Early Years
Rankin was born Harry Riffkin in Vancouver to secular Jewish immigrants from the Ukraine. His father worked at a factory while his mother grew up in Glasgow's working class Jewish community.
At 14, Rankin dropped out of secondary school to work in a bakery and through the trade union he got involved in politics. During World War Two he served in the army with Vancouver's Seaforth Highlanders. They fought in Italy where he was wounded during the Battle of Ortona.
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