Jill McKnight

Jill McKnight was born on May 31, 1979,^{[citation needed]} and raised in Delta, British Columbia, by her parents, Tracey and Bill McKnight. She graduated from South Delta Secondary School and later earned a Bachelor of Commerce in Entrepreneurial Business from the University of Victoria.

McKnight is married to her husband Stephen Smith and they live in Ladner.

McKnight has been involved in family businesses in Delta. For 28 years, she and her family operated South Coast Casuals in Ladner, a ladies clothing boutique. She was also involved with the Ladner Village Market for more than 20 years, bringing together the local producers and makers with customers from all over the Lower Mainland and B.C.^[3]

Prior to entering federal politics, McKnight was the Executive Director of the Delta Chamber of Commerce.^[4] She was appointed to this role following her years of volunteering with the Ladner Business Association, including five years as the President.

In addition to her business work, McKnight has been part of several community initiatives. Her fundraising activities have helped raise over $250K for various community causes, including the Ladner Business Association, the Delta Hospital Foundation, the BC Cancer Foundation, and Dress for Success.^[5]

On May 13, 2025, McKnight was named Minister of Veteran Affairs and Associate Minister of National Defence in the 30th Canadian Ministry, headed by Mark Carney. In January 2026, almost half of members of the Women Veterans Council, created to implement the results of the 2024 'Invisible No More' report, resigned, citing a lack of "institutional conditions needed to enable meaningful, impactful work."^[6][7]

• Delta Volunteer of the Year: Delta Chamber 2019^[8]
• Queen's Jubilee Award: Exemplary Community Service 2022^[9]
• King Charles III Coronation Medal: Community Leadership 2024^[10]