club of Portmore, Jamaica, and in several publications chronicling his work in Jamaica, and Trinidad and Tobago.

Not only did Dr. Callender make an impact in the field of optometry, but he also made a major impact in the area of music.  When he first arrived in Montreal with his steel drum instrument, he joined a band and has continued to play this instrument in the Waterloo Region with the group “Acoustic Steel”. Playing Caribbean music at community events and at community retirement homes for seniors is  mutually beneficial to Dr. Callender, and his audiences. It is a form of relaxation and at the same time brings joy to the listeners.

Dr. Callender and his wife Chloe were founding members of the Caribbean Canadian Association of the Waterloo Region. He served on the Board of Directors in the areas of education and finance. He has contributed to several Waterloo Region community organizations, including The Congress of Black Women, and the Link Picnic Festival.

It is remarkable that, Dr. Callender’s accolades have come not only from universities, medical journals, colleagues, former students, but from the greater community at large as well. Outside of the academic field of Optometry and Vision Care, few members of Waterloo Region are aware of his contributions to contact lens research and development. We are pleased to induct Dr. Murchison Callender into the Waterloo Region Hall of Fame for his outstanding work and lasting impact in the field of optometry.