Kaj Hasselriis

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Kaj Hasselriis (born January 4, 1974 in Winnipeg, Manitoba) is a Canadian journalist, community activist, and mayoral candidate.

Hasselriis is a life-long Winnipegger and earned a sociology degree from the University of Manitoba in 1995 as well as a journalism degree from Toronto's Ryerson University in 1997. From 1997 to 2002, Hasselriis worked as a reporter and producer for CBC Television. Most recently, Hasselriis created an English-language monthly in Lima, Peru called Limazine.

As a political organizer, Hasselriis served as the Manitoba campaign manager for Jack Layton's leadership bid in 2002. He also played a key role as a member of Toronto mayor David Miller's 2003 campaign team.

In 2004, Hasselriis gained prominence in Winnipeg by leading the fight to keep Winnipeg's Bus Rapid Transit system. The City of Winnipeg eventually cancelled the program, to the dismay of public transit activists.

Hasselriis, who is openly gay,^[1] was the national spokesperson for Canadians for Equal Marriage in 2006.^[2]

On July 17, 2006 Hasselriis declared his candidacy in the October 2006 municipal elections against Winnipeg mayor Sam Katz.^[3]

On election day, October 25, 2006, Hasselriis received 22,401 votes, or 13.22 of the total count. He placed third to Katz, who was reelected, and Marianne Cerilli, a former NDP MLA in the Manitoba Legislature.^[4]

Hasselriis was appointed interim executive director of Egale Canada in 2007.^[5] He served in that capacity until he was succeeded by Helen Kennedy in the fall.