Education
Degree from the University of Alberta in 1941 and studied at the National Defence College in Kingston.
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Bruce Rankin
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Career
Born in Brandon, Manitoba, Rankin was raised in Saskatchewan and received a Bachelor of Commerce Rankin received an honorary degree from the University of Alberta in 1983. After his retirement he lived in Aurora, Ontario.
Rankin is related to Glen Shortliffe, a former federal clerk of the Privy Council and a diplomat.
Rankin served in the Royal Canadian Navy in the Pacific and Atlantic oceans in the Second World War and obtained the rank of lieutenant commander. Rankin joined the foreign service in 1945.
As a young commercial secretary for Canada in Shanghai, he was obliged to leave China in 1949 and successfully ran the Nationalist China blockade in a British vessel. Rankin later represented Canada in Australia, China, India, Spain and Switzerland.
He was appointment ambassador to Venezuela and the Dominican Republic from 1964 to 1970, consul general to New York City from 1970 to 1976.
Rankin was the Canadian representative on the Economic and Social Council of the United Nations, and for the next six years Ambassador to the Economic and Financial Committee of the United Nations General Assembly, serving as Chair in 1972. His diplomatic career was capped by his appointment as Ambassador to Japan from 1976-1981. During this period British Columbia"s trade and economic relations with Japan increased dramatically through the establishment of such programmes as the North East Coal Project, one of the largest such developments in Canadian history.
Unlike many diplomats Rankin often spoke out publicly on political questions during his 36-year career in the foreign service.
Foreign instance almost 20 years before Canada recognised China, he was speaking out about the advantages such a recognition would bring Canada.
Achievements
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Born
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Died
July 28, 1986 (aged 68)
Awards
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Order of Canada
The Order of Canada is a Canadian national order, admission into which is the second highest honour for merit in the system of orders, decorations, and medals of Canada.The Order of Canada is a Canadian national order, admission into which is the second highest honour for merit in the system of orders, decorations, and medals of Canada.