Rankins’ humble roots lead to humbling award

Tom Rankin’s parents didn’t have much to give, but they still taught him the importance of giving.

His father John was a “really poor” miner in Kirkland Lake, while his mother Pearl worked hard to stretch ever dollar they had and ensure the family always had enough to eat.

“You’ve heard the expression, ‘Poor as church mice.’ We were,” he said.

Still, his parents “were a great influence,” he said.

Family, school, education and his religion instilled in him “the importance of giving back.”

The 77 year old still recalls how grateful his family was — particularly during one year when his father couldn’t work — when “we could go to the mine at Christmas and get a free turkey,” he said. “We were so appreciate of that free turkey.”

And through it all, Rankin learned how important it was to give back to the community he calls home.

“We just feel that we owe it to the community to do what you can to help,” he said.

Thursday, Rankin’s interest in giving back to his community earned him the recognition of Niagara’s community leaders. He was selected as the recipient of Niagara’s 15th T. Roy Adams Humanitarian Award.

While St. Catharines Regional Coun. Tim Rigby, who led the region’s adjudication committee to select this year’s award winner, listed several highlights of Rankin’s generosity.

He said Rankin pitched in to finish the gateway arch over Lundy’s Lane in Niagara Falls as part of the 1812 bicentennial celebrations, he supported the construction of a Welland Canal Fallen Workers memorial, the Rankin Cancer Run brought in $5.5-million in a decade, and he donated two pedestrian walkways to the construction of the Meridian Centre.

Rankin called it an honour to receive an award named for Roy Adams.

“Let’s face it, he was a legend,” he said.

“He was involved in so many things, and a great honourable man.”

Rankin has come a long way since growing up in Kirkland Lake.

He suspects that having so little as a child may have inspired him to achieve the success he has achieved through his construction company.

“It’s not that I ever wanted to become rich. It’s always wanting to do challenging jobs,” he said.

In addition to influences in his early life, Rankin said he continues to be influenced by his wife Elizabeth - “the kinder sweeter part of my life, being a nurse.”

Because as the owner of a successful paving company, there isn’t much room for being too sweet.

“You have to be tough to survive,” he said.

Only one in 20 companies in his line of work survive.

“It’s a tough world, and you’ve got to be tough. But inside, you’ve got to have a soul and a heart,” he said.

“I like to treat people fairly. I like to treat people the way I want to be treated.”

That’s also reflected in how he treats Rankin’s staff.

“I never want to make a living off the back of my workers. My workers are probably the best paid in Niagara. They’re all un- ionized,” he said.

Rankin described himself as “a strong believer in karma.”

“You get back what you give, and sometimes you get back two fold,” he said.