Biography

Ken Dryden was first elected to the House of Commons as the Member of Parliament for York Centre in 2004 and was re-elected in 2006 and 2008. From 2004 to 2006, he served as Minister of Social Development.

Mr. Dryden is the author of four best-selling books: The Game, Home Game, The Moved and the Shaken, and In School. In 1984, he was appointed Ontario’s first Youth Commissioner. Before entering federal politics, Mr. Dryden served as President of the Toronto Maple Leafs.

Mr. Dryden has been involved with several community and charitable groups with a particular focus on children, youth and education. In 1996, he created the Ken Dryden Scholarship, awarded to young people currently or formerly in the care of the Canadian child welfare system who demonstrate great achievement and promise. Each scholarship covers up to $3,000 of the cost of tuition and fees related to completing an undergraduate degree in a Canadian university or college.

Mr. Dryden is well-known for his achievements as goaltender for the Montreal Canadiens hockey team from 1971 to 1979, during which time the team went on to win 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 holds a degree in history from Cornell University and a degree in Law from McGill University. He has also received honorary doctoral degrees from the universities of Ottawa, Windsor, York, McMaster, St. Mary’s, Niagara and British Columbia.

Currently, Mr. Dryden serves as the Liberal Party’s National Outreach Advisor, Poverty and Working Families, and Special Liaison, National Fundraising.

Mr. Dryden and his wife, Lynda, have two grown children, Sarah and Michael. He also has two grandchildren.