Ron Basford

Who was Ron Basford?

Stanley Ronald "Ron" Basford, PC was a long-time Canadian Cabinet minister in the Liberal government of Pierre Trudeau. Based in British Columbia, he was known as "Mr. Granville Island" for his support of the Granville Island redevelopment project in Vancouver.

Born in Winnipeg, Manitoba Basford moved with his mother to Comox, BC, following the death of his father, where he completed his last 3 years of high school. He then attended the University of BC, earning a Law degree in 1956. Following his period of Articles, he was admitted to the Bar, and practiced law for the next 6 years.

Basford had become interested in politics in his early teenage years and was very active in the Liberal Party while at university. He was nominated as the Liberal candidate in Vancouver Burrard in March, 1962, and contested the election in June of that year, at the age of 29, losing by 94 votes.

Basford was first elected to the Canadian House of Commons as the Liberal Member of Parliament for Vancouver—Burrard in the 1963 election and was re-elected in the 1965 election. From 1968 to 1979, he represented the riding of Vancouver Centre.