Jenny Kwan
MLA for Vancouver-Mt. Pleasant
Critic for Jobs, Economic Development and Trade
Jenny Kwan was first elected as the MLA for Vancouver Mount Pleasant in 1996, becoming one of the first Chinese-Canadian women to sit in BC's Legislative Assembly. She was re-elected in 2001, again on May 17, 2005, and most recently on May 12, 2009.
She is currently critic for Small Business, Technology and Economic Development.
Born in Hong Kong, Jenny Wai Ching Kwan immigrated to Canada with her family when she was nine years old. She holds a Bachelor of Arts (Criminology) from Simon Fraser University. Jenny began working as a community legal advocate in the Downtown Eastside shortly after graduation.
Jenny was elected to Vancouver City Council in 1993 --becoming the youngest councillor in Vancouver’s history -- and served for three years as the sole representative of Vancouver's progressive municipal political party, COPE.
In 1998 Jenny was appointed Minister of Municipal Affairs, becoming BC's first Chinese-Canadian cabinet minister. Jenny also served as Minister of Women's Equality and Minister of Community
Development, Cooperatives and Volunteers and was the provincial government's lead person in developing the Vancouver Agreement.
Jenny is married and lives in East Vancouver with her husband, daughter and stepson.