Dr. Henry Morgentaler has spent his life enduring struggles. Born in 1923 in Poland, he spent six years in Nazi concentration camps. After coming to Canada in 1950, he took on the struggle for abortion rights, spending much time in and out of Canadian prisons as a result of his efforts to provide women with access to safe medical abortions. Although he was arrested numerous times, no jury would convict him. In honor of his dedication to this struggle, Dr. Morgentaler was named the first Humanist of the Year by the Canadian Humanist Association in 1973 and Humanist of the Year by the American Humanist association in 1975.

--Mildred McCallister
The Humanist of the Year Book 1953-1991