Norman Penner
Encyclopedia
Norman Penner (1921 - April 16, 2009) was professor emeritus at York University
, a writer and historian, a war veteran and a former activist in the Communist Party of Canada
and the Labour-Progressive Party
who broke with the party as a result of the events of 1956.
Penner was the son of Jacob Penner
, a leading member of the Communist Party and popular Winnipeg
alderman
. He graduated from high school in 1937 and then worked from 1938 to 1941 as the full time officer for the Winnipeg branch of the Communist Party.
He enlisted in the Canadian Army in 1941 and served overseas during World War II
as a signalman. When he returned home in 1947, he became an organizer in Toronto for the Labour-Progressive Party as the Communist Party was then known. He ran in the 1953 federal election
as the party's candidate in York South
winning 755 votes.
He broke with the party in 1957 as a result of the Soviet invasion of Hungary and Nikita Khrushchev
's Secret Speech the previous year, events which caused the disillusionment of many party members.
After leaving the party he worked for several years as a salesman in the electrical heating business. In 1964, he decided to go back to school part-time and enrolled in political science at the University of Toronto
at the age of 41 going on to earn a BA, MA and PhD.
Penner was hired as a lecturer at York University's Glendon College
in 1972 and soon became a professor, continuing to teach until 1995.
He has written extensively on the Canadian left. Penner edited and introduced Winnipeg 1919: The Strikers' Own History of the Winnipeg General Strike in 1973, published The Canadian Left: A Critical Analysis in 1977 and contributed three chapters to as well as editing Keeping Canada Together Means Changing Our Thinking in 1978. He published Canadian Communism: The Stalin Years and Beyond in 1988 and From Protest to Power: Social Democracy in Canada 1900 to Present in 1992 as well as numerous articles, reviews and book chapters.
His brother, Roland Penner
, was also a Communist activist in his youth and later served as Attorney-General of Manitoba.
York University
York University is a public research university in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. It is Canada's third-largest university, Ontario's second-largest graduate school, and Canada's leading interdisciplinary university....
, a writer and historian, a war veteran and a former activist in the Communist Party of Canada
Communist Party of Canada
The Communist Party of Canada is a communist political party in Canada. Although is it currently a minor or small political party without representation in the Federal Parliament or in provincial legislatures, historically the Party has elected representatives in Federal Parliament, Ontario...
and the Labour-Progressive Party
Labour-Progressive Party
For the Labour-Progressive Coalition Government in New Zealand see the Fifth Labour Government of New ZealandThe Labor-Progressive Party was the legal political organization of the Communist Party of Canada between 1943 and 1959....
who broke with the party as a result of the events of 1956.
Penner was the son of Jacob Penner
Jacob Penner
Jacob Penner was a popular socialist politician in Canada. Penner was born and raised in a Mennonite family in Russia and emigrated to Winnipeg in 1904. In 1908, he met his wife Rose Shapack, a Jewish Russian immigrant, during an address by Emma Goldman at the Winnipeg Radical Club...
, a leading member of the Communist Party and popular 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...
alderman
Alderman
An alderman is a member of a municipal assembly or council in many jurisdictions founded upon English law. The term may be titular, denoting a high-ranking member of a borough or county council, a council member chosen by the elected members themselves rather than by popular vote, or a council...
. He graduated from high school in 1937 and then worked from 1938 to 1941 as the full time officer for the Winnipeg branch of the Communist Party.
He enlisted in the Canadian Army in 1941 and served overseas during World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
as a signalman. When he returned home in 1947, he became an organizer in Toronto for the Labour-Progressive Party as the Communist Party was then known. He ran in the 1953 federal election
Canadian federal election, 1953
The Canadian federal election of 1953 was held on August 10 to elect members of the Canadian House of Commons of the 22nd Parliament of Canada. Prime Minister Louis St...
as the party's candidate in York South
York South
York South was an electoral district in Ontario, Canada, that was represented in the Canadian House of Commons from 1904 to 1979, and in the Legislative Assembly of Ontario from 1926 to 1999....
winning 755 votes.
He broke with the party in 1957 as a result of the Soviet invasion of Hungary and Nikita Khrushchev
Nikita Khrushchev
Nikita Sergeyevich Khrushchev led the Soviet Union during part of the Cold War. He served as First Secretary of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union from 1953 to 1964, and as Chairman of the Council of Ministers, or Premier, from 1958 to 1964...
's Secret Speech the previous year, events which caused the disillusionment of many party members.
After leaving the party he worked for several years as a salesman in the electrical heating business. In 1964, he decided to go back to school part-time and enrolled in political science at the University of Toronto
University of Toronto
The University of Toronto is a public research university in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, situated on the grounds that surround Queen's Park. It was founded by royal charter in 1827 as King's College, the first institution of higher learning in Upper Canada...
at the age of 41 going on to earn a BA, MA and PhD.
Penner was hired as a lecturer at York University's Glendon College
Glendon College
Glendon College is one of the two campuses of York University, Canada's third-largest university, in Toronto, Ontario. A bilingual liberal arts college with 84 full-time faculty members and a student population of about 2400, Glendon is located in midtown Toronto's Lawrence Park neighbourhood...
in 1972 and soon became a professor, continuing to teach until 1995.
He has written extensively on the Canadian left. Penner edited and introduced Winnipeg 1919: The Strikers' Own History of the Winnipeg General Strike in 1973, published The Canadian Left: A Critical Analysis in 1977 and contributed three chapters to as well as editing Keeping Canada Together Means Changing Our Thinking in 1978. He published Canadian Communism: The Stalin Years and Beyond in 1988 and From Protest to Power: Social Democracy in Canada 1900 to Present in 1992 as well as numerous articles, reviews and book chapters.
His brother, Roland Penner
Roland Penner
Roland Penner was Dean of Law at the University of Manitoba and a is a former politician and Manitoba Cabinet minister.Penner was born in Winnipeg, Manitoba, the son of Winnipeg alderman Jacob Penner...
, was also a Communist activist in his youth and later served as Attorney-General of Manitoba.