Minister of Social Development - Biography

The Honourable Ken Dryden
Minister of Social Development
York Centre (Ontario)

Ken Dryden was elected to the House of Commons and named Minister of Social Development on July 20, 2004.

Well known for his career as a goaltender for the Montreal Canadiens from 1971 to 1979, during which time the team won six Stanley cups, Mr. Dryden is a member of the Hockey Hall of Fame, the Canadian Sports Hall of Fame, and the International Scholar-Athlete Hall of Fame.

Mr. Dryden earned a degree in history at Cornell University and a degree in Law at McGill. He has also received honorary doctoral degrees from the universities of Ottawa, Windsor, York, McMaster, St. Marys, Niagara, and British Columbia.

Mr. Dryden is the author of four best-selling books: The Game, HomeGame, The Moved and the Shaken, and In School.

In 1984, he was appointed the first Ontario Youth Commissioner.

He has been involved with numerous community and charitable groups, particularly in the area of children, youth, and education. In 1996, he started a scholarship that grants eight students a year from foster and group homes four-year $3,000/year scholarships to the university or college of their choice in Canada.

Prior to his appointment as Minister, Mr. Dryden was President of the Toronto Maple Leafs since 1997.

Mr. Dryden and his wife, Lynda, have two grown children, Sarah and Michael.

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