Bob Rae was awarded the degree of Doctor of Laws, honoris causa, at the 2:00 p.m. ceremony on Friday, June 14, “in recognition of his distinguished career in the federal public service and, in particular, his significant contribution to refugee issues and community service. ”
Prior to being appointed by the Canadian government, Mr. Rae was the country’s special envoy on humanitarian and refugee matters. In this role, he addressed critical global humanitarian and refugee issues in addition to carrying out the significant work he started in 2017 while serving as Canada’s special envoy to Myanmar.
Mr. Rae, the former premier of Ontario and interim leader of the Liberal Party of Canada, was elected to federal and provincial parliaments 11 times between 1978 and 2013. He resigned as a member of Parliament in 2013 to return to legal practice, particularly with Indigenous communities, and to continue his work in education, governance, and human rights. His interest in social justice began when he was a student and did community service.
Mr. Rae previously worked as senior attorney at Olthuis Kleer Townshend LLP. In addition to his legal practice, he taught at the University of Toronto’s School of Public Policy and Governance, Faculty of Law, Massey College, and Victoria University. He was also a fellow of the Forum of Federations, Massey College, and the Raoul Wallenberg Centre for Human Rights. He has also served as a mediator and arbitrator for ADR Chambers. Mr. Rae, a former partner at Goodmans LLP, oversaw the restructuring of the Canadian Red Cross and the Toronto Symphony Orchestra, as well as chairing the Royal Conservatory of Music’s board. He is the author of five books and several government papers.
In addition to holding multiple honorary degrees and awards from Canadian and international academic institutions, Mr. Rae is a privy councilor, a member of the Order of Ontario, and a companion of the Order of Canada. He graduated from the University of Toronto Faculty of Law with honors, earned a Master of Philosophy degree at Oxford University as a Rhodes Scholar, and earned an Honors Bachelor of Arts degree in Modern History from the University of Toronto.
Along with music, reading and writing, he loves tennis, golf and fishing. He is married to Arlene Perly Rae. They have 3 daughters and 5 grandchildren.