Lord we lift up Jenny Kwan to You through this transition time. Thank you for her willingness to step into federal politics. Be near her as she changes her focus and steps into new spheres of influence and opportunity. Bless her family through his time and grant them your love and peace. We pray in Jesus name, amen.
Jenny Wai Ching Kwan was first elected as the MLA for Vancouver-Mount Pleasant in 1996, becoming one of the first Chinese-Canadians to sit in B.C.’s Legislative Assembly and the first Chinese Canadian cabinet minister in the history of B.C. She was re-elected in May 2013.
Jenny serves as Opposition Spokesperson for Community Living B.C.
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.
Jenny was appointed Minister of Municipal Affairs in 1998, and also served as Minister of Women’s Equality and Minister of Community Development, Cooperatives and Volunteers. She was the provincial government’s lead representative in developing the Vancouver Agreement.