The Honourable Bob Rae

Ambassador

‍The Honourable Bob Rae is a lawyer, diplomat, author, and former politician whose public service career has spanned more than five decades. He served as Premier of Ontario (1990–1995), interim Leader of the Liberal Party of Canada (2011–2013), and Canada’s Ambassador and Permanent Representative to the United Nations (2020–2025), where he also served as President of the UN Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC).

A Rhodes Scholar, Mr. Rae earned degrees from the University of Toronto and the University of Oxford before graduating from the University of Toronto Faculty of Law. He has also served as Canada’s Special Envoy to Myanmar and as Special Envoy on Humanitarian and Refugee Issues.

Mr. Rae is a member of the King’s Privy Council for Canada, a Companion of the Order of Canada, and a member of the Order of Ontario. An accomplished author and advocate for human rights, democracy, and multilateral cooperation, he has inspired public service in Canada and internationally. Currently, he continues to contribute to public policy as a fellow and professor, writes on international affairs, and remains active in discussions on democracy, human rights, Indigenous reconciliation, and global governance.

The International Longevity Centre Canada is proud to have named its human rights award the Ambassador Bob Rae Human Rights Award, recognizing Mr. Rae’s lifelong commitment to advancing human rights, democracy, humanitarian action, and international cooperation.‍ ‍