Dorothy Gretchen Steeves
Encyclopedia
Dorothy Gretchen Steeves (1891–1978) was a Dutch
-born political figure in British Columbia
. She represented North Vancouver
in the Legislative Assembly of British Columbia
from 1934 to 1945 as a Co-operative Commonwealth Federation member.
She was born Dorothy Gretchen Biersteker in Amsterdam
and was educated there, receiving a Bachelor of Laws
degree from Leiden University
. During World War I
, she was legal adviser to a Dutch government rationing bureau. She married Rufus Palmer Steeves, an officer in the Canadian Army, and came to Vancouver, British Columbia in January 1919. Steeves was a founding member of the CCF. She ran unsuccessfully as a CCF candidate in the provincial riding of Vancouver-Point Grey
in the 1933 general election. Steeves was first elected to the provincial assembly in a 1934 by-election held following the death of Harley Christian Erskine Anderson. She was reelected twice and then defeated when she ran for reelection in 1945. Steeves went on to serve in CCF executives at the provincial and federal levels. She ran unsuccessfully as a CCF candidate in the federal riding of Burnaby—Richmond
in 1949 and as an NDP candidate in the federal riding of Vancouver Quadra
in 1963. Her interests included civil liberties, international affairs, nuclear disarmament, protection of animals, women's issues and abolition of capital punishment.
Steeves wrote The Compassionate Rebel : Ernest E. Winch and his times, published in 1960, and Builders and Rebels : A short History of the CCF from 1932 to 1961.
Netherlands
The Netherlands is a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, located mainly in North-West Europe and with several islands in the Caribbean. Mainland Netherlands borders the North Sea to the north and west, Belgium to the south, and Germany to the east, and shares maritime borders...
-born political figure in British Columbia
British Columbia
British Columbia is the westernmost of Canada's provinces and is known for its natural beauty, as reflected in its Latin motto, Splendor sine occasu . Its name was chosen by Queen Victoria in 1858...
. She represented North Vancouver
North Vancouver (provincial electoral district)
North Vancouver was a provincial electoral district in the Canadian province of British Columbia. It first appeared on the hustings in 1916 and at the time of its creation included West Vancouver as well as North Vancouver...
in the Legislative Assembly of British Columbia
Legislative Assembly of British Columbia
The Legislative Assembly of British Columbia is one of two components of the Parliament of British Columbia, the provincial parliament ....
from 1934 to 1945 as a Co-operative Commonwealth Federation member.
She was born Dorothy Gretchen Biersteker in Amsterdam
Amsterdam
Amsterdam is the largest city and the capital of the Netherlands. The current position of Amsterdam as capital city of the Kingdom of the Netherlands is governed by the constitution of August 24, 1815 and its successors. Amsterdam has a population of 783,364 within city limits, an urban population...
and was educated there, receiving a Bachelor of Laws
Bachelor of Laws
The Bachelor of Laws is an undergraduate, or bachelor, degree in law originating in England and offered in most common law countries as the primary law degree...
degree from Leiden University
Leiden University
Leiden University , located in the city of Leiden, is the oldest university in the Netherlands. The university was founded in 1575 by William, Prince of Orange, leader of the Dutch Revolt in the Eighty Years' War. The royal Dutch House of Orange-Nassau and Leiden University still have a close...
. During World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
, she was legal adviser to a Dutch government rationing bureau. She married Rufus Palmer Steeves, an officer in the Canadian Army, and came to Vancouver, British Columbia in January 1919. Steeves was a founding member of the CCF. She ran unsuccessfully as a CCF candidate in the provincial riding of Vancouver-Point Grey
Vancouver-Point Grey
Vancouver-Point Grey is a provincial electoral district for the Legislative Assembly of British Columbia, Canada. It first appeared on the hustings in the general election of 1933. It and the other new Vancouver ridings in this year, Vancouver-Burrard, Vancouver Centre and Vancouver East, were...
in the 1933 general election. Steeves was first elected to the provincial assembly in a 1934 by-election held following the death of Harley Christian Erskine Anderson. She was reelected twice and then defeated when she ran for reelection in 1945. Steeves went on to serve in CCF executives at the provincial and federal levels. She ran unsuccessfully as a CCF candidate in the federal riding of Burnaby—Richmond
Burnaby—Richmond
Burnaby—Richmond was a federal electoral district in British Columbia, Canada, that was represented in the Canadian House of Commons from 1949 to 1979....
in 1949 and as an NDP candidate in the federal riding of Vancouver Quadra
Vancouver Quadra
Vancouver Quadra is a federal electoral district in British Columbia, Canada, that has been represented in the Canadian House of Commons since 1949....
in 1963. Her interests included civil liberties, international affairs, nuclear disarmament, protection of animals, women's issues and abolition of capital punishment.
Steeves wrote The Compassionate Rebel : Ernest E. Winch and his times, published in 1960, and Builders and Rebels : A short History of the CCF from 1932 to 1961.