John Powles
Encyclopedia
John Powles was the Canadian
president of the Canada-Japan Society and an important figure within Canadian-Japanese relations for more than 25 years.
John Mark Powles was born in Winnipeg, Canada, but moved to Yokohama, Japan, early in life. His father and grandfather were Anglican missionaries in Japan
during the early 20th century. He spent 18 years living in several different Japanese cities.
He returned to Canada
for college and earned a bachelor's degree
from the University of British Columbia
in Vancouver
. Powles took several positions while working for the government of Canada in Japan, beginning with the Canadian pavilion at Expo '70
in Osaka
. This led to a position with the Canadian Department of Expositions, in which Powles was responsible for all of Canada's international expositions.
Powles became the Director of Asia and Japan Operations for the Council of Forest Industries, based in Tokyo
, in 1987. He also received the president of the Canadian Chamber of Commerce in Japan. The Japanese Ministry of Construction awarded Powles its first honor to a non-Japanese citizen.
British Columbia Premier Gordon Campbell appointed Powles as the head of the Japan Market Advisory Group within the Asia Pacific Trade Council in 2005.
Japanese Emperor Akihito named Powles as a recipient of the Order of the Rising Sun
in 2008 for his contributions to bilateral relations between Japan and Canada.
John Powles died at Lions Gate Hospital in Vancouver on March 14, 2010, of pancreatic cancer at the age of 61.
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
president of the Canada-Japan Society and an important figure within Canadian-Japanese relations for more than 25 years.
John Mark Powles was born in Winnipeg, Canada, but moved to Yokohama, Japan, early in life. His father and grandfather were Anglican missionaries in Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
during the early 20th century. He spent 18 years living in several different Japanese cities.
He returned to Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
for college and earned a bachelor's degree
Bachelor's degree
A bachelor's degree is usually an academic degree awarded for an undergraduate course or major that generally lasts for three or four years, but can range anywhere from two to six years depending on the region of the world...
from the University of British Columbia
University of British Columbia
The University of British Columbia is a public research university. UBC’s two main campuses are situated in Vancouver and in Kelowna in the Okanagan Valley...
in Vancouver
Vancouver
Vancouver is a coastal seaport city on the mainland of British Columbia, Canada. It is the hub of Greater Vancouver, which, with over 2.3 million residents, is the third most populous metropolitan area in the country,...
. Powles took several positions while working for the government of Canada in Japan, beginning with the Canadian pavilion at Expo '70
Expo '70
was a World's Fair held in Suita, Osaka, Japan between March 15 and September 13, 1970. The theme of the Expo was "Progress and Harmony for Mankind." In Japanese Expo '70 is often referred to as Ōsaka Banpaku...
in Osaka
Osaka
is a city in the Kansai region of Japan's main island of Honshu, a designated city under the Local Autonomy Law, the capital city of Osaka Prefecture and also the biggest part of Keihanshin area, which is represented by three major cities of Japan, Kyoto, Osaka and Kobe...
. This led to a position with the Canadian Department of Expositions, in which Powles was responsible for all of Canada's international expositions.
Powles became the Director of Asia and Japan Operations for the Council of Forest Industries, based in Tokyo
Tokyo
, ; officially , is one of the 47 prefectures of Japan. Tokyo is the capital of Japan, the center of the Greater Tokyo Area, and the largest metropolitan area of Japan. It is the seat of the Japanese government and the Imperial Palace, and the home of the Japanese Imperial Family...
, in 1987. He also received the president of the Canadian Chamber of Commerce in Japan. The Japanese Ministry of Construction awarded Powles its first honor to a non-Japanese citizen.
British Columbia Premier Gordon Campbell appointed Powles as the head of the Japan Market Advisory Group within the Asia Pacific Trade Council in 2005.
Japanese Emperor Akihito named Powles as a recipient of the Order of the Rising Sun
Order of the Rising Sun
The is a Japanese order, established in 1875 by Emperor Meiji of Japan. The Order was the first national decoration awarded by the Japanese Government, created on April 10, 1875 by decree of the Council of State. The badge features rays of sunlight from the rising sun...
in 2008 for his contributions to bilateral relations between Japan and Canada.
John Powles died at Lions Gate Hospital in Vancouver on March 14, 2010, of pancreatic cancer at the age of 61.