logo
livingroom

decorative bar

biographies


corner Last update of this page: April 25th 2010 corner
Helen Kennedy
(1958 - living) Canada

Helen Kennedy

Politician, social activist

separator

Born in Ireland in 1958, she moved to Canada in 1979.

Kennedy began her career as an activist and change agent with the Industrial Accident Prevention Association, where she became an advocate for workplace safety and people with disabilities, building awareness as editor of the association's magazine.

In 1985, she was hired by the Ontario New Democratic Party caucus at Queen's Park. She served the party for 14 years, in opposition and government. During that time, Kennedy founded the East York Tenants Association, which lobbied for rent controls and tenant rights. She also established Citizens for Access, an awareness campaign to open up public buildings to people with disabilities.

In 1988, she successfully ran for city councillor in East York. Her campaign was the first in Canada to provide campaign literature on tape for the blind. She served until 1991, leaving due to the increased demands of her position at Queen's Park when the NDP won the provincial election and formed the government.

In 1999, Kennedy joined Toronto City Councillor Olivia Chow's team at City Hall, as constituency assistant in Ward 20. Following Chow's resignation from city council to run in the 2006 federal election, Kennedy submitted her nomination as a candidate for the municipal elections with Chow's endorsement. The seat was won by Adam Vaughan, a former political reporter with Citytv.

In April 2007, she was named executive director of Egale (Equality for Gays And Lesbians Everywhere) Canada. She is the first woman to head the organization.

separator

Source: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Click on the letter K to go back to the list of names

corner © Matt & Andrej Koymasky, 1997 - 2008 corner