Dan Heap

Reverend Daniel James Macdonnell Heap
Member of Parliament for Trinity—Spadina
In office 1988–1993
Preceded by	Riding established
Succeeded by	Tony Ianno
Member of Parliament for Spadina
In office 1981–1988
Preceded by	Peter Stollery
Succeeded by	Riding abolished
Toronto, Ontario City Councillor
In office 1968–1978
Personal details
Born	September 25, 1925 (1925-09-25) (age 86) Toronto, Ontario
Political party	New Democratic Party
Spouse(s)	Alice Boomhour
Residence	Toronto, Ontario
Profession	Anglican priest, labourer

Daniel James Macdonnell "Dan" (or "Don") Heap (born September 24, 1925) is a former Canadian politician with the New Democratic Party, a political activist and an Anglican priest. He represented the Toronto, Ontario, Canada riding of Spadina, which, in 1988, was renamed Trinity—Spadina, from 1981 until 1993. As an activist he has been involved in the peace movement, community issues around housing, homelessness, poverty and refugee rights among other social justice issues.

Early life

From a middle-class Winnipeg family, Heap attended the elite Upper Canada College on a scholarship, and then Queen's University and University of Chicago. He became an Anglican, studied divinity at McGill University and turned to socialism as a member of the Society of the Catholic Commonwealth,^[1] the Co-operative Commonwealth Federation and Student Christian Movement.^[2] He was ordained a priest within the Anglican Church of Canada in 1950, and was renowned for his help in the community. He and his wife Alice Heap (née Boomhour) sold their family home in Toronto's Kensington Market area at a fraction of the market price to a community organisation which provides housing for refugees.^[2]

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 Union of Canada) and attempted to “bring socialism to the Canadian worker.”^[2]

Politics

Heap entered politics to continue to oppose poverty, war and homelessness, and ran as the New Democratic Party's candidate in Spadina in the 1968 federal election placing second. He also ran in the 1971 provincial election against Allan Grossman in the riding of St. Andrew—St. Patrick. He lost that election by 1137 votes.^[3] His first success in politics came when he was elected in the 1972 municipal election as the junior Alderman for Ward 6.^[4] 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 had recommended Stollery for appointment to the Senate in order to open the "safe Liberal riding" for his aide 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.

Later life

Heap was an outspoken MP, serving as NDP critic on immigration, and a prominent spokesperson for social justice issues both in Canada and abroad. 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 remained involved as an activist, strongly backing the anti-war movement, and supporting NDP candidates in the region. He also remained involved at the downtown Church of the Holy Trinity and social justice issues within the Anglican Church of Canada. In retirement, he preferred to go by the name "Don Heap", which he used before entering electoral politics.

In his late seventies and early eighties he remained involved in various issues such as refugee rights. He co-founded the Toronto Disaster Relief Committee to campaign on the issue of homelessness.^[2][5]

Heap suffered a heart attack in 2005 and was also diagnosed with Alzheimer's Disease. In 2011, he and his wife faced eviction from their retirement home as they await admission to a long-term care facility, for which they have been on a waiting list for five years. In October 2011, Heap was admitted to the Kensington Gardens facility while his wife continues to wait for a space.^[2]

References

1. ^ Society of the Catholic Commonwealth. Founded in 1939
2. ^ ^{a b c d e} Monsebraaten, Louise (October 15, 2011). "He was a titan of Toronto social justice. Now he's sick and needs a home". Toronto Star. http://www.thestar.com/news/article/1069850--he-was-a-titan-of-toronto-social-justice-now-he-s-sick-and-needs-a-home. Retrieved October 15, 2011. 
3. ^ Riding by riding returns in the provincial election. The Globe and Mail. October 23, 1971. p10.
4. ^ 4 city aldermen lose their seats. The Globe and Mail. December 5, 1972. p1.
5. ^ Homeless activists demand Pitfield resign from committee. Etobicoke Guardian. May 16, 2006.

External links

• Dan Heap - Parliament of Canada biography

Persondata
Name	Heap, Dan
Alternative names
Short description
Date of birth	September 25, 1925
Place of birth	Toronto, Ontario
Date of death
Place of death