Penny Priddy

Penny Priddy (born March 5, 1944 in Toronto, Ontario) is a politician from British Columbia, Canada. Priddy is the only woman in Canadian history to be elected to school board, city council, a provincial legislature and the House of Commons.

Penny Priddy
Member of the Canadian Parliament
for Surrey North
In office
January 23, 2006 – October 14, 2008
Preceded byChuck Cadman
Succeeded byDona Cadman
Member of the British Columbia Legislative Assembly
for Surrey-Newton
In office
October 17, 1991 – May 16, 2001
Preceded byRita Johnston
Succeeded byTony Bhullar
Minister of Women's Equality of British Columbia
In office
November 5, 1991 – February 22, 1996
PremierMichael Harcourt
Preceded byJoan Smallwood
Succeeded byJenny Kwan
Minister of Labour of British Columbia
In office
February 28, 1996 – June 17, 1996
PremierGlen Clark
Preceded byDan Miller
Succeeded byMoe Sihota
Minister of Small Business, Tourism and Culture of British Columbia
In office
June 17, 1996 – September 23, 1996
PremierGlen Clark
Preceded byBill Barlee
Succeeded byJan Pullinger
Minister of Children and Families of British Columbia
In office
September 23, 1996 – February 18, 1998
PremierGlen Clark
Succeeded byLois Boone
Minister of Health of British Columbia
In office
February 18, 1998 – February 24, 2000
PremierGlen Clark, Dan Miller
Preceded byJoy MacPhail
Succeeded byMichael Farnworth
Minister Responsible for Seniors of British Columbia
In office
February 18, 1998 – August 25, 1999
PremierGlen Clark
Preceded byJoy MacPhail
Succeeded byPenny Priddy
Minister Responsible for Seniors of British Columbia
In office
August 25, 1999 – February 24, 2000
PremierDan Miller
Preceded byPenny Priddy
Succeeded byMichael Farnworth
Minister of Education of British Columbia
In office
February 29, 2000 – November 1, 2000
PremierUjjal Dosanjh
Preceded byGordon Wilson
Succeeded byJoy MacPhail
Personal details
Born (1944-03-05) March 5, 1944
Toronto, Ontario
Political partyNew Democratic Party
Spouse(s)Robert Priddy
ResidenceSurrey, British Columbia
ProfessionNurse

Originally a nurse, she moved from Ontario to Surrey, British Columbia in 1981 where she worked as a nursing educator. After five years as a school trustee on Surrey's school board, she ran in the 1991 provincial election as a British Columbia New Democratic Party (NDP) candidate in Surrey-Newton, defeating Premier Rita Johnston to win the riding by over 10 points. She subsequently served in several cabinet posts including Women's Equality, Tourism and Culture, Health, Labour and Children and Families in the NDP governments of Mike Harcourt, Glen Clark, Dan Miller and Ujjal Dosanjh.

In 1996, she was treated for breast cancer and made a full recovery.

She did not run in the 2001 British Columbia election, but returned to politics in 2002 when she was elected to Surrey City Council.

From 2006 to 2008, she was the federal NDP Member of Parliament for the riding of Surrey North, which was represented by independent Chuck Cadman until his death from cancer. Priddy had been friends with Cadman and his wife, Dona, for many years despite their sharp political differences. Dona Cadman later endorsed Priddy for the Surrey North seat, considered by some to be the deciding factor in her victory over Conservative candidate David Matta.

Priddy did not run in the 40th Canadian federal election.[1]

In 2001, Priddy was awarded an honorary Doctorate of Law degree from Kwantlen University College for her service to the people of BC.

She is past co-chair of the Women's Campaign School and she is a member of the Canadian Women Voters Congress and Canadian Women of Municipal Government.

Priddy is currently a member of the board of directors for Vancouver Fraser Port Authority and a member of the Heritage Advisory Commission for the City of Surrey.

References
  1. "NDP's Penny Priddy says she won't run again" Archived 2008-09-16 at the Wayback Machine, Vancouver Sun, July 16, 2008.
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