An invitation to all from the Canada-China Friendship Society of Ottawa to
THE 36th ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING
and a presentation
True Son of China:
The Life and Times of Chester Ronning (1894-1984)
by Professor Emeritus Brian Evans, University of Alberta
Thursday, November 22, 2012
Library and Archives Canada, Room C, 395 Wellington Street, Ottawa
Business meeting at 7:00 p.m.
Presentation by Brian Evans at 7:30 p.m.
Conversation and refreshments following the presentation
EVERYONE IS WELCOME*
This talk is based on a biography of Chester Ronning soon to be published by Dr. Evans. Chester Ronning was born in China, the son of missionaries, and spent his early years there and in Northern Alberta. He had a diverse and fascinating early career as a teacher, a college principal, a MLA, an RCAF intelligence officer before joining the Department of External Affairs in 1945. As a diplomat he served in China immediately after the Second World War; he also served in Norway, India and undertook special missions to Hanoi in the sixties to attempt to mediate during the Vietnam War. Ronning was an untiring advocate of the recognition of the People’s Republic of China and of its admission to the United Nations. His knowledge of China and his friendship with such Asian leaders as Zhou Enlai made him an invaluable go-between. Dr. Evans, a fellow Albertan, knew him well and conducted several interviews with Chester Ronning. His book is largely based on those interviews.
Brian Evans is eminently well suited to speak about Canada-China relations and those who made a contribution in that regard both prior to the establishment of bilateral diplomatic relations and since. He was Professor of Chinese history (1961-96) Emeritus, University of Alberta. He was educated at the University of Alberta (B.A. 1954) and at the School of Oriental and African Studies, University of London (Ph.D., 1961); writer on Canada-China relations, 19th century Chinese Diplomatic relations and Chinese pioneer settlers on the Prairies. Former Cultural Counsellor and Beaver Liaison Officer, Embassy of Canada, Beijing (1973-74. Member of the Order of Canada.
From an early age, Dr. Evans showed a profound interest in China. He has recently published an entertaining and humourous memoir entitled Pursuing China, Memoir of a Beaver Liaison Officer in which he seeks to make a contribution to the understanding of the nature and wide range of Canada-China relations, an area in which he himself has played a role.
*No pre-registration. Entry is free for CCFS members and $5 for non-CCFS members.
Memberships are available at the door. Annual membership is $20 for individuals, $30 for a family, $12 for students and $17 for a student family. Membership forms are available at www.fccfa.ca/Ottawa. For further information about the Society or this event, please consult our web site, send an email to ccfs.ottawa@gmail.com or phone 613-729-3660.
Best regards,
Lorraine Farkas
President
Canada-China Friendship Society of Ottawa
website: www.fccfa.ca/Ottawa/ ; www.facebook.com/ccfs.ottawa
e-mail: [FONT='courier new', monospace]ccfs.ottawa@gmail.com[/font]
THE 36th ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING
and a presentation
True Son of China:
The Life and Times of Chester Ronning (1894-1984)
by Professor Emeritus Brian Evans, University of Alberta
Thursday, November 22, 2012
Library and Archives Canada, Room C, 395 Wellington Street, Ottawa
Business meeting at 7:00 p.m.
Presentation by Brian Evans at 7:30 p.m.
Conversation and refreshments following the presentation
EVERYONE IS WELCOME*
This talk is based on a biography of Chester Ronning soon to be published by Dr. Evans. Chester Ronning was born in China, the son of missionaries, and spent his early years there and in Northern Alberta. He had a diverse and fascinating early career as a teacher, a college principal, a MLA, an RCAF intelligence officer before joining the Department of External Affairs in 1945. As a diplomat he served in China immediately after the Second World War; he also served in Norway, India and undertook special missions to Hanoi in the sixties to attempt to mediate during the Vietnam War. Ronning was an untiring advocate of the recognition of the People’s Republic of China and of its admission to the United Nations. His knowledge of China and his friendship with such Asian leaders as Zhou Enlai made him an invaluable go-between. Dr. Evans, a fellow Albertan, knew him well and conducted several interviews with Chester Ronning. His book is largely based on those interviews.
Brian Evans is eminently well suited to speak about Canada-China relations and those who made a contribution in that regard both prior to the establishment of bilateral diplomatic relations and since. He was Professor of Chinese history (1961-96) Emeritus, University of Alberta. He was educated at the University of Alberta (B.A. 1954) and at the School of Oriental and African Studies, University of London (Ph.D., 1961); writer on Canada-China relations, 19th century Chinese Diplomatic relations and Chinese pioneer settlers on the Prairies. Former Cultural Counsellor and Beaver Liaison Officer, Embassy of Canada, Beijing (1973-74. Member of the Order of Canada.
From an early age, Dr. Evans showed a profound interest in China. He has recently published an entertaining and humourous memoir entitled Pursuing China, Memoir of a Beaver Liaison Officer in which he seeks to make a contribution to the understanding of the nature and wide range of Canada-China relations, an area in which he himself has played a role.
*No pre-registration. Entry is free for CCFS members and $5 for non-CCFS members.
Memberships are available at the door. Annual membership is $20 for individuals, $30 for a family, $12 for students and $17 for a student family. Membership forms are available at www.fccfa.ca/Ottawa. For further information about the Society or this event, please consult our web site, send an email to ccfs.ottawa@gmail.com or phone 613-729-3660.
Best regards,
Lorraine Farkas
President
Canada-China Friendship Society of Ottawa
website: www.fccfa.ca/Ottawa/ ; www.facebook.com/ccfs.ottawa
e-mail: [FONT='courier new', monospace]ccfs.ottawa@gmail.com[/font]
