Ken Burbridge

Ken Burbridge
High Commissioner of Canada to New Zealand
In office
1963–1967
Preceded byGeorge Heasman
Succeeded byRonald Macdonnell
Personal details
Born
Kenneth Joseph Burbridge

(1911-07-02)July 2, 1911
Bathurst, New Brunswick, Canada
DiedJune 25, 2000(2000-06-25) (aged 88)
Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
Spouse
Marion Catherine Smith
(m. 1943; died 1999)
Children2[1]
Occupation
  • Civil servant
  • diplomat
Academic background
Alma materUniversity of Ottawa
ThesisThe co-operative movement (1943)

Kenneth Joseph Burbridge (July 2, 1911 – June 25, 2000) was a Canadian diplomat. He was the high commissioner of Canada to New Zealand between 1963 and 1967.

Early life and education

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Born in Bathurst, New Brunswick on July 2, 1911, Burbridge was the son of Elizabeth Burbridge (née Foley) and Harry Burbridge, a fireman.[2]

Burbridge earned Bachelor of Civil Law and Master of Arts degrees at the University of New Brunswick and St. Francis Xavier University,[3] before completing a PhD in political science at the University of Ottawa in 1943. The title of his doctoral thesis was The co-operative movement.[4]

On November 20, 1943, Burbridge married Marion Catherine Smith at St George's Church in Ottawa West.[5]

Career

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During World War II, Burbridge was a legal adviser in the Civil Service of Canada. In 1947, he joined the Department of External Affairs, based in Ottawa, as a legal adviser. In 1954, he was appointed Canadian deputy permanent representative to the North Atlantic Council and the Organisation for European Economic Co-operation in Paris. He served in that role until 1957 when he became the Canadian consul-general in Seattle.[1][6]

Burbridge was named as the Canadian high commissioner to New Zealand in November 1962, and took up the post in March 1963.[7][8] In January 1967, shortly before relinquishing the role of high commissioner, Burbridge presented a trophy, the Canada Cup, to the Wellington Ice Hockey League, to be contested annually among senior teams in the league.[9]

Later life and death

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Burbridge was predeceased by his wife, Marion, in 1999.[10] He died in Ottawa on June 25, 2000, at the age of 88.[11]

References

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  1. ^ a b "Canadian diplomat". The Press. Vol. 103, no. 30610. November 28, 1964. p. 25. Retrieved March 18, 2023.
  2. ^ "Index to Provincial Registrations of Births: Burbridge, Kenneth Joseph". Provincial Archives of New Brunswick. Retrieved March 18, 2023.
  3. ^ "KENNETH J. BURBRIDGE". The Ottawa Journal. 14 April 1954. Retrieved 24 March 2024.
  4. ^ Burbridge, Kenneth Joseph (1943). The co-operative movement (PDF) (PhD thesis). University of Ottawa. Retrieved March 18, 2023.
  5. ^ "Burbridge–Smith". Ottawa Citizen. November 20, 1943. p. 12.
  6. ^ "New Zealand envoy is appointed". Ottawa Citizen. November 14, 1962. p. 48.
  7. ^ "Personal items". The Press. Vol. 101, no. 29980. November 15, 1962. p. 16. Retrieved March 18, 2023.
  8. ^ "Canadian diplomat wants closer ties". The Press. Vol. 102, no. 30079. March 13, 1963. p. 14. Retrieved March 18, 2023.
  9. ^ "Canada Cup". The Press. Vol. 106, no. 31270. January 17, 1967. p. 13. Retrieved March 18, 2023.
  10. ^ "Deaths". Ottawa Citizen. September 18, 1999. p. 31.
  11. ^ "Deaths". Ottawa Citizen. June 29, 2000. p. 50.
Diplomatic posts
Preceded by High Commissioner of Canada to New Zealand
1963–1967
Succeeded by