16 Facts About Alan Cairns

Alan Cairns's scholarship focused on diverse topics within Canadian politics, including federalism, the Charter of Rights and Freedoms, electoral politics, the role of the courts, the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council, and Indigenous issues.

Alan Cairns was born on 2 March 1930 in Galt, Ontario to Scottish immigrants Hugh Alan Cairns and Lily Crawford, a factory worker and homemaker respectively.

Alan Cairns had two older brothers, John and Jim Cairns.

Alan Cairns was a star pitcher for the baseball team the Galt Pups.

For secondary school, Alan Cairns attended Galt Collegiate Institute and Vocational School.

Alan Cairns did his undergraduate and master's degrees at the University of Toronto.

Alan Cairns achieved his doctorate at Oxford University, conducting research on British precolonial views of Africa while in Rhodesia.

Alan Cairns worked as a professor at the University of British Columbia from 1960 to his retirement in 1995.

Alan Cairns served as the head of the political science department from 1973 to 1980.

Alan Cairns held visiting appointments at Harvard University, University of Toronto, Memorial University of Newfoundland, University of Edinburgh, Queen's University, University of Saskatchewan, and York University.

Alan Cairns was a member of the Hawthorn Report in 1966 and 1967.

Alan Cairns served as an adviser to the government of British Columbia during the constitution patriation negotiations of the 1970s and 1980s.

Alan Cairns was a member of the Royal Society of Canada.

Alan Cairns' scholarship has explored a multitude of issues within Canadian political science, sparking decades of debate and refinement of his ideas.

Publications by Alan Cairns continue to be among the most read in Canadian political science.

Alan Cairns has received honorary degrees from Carleton University, The University of Toronto, The University of British Columbia and the University of Saskatchewan.