Townsman, 1991-04, Page 13levels. "We've worked hard at diversi-
fying the operation," says the 53 -year-
old Parson, the company's sole
shareholder. A list of between 30 and
40 active clients means 12 to 15 major
jobs in progress. It was not always
thus.
The son of a Canadian Anglican
Church priest who studied in the Unit-
ed States, Parson was born in a Chica-
go suburb and attended elementary
schools in Illinois. Upon the family's
return to Canada he enrolled in sec-
ondary school in Dutton. Grades 9
and 10 went all right but his rebellion
resulted in the failure of Grade 11.
In casting about for a more agreeable
place of learning, David and his father
hit upon Beal Tech in London. It was
unique, and its graphic design courses
appealed to a lad who always had
been interested in building model air-
planes and things mechanical.
After three years at Beal, Parson
worked briefly for a small agency in
London and then joined the ad depart-
ment at London Life Insurance Com-
pany. While in the Forest City he
interrupted the travel plans of a girl
from Swift Current, Sask. She was
working in London to replenish her
bank account and continue to Europe
with friends. Instead she became Joan
Parson.
In 1964, when he was 27, Parson
was hired by Dave Rae Sr. to create
and direct an art department at Mirror
Press in Stratford. It was a job he kept
until August 1970, when he and sales -
oriented Ken Wilkinson started their
own company and called it Integrated
Graphics. Wilkinson operated out of
Toronto while Parson set up a drafting
board in his Water Street home.
Parson retains a great admiration and
respect for Rae but after six years the
only account at Mirror Press that
excited him was the Stratford Festival.
And he must have been doing some-
thing to excite the Festival because he
was asked by general manager Bill
Wylie to design the theatre's annual
souvenir book. Mirror Press continued
to do much of the Festival's printing
but Parson was the designer of choice.
He also received encouragement and
help from members of Stratford's
business community. Harry Living -
The office of David Parson Associates
stone, of Perth Insurance, came up
with office space in his company's
quarters when Parson grew out of his
home. And John Killer, as a member
of the city's chamber of commerce
and industrial commission, did what
he could to help Parson become estab-
lished. "From the beginning Dave
showed an affinity for living in a
small town," says Killer, "and I think
he found living in Stratford conducive
to his kind of creative work." Killer's
insurance firm became, and continues
to be, a Parson client: "He does our
advertising and we think he does a
superb job. We also think it's great to
have him here in town."
Through good times and bad -- for
both of them -- Parson and the Festi-
val have been something of an item
since 1964. He talks with pride of
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shows little big city glamour.
working with each of the Festival's
artistic directors, from Michael Lang -
ham to the present-day David
William. In that stretch the only hic-
cup, as Parson calls it, was the term of
John Hirsch. Parson was among those
with whom Hirsch had a difference of
creative vision.
While a lucrative piece of business,
the Festival account never has been a
sure thing for Parson, or any other
agency for that matter. Changes in
artistic leadership always are followed
by renewed presentations by graphic
designers and ad agencies. David Par-
son Associates competes like the rest,
though none of its competition knows
the clients as well.. Still, says Parson,
"Personality counts; we sell our-
selves."
Ten years ago Parson and Wilkinson
142
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TOWNSMAN/APRIL-MAY 1991 11