Eleni Bakopanos

Eleni Bakopanos, born in nineteen fifty-four, is a distinguished Canadian politician and political analyst. She made history as the first Greek-born woman elected to the House of Commons, representing the riding of Saint-Denis from nineteen ninety-three to nineteen ninety-seven and Ahuntsic from nineteen ninety-seven to two thousand six. Her political career is marked by significant roles, including serving as the Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada from nineteen ninety-seven to nineteen ninety-nine, and later as the Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Social Development with a focus on Social Economy.

Throughout her career, Bakopanos has been an advocate for women's participation in politics. In the spring of two thousand four, she authored a booklet titled 'Political Recruiting and Women in the Political Process,' where she highlighted the challenges women face in public life and emphasized the unique perspectives they bring to policy-making. Her commitment to these issues is further reflected in her leadership roles, including Chair of the Standing Committee on Citizenship and Immigration and Vice-Chair of the Standing Committee on Canadian Heritage.

Academically, Bakopanos holds a Bachelor of Arts with honours in political science and history from McGill University, where she also pursued law studies. Beyond her professional life, she is a devoted family woman, married and a mother of two daughters. Despite her efforts to return to parliament in the two thousand eight federal election and her candidacy in the provincial riding of Crémazie for the Quebec Liberal Party in two thousand twelve, she faced electoral defeats.