Chester Ronning
Encyclopedia
Chester Alvin Ronning, CC
, AOE
(December 13, 1894 – December 31, 1984) was a Canadian
diplomat
and politician
.
Ronning was born in Fangcheng
, China
, the son of Norwegian
Lutheran missionaries, and graduated from the University of Alberta
in 1916 with a B.Sc.
He returned to China to serve as a missionary from 1922 to 1927 and then returned to Alberta where he took up a position as Principal of the Camrose Lutheran College
.
He was a member of the United Farmers of Alberta
and on October 25, 1932 he was elected in a by-election for Camrose
. He was defeated in the 1935 provincial election
that wiped out the UFA.
He joined the new Co-operative Commonwealth Federation
and was leader of the Alberta CCF from 1940 to 1942. The 1940 Alberta election
saw no CCFers elected despite winning 11% of the vote; Ronning stepped aside as leader in favour of Elmer Roper who won a 1942 by-election
to become Alberta's first elected CCF MLA.
He ran unsuccessfully for the CCF in the 1945 federal election
in the riding of Camrose, losing to the Social Credit
candidate, James Alexander Marshall
.
Ronning served in diplomatic posts in China (1945–1951), Norway
(1954–1957), India
(1957–1964) and the United Nations
. He also participated in the international commissions on Korea (1954) and Laos (1961–62) and undertook special missions to Hanoi (1965–66) in attempts to mediate the Vietnam War
. In 1967 he was made an Officer of the Order of Canada
and was promoted to Companion in 1972. He was inducted into the Alberta Order of Excellence
in 1983.
Order of Canada
The Order of Canada is a Canadian national order, admission into which is, within the system of orders, decorations, and medals of Canada, the second highest honour for merit...
, AOE
Alberta Order of Excellence
The Alberta Order of Excellence is a civilian honour for merit in the Canadian province of Alberta. Instituted in 1979 when Lieutenant Governor Frank C...
(December 13, 1894 – December 31, 1984) was a Canadian
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
diplomat
Diplomat
A diplomat is a person appointed by a state to conduct diplomacy with another state or international organization. The main functions of diplomats revolve around the representation and protection of the interests and nationals of the sending state, as well as the promotion of information and...
and politician
Politician
A politician, political leader, or political figure is an individual who is involved in influencing public policy and decision making...
.
Ronning was born in Fangcheng
Fangcheng
Fangcheng may refer to the following places in China:*Fangcheng County , of Nanyang, Henan*Fangcheng District , Fangchenggang, Guangxi*Fangcheng, Linyi , town in Lanshan District, Linyi, Shandong...
, China
China
Chinese civilization may refer to:* China for more general discussion of the country.* Chinese culture* Greater China, the transnational community of ethnic Chinese.* History of China* Sinosphere, the area historically affected by Chinese culture...
, the son of Norwegian
Norwegians
Norwegians constitute both a nation and an ethnic group native to Norway. They share a common culture and speak the Norwegian language. Norwegian people and their descendants are found in migrant communities worldwide, notably in United States, Canada and Brazil.-History:Towards the end of the 3rd...
Lutheran missionaries, and graduated from the University of Alberta
University of Alberta
The University of Alberta is a public research university located in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. Founded in 1908 by Alexander Cameron Rutherford, the first premier of Alberta and Henry Marshall Tory, its first president, it is widely recognized as one of the best universities in Canada...
in 1916 with a B.Sc.
He returned to China to serve as a missionary from 1922 to 1927 and then returned to Alberta where he took up a position as Principal of the Camrose Lutheran College
Augustana University College
Augustana University College was a Lutheran college in Camrose, Alberta, Canada, from 1910 until its 2004 merger with the University of Alberta. Now known as the Augustana Faculty of the University of Alberta, it began its operations in 1910 under the name Camrose Lutheran College...
.
He was a member of the United Farmers of Alberta
United Farmers of Alberta
The United Farmers of Alberta is an association of Alberta farmers that has served many different roles throughout its history as a lobby group, a political party, and as a farm-supply retail chain. Since 1934 it has primarily been an agricultural supply cooperative headquartered in Calgary...
and on October 25, 1932 he was elected in a by-election for Camrose
Camrose (provincial electoral district)
-1944 general election:-1957 liquor plebiscite:On October 30, 1957 a stand alone plebiscite was held province wide in all 50 of the then current provincial electoral districts in Alberta. The government decided to consult Alberta voters to decide on liquor sales and mixed drinking after a divisive...
. He was defeated in the 1935 provincial election
Alberta general election, 1935
The Alberta general election of 1935 was the eighth general election for the Province of Alberta, Canada. It was held on August 22, 1935 to elect members of the Legislative Assembly of Alberta....
that wiped out the UFA.
He joined the new Co-operative Commonwealth Federation
Co-operative Commonwealth Federation
The Co-operative Commonwealth Federation was a Canadian political party founded in 1932 in Calgary, Alberta, by a number of socialist, farm, co-operative and labour groups, and the League for Social Reconstruction...
and was leader of the Alberta CCF from 1940 to 1942. The 1940 Alberta election
Alberta general election, 1940
The Alberta general election of 1940 was the ninth general election for the Province of Alberta, Canada, was held on March 21, 1940 to elect members of the Legislative Assembly of Alberta....
saw no CCFers elected despite winning 11% of the vote; Ronning stepped aside as leader in favour of Elmer Roper who won a 1942 by-election
By-election
A by-election is an election held to fill a political office that has become vacant between regularly scheduled elections....
to become Alberta's first elected CCF MLA.
He ran unsuccessfully for the CCF in the 1945 federal election
Canadian federal election, 1945
The Canadian federal election of 1945 was the 20th general election in Canadian history. It was held June 11, 1945 to elect members of the Canadian House of Commons of the 20th Parliament of Canada...
in the riding of Camrose, losing to the Social Credit
Social Credit Party of Canada
The Social Credit Party of Canada was a conservative-populist political party in Canada that promoted social credit theories of monetary reform...
candidate, James Alexander Marshall
James Alexander Marshall
James Alexander Marshall was a secretary, teacher and a Canadian federal politician.Marshall first ran for a seat in the Canadian House of Commons in the 1935 Canadian federal election. He ran as a candidate from the Social Credit Party in the Camrose electoral district...
.
Ronning served in diplomatic posts in China (1945–1951), Norway
Norway
Norway , officially the Kingdom of Norway, is a Nordic unitary constitutional monarchy whose territory comprises the western portion of the Scandinavian Peninsula, Jan Mayen, and the Arctic archipelago of Svalbard and Bouvet Island. Norway has a total area of and a population of about 4.9 million...
(1954–1957), India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
(1957–1964) and the United Nations
United Nations
The United Nations is an international organization whose stated aims are facilitating cooperation in international law, international security, economic development, social progress, human rights, and achievement of world peace...
. He also participated in the international commissions on Korea (1954) and Laos (1961–62) and undertook special missions to Hanoi (1965–66) in attempts to mediate the Vietnam War
Vietnam War
The Vietnam War was a Cold War-era military conflict that occurred in Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia from 1 November 1955 to the fall of Saigon on 30 April 1975. This war followed the First Indochina War and was fought between North Vietnam, supported by its communist allies, and the government of...
. In 1967 he was made an Officer of the Order of Canada
Order of Canada
The Order of Canada is a Canadian national order, admission into which is, within the system of orders, decorations, and medals of Canada, the second highest honour for merit...
and was promoted to Companion in 1972. He was inducted into the Alberta Order of Excellence
Alberta Order of Excellence
The Alberta Order of Excellence is a civilian honour for merit in the Canadian province of Alberta. Instituted in 1979 when Lieutenant Governor Frank C...
in 1983.