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Ross was raised in a secular Jewish family that moved from Russia to Winnipeg, Manitoba in 1917. He was originally named Cecil Zuken, but legally changed his name in 1936 (in part to protect his family from anti-Communist harassment). His brother Joseph Zuken also became a Communist politician, and was for many years a prominent alderman from Winnipeg's working-class North End.
With the editorial backing of Dos Yiddishe Vort (a local Jewish newspaper), Ross was elected to the Winnipeg school board in 1936 and served in that capacity until 1939. He was also active in labour organization outside the city, and was imprisoned for six months on sedition charges after leading a strike in Flin Flon. In 1940Events January-February January 5 FM radio is demonstrated to the FCC for the first time. January 6 World War II: Mass execution of Poles, committed by Germans in the Poznan, Warthegau. January 12 World War II: Russia bombs cities in Finland. February 2 F, Ross campaigned for Leslie MorrisLeslie Tom Morris ( 1904 1964) was a Canadian politician, journalist and long time member of the Communist Party of Canada and, its front group, the Labour Progressive Party. Morris was born in the United Kingdom to a Welsh working class family. He and hi in the federal riding of Winnipeg NorthWinnipeg North is a Canadian electoral district that covers the northern portion of Winnipeg, Manitoba. The riding was first formed in 1914 out of the ridings of Winnipeg and Selkirk. In 1997 it was renamed Winnipeg North Centre a name that had previously, thereby contributing to the defeat of CCFTommy Douglas (centre) stands in front of a CCF billboard during an election campaign in Saskatchewan. The Cooperative Commonwealth Federation (CCF was a Canadian political party founded in 1932 in Calgary, Alberta, by a number of socialist, farm, co-oper incumbent A.A. HeapsAbraham Albert Heaps ( December 24 1885 April 4 1954) was a Canadian politician and labour leader. Born in England, Heaps immigrated to Canada and worked in Winnipeg as an upholsterer. He was one of the leaders of the Winnipeg General Strike of 1919 and w (the most prominent Jewish politician in the city).
Ross first ran for provincial office in 1945Events January January 5 The Soviet Union recognizes the new pro-Soviet government of Poland. January 7 British General Bernard Montgomery holds a press conference in which he claims credit for victory in the Battle of the Bulge. January 12 World War II:, campaigning for the " Labour Progressive Party" (as the Communist Party had renamed itself) in the riding of Assiniboia. He finished well behind the winner, Ernest Draffin of the Cooperative Commonwealth Federation.
Ross became leader of the provincial LPP on December 12 1948, being elected by acclamation after former leader William Kardash resigned due to health concerns. Ross did not run in the election of 1949 because of a decision by the party to concentrate its resources -- the LPP ran only two candidates, one of whom was elected. Ross continued to lead the LPP (renamed the Communist Party in 1959) for thirty-three years, though he was unable to prevent it from declining to a marginal political force.
Ross campaigned for federal and provincial office a total of fourteen times. Aside from the 1945 campaign mentioned above, he was a candidate in:
During the 1980s, Ross wrote in opposition to the Winnipeg School Board's education policy concerning the Ukrainian famine of the early 1930s. Ross acknowledged the death of millions, but denied that the government of Joseph Stalin had consciously planned an act of genocide against the Ukrainian people. (It should be noted that Mary Kardash , a Winnipeg school trustee of Ukrainian background, made essentially the same arguments as Ross during the course of these debates).
Ross, William Cecil Ross, William Cecil Ross, William Cecil