Jenn McGinn
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Jenn McGinn | |
|---|---|
 McGinn in 2008 | |
| Member of the British Columbia Legislative Assembly for Vancouver-Fairview | |
| In office October 29, 2008 – May 12, 2009 | |
| Preceded by | Gregor Robertson |
| Succeeded by | Margaret MacDiarmid |
| Personal details | |
| Born | |
| Party | British Columbia New Democratic Party |
| Other political affiliations | Coalition of Progressive Electors |
| Occupation | account manager |
Jenn McGinn is a Canadian politician who served as a member of the Legislative Assembly of British Columbia (MLA) from 2008 to 2009, representing the electoral district of Vancouver-Fairview as part of the British Columbia New Democratic Party (NDP) caucus. She is the first openly lesbian MLA in British Columbia.[1]
Born in Prince Edward Island, McGinn first became involved in politics as a high school student in Charlottetown in the late 1980s. She joined the NDP at 17 years old, then became president of the P.E.I. Young New Democrats.[2] She moved to Vancouver in 1993, and worked in various roles such as vice-president of the Little Mountain Neighbourhood House, director of development for the Surrey Women's Centre, and executive director of the South Granville Seniors Centre.[3]
She ran as a Coalition of Progressive Electors candidate for Vancouver Park Board commissioner in the 2005 municipal election,[4][5] but was unsuccessful. She subsequently worked as an account manager with the community business banking team of Vancity Savings Credit Union prior to entering provincial politics.[3]
After Vancouver-Fairview MLA Gregor Robertson resigned his seat to run in the 2008 mayoral election, McGinn was nominated as the NDP candidate for the ensuing by-election; her candidacy was endorsed in a Georgia Straight editorial.[6] She was elected to the legislature by defeating BC Liberal candidate Margaret MacDiarmid in the October 2008 by-election,[1][2] and served as opposition critic for Community Living BC in the 38th Parliament.[3]
After the 2008 by-election the boundaries of Vancouver-Fairview were redrawn by Elections BC as part of a larger province-wide redistribution. McGinn once again faced MacDiarmid in the 2009 provincial election, but this time lost to the latter;[7][8] she returned to Vancity following her electoral defeat.[9]