Number-crunchers’ Vancouver convention set to hail Statscan’s ex-chief

[CHIMO]

He ran the U.S. census in 2000 and built a long career on stats, but John Thompson is the first to admit the world’s biggest confab of number crunchers can get awfully dry.

“You have to picture 5,000 statisticians in the same place, talking about statistics,” Mr. Thompson said. “These are people who have been really into mathematics and things like that since high school. But you know what? This one might actually be interesting.”

The added spice in Vancouver, where the annual Joint Statistical Meetings are being held, goes beyond the whimsical T-shirt slogans always in circulation. (“Statistics Means Never Having To Say You’re Certain,” “Friends Don't Let Friends Drink and Derive.”) This year, an unassuming man formerly in charge of Statistics Canada is quietly becoming a bit of a hero among his peers.

Munir Sheikh is scheduled to appear Monday on a panel at the conference where he will explain how government statistics make a difference. He will also be glad-handed by his peers for resigning from government over the decision to make the long-form census voluntary.

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/politics/number-crunchers-vancouver-convention-set-to-hail-statscans-ex-chief/article1657511/?cmpid=rss1

Canadian of the year. No. Time Magazine man of the year.

Munir, please don't get involved in a political party. We need independent people.