Dorothy Kostrzewa

Dorothy Kostrzewa
Born Dorothy Chung
(1928-08-17)August 17, 1928
Chilliwack, British Columbia, Canada
Died January 11, 2013(2013-01-11) (aged 84)
Royal Columbian Hospital, New Westminster, British Columbia
Occupation Politician
Spouse(s) Richard Kostrzewa
Children 2

Dorothy Kostrzewa (née Chung; August 17, 1928 – January 11, 2013) was a Canadian politician. She is notable as the first Chinese-Canadian woman to hold political office in Canada when she was elected to Chilliwack City Council in 1969. She served on city council for 33 years making her the longest serving city councillor in British Columbia.[1]

Early life

Dorothy Kostrzewa was born the youngest of eight children fathered by Chinese immigrant Dr. Chung Bing Kee in Chilliwack's Chinatown neighbourhood. She studied accounting at the Duffus School of Commerce in Vancouver, and worked as an accountant at Chilliwack General Hospital from 1949 until 1969.[1]

Political career

She was first elected to Chilliwack City Council in 1969 making her the first Chinese-Canadian to hold political office in Canada.[2] She retired from politics in 2008.[1]

Honours

She earned the Order of Chilliwack, was named Woman of the Year, and awarded an honorary Doctor of Laws from University of the Fraser Valley in 2009 for outstanding community service.[2] She was named the woman of the year and millennium woman of the year.[3] She was named Sportsman of the Year.[4] She was named a Paul Harris Fellow by the Chilliwack Rotary Club, and one of Chilliwack’s Community Sports Heroes.[2] In 2006 Kostrzewa was named one of the 100 Chinese Canadians making a difference in British Columbia.[2]

References

  1. 1 2 3 "Dorothy Kostrzewa retires". Chilliwack Times. 22 May 2008. Retrieved 1 March 2014.
  2. 1 2 3 4 "Dorothy Kostrzewa leaves a lasting legacy". Chilliwack Progress. 14 January 2013. Retrieved 1 March 2014.
  3. "Mark Strahl on Dorothy Kostrzewa". openparliament.ca. Retrieved 1 March 2014.
  4. "Dorothy Kostrzewa leaves a lasting legacy". Chilliwack Progress. 14 January 2013. Retrieved 1 March 2014.


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