Raj Pannu, trailblazing Punjabi-Canadian politician, passes away at 91

Raj Pannu, a renowned Punjabi-Canadian educator, politician, and community leader, passed away on January 30, in Edmonton, Alberta, at the age of 91. Born in Punjab, India, in 1934, Pannu immigrated to Canada in 1962 and settled in Whitecourt, Alberta, where he taught high school until 1964.

Pannu’s academic career spanned over three decades, during which he earned a PhD in Sociology from the University of Alberta in 1973. He taught at York University for a year before returning to the University of Alberta, where he became a full-time faculty member in 1969. Pannu retired from academia in 1996, after 27 years of service.

Pannu’s entry into politics began in 1997 when he was elected as the MLA for Edmonton-Strathcona, a seat he held until 2008. He became the leader of the Alberta New Democratic Party (NDP) in 2000, serving in that capacity until 2004. As one of the first Canadians of South Asian descent to lead a major political party, Pannu paved the way for a diverse new generation of politicians.