Kenneth Charles Brown
Encyclopedia
Kenneth Charles Brown is a former Canadian diplomat
. Born on February 13, 1925 in Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA, he is the son of George Williams Brown
and Vera Beatrice Kenny. He grew up in Toronto, Ontario, and attended the University of Toronto Schools
. He graduated in Modern History and Modern Languages from Victoria College
, University of Toronto
in the class of 1945. In 1944 he joined the Canadian Army, serving in the Intelligence Corps in Northwestern Europe. In 1946 he was awarded a Rhodes Scholarship
(Canadian Forces Overseas) to study at Oxford University. He read Philosophy, Politics and Economics at Balliol College, earning a Half-Blue in ice hockey and a BA (Oxon) in 1948. In the same year he joined the Canadian Foreign Service in the Department of External Affairs. In addition to headquarters assignments he had postings in the Canadian delegation to ECOSOC meetings in Geneva, Switzerland and to the United Nations General Assembly
in Paris France (both in 1948) and in the Canadian Embassies in Havana, Cuba (1951-1954), Berne, Switzerland (1957-1960) and Washington, DC, USA (1963-1967). From 1970-73 he was Canadian Ambassador
concurrently to Cuba
and Haiti
. At the time there was a Canadian diplomatic office in Port-au-Prince headed by a chargé d'affaires
but the Ambassador was resident in Havana. From 1976-80 he was Ambassador to Sweden
. From 1980-83 he chaired the Refugee Status Advisory Committee, a non-statutory forerunner of the Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada
. In 1983, following the passage of the first Canadian Access to Information Act
, he established the Access to Information Office in the Department of External Affairs and served as the department's Access to Information Coordinator until 1986. He was then seconded to the Treasury Board Secretariat
until his retirement in 1988 to prepare a manual for Access to Information Coordinators. He married Ruth Louise Johnston in 1948 and they have three sons and one daughter.
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...
. Born on February 13, 1925 in Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA, he is the son of George Williams Brown
George Williams Brown
George Williams Brown PhD, LLD, FRSC , was a Canadian historian and editor. Born on April 3, 1894 in Glencoe, Middlesex County, Ontario and died on October 19, 1963 in Ottawa, Ontario.- Early life and education :...
and Vera Beatrice Kenny. He grew up in Toronto, Ontario, and attended the University of Toronto Schools
University of Toronto Schools
The University of Toronto Schools is an independent secondary day school affiliated with the University of Toronto in Toronto, Ontario, Canada...
. He graduated in Modern History and Modern Languages from Victoria College
Victoria College
Victoria College is or was the name of several institutions of secondary or higher education, including:* [Victoria College, Chulipuram], Sri Lanka* Victoria College, Alexandria, Egypt* Victoria College in Victoria, Texas...
, University of Toronto
University of Toronto
The University of Toronto is a public research university in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, situated on the grounds that surround Queen's Park. It was founded by royal charter in 1827 as King's College, the first institution of higher learning in Upper Canada...
in the class of 1945. In 1944 he joined the Canadian Army, serving in the Intelligence Corps in Northwestern Europe. In 1946 he was awarded a Rhodes Scholarship
Rhodes Scholarship
The Rhodes Scholarship, named after Cecil Rhodes, is an international postgraduate award for study at the University of Oxford. It was the first large-scale programme of international scholarships, and is widely considered the "world's most prestigious scholarship" by many public sources such as...
(Canadian Forces Overseas) to study at Oxford University. He read Philosophy, Politics and Economics at Balliol College, earning a Half-Blue in ice hockey and a BA (Oxon) in 1948. In the same year he joined the Canadian Foreign Service in the Department of External Affairs. In addition to headquarters assignments he had postings in the Canadian delegation to ECOSOC meetings in Geneva, Switzerland and to the United Nations General Assembly
United Nations General Assembly
For two articles dealing with membership in the General Assembly, see:* General Assembly members* General Assembly observersThe United Nations General Assembly is one of the five principal organs of the United Nations and the only one in which all member nations have equal representation...
in Paris France (both in 1948) and in the Canadian Embassies in Havana, Cuba (1951-1954), Berne, Switzerland (1957-1960) and Washington, DC, USA (1963-1967). From 1970-73 he was Canadian Ambassador
Ambassador
An ambassador is the highest ranking diplomat who represents a nation and is usually accredited to a foreign sovereign or government, or to an international organization....
concurrently to Cuba
Cuba
The Republic of Cuba is an island nation in the Caribbean. The nation of Cuba consists of the main island of Cuba, the Isla de la Juventud, and several archipelagos. Havana is the largest city in Cuba and the country's capital. Santiago de Cuba is the second largest city...
and Haiti
Haiti
Haiti , officially the Republic of Haiti , is a Caribbean country. It occupies the western, smaller portion of the island of Hispaniola, in the Greater Antillean archipelago, which it shares with the Dominican Republic. Ayiti was the indigenous Taíno or Amerindian name for the island...
. At the time there was a Canadian diplomatic office in Port-au-Prince headed by a chargé d'affaires
Chargé d'affaires
In diplomacy, chargé d’affaires , often shortened to simply chargé, is the title of two classes of diplomatic agents who head a diplomatic mission, either on a temporary basis or when no more senior diplomat has been accredited.-Chargés d’affaires:Chargés d’affaires , who were...
but the Ambassador was resident in Havana. From 1976-80 he was Ambassador to Sweden
Sweden
Sweden , officially the Kingdom of Sweden , is a Nordic country on the Scandinavian Peninsula in Northern Europe. Sweden borders with Norway and Finland and is connected to Denmark by a bridge-tunnel across the Öresund....
. From 1980-83 he chaired the Refugee Status Advisory Committee, a non-statutory forerunner of the Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada
Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada
The Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada is an independent administrative tribunal. The IRB is responsible for applying the Canadian federal Immigration and Refugee Protection Act and for making decisions on immigration and refugee matters...
. In 1983, following the passage of the first Canadian Access to Information Act
Access to Information Act
Access to Information Act or Information Act is a Canadian act providing the right of access to information under the control of a government institution...
, he established the Access to Information Office in the Department of External Affairs and served as the department's Access to Information Coordinator until 1986. He was then seconded to the Treasury Board Secretariat
Treasury Board Secretariat
The Treasury Board of Canada Secretariat is the administrative branch of the Treasury Board of Canada. The role of the secretariat is to support the Treasury Board as a committee of ministers, and to fulfill the statutory responsibilities of a central government agency...
until his retirement in 1988 to prepare a manual for Access to Information Coordinators. He married Ruth Louise Johnston in 1948 and they have three sons and one daughter.