The Icelandic Canadian - 01.06.1963, Blaðsíða 32

30
THE ICELANDIC CANADIAN
SUMMER 1963
Appointed to Pearson Cabinet
William M. Benidickson
That the new Prime Minister of
Canada should include Bill Benidick-
son in his cabinet did not come as a
surprise but yet was pleasant and
satisfying news. His public service
record was such that his appointment
was inevitable, and it was only natural
that he was appointed to head the
Department of Mines.
William Moore Benidickson was
born in Dauphin, Man., April 8, 1911,
the son of Christian (of Icelandic
extraction) and Gertrude May (nee
Moore) Benidickson. He obtained his
public school education in Dauphin
and attended Humberside Collegiate
Institute in Toronto and Kelvin High
School in Winnipeg. He is a graduate
in law from the University of Mani-
toba, being called to the bar in 1936.
The following year he was called to
the bar of Ontario and began practis-
ing law in Kenora, Ontario. In mov-
ing to Ontario Bill may have had
politics in mind. At least he very soon
became interested and in 1945 was
elected to the House of Commons for
the constituency of Kenora-Rainy
River. He ran as a Liberal-Labour but
has always whole heartedly supported
the Liberal cause. He was re-elected
in 1949, 1953, 1957, even in the Dief-
enbaker landslide of 1958, and obtain-
ed a comfortable majority in the 1963
elections.
Mr. Benidickson was appointed
Parliamentary Assistant ito the Min-
ister of Transport in 1951 and served
in that capacity until in 1953 when
he was appointed Assistant to the
Minister of Finance. He was financial
critic for a while when the Liberals
were in opposition.
In 1947 Bill Benidickson married
Agnes, daughter of the late James A.
Richardson and Mrs. Richardson. They
have three children.
The Icelandic Canadian extends
congratulations to the new Minister
of Mines.