| Dan Heap |
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From a middle-class background, Heap attended the elite area to a community organisation which provides housing for refugees. After working as a parish priest for only a few years, Heap's longest-held job (18 years) was as a labourer in a box factory in Toronto, where he became involved in a union (now the Communications, Energy and Paperworkers). Heap entered politics to continue to fight poverty and homelessness, and ran as the New Democratic Party 's candidate in Spadina in the 1968 Federal Election placing second. He was first elected Alderman (later City and Metro Councillor) for Toronto's Ward 6, where he served for a decade. When the Liberal Member Of Parliament for Spadina, Peter Stollery , was appointed to the Senate in 1981, Heap decided to run in the subsequent by-election. Prime Minister Pierre Trudeau has recommended Stollery for appointment to the Senate in order open the "safe Liberal riding" for his advisor Jim Coutts . Heap defeated Coutts in the by-election, however, and was re-elected in the 1984 and 1988 Elections . He retired prior to the 1993 Election . Heap was an outspoken MP, and a prominent spokesperson for social justice issues both in Canada and abroad becoming. He was very concerned with issues such as refugees, the situations in Central America , East Timor , and South Africa . Heap is also noted for hiring a young Olivia Chow as his constituency office assistant. Despite retiring from politics, Heap is still involved, strongly backing the anti-war movement, and supporting NDP candidates in the region. He also remains involved at the downtown Church Of The Holy Trinity and social justice issues within the Anglican Church of Canada. In retirement, he prefers to go by the name "Don Heap", which he used before entering electoral politics.
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