Kaj Hasselriis
Encyclopedia
Kaj Hasselriis is a Canadian journalist, community activist and politician.
Hasselriis is a life-long Winnipegger and earned a sociology degree from the University of Manitoba
in 1995 as well as a journalism degree from Toronto's Ryerson University
in 1997. From 1997 to 2002, Hasselriis worked as a reporter and producer for CBC Television
. Most recently, Hasselriis created an English-language monthly in Lima
, Peru
called Limazine.
As a political organizer, Hasselriis served as the Manitoba campaign manager for Jack Layton
's leadership bid in 2002. He also played a key role as a member of Toronto mayor David Miller's 2003 campaign team.
In 2004, Hasselriis gained prominence in Winnipeg
by leading the fight to keep Winnipeg's Bus Rapid Transit
system. The city eventually cancelled the program, to the dismay of public transit activists.
On July 17, 2006 Hasselriis declared his candidacy in the October 2006 municipal elections against Winnipeg
mayor Sam Katz
. His campaign was endorsed by several prominent figures in the city, including musician John K. Samson
and activist James Beddome
.
On election day, October 25, 2006, Hasselriis received 22,401 votes, or 13.22 of the total count. He placed third to Katz, who was re-elected, and Marianne Cerilli
, a former NDP MLA in the Manitoba Legislature.
Hasselriis, who is openly
gay
, was the national spokesperson for Canadians for Equal Marriage
in 2006. He was appointed interim executive director of Egale Canada
in January 2007, following the resignation of Gilles Marchildon
, and served in that capacity until he was succeeded by Helen Kennedy
in the fall.
He currently contributes to the Xtra!
chain of LGBT newspapers as a Winnipeg-area reporter. He also wrote a series of travel essays on gay life in India
while travelling in that country over the winter of 2008-2009 for both Xtra! and its gay travel magazine The Guide. As well, he is an occasional contributor to CBC Radio
, including Definitely Not the Opera
.
Hasselriis is a life-long Winnipegger and earned a sociology degree from the University of Manitoba
University of Manitoba
The University of Manitoba , in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada, is the largest university in the province of Manitoba. It is Manitoba's most comprehensive and only research-intensive post-secondary educational institution. It was founded in 1877, making it Western Canada’s first university. It placed...
in 1995 as well as a journalism degree from Toronto's Ryerson University
Ryerson University
Ryerson University is a public research university located in downtown Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Its urban campus is adjacent to Yonge-Dundas Square located at the busiest intersection in Downtown Toronto. The majority of its buildings are in the blocks northeast of the square in Toronto's Garden...
in 1997. From 1997 to 2002, Hasselriis worked as a reporter and producer for CBC Television
CBC Television
CBC Television is a Canadian television network owned by the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation, the national public broadcaster.Although the CBC is supported by public funding, the television network supplements this funding with commercial advertising revenue, in contrast to CBC Radio which are...
. Most recently, Hasselriis created an English-language monthly in Lima
Lima
Lima is the capital and the largest city of Peru. It is located in the valleys of the Chillón, Rímac and Lurín rivers, in the central part of the country, on a desert coast overlooking the Pacific Ocean. Together with the seaport of Callao, it forms a contiguous urban area known as the Lima...
, Peru
Peru
Peru , officially the Republic of Peru , is a country in western South America. It is bordered on the north by Ecuador and Colombia, on the east by Brazil, on the southeast by Bolivia, on the south by Chile, and on the west by the Pacific Ocean....
called Limazine.
As a political organizer, Hasselriis served as the Manitoba campaign manager for Jack Layton
Jack Layton
John Gilbert "Jack" Layton, PC was a Canadian social democratic politician and the Leader of the Official Opposition. He was the leader of the New Democratic Party from 2003 to 2011, and previously sat on Toronto City Council, serving at times during that period as acting mayor and deputy mayor of...
's leadership bid in 2002. He also played a key role as a member of Toronto mayor David Miller's 2003 campaign team.
In 2004, Hasselriis gained prominence in Winnipeg
Winnipeg
Winnipeg is the capital and largest city of Manitoba, Canada, and is the primary municipality of the Winnipeg Capital Region, with more than half of Manitoba's population. It is located near the longitudinal centre of North America, at the confluence of the Red and Assiniboine Rivers .The name...
by leading the fight to keep Winnipeg's Bus Rapid Transit
Bus rapid transit
Bus rapid transit is a term applied to a variety of public transportation systems using buses to provide faster, more efficient service than an ordinary bus line. Often this is achieved by making improvements to existing infrastructure, vehicles and scheduling...
system. The city eventually cancelled the program, to the dismay of public transit activists.
On July 17, 2006 Hasselriis declared his candidacy in the October 2006 municipal elections against Winnipeg
Winnipeg
Winnipeg is the capital and largest city of Manitoba, Canada, and is the primary municipality of the Winnipeg Capital Region, with more than half of Manitoba's population. It is located near the longitudinal centre of North America, at the confluence of the Red and Assiniboine Rivers .The name...
mayor Sam Katz
Sam Katz
Samuel Michael Katz, OM is the 42nd mayor of Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada. He is also a businessperson and a member of the Order of Manitoba.- Life before mayorship :...
. His campaign was endorsed by several prominent figures in the city, including musician John K. Samson
John K. Samson
John Kristjan Samson is a musician from Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada. He is a singer-songwriter and currently the frontman of the Canadian folk punk band The Weakerthans...
and activist James Beddome
James Beddome
James Robert Beddome is a Canadian politician, and the current leader of the Green Party of Manitoba.-Early life and career:Beddome was born in Brandon, Manitoba, and was raised on a livestock farm north of Rapid City...
.
On election day, October 25, 2006, Hasselriis received 22,401 votes, or 13.22 of the total count. He placed third to Katz, who was re-elected, and Marianne Cerilli
Marianne Cerilli
Marianne Cerilli is a politician in Manitoba, Canada. She served as a New Democratic member of the Manitoba legislature from 1990 until 2003, though she was not called to cabinet when the party formed government in 1999....
, a former NDP MLA in the Manitoba Legislature.
Hasselriis, who is openly
Coming out
Coming out is a figure of speech for lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender people's disclosure of their sexual orientation and/or gender identity....
gay
Gay
Gay is a word that refers to a homosexual person, especially a homosexual male. For homosexual women the specific term is "lesbian"....
, was the national spokesperson for Canadians for Equal Marriage
Canadians for Equal Marriage
Canadians for Equal Marriage is a Canadian public interest group representing Egale Canada, PFLAG Canada, the Canadian Federation of Students, the Canadian Labour Congress, the Canadian Psychological Association, the Canadian Association of University Teachers, and the Canadian Association of...
in 2006. He was appointed interim executive director of Egale Canada
Egale Canada
Egale Canada is an advocacy organization founded in 1986 to advance equality for Canadian lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people and their families, across Canada....
in January 2007, following the resignation of Gilles Marchildon
Gilles Marchildon
Gilles Marchildon is a Canadian communications consultant and activist, who served as the executive director of Egale Canada from 2003 to 2006.A native of Penetanguishene, Ontario, Marchildon studied political science at the University of Ottawa...
, and served in that capacity until he was succeeded by Helen Kennedy
Helen Kennedy
Helen Kennedy is a Canadian politician and social activist. She is the executive director of Egale Canada.-Background:Born in Ireland, she came to Canada in 1979 at age 21....
in the fall.
He currently contributes to the Xtra!
Xtra!
Xtra! is a gay magazine, on newsprint in tabloid format, published by Pink Triangle Press in Toronto, Ontario, Canada.-History and content :...
chain of LGBT newspapers as a Winnipeg-area reporter. He also wrote a series of travel essays on gay life in India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
while travelling in that country over the winter of 2008-2009 for both Xtra! and its gay travel magazine The Guide. As well, he is an occasional contributor to CBC Radio
CBC Radio
CBC Radio generally refers to the English-language radio operations of the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation. The CBC operates a number of radio networks serving different audiences and programming niches, all of which are outlined below.-English:CBC Radio operates three English language...
, including Definitely Not the Opera
Definitely Not the Opera
Definitely Not the Opera is a magazine-style radio program focusing on aspects of pop culture. The program is broadcast on CBC Radio One on Saturday afternoons, 1 p.m. – 3 p.m. . An abridged version of each weekly program is available for download as a weekly podcast...
.