Canada’s
First Minister of State for Muilticulturalism
The Hon. Stanley Haidasz,
P.C., M.D., centre, is the son of a Polish immigrant who was born in Stanislovow,
eastern Poland, and who came to Canada, 1910, and worked his entire life
in the new world for CP Freight. Appointed Canada’s first Minister of State
for Multiculturalism, 1972, the Hon. Stanley Haidasz was first elected
as a Liberal to the House of Commons for Trinity (Toronto) in the 1957
general election, and continuously served that riding through eight successful
general elections. Graduating in Medicine, University of Toronto, 1951,
Dr. Haidasz has served Canada with distinction in many capacities throughout
a very busy professional career. He headed the Canadian Delegation to the
World Food Program, Geneva, 1964, the same year he was Delegate to the
United Nations General Assembly. He was also a member of the CanadianDelegation
to the World Health Organization, Geneva, 1970 and 1972. Knight Commander
Grand Cross of the Sovereign Order of St. John of Jerusalem (Knights of
Malta) and Chancellor of its Priory in Canada, Dr. Haidasz was appointed
to the Canadian Senate, 1978, serving in many Senate Standing Committees
over a distinguished 20-year span, including Banking, Energy, Environment,
Foreign Relations, and Science and Technology. Former National Chairman,
Canadian Polish Millennium Fund, 1962-72, Dr. Haidasz was a Member, 1966,
to Poland’s Millennium in Warsaw. Founding President, Canada-Poland Chamber
of Commerce, Dr. Haidasz is an excellent example of how the children of
immigrants to Canada have served as cultural links and bridges where their
parents were born and where they themselves were born. This view, taken
two hours before the assassination of J.F. Kennedy, November 22, 1963,
shows Dr. Haidasz in the Ottawa office of Prime Minister Lester B. Pearson
with Witolda Malcuzynskiego, right, virtuoso pianist, the last and one
of the most famous students of Ignacy Paderewski (1860-1941), former President
of Poland’s provisional parliament, 1940. [Photo, courtesy Dr. Stanley
Haidasz]
