Yonah Martin
Encyclopedia
Yonah Kim-Martin is a Conservative
Senator from British Columbia
. She was appointed by Prime Minister Stephen Harper
, and is the first Canadian of Korean descent to hold federal public office.
A professional educator for twenty-one years, Martin graduated from the University of British Columbia
in 1987 and taught English and drama at W.J. Mouat Secondary School in Abbotsford, BC, for fourteen years. She earned a Master of Education degree in 1996, and went on to teach at several more schools in Burnaby and Coquitlam school districts until her Senate appointment, effective January 2, 2009. She ran as a Conservative
candidate in the 2008 federal election
, but was narrowly defeated.
Born in Seoul
, South Korea
, Martin immigrated to Canada with her family in 1972, settling in Vancouver
. With deep roots in both Korean and Canadian heritage, she became a prominent community figure in 2003 when she co-founded a non-profit organization, the Corean Canadian Coactive (C3) Society.
Martin currently serves on several other boards and committees, including the Multicultural Advisory Council of BC (since 2006),. She is an alumna and honorary patron of the St. Patrick Regional Secondary School Concert and Chamber Choirs, and has been part of the organizing committee for the annual Korean Heritage Day Festival since 2003. In recognition of her community service in the Tri-Cities
area, Martin was awarded the 2004 Spirit of Community Award for Cultural Harmony She was also awarded the Order of Civil Merit Moran Medal on October 9, 2009 by the Republic of Korea for National Development in the enhancement of the rights of overseas Koreans.
She has been married to Doug Martin since 1990 and they have one daughter, Kiana Mi-Sun.
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...
Senator from 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 was appointed by Prime Minister Stephen Harper
Stephen Harper
Stephen Joseph Harper is the 22nd and current Prime Minister of Canada and leader of the Conservative Party. Harper became prime minister when his party formed a minority government after the 2006 federal election...
, and is the first Canadian of Korean descent to hold federal public office.
A professional educator for twenty-one years, Martin 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...
in 1987 and taught English and drama at W.J. Mouat Secondary School in Abbotsford, BC, for fourteen years. She earned a Master of Education degree in 1996, and went on to teach at several more schools in Burnaby and Coquitlam school districts until her Senate appointment, effective January 2, 2009. She ran as a Conservative
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...
candidate in the 2008 federal election
Canadian federal election, 2008
The 2008 Canadian federal election was held on Tuesday, October 14, 2008 to elect members to the Canadian House of Commons of the 40th Canadian Parliament after the previous parliament had been dissolved by the Governor General on September 7, 2008...
, but was narrowly defeated.
Born in Seoul
Seoul
Seoul , officially the Seoul Special City, is the capital and largest metropolis of South Korea. A megacity with a population of over 10 million, it is the largest city proper in the OECD developed world...
, South Korea
South Korea
The Republic of Korea , , is a sovereign state in East Asia, located on the southern portion of the Korean Peninsula. It is neighbored by the People's Republic of China to the west, Japan to the east, North Korea to the north, and the East China Sea and Republic of China to the south...
, Martin immigrated to Canada with her family in 1972, settling in Vancouver
Vancouver
Vancouver is a coastal seaport city on the mainland of British Columbia, Canada. It is the hub of Greater Vancouver, which, with over 2.3 million residents, is the third most populous metropolitan area in the country,...
. With deep roots in both Korean and Canadian heritage, she became a prominent community figure in 2003 when she co-founded a non-profit organization, the Corean Canadian Coactive (C3) Society.
Martin currently serves on several other boards and committees, including the Multicultural Advisory Council of BC (since 2006),. She is an alumna and honorary patron of the St. Patrick Regional Secondary School Concert and Chamber Choirs, and has been part of the organizing committee for the annual Korean Heritage Day Festival since 2003. In recognition of her community service in the Tri-Cities
Tri-Cities (British Columbia)
The Tri-Cities is an informal term used to describe three adjacent suburban cities in the north-east sector of Metro Vancouver in British Columbia. Combined, these five communities have a 2008 population of 211,418 residents:-Other terms:...
area, Martin was awarded the 2004 Spirit of Community Award for Cultural Harmony She was also awarded the Order of Civil Merit Moran Medal on October 9, 2009 by the Republic of Korea for National Development in the enhancement of the rights of overseas Koreans.
She has been married to Doug Martin since 1990 and they have one daughter, Kiana Mi-Sun.