(from globeandmail.com)

NDP leader

Has taught at Ryerson, York University and University of Toronto

Elected six times to Toronto city council, with his first seat in 1982

Founder of White Ribbon Campaign, a global movement of men speaking out against violence against women

In 2001, elected to head the Federation of Canadian Municipalities, the lobbying agency for local governments

He has served on the federal board of the Climate Change Protection Program, and also served on the boards of electrical utilities, arts organizations and boards of health

Ran and lost twice federally. In 1993, and in 1997, he and his wife Olivia ran federally, he lost in the Broadview-Greenwood riding for the NDP

January 2003, wins NDP leadership, taking over from Alexa McDonough