Melanie Mark

The Honourable
Melanie Mark
MLA
Minister of Advanced Education and Skills Training of British Columbia
Assumed office
July 18, 2017
Premier John Horgan
Preceded by Linda Reid
Member of the British Columbia Legislative Assembly
for Vancouver-Mount Pleasant
Assumed office
February 2, 2016
Preceded by Jenny Kwan
Personal details
Political party New Democrat
Spouse(s) Cassidy Kannemeyer
Children Maya and Makayla

Melanie Joy Mark is a Canadian politician, the first First Nation woman elected to the Legislative Assembly of British Columbia and subsequently the first First Nations' woman to serve in the Cabinet of British Columbia; she is a British Columbia New Democratic Party MLA representative for Vancouver-Mount Pleasant. She was elected on February 2, 2016 in a by-election, winning with 61% of the vote and defeating BC Liberal Party candidate Gavin Dew and Green Party of British Columbia candidate Pete Fry.[1]

She campaigned on providing better assistance for low-income people, the lack of affordable housing, the precarious job market, and rising tuition, medical-services, and B.C. Hydro fees.[2] She developed a grassroots campaign based on working on issues of social justice.[3]

Before the start of schools in the fall of 2017, the government announced free post-secondary tuition for children in care and eliminated fees for adult basic education and English language learning programs.[4]

Biography

Born of Nisga'a, Gitxsan, Cree, and Ojibway ancestry, Mark was raised in Vancouver's Downtown Eastside neighbourhood in difficult circumstances. She credits her grandparents with helping her get through the early death of her father from an overdose and dealing with her mother's addiction to drugs. She states her childhood as example of lack of appropriate support for indigenous people because she was sexually assaulted three times before 10 years of age, her brother was killed by a car collision when she was a teenager, she had kick-fighting incidents outside of her school, and was moved by Ministry of Children, Family Development to another family, out from her mother and not to her grandparents.[5]

She earned a degree in political science at Simon Fraser University (SFU) after attending several different schools, including Van Tech,[6] Douglas College, Native Education College, Queen's School of Business.

She worked with the Native Court Workers’ Association, Covenant House, the RCMP in Hazelton as a summer student, and as the national aboriginal project coordinator for Save the Children Canada’s Sacred Lives Project.[6]

Mark attended local schools. She became active in First Nations issues, particularly for those living in cities. She served for six years as the president of the Urban Native Youth Association. Mark worked for eight years in the Office of the Representative for Children and Youth, and was promoted to deputy representative to Mary Ellen Turpel-Lafond.[2]

In 2006, received the YWCA Vancouver Young Woman of Distinction Award. In 2015, she received the Chief Joe Mathias Leadership Award from the Native Education College.

In January 2018, six days after the proposal, she married Cassidy Kannemeyer, a basketball coach for Capilano University.[7]

She is the first indigenous woman elected to the legislature of British Columbia.[3]

Electoral record

British Columbia general election, 2017: Vancouver-Mount Pleasant
Party Candidate Votes%
New DemocraticMelanie Mark15,96265.31
GreenJerry Kroll4,13616.92
LiberalConny Lin3,91716.03
IndependentMike Hansen2120.87
CommunistPeter Marcus1420.58
Your Political PartyShai Joseph Mor720.29
Total valid votes 24,441100.00
Source: Elections BC[8]

References

  1. ↑ "B.C. NDP candidates Jodie Wickens and Melanie Mark win Metro Vancouver byelections". CBC News. 2 February 2016. Retrieved 3 February 2016.
  2. 1 2 "NDP's Melanie Mark becomes first first nation woman elected to B.C. legislature from Vancouver–Mount Pleasant". The Georgia Straight. February 2, 2016. Retrieved February 3, 2016.
  3. 1 2 Daniel Mesec, "Historic Win: Melanie Mark Is First First Nation Woman Elected to B.C. Legislature", Indian Country Today, 10 February 2016, accessed 10 February 2016
  4. ↑ Chan, Cheryl (September 1, 2017). "Q&A with Melanie Mark, Minister of Advanced Education". Vancouver Sun. Retrieved March 18, 2018.
  5. ↑ Shaw, Rob (February 3, 2016). "B.C.'s newest MLA 'a shining example of resilience'". Vancouver Sun.
  6. 1 2 "Wab Kinew Runs for Office", Indian Country Today, February 2016, accessed 10 February 2016
  7. ↑ "Mount Pleasant MLA Melanie Mark ties the knot". Vancouver Courier. January 19, 2018.
  8. ↑ "2017 Provincial General Election Preliminary Voting Results". Elections BC. Retrieved 31 May 2017.
British Columbia Provincial Government of John Horgan
Cabinet post (1)
Predecessor Office Successor
Linda Reid
Shirley Bond[1]		 Minister of Advanced Education and Skills Training
July 18, 2017–		 Incumbent
  1. ↑ Linda Reid served as Minister of Advanced Education, whilst Shirley Bond served as Minister of Jobs, Tourism and Skills Training
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