Wai Young
Encyclopedia
Wai Young is a Canadian
politician, who was elected to the Canadian House of Commons
in the 2011 election. She represents the electoral district of Vancouver South
as a member of the Conservative Party of Canada
.
and immigrated to Canada when she was four years old. She attended Killarney Secondary School
and graduated from the University of British Columbia
with a degree in sociology
. Young has also taken post-graduate studies at Simon Fraser University
and the British Columbia Institute of Technology
. She is married with twins, and is the foster parent of seven children.
. In doing so, she became the first Conservative MP to be elected in Vancouver since 1988.
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
politician, who was elected to the Canadian House of Commons
Canadian House of Commons
The House of Commons of Canada is a component of the Parliament of Canada, along with the Sovereign and the Senate. The House of Commons is a democratically elected body, consisting of 308 members known as Members of Parliament...
in the 2011 election. She represents the electoral district of Vancouver South
Vancouver South
Vancouver South is a federal electoral district in British Columbia, Canada, that has been represented in the Canadian House of Commons from 1917 to 1997, and since 2004. It covers the southern portion of the city of Vancouver, British Columbia....
as a member of the Conservative Party of Canada
Conservative Party of Canada
The Conservative Party of Canada , is a political party in Canada which was formed by the merger of the Canadian Alliance and the Progressive Conservative Party of Canada in 2003. It is positioned on the right of the Canadian political spectrum...
.
Early life
Young was born in Hong KongHong Kong
Hong Kong is one of two Special Administrative Regions of the People's Republic of China , the other being Macau. A city-state situated on China's south coast and enclosed by the Pearl River Delta and South China Sea, it is renowned for its expansive skyline and deep natural harbour...
and immigrated to Canada when she was four years old. She attended Killarney Secondary School
Killarney Secondary School
Killarney Secondary School is a public high school in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. The school is named for the area in which it resides. It is the largest public secondary school in the city by area.-History:...
and graduated from the University of British Columbia
University of British Columbia
The University of British Columbia is a public research university. UBC’s two main campuses are situated in Vancouver and in Kelowna in the Okanagan Valley...
with a degree in sociology
Sociology
Sociology is the study of society. It is a social science—a term with which it is sometimes synonymous—which uses various methods of empirical investigation and critical analysis to develop a body of knowledge about human social activity...
. Young has also taken post-graduate studies at Simon Fraser University
Simon Fraser University
Simon Fraser University is a Canadian public research university in British Columbia with its main campus on Burnaby Mountain in Burnaby, and satellite campuses in Vancouver and Surrey. The main campus in Burnaby, located from downtown Vancouver, was established in 1965 and has more than 34,000...
and the British Columbia Institute of Technology
British Columbia Institute of Technology
The British Columbia Institute of Technology , is a public, coeducational, academic institution of higher education in Burnaby, British Columbia, Canada. The polytechnic has five campuses located in the Metro Vancouver region, with the main campus in Burnaby...
. She is married with twins, and is the foster parent of seven children.
Before politics
Prior to being elected, Young was a consultant and small businesswoman who contributed to social policies and program development. Her clientele includes municipal governments, Rogers Communications, Vancouver Chinatown Business Improvement Area Society, South Vancouver Policing Centre and S.U.C.C.E.S.S. Some of her work includes developing "youth at risk" programs, services for immigrants, and helping to found the Canadian Immigrant Settlement Sector Alliance (CISSA). Young also worked for the provincial Ministry of Children and Family Development and the federal Ministry of Immigration.Entrance to politics
After losing by 20 votes in 2008 federal election, Young was elected in 2011 by a margin of nearly 4,000 votes in a closely watched rematch over former B.C. Premier Ujjal DosanjhUjjal Dosanjh
Ujjal Dev Singh Dosanjh, PC, QC, is a Sikh Canadian lawyer and politician. He served as 33rd Premier of British Columbia from 2000 to 2001 and as a Liberal Party of Canada Member of Parliament from 2004 to 2011 including a stint as Minister of Health from 2004 until 2006 when the party lost...
. In doing so, she became the first Conservative MP to be elected in Vancouver since 1988.