Larry Shaben

Lawrence Larry Ralph Shaben was a Canadian politician of Lebanese descent and the first Muslim Cabinet Minister in Canada. He was also one of the first Muslims to be elected to higher office in North America. He held a seat in the Legislative Assembly of Alberta from 1975 to 1989 sitting with the governing Progressive Conservative Caucus. During his time in office he served as a cabinet minister in the governments of Premier Peter Lougheed and Don Getty occupying various portfolios from 1979 to 1989.

Lawrence Ralph Shaben was born on March 20, 1935 in Hanna, Alberta The family moved to Edmonton in the mid1940s after North Americas first mosque was opened there.

Source: Wikipedia